So the new year is in it's 4th day ald and I am still without any resolution which I reckon is just as well considering I dont even fulfil any of it mostly. In any case the job thing would have to be central to whatever I do because I think if I dont do it now, I will simply morph into one of the furniture in the office. Which wont do much for me in term of stretching myself and embarking into some self actuation shit if you get what I mean.
As per always, I went on an uber extended holiday towards year end this time in cambodia. swanky place if you asked me. We didnt celebrate christmas or new year much, just simple meals which would otherwise cost an arm and leg literally in Singapore during the same period. I enjoyed myself throughly although I suffered quite a bad run towards the 2nd day visiting the angkor. Luckily everything cleared up later on but their toilets are not the worse I been. The credits for the worst belongs to China train station toilets and those coach stops at Malaysia. Moving on... The place was one big fusion hot pot that so much so that when you order food, when they come you get confuse if you are eating Chinese, Khmer, Vietnamese, Thai, English, French or Indian style. Although that's nothing to complain about because most of them taste yummy all the same!
One of the best part about the visits was to be able to trot on the same grounds in the temples that their kings had once worshipped. Temples after temples you wonder how many ppl took to build these walls that stood the test of time and despite some tumbled and was restorted to retain the magestic passage ways and galleries. The intricate carving on the walls and door way was amazing and the Apsaras dancers in their poses admired by millions who mill through the Angkor each year. The Kings and Gods in their best war outfit demostrating the fights between the evil and good were painstaking carved on murals and walkways that tell stories after stories how good will triumph simply left us in awe. As the guide explains the stories and legends of the buildings and structures you cannot help but wanting to ask questions as if you were back in a primary school excursion. The clever king who builds the structures make the door smaller and steps small so you look as though you are bowing and crawling as though to give the much respect the place deservingly should received.
We gasp at the trees at Ta Phrom that have since lend their roots to support the sandstone bricks that threaten to collapse from the structures. It was as if Mother nature didnt have the heart to let everything go to waste and instructed her faithfully plantings to support the deserted temples that men had for a period forgotten.
The 49 towers of Bayon with different expression the king have for each of the province. Never a frown but turmoil some were experiencing were expressed with a worried lisp on the lips of the statues. The towers from all asides seems to echos a blessing the king wanted on it people throughout the centuries.
We stood with the Gods and devils statues who were guarding Angkor thom while they were milking the sea for the Elixer. Their majestic stance makes one wonders if the carvers imagine the Gods and Devils to be this astute and poise. The soft moss which covers the stones breath colours to the stones and bricks and the people who mill ard the sites were endless like ants hurrying to the nearest sugar alert.
The palace of the leper king and the Elephant Terrace were once walls that protects the villagers and kept them safe. Despite only a section of the wings are left the area bestow to the legend of the leper king was still very much alive. Galleries of carving still laced the interior with stories and legends that stood for hundreds of years. I betcha the ancestors who carved all these are gleaming from heaven to see their work still adore by so many.
Glamorous of them all is the Angkor Wat which we had the fortune to spot it when we were flying out of Siem Reap. The grand palace was although dull with age, the presense that the forfather designed for it have never been dull by age. We walk through the galleries with the many tales of Vishnu, Shiva and the fights that took place all inscript like a full length movie. We walk through what must like 2 hours because every carving have a story and think Har Par Villa but maybe 20 times as many tales that the place can tell.
The steps up to the Angkor towers was steep and the steps really bitsy as per how the king wants it. So we look as we were on our kneel when we climb up. Nationalities of all sort like pilgrims, chalk up whatever courages they have to climb up the tower. When you look directly down on where you have climb, most ppl squint their eyes and look upwards wanting to forget the height that they are at holding on to whatever amount of the steps their hand can grab and continue their climb up. As we reach the last steps we crawl into the platform as how would the God wants us to pay our respect. Not by will mind you but by the thoughts of falling off the towers you can't help but want to go into the tower as fast and sturdy as you can and your kneels and hands clasp and hold on to whatever floor space is available instinctly. I tried to imagine how the Khmer King in those time will ply that place and with their ancient clothes enjoy the new temple grounds in their stroll.
Just as we think that is how the place can only be this magical, we went to a waterfall on Mt Kulen. Where the legend of a thousand lingas on the waterbed come alive! The ride up the mountain was teacherous and was a good few hours. However nothing was in vain with a good guide. They brought us to witness the thousands of lingas on the waterbed where carvers work on waterbeds to carve lingas and so many carving of legends that seems endless. The water from the river bed was thought to be bless by the carvings, flow down to a huge water fall where the king believe will cure him of all aliment that plague him. I didnt ask if the king did recover but I hope he did with all the labour spend to make this sight possible. We ended the day having a pinic host by the driver. Which was one of the best pinics I ever had may I add.
Siem Reap was rich with stories and full of mysterical myths that refuse to divulge too much to aliens like us. However it include us enough to make us feel so much for the place which I so throughly enjoyed!
I will continue with part II on Phnom Penh which witness the hardest of all hardship cambodia have ever went through.
