Angkor Wat in Cambodia by Nancy Dorrier

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February 4, 2013

Today we went to Angkor Wat in Cambodia at Siem Reap. Ket was our guide and he warned us he was not a cat herder!

We thought our guide might be Hoy who told us stories last night and this morning of the killing fields

But we ended up on bus 3 with Ket very fluent in  English and knowing the history of 12th century Angkor Wat, translation "city temple".  Once Hindu and then Buddhist.  Cambodians call themselves as do Thai, Hindu Buddhists

I got the book The Gods Drink Whiskey: Stumbling Toward Enlightenment in the Land of the Tattered Buddha that tells of the middle way, the way between pure philosophy, texts and analysis and on the other hand, practices, daily life and the heart and soul of Buddhism.  

Sitting in the Sofitel hotel after an incredible Thai massage with several beautiful flight attendants staying for the night here, too, in their ivory suits with turquoise blouses with bows at the neck.

So a mixture of the killing fields 3 million dead 1975 - 1979 and the ancient temple still being dug up and discovered. And massage and swimming and clean Cambodian food and climbing steps to the heavens in the ruins and holding on to the railing.  And giving little children $1 for 10 postcards and paying the "pimp" to photograph the costumed dancing children at the temple.  And emailing Amity to say we had listened to "All things considered" on our computer she being interviewed by Melissa Brook.

And looking up Pot Pol and the Khmer Rouge to at least understand some history of the unspeakable cruelty and devastation here and wondering why the extermination of the Jews is so well known and grieved and the Cambodian killing fields barely known or understood or even pronounced.

Is it that World History still does not include much beyond Europe and Marco Polo?  At least when I studied it back in the day.

Today very disturbing to be exploring a place where there was so much violence and now it is not talked about or only quietly by our guide Hoy.

Meanwhile mosquitoes and anti-malarial pills.  Heavenly vodka lemon grass and cilantro drinks and an email from Alice-Lyle celebrating actor-singer Jack Black's support for a cure for mitochondrial disease and I am watching his YouTube by the pool in Cambodia.

Comments

  1. SpiritedVWMarch 2, 2013 at 9:56 AM

    Good morning my dear Nancy,
    Hopefully both of you and your whole family doing well today.
    I was so glad and excited when I got your message, you know I was so disappointed when I did not see both of you
    In the bus when we started for the tour, so I hope both of you will join us latter, but the trip leader they need everyone
    Keep stay the same bus, this is why I missed to see both of you till the trip done.
    Finally I would like to say thank you so much for your kinds and your message.
    I always looking forwards to hearing from you.
    May the god blessing both of you and families with everlasting , healthy , happiness and prosperity, especially the five
    Benedictions of Buddha: Longevity and intelligence forever.
    My Best Regards,
    Your Cambodian friends, Hoy.

    ReplyDelete

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