Phare Circus

We went to the Phare Circus which has several different shows. We chose the heaviest which covered the Khmer Rouge period till now and it was amazing. It would bring you to an emotional edge and then pull you away with some acrobatics. 

In the background you can see the American bombs falling. Later the Rouge erases the Buddha with a giant black X and then just paints it black to paint a happier scene. 

The Phare also supports a school that teaches children the arts. We saw a Aspara Dance before the show performed by some of the students. 

Giant Circuit of Temples

We did the giant loop which is an outer loop of temples in the Anghor area. I will show a name and the a couple of pictures from each. We were more organized for this loop. 

A big thing about this temple is a two story part which wasn't done in temple building. 

A temple in the middle of a lake with four pools surrounding it. Many with lotus lilies. 

Another beautiful temple.

Elephants on each corner; Kerry staring one down.  

A little temple in the middle of the lake.

This is the bigger temple on the land that was somehow connected to the lake one. 

And our last one of the day. Two more to go on Monday. 

And now for some of the entertainment. 

Along the entry to many of the more popular temples, musicians busk for donations. They are the musicians who have lost a limb due to the unexploded ordinances left by either the Americans, Khmer Rouge, or the Vietnamese Army. The U.S. has contributed about $3 million a year to cleanup efforts. We spent over $2 million a day dropping the bombs. 

I only did the sound on the walk up so you could get a feel for the music. 

Kerry and I have been analyzing this trip extensively because of the significant role the US has played in the region. We’ve also been struck by the incredible kindness and resilience of the people we’ve met. Despite the past atrocities and questionable actions they’ve endured, they remain incredibly friendly, humorous, and simply pleasant. 

I hope that todays attacks on places across the globe come to an end soon. Nobody but those that are profiting want this. 

 Siem Reap

We made it to Siem Reap, Cambodia home of Angkor Wat and the Ankor UNESCO Heritage site. 

We are staying in an incredible resort with a huge room and this pool that has a bridge to it and it goes all around a swim up bar. It is pretty chill though. Not a lot of splashing and/or music, just people enjoying the heat and taking a dip.

Angkor Wat is a giant temple that is housed in the Angkor Ancient City which covers 400 Square miles . The Ancient city is comprised of a whole bunch of different Wats and temples and villages. In it's peak the whole ancient city had a population of 700,000 to 900,000. 

The Naga, not a cobra or serpent because it has 7 heads!

Reclining Buddha

The pictures that Kerry and I would like to have all over our place but can't have because we usually go without a photographer. 🤣

We then went to several other temples in the UNESCO site called Angkor the ancient city. 

Before I get there, our driver explained that all Cambodians drink beer after they work and he promised to have some beer for me in the car, he also explained that on the tab which he didn't know the name of you could win another beer and keep on drinking or a million bucks. Well, he did not disappoint. 

I explained that the proper name is a pull tab or poptop and then I explained to Kerry that if you didn't want to litter or expose someone to a cut foot, one would just slip it right back into the can after pulled.

Anyhow, I won him another beer. Oh, yes, and you might notice we are in the car and what you wouldn't notice is that we are driving. He isn't though because he was working and not off work. 

Pra Tom

The jungle takes back civilization

Banyon Temple 

The faces....

For Ann

A Buddha ready for the rainy season.

The gate with a tug of war for good and evil.

Our guide and photographer, Salon.