Day 2 (Part 4/5) – I Heart Preah Khan
… continue from Day 2 (Part 3) – Baphuon & Elephant Terrace
Exiting the North Gate of Angkor Thom to Preah Khan, lining up is another row of soldiers pulling the naga. But the soldier is all headless. All thanks to thieves!
From far, I saw a child who is barely 2 years old sitting on the ground. He was looking blankly, day dreaming. I took a picture of him.
Picking up pace, I stop and look back at him one more time. He’s not moving. Not even a bit. Still sitting there like a statue. My heart just fell. He look so pityfull. I went to him again and whisper in his ear, “Boy, go home.”
He melt my heart just like how Baby Princess melted my heart.
… with his One Million Dollar smile! He gave me another “peace” sign. I couldn’t capture them in time. He is so adorable. Can you imagine their parents just let their kids wonder out without supervision? And, and that hygiene? OMG! (I was kidding on the conversation part with the boy. Hahaha!)
East Gopura
Two picturesque kapoc trees have become partially integrated into the structure. There’s more in the temple.
Preah Khan is a very old temple. Most of it’s structure has collapsed long time ago.
Restoration to save the tree or structure? One will have to choose.
On the way out, we spotted some kids playing.
What is she holding? Probably her pet. Looks like one of the wild jungle cat. You know, these kids are probably no longer stranger to tourist. I just get my camera out and they automatically start posing for me. She starked me with this, “Do you have candy?”
I almost pop my eyes out. SHE CAN SPEAK ENGLISH!
“I’m sorry Baby. I don’t have candy.” 🙁
Somehow, I had an instinct. I told my sis, “At the exit, we run as fast as we can. OK?”
My instinct is so accurate. The Khmer kids is up to their antic again. My sis and me decided to break up so that we won’t get caught at the same time.
*&^%$ punya budak. By the time I look up, she is standing next to the tuk-tuk drive, laughing at me.
By the time I managed to freed from the kids, I started to smell like them. Seriously! Now I can understand why Angelina Jolie choose to adopt a child from Cambodia. That little brat is sure a lucky lot.
Note in the above photo, there are a row of upright boundary stones line the entrance causeway. Their pillars carry carvings of a chimera with the head of a lion, the body of a man, and the legs and feet of a garuda. The niches originally held images of the Buddha (the religion of Jayavarman VII), but most of these were chiseled out in a fit of Hindu icon.
Kyels said,
October 4, 2007 @ 9:36 am
Did you manage to go to Ta Phrom?
I guess those kids rely on tourists to make a living because their own people will never buy the things. The means to make a living.
Annie Q said,
October 4, 2007 @ 11:48 am
hahahaha..i “smart” i come here few days and read three post in one go!
Like the little boy picture with the million dollars smile!
athena said,
October 4, 2007 @ 11:56 am
u paid the kids to take pics or not? i heard some kids ‘extort’ money to take pic wan
The Queen says: So far, I have not encounter any kids who ask me for money. Luckly they only ask me for candy.Â
Daddy said,
October 4, 2007 @ 7:11 pm
Oh dear…one day must bring my 3 little wonders there. Let them feel how fortunate they are living in Malaysia. Actually I should mention how good their parents.
Giddy Tiger said,
October 4, 2007 @ 11:22 pm
Those trees look like they walked right out of the Lord of The Rings! *rubs eyes in disbelief*
Selena said,
October 5, 2007 @ 4:59 am
i coulda sworn that tree-growing-out-of-temple was used in the first Lara Croft movie……… wotcha think? and errr…. i’m sure jasmine grows in Cambodia but not in Siberia…. 🙂
and also further, the animal that the kids have got is a civet (i think it’s from the musang family)
soontat said,
October 5, 2007 @ 8:47 am
The kid’s smile is so genuine. Melts anyone’s heart that looks at it
sila said,
October 6, 2007 @ 6:21 am
i love those trees growing into the structure of the temple! so cool..
Simple American said,
October 10, 2007 @ 3:27 am
You are just too soft and they could tell. 🙂