Koh Tao or a little less conversation

the final stop of my journey is a place of relaxation, especially below the water. I spent every day diving in one of the various dive sites around the island.

I saw the most beautiful things: corals of all colors, fish of all colors, mermaids and today a sea horse. I'm happy. Diving makes me happy.

May all beings be happy. May all beings be free.

A village close to Siem Reao or Sunday's duty

Ok, mom said I should go and get some vegetables for lunch, she gave me money and said I should walk. Well, I'm much quicker with the bike.

I know its not mine and it is too big. And I know my brother will kill me for taking his bike. But, well I manage. Sure. I'll be back before he'll find out ....

Saturday afternoon or how to impress a white girl

Angkor Wat or being just grant

When I went to visit Angkor Wat I put on my finest suit, cleaned my teeth, brushed my hair and manifested my broadest smile into my face. Well, i was going to see ANGKOR WAT. One of the seven world wonders. the biggest religious building in the world. A fusion of Hinduism and Buddism. Just the Grant. I was a little nervous.

But there was no need to be nervous because the grant lady was very kind and actuality she was not in very good shape. There were major construction and archaeological operations in progress, so she could not shine as bright and glorious as she might have liked. But she still won my heart by her greatness, her strength and also her courage to show me her weakness: aging. Grant old lady, respect.

The children of Angkor

While visiting the temples of Angkor always the same thing would happen upon arriving at a new temple: a bunch of very young kids, girls and boys would run to you and try to sell you something. Screaming "one dollar", "one dollar". Some little souvenirs, a necklaces, some postcards, magnets. Stuff of pour quality from poor children. I bought one or two things because I really pitied them. Sometimes I did not buy but gave them all my chewing gum I had left ...

Arriving after the daily monsoon rain at a small and less popular temple I was the first tourist who came after the rain had stopped and I had saw the kids playing just like children play. They played in the puddles of the rain water being just little kids.

Ta Prom or natures heaven

I visited Ta Prom for the first time very early in the morning. I was the only tourist, just some workers were around. It was my second temple though the one I visited before was like visiting a church: old stones, some carvings. You that kind of thing. But when I entered To Prom I felt like being the jungle that happened to home an old temple but was not going to get disturbed by it.

The trees are so high that the sky is barely visible and its roots are huge legs of any kind of animal or monster you can make up in your fantasy. Walking through this beautiful and magical place I felt like a little real explorer of course knowing that about 3 million other people probably had the same feeling. Though because i was on my own and also alone I could not just see the nature embodied in those gigantic trees but also here with all the noises you get in a tropical jungle. and I had wonderful company by a couple of butterflies in the most beautiful colors and shapes.

I came back a second time two days later, stopped taking pictures (well, not sooo many, at least) and just enjoyed this enchanted place. Heaven.

Bayon or eternal faces

Bayon Temple is the spectacular central temple of the ancient city of Angkor Thom, which is located just to the north of Angkor Wat. Built around 1190 AD by King Jayavarman VII, Bayon is a Buddhist temple but it incorporates elements of Hindu cosmology.Bayon is known for its huge stone faces of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, with one facing outward and keeping watch at each compass point. So once I entered the temple and walked up the steps I felt to be watched. And I looked up and I saw the most kind and sweet face and then I saw it again and again and again.

And after a little while I saw the differences, some face were broken others had green lips or little cracks and wholes in their faces. But still the kindness they radiated gave me a peaceful and happy mood and I left with a big smile on my face.