| The former French protectorate fascinated us with its bright smile. We believed this magic came from Buddha's serenity and wisdom. We also tried to clear up this mystery in the light of the admirable courage of the Cambodian people. Mutilated and maimed by modern history which took them off an arm, a foot and members of their family. On the other hand, it also gave them an extraordinary joy and energy for life. In spite of antipersonnel mines which keep on bringing back the dark collective memory of Pol Pot’s genocide, hope irradiates the new generation. |
| The Khmer civilization being as fascinating as those of the Greeks or Romans, we took a rickshaw, to get to know a bit of their empire, during a one week breakaway. Our admiration for the treasure of Angkor, antique metropolis situated a few kilometres away from Siam Reap, was deep and will remain unfailing. Khmer capital from the 9th to the 15th centuries, Angkor showed itsef as one of the most beautiful sites of the world heritage. |
| The monumental temple of Angkor Vat, the biggest religious building in the world, and several hundreds of other architectural wonders, showed us the magnificences of this realm. The buildings with an incredible decorative wealth displayed magnificent scenes of the Hindu and Buddhist religions. The very artistic sculptures on the bas-reliefs honoured the heavenly dancers, called apsaras, which embodied a magical ballet of nymphs. |
| We thought of the explorers and the archaeologists on the back of elephants who rediscovered these palaces invaded by the jungle. In 1861, well before Pierre Loti, the French naturalist Henri Mouhot revealed, in Le Tour du Monde, The World Tour, newspaper the existence of this lost city. We guessed his emotion at that time, in the sight of the majestic 60 metre high kapok trees which enclosed stones and ruins with their vegetable tentacles. Eyewitnesses like he was of this prestigious past, we kept a respectful silence. |
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cambodia
offerings in an Angkor temple
Khmer smile
buddhist pilgrimage
butterfly garden bar in Siem Reap
moats of Angkor Vat
hunting in the subtropical jungle