{"id":17070,"date":"2023-10-13T01:45:00","date_gmt":"2023-10-13T07:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gentryconnects.net\/?p=17070"},"modified":"2023-10-12T14:46:06","modified_gmt":"2023-10-12T20:46:06","slug":"monkey-business-in-cambodia-exciting-cambodia-and-enchanting-temples","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gentryconnects.net\/?p=17070","title":{"rendered":"MONKEY BUSINESS IN CAMBODIA. EXCITING CAMBODIA AND ENCHANTING TEMPLES."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The next stop on our exciting Southeast Asia adventure with our grandsons was Cambodia. We flew on a prop airplane from Bangkok to Siem Reap by Bangkok Airways. Our last trip to this fascinating country was in 1997 and I must say things have definitely changed! The photo above is Owen with his brand new friend. It puts “going along for the ride” <\/em>in a whole new light.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Everyone was excited for a brand new adventure.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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We were picked up at the airport by a vintage Mercedes limousine from the <\/strong>Viroth Hotel<\/strong><\/a> in Siem Reap.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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When Marla and I visited the city 26 years ago there were just a few hotels in town. I remember when taking a shower brown, muddy water came out first!<\/strong> In 1997 there were holdout <\/strong>Khmer Rouge<\/strong><\/a> rebels still in the jungle. We were told that “If we heard gunfire we should hide in the bathtub as this was the safest place!”<\/em><\/strong> Today Siem Reap has many trendy hotels and nice restaurants.<\/strong> We loved our hotel and their prices were really a bargain compared to Thailand! We’re having our “Welcome drink” <\/em>after a very long day of travel.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Our hotel organized two days of private tours of the temples in the Angkor area. This is the entrance to the south gate of Angkor Thom. It is one of 5 ancient gates dating back to the 12th century.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A very hot, but happy group in front of Angkor Wat. This was the capital city of the Khmer Empire which flourished from the 9th to the 15th century. We were surprised by how few tourists were around the temples. We were told the tourists from China were half of what they usually are.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This is a photo I took at Angkor Wat in 1997 when we were nearly the only tourists!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Kol Chamrong was our very accommodating and knowledgeable guide.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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On the rough path to the Bayon temple. It was built in the 12th or early 13th century and was the official state temple of the Mahayana Buddhist King Jayavarman VII.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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We had limited access to the inside of Bayon because they are trying to be more protective of the temple.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This is one of my favorite shots of the Bayon temple in 1997 when I carried a heavy medium format camera . Under the Khmer Rouge, all religious practices were forbidden in 1975. Very few of Cambodia’s 65,000 Buddhist monks<\/strong> survived the Khmer Rouge’s reign of power. Note the solitary monk.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A temple awaits<\/strong> our intrepid explorers.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Vaughan and Owen head down an ancient passageway.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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An Apsara<\/a> carving next to a temple opening.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Yours truly at Angkor Wat.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A couple receiving a Buddhist blessing inside Angkor Wat.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Buddha scuptures inside Angkor Wat.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ta Prohm, my very favorite temple to visit, was built as a double-moated, royal monastery during the reign of Jayavarman VII at the end of the twelfth century. As a Mahayana Buddhist, the king dedicated the monument to his mother envisioned as a “bodhisattva” or saint of compassion. The images of Buddha himself were removed from the temple by Jayavarman VII’s successor, Jayavarman VIII, who was a Hindu.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ta Prohm is very atmospheric with the jungle almost taking it over.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Fig, banyan and kapok trees spread their gigantic roots over stones, probing between the walls. They actually destroy some of the temple structures.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A 1997 photo of Marla and I all alone inside the Ta Prohm temple except for a soldier with an AK-47.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Our first day of temple tours was really exhausting<\/strong> but after a massage (part of our hotel package) and a shower we somehow had the energy to go into town. We took one of Siem Reap’s unique double size Tuk Tuks to the town market.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I love how Marla interacts with shopkeepers at the market. She enjoys interacting with everyone. We found some gorgeous silk scarves. One big plus…they accept U.S. dollars everywhere!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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We were very hungry for dinner after the shopping!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The second day included the fabulous North Gate of Angkor Thom.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The pathway entrance to the Preah Khan temple.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Our biggest surprise was when a monkey jumped up on Owen! It even climbed up on his head.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Two days of temple touring may not be everyone’s preference. Owen did confide in me at the end of the day saying,…“Papa,…I think I’m templed out!”<\/em> The heat did wreck havoc on Marla due to her heart meds! Unless you really love the visual excitment of temple exploration I might suggest planning one day of touring the most beautiful temples in advance with your tour guide. We loved Angkor Wat, Bayon, Ta Prohm, and Banteay Srey!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I must say Marla, Vaughan, and Owen were amazing explorers.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A portal at Banteay Srey temple.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I was slightly comatose at lunch but an ice cold Angkor Beer rejuvenated me!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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One of my favorites was Banteay Srey, a 10th century Cambodian temple dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It is easy to be transported back to a distant time and imagine what life was like when the area was bustling with people so many centuries ago.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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We truly had a wonderful and transformative visit to Siem Reap and the temples of Angkor. We were driven to the airport to catch a flight back to Bangkok and then to the Island of Koh Samui.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Photos: Dick Gentry. Not to be used without permission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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