Idalis:
Cambodia. Never in a million years did I think I would ever come here. Before planning for this trip, I didn't even know where this small kingdom was, or the history of its tragic past. Cambodia inspired and depressed me, amazed and shocked me, and that was just during the tuk tuk rides!
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Siem Reap was our first major destination, the city who's life blood are the magnificent temples of Angkor. We were truly impressed with this place, and loved riding bikes around this surprisingly navigable city, exploring and revisiting temples at our leisure for three days. The shop and restaurant owners across from the temples made sure we were properly hydrated, fed, and clothed as they yelled from across the street, “Sir! You buy cold water! Very cheap! Two for one dollar! Madam! You need pineapple! After you buy t-shirt from me! I give you discount!” My words can't do the place justice, but here were some of our favorites:
Angkor Wat – What everyone comes to see. It's the largest religious building in the world, with towering columns and seven-headed nagas.
Bayon – One of our favorites. There are 216 huge faces of Avalokiteshvara (Buddha of Compassion) carved into the rocks. VERY cool!
Ta Prohm – Our #1 favorite! One of the largest temples in Angkor, it has been taken over by nature, and trees with tentacle-like roots are slowly strangling the stonework.
Kbal Spean – A beautiful hike to this spot rewarded us with this sight, carvings done right into a riverbed.
Banteay Srei – A wat with beautiful, elaborate carvings. We definitely took way too many pictures here!
Not all was so rosy, though. Siem Reap, as well as Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh, has many beggars and homeless people. Many of these are amputees who have lost limbs due to stepping on landmines. We visited the Cambodia Landmine Museum and were horrified to learn that sadly, many of them were planted by our own country.
Kids and amputees in the city try to make money by selling copied or used books (check for missing pages!) and I tried to contribute by buying a book from a man with a missing leg. I also gave him two books I had already read, hoping it would help him make a little extra cash on the side. A few hours later, a little kid with tattered clothing approached me and tried to sell me my own books back. When I told him that I had already read those books, that they used to be mine, he quipped that I needed to read them again to remember better!
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Phnom Penh is a traffic-filled city that smells like stinky durian fruit, where some people come only for cheap drugs and cheaper prostitutes. Seedy in some areas . . . but we kinda' liked it! As Cambodia's capital, it's the best example of the country's contradictions: exotic and chaotic, compulsive yet repulsive.
Most important for us was visiting the Tuol Sleng Museum, also known as S-21. In 1975, Pol Pot and his Khmer Rouge security forces turned this school into the largest center of detention and torture in the country. Out of 20,000 Cambodians prisoners who were brought here between 1975 and 1979, only seven survived. I felt an incredibly heavy weight as I walked through the dark halls and entered the former classrooms, many of them with just a single rusty bed and the leg shackles they used to chain prisoners. Although very hard to experience, Kevin and I are very glad that we went, as it helped us to understand Cambodia's past and present.
We were happy to get some fresh air after such an oppressive environment, and took a walk by the riverfront. We saw the gilded Royal Palace and walked by some beautiful wats. We were happy to see Cambodian families along the riverfront, enjoying the evening by playing shuttle cock, taking an outdoor aerobics class (so funny!), or buying balloons for their kids. Cambodia is a country that has been to hell and back, and we hope that their wounds continue to heal.
3 comments:
hold ur breath!..i think i'm the first one here after a long absence. mixed feelings about cambodia, as you could probably understand. i'm sure it has its beauty, but it's history is riddled with pain and strife. sometimes life's lessons learned needs to have a bit of both. how else could we realize what peace, love, and happiness are if we don't also learn about the things that jeopardize them?! nonetheless, making us readers ever thankful for living in relative peace...i choose my words carefully. i hope peace and happiness are accompanying you along the way. we are forever indebted to the both of you for being the teachers/middle men/bearers of the lessons to be learned...at least that's what i've been able to get out of it. ur trip has been like one big "class day" for me.
speaking of classes, i've passed nursing school. i'm currently enrolled in a "mandatory" review class, one that has to be completed before sitting for boards. not much longer though. i've been hired in the E.R. July 14th is my start date. so i'm really thankful for that.
hello to everyone...ur all missed!
s.k....dude, i read ur post while i was at work and my jaw dropped. a few of the other nurses and doc's were asking about you. i hope ur doing well.
peace and love to everyone...
adrian~.
The movies you sent by e-mail were quite amuzing. It was really good to see your faces again. Seems i was forgetting what you look like. Please stay away from places that may have mines. Your explanation of Cambodia is really great in how you express what you are doing, seeing and experincing. Really grea stuff. The pictures are great especially when you guys are in them. I love the boy who tried to sell you back your own books that you gave to a amputee man. What a world "huh." Keep the good stuff coming and we will continue to check the blog and get a little history lesson.
Love Pop-a-Long
CoCo, Once again, so great to hear from you. We understand how busy you have been, and for good reason. A whopping CONGRATULATIONS on finally finishing. Now get in the ER and start saving some lives! You know, you could actually parlay this career into a traveling adventure. We have met quite a few people in the medical field that are traveling to various countries and volunteering their services and specialties in small villages and towns. Just rode the bus with a girl from France who is a heart surgeon and showing doctors in India new techniques in surgery. Or, you could just travel with Shawn to make sure he survives all of his adventures! We wish you well and miss you greatly!
Pop-a-long, your messages are further and fewer between these days, but still much appreciated. We promise to stay away from mine fields but cannot promise that we won't cross any streets. Next major city is Hanoi and it is also supposed to be rife with motorbike traffic. We have been making our best effort to put up less landscape shots and more us shots. The new post is no exception. We love and miss you guys very much and hope you are all well. Please give the family our best.
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