The New 3 Rs: Retire, Recharge, Reconnect

Posts tagged with cambodia

CFFC: Starts with Ap

08/17/2017•ancient, art, cambodia

Apsara

Apsara, Angkor Wat, Angkor Temple Complex, Siem Reap, Cambodia

An apsara is a female spirit of the clouds and waters in Hindu and Buddhist mythology. Apsaras are a common motif on temples and other buildings throughout  Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, and other parts of Southeast Asia. Often translated as nymph or muse, the depiction of apsaras differ in each culture. Dancing apsara in bas-relief  decorate the walls of Angkor Wat, the largest temple (AD 1116–1150) in Angkor Archaeological Park, and the largest religious monument in the world .

Join Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Starts with Ap

Stairway to Heaven

06/30/2017•architecture, Asia, cambodia

Stairway to Heaven

Angkor Wat, near Siem Reap, Cambodia, is the largest religious monument ever constructed.  Originally built by  Khmer King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century as a Hindu temple to the god Vishnu, it morphed a Buddhist temple by the 14th century.  The five towers of  central temple represent the peaks of Mt. Meru, the mythical home of both Hindu and Buddhist gods.  A series of galleries, terraces and steep stairways symbolised the effort needed to achieve enlightenment or reach heaven. Three sets of stairs on each side, one in the center and two on the corners, give access to the upper terraces and galleries of the center temple.  Often called the “stairway to heaven,”  the steps rise at a 70% grade.

When I visited Angkor Wat in 2006, one of the stairways on the south side had a handrail—the others required free climbing. Since that time, all but one of the staircases have been closed and access to the central tower is limited to 100 visitors a day.  The south set of steps is now covered by a wooden staircase with handrails. Maybe now I would go to the top. I wasn’t drawn to the steep climb when I was there.

 

Join Frank’s Tuesday Photo Challenge: Steps

Saturday Statues: Cambodia

08/08/2016•architecture, art, Culture, history, Photography, Travel

Khmer Mythological Demons

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Demon statues, Angkor Thom, Angkor Archaeological Park, Cambodia

 

A row of 54 demons flank the right side of the causeway leading to the south gate at Angkor Thom, the last capital of the Khmer empire. The grimacing demons wear military headdresses. The left side of the causeway has a similar line of serene gods (devas).  Angkor Thom, part of the Angkor Archaeological Park near Siem Reap, Cambodia, was established in the late twelfth century by King Jayavarman VII and was abandoned prior to 1609. It is believed to have sustained a population of 80,000–150,000 people. Angkor Thom is located near Angkor Wat.

The two rows of statues each hold a naga (serpent) in the attitude of a tug-of-war, a reference to the myth of the Churning of the Sea of Milk.

 

Asuras  demons  churning of the sea

Saturday Statues

Travel Theme: Fruit

09/25/2015•Create, Explore, Photography, Travel

The Deadly Durian: An Offense to the Senses

Durian: possibly the worst smell on earth.

Durian: possibly the worst smell on earth. A market in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

I can only think that durian was first passed off as edible as a joke. Now huge forests of durian trees grow in South East Asia, and durian is regarded by many as the king of fruits. I say it is the fruit of the emperor with no clothes. It seems people sense a variety of scents, varying from sweet to revolting. I am in the latter group. When I lived in Singapore, I couldn’t go into a grocery store if a sliced durian was for sale. The odor set off my gag reflex at the first whiff. I offer no apologies to the lovers of this odiferous fruit.

Travel Theme: Fruit

A Photo A Week: Wood

09/25/2015•art, Create, Photography, Travel

Carving Elephants in Cambodia

Wood carving, Artisans d'Angkor, near Siem Reap, Cambodia

Wood carving, Artisans d’Angkor, near Siem Reap, Cambodia

Artisans d’Angkor (though it seems to have dropped the d’ since I visited in 2006) was created to revive traditional Khmer cultural and arts while training young rural people in crafts they could produce in or near their home village. Established in 1992 by the Chantiers-Écoles de formation professionnelle (CEFP)—a professional training school sponsored by the National Cambodian Institution, the European Union and the French Foreign Ministry—the project originally provided free vocational training in the building sector. In the mid-1990s, the project expanded to include traditional Khmer art and crafts such as silk-making, stone and wood carving, lacquering and painting.  In 1998 a European program called REPLIC provided financial support to create a project called “Artisans Angkor” as a workplace for the young Cambodians trained by CEFP in the handicraft sector. In 2003, with the support of the Agence Française de Développement (French Agency for Development), Artisans Angkor became an autonomous, semi-public Cambodian company.  See Artisans Angkor Wikipedia entry for more information.

When I was in Siem Read, I toured both the main workshops, where this photo was taken, and the nearby Angkor Silk Farm. Their products are of high quality. My dollars were well spent!

Visit their website: http://www.artisansdangkor.com/ to find out more about the organization.

A Photo A Week: Wood

Muse

06/28/2015•Explore, Photography, Travel

I’ve Got The Whole World In My Hands

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Camel Rider, Thar Desert, Rajasthan, India

Hanoi Glow

Market After Dark, Hanoi, Vietman

Hagia Sofia from a rooftop.

Hagia Sofia, Istanbul, Turkey.

Ancient acacia tree, Deadvlei, Sossusvlei, Namibia

Ancient Acacia Tree, Deadvlei, Sossusvlei, Namibia

Young school children on island in Madu Ganga River, Sri Lanka

Young school children on island in Madu Ganga River, Sri Lanka

Playing with Fire. Sri Lanka dance group in traditional Kandy region costumes prepare to fire walk.

Playing with Fire. Sri Lanka dance group in traditional Kandy region costumes prepare to fire walk.

Chandelier, Florentine Hall, Peles Castle, Romania

Chandelier, Florentine Hall, Peles Castle, Romania

Plains Zebra in Etosha

Plains Zebra in Etosha

Livid Sky Over the Potrero Trading Post, New Mexico

Livid Sky Over the Potrero Trading Post, New Mexico

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At Prayer, Golden Mosque, Singapore

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Traditional Window Decoration, VIllage Museum in Bucharest, Romania

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Bishnoi Potter, Rajasthan, India

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Statues on Facade of Notre Dame in Paris, France

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The Taj Mahal, Agra, India

Floating Houseboat, Tonle' Sap Lake, Cambodia

Floating Houseboat, Tonle’ Sap Lake, Cambodia

Tyn Church after Dark, Old Town Square

Tyn Church after Dark, Old Town Square

Badger Leaves Port

The Badger Ferry Heading West Crossing Lake Michigan, USA

Parisian Pest Control Shop Window Display

Parisian Pest Control Shop Window Display

Family, The Taj Mahal, Agra, India

Family, The Taj Mahal, Agra, India

The Bird Men Of Beijing

The Bird Men Of Beijing

Buddhist offering lamp at puja in Kataragama, Sri Lanka

Buddhist offering lamp at puja in Kataragama, Sri Lanka

Vesuvius from Pompeii

Vesuvius from Pompeii, Italy

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American Falls, Niagara Falls, Buffalo, New York

Alphonse Mucha window detail, St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague Castle complex

Alphonse Mucha window detail, St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague Castle complex

Joseph Roulette, explorer, adventurer, pioneer, American Fur Company,

Joseph Roulette, explorer, adventurer, pioneer, American Fur Company,

Smiling faces on towers of the Bayon Temple, Angkor Thom, Angkor, Cambodia

Smiling faces on towers of the Bayon Temple, Angkor Thom, Angkor, Cambodia

Sunrise in Pushkar

Sunrise in Pushkar, Rajasthan, India

The world and its diverse cultures are my muse and inspire my wanderlust. Since retiring, I have made the most of my inspiration. In the last year I visited Prague and Cseky Krumlov in the Czech Republic, Namibia, Sri Lanka, Istanbul (Turkey). I have taken two road trips in the U.S, with stops including Niagara Falls, Lake Michigan, Minnesota, South Dakota, and North Carolina. I had my first taste of poutine in London, Ontario, Canada, saw elephants in the wild in Etosha National Park, and received a blessing at a Buddhist temple in Katagarama, Sri Lanka. My muse has been good to me.

 

WPC:Muse

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