Photo Sunday: The Buddha of Ta Phrom

The sitting Buddha of Ta Phrom in Cambodia

One of the best temples I have had been while in Angkor was the Ta Phrom and this is what I saw, a sitting Buddha where scented candles were offered and a lighted one too. As I walked briskly pass by the statue, I was amazed at how beautifully it was made and celebrated by both locals and tourists alike. I have the seeming affection for this and cultures where faith manifests in so many manners we practice it. This one I saw is inspiring and genuinely Khmer.

Why the Elephants?

The gentle Elephants carrying tourists in Cambodia

I have never had a face-to-face encounter with an elephant in my entire life until I reach the Kingdom of Cambodia. Understandably, like Thailand and Laos, Cambodia has much use, for centuries of elephants. May it be for transportation, hard and manual labor on the fields and now, tourism. I am captivated by these tender giants since I was young, watching oriental movies where an elephant is considered a friend and a family. Rudyard Kipling’s classic, “The Elephant Child” is a constant companion in my search to understand better these graceful giants.

Reflections on the Road: Angkor Wat

A family on holiday in Angkor Wat, Cambodia

For the past years, my friends knew of my intention of coming up with a coffee-table book, a compilation of sort of those photos I took on the road together with my self-made as well as written quotations that best describes my perspectives of my experience. This is what I have learned while on the road in Angkor, one the distinctly defines my own humanity and coupled with my own dreams pursued while on the road, I have rediscovered my own self-worth, one that will forever lead me to where I knew I am most comfortable: my heart.