APAD 173: Hey, WAIT up!
This week’s theme over at Photo Hunt is quite challenging – WAITING. I could not find something that would fit into this theme so I had to really dig deeper into my photo vault and – voila!
Taken inside Banteay Kdei, one of the ancient temples found inside the Angkor Wat Archaeological Park in Siem Reap province. Banteay Kdei is one of the lesser known temples there – and very few people go there – but it’s as old and as interesting as the more popular Angkor Wat, Bayon, and Ta Prohm temples. We were hopping from one temple to another and I could not keep up with my husband. He was too busy taking pictures to even realise I was lagging behind. I didn’t like being left alone amidst the rubbles. It felt odd and eerie, even at broad daylight, so I yelled at him to wait for me. And that’s how this photo was taken.
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APAD 172: Flooded ricefields in the Cambodian countryside
Due to heavy monsoon rains in the countryside, most ricefields have already been flooded and damaged, like the one below. Dotting the flooded area are sugar palm trees.
The ricefield looks beautiful, isn’t it?
To many unknowing foreigners, this is a very exotic, postcard-pretty sight.
But – and a big BUT – rice plants that are submerged in water for more than two days will die. And if this happens to the rice crop of the many affected farmers around the country it is going to be a huge disaster! I couldn’t help but imagine how many families will experience food shortage and, possibly, starvation.
Please do give something. Contact the Cambodian Red Cross or any non-government organisations, both local and international, to inquire how you can help.
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APAD 171: Souvenir Cambodian Tshirts
Tourists who want to bring home a piece of Cambodia are not disappointed because there are hundreds, and I mean hundreds, of souvenir shops all over the country. Ranging from beautiful silk cloths to Angkorian and Buddhist-themed carvings, to silverwork and precious and semi-precious gems, to the most traditional souveniris of all Cambodian souvenirs – the krama, a checkered, multi-purpose scarf unique only to Cambodia. However, most young tourists still prefer pretty funky Tshirts with deSIGNS like below:
Funky deSIGNS. I especially love the DRUNKNMUNKY shirt, don’t you?
They are made of cotton, come sin different colours, and sizes and they’re sold less than the price of a cheeseburger – so cheap!
More signs all over the world at Signs, Signs. Please do have a look.
APAD 170: Pchum Ben holiday jam
This is how the roads were like same day, last week. People rushing to go home for the holidays.
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APAD 169: The Chanchhaya Pavilion, Phnom Penh
This is the Chanchhaya Pavilion, also known as the Moonlight Pavilion ,at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh. It dominates the facade of the Royal Palace along Sothearos Boulevard. Every time I pass by this place, I can’t help but admire the beautiful, distinct Khmer-classical style of architecture of this building.
This open-air pavilion, fronting the river, was originally built as a dance conservatory. It is now used as a venue for banquets and other state functions. On special occasions, locals and tourists alike come here to watch special performances of the Khmer classical dances.
In 2004, the Pavilion was used for a banquet and tribune for the new King Norodom Sihamoni during his coronation. It looks stunning, isn’t it? Have you ever wondered how it looks like at night? It is even more spectacular! If you are interested to see, please click here and here. More about the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh here.
This is my entry to this week’s Our World Tuesday. Click on the logo for more pictures of our world.
APAD 168: A Buddhist shrine
Somewhere in the thick forest of the Angkor Wat Archaeological Park in Siem Reap stands this Buddhist shrine. Although the shrine is not as old as the Angkor Wat and other temples inside the complex, a lot of visitors come to pray and bring offerings, most especially the locals.
An elderly achar, or a layman, comes to the shrine everyday to keep it maintained, making sure that the place is clean, the offerings and flowers brought by visitors are arranged well, and that incense sticks continuously burn at the altar. When he is not busy doing his chores, or, upon special request, the achar entertains his visitors by reading their palms and telling their future. Pleased visitors leave him some amount as donation.
When I visited the temple again about two years ago, I saw the achar hunched and picking up dead, fallen leaves. I lingered for a bit and engaged him in a chat. He is not usually alone, he told me. Every afternoon, the elders – his neighbours – that live in the area come by after their siesta to keep him company. Sometimes his young grandchildren also come by, bring him snacks and hangout with him, too. I wanted to ask him some more, about why he continues to do this unpaid work despite his age… about what he thinks about the changes that the ancient temples had undergone… but a new batch of visitors came and he was on his merry way to greet them. I didn’t even get the chance to take his photo. Maybe next time.
If you happen to visit Angkor Wat, please try and visit the shrine. The achar would love to meet a new friend.
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