Making My Living

This photo would probably be condemned for poor technical quality, but I liked it anyway. It captures two generations of Cambodian working hard to earn their living. This picture was taken on our minivan, on the way to Tonle Sap.

Going Home

I took this picture whilst touring the floating village on Tonlé Sap late in the evening. I have to assume that she was heading for home. Always a good feeling.

The River of Dreams

While in Siem Reap, you have to take a boat trip on Tonlé Sap. It's a beautiful lake south of the city and leads southeast to the city of Phnom Penh then on to the Mekong River. We knew about the trip late in the afternoon, but were still able to find a boatman and his son to take us out to the lake.

Lonely Boy

This picture was taken outside of where we stayed during our trip to Siem Reap. We just had our dinner and were on our way back to the guesthouse when I saw this guy sitting on the roof of the opposite building; watching and waiting as Mother Earth drew her curtains.

I used this picture a lot whenever I felt lonely, but perhaps it is more deserving. There's a time to "act" and left for the day. When evening comes, we go into silent contemplation and reflection. That's what it should portray!

Why does dawn symbolise hope while dusk is often associated with despair? I have always enjoyed sunsets, they remind me of rest that I desire.

A Helping Hand

I took this photo from a coach shuttling us from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, our next and final destination. We were passing one of the rural villages along the banks of the Tonlé Sap when I saw these two ladies packing their personal belongings atop a minivan. The misty effect is not the result of any camera tricks but because the photo was shot through a glass window.

Infinite Chains

In one of the rooms on the ground floor of Tuol Sleng, shackles used to chain prisoners are hung in rows that provides a grim remembrance of how many victims were tortured and kill on this compound.

The Room

This is one of the rooms used to imprison the innocent. The chains shackled the detainees in the cramp makeshift walls. The size of this cell was already considered a luxury.

Green Pastures

These photos were taken as a record of prisoners who were imprisoned, tortured and killed. This is one of many boards that captures the images of these men, women and children who were murdered by pure insanity.

You will find many close up photos of these victims here. Looking at them brings me tremendous sadness as I recall the many stories of pain that hung on the top floor of this savage building that used to be a school.

Till today, I remember the story about a woman engineer who answered Pol Pot's call to rebuild the Angkor empire. She was trained in developing irrigation systems and quickly left her village so that she could help develop water systems that could help bring back the golden era where padi fields were bountiful. Little did she know that she would be sent to her death.

Can such cruelty and injustice exist?

Sadly and painfully... yes.

The Bed

A bed is always considered a place to rest, a place of comfort. But in Tuol Sleng, this was exactly the opposite. The picture hanging on the wall was taken shortly after Vietnamese troops liberated the city. The bed and instruments of torture were used for the most unthinkable reasons.

Despair

This picture is self-describing. The pile of bones and rags were left there deliberately as a testimony to the horrible crimes committed.

Learning

This being an auspicious day (888), I shall post a more palatable snapshot of Cambodia.

We visited Siem Reap after spending 2 days in Phnom Penh, during which, we visited the famous temples of the great Angkor empire. Despite my fear of heights, I decided to join my friends in scaling to the top of Angkor Wat, and I was really glad I did. I found this scene of a professional photographer (inferred from the D2X strap and her request for a signed model release) conversing with two monks. I assumed she was on a photo assignment.

What makes this my favourite photo taken during my trip to Cambodia, was the humility to learn portrayed in this setting. Let me attempt not to sound too prejudice... the couple appeared to be from a first world country, while the monks were obviously from a much poorer and less developed nation. Even so, the lady photographer found it necessary be seated at a lower position as she listened attentively to her "teachers". Remarkable!

Blood Memories

When we arrived at Choeung Ek, many little kids came to greet us with offers to pose in front of our cameras. You would hear their pleading voices saying, "Kamera, kamera, one, two, three smile." And, "1 dollar, 1 dollar". We had learnt that these kids were often victims of syndicates exploiting the little ones to beg for the tourist dollars. And I guess that's why I was very reluctant to take up any of their offers. Besides, if you obliged one kid, a flock soon follows.

In the middle of the Killing Fields site stands a structure known as the Stupa. Interestingly, this is what a stupa is supposed to be:

A stupa (from Sanskrit and Pāli: m., स्तूप, stūpa, literally meaning "heap") is a mound-like structure containing Buddhist relics--once thought to be places of Buddhist worship--typically, the remains of a Buddha or saint. [source]

But for this great monument, skulls, bone fragments, clothes, sandals etc., are placed on wooden shelves as a testimony to the horrible crimes that happened on this bloodied soil. At the entrance of the stupa, there's a small urn for placing joss sticks offered for the dead.

Being there, and even now, it all seemed so surreal. How could men be so capable of such atrocities? Men, women and children brutally beaten to death and thrown into pits to die. But sadly, it is real.

Peek in the Past, Look to the Future

Perhaps some of you might recall that I was using this title as my MSN Personal Message together with this photo as an icon. This picture was also taken from within the minivan that was bringing us to Choeung Ek.

The full caption I had in mind actually consists of three parts, but for brevity I decided on only using the first and last phrases. Here's what the picture attempts to portray:

1. Peek in the Past - I was seated in the middle on the first row, and had a perfect view of the road ahead. It was hot and sunny that day, so whilst we sat in the van, we had the curtains blocking out most of the sunshine, hence giving this high contrast view through the windshield. The vehicle had just turned from a well-paved asphalt road, onto a dirt track as we made our way to the Killing Fields. There were no road dividers, and you can see oncoming motorbikes and bicycles sharing the narrow path. Looking out, you can also see zinc-roofed timber houses that were a stark contrast from the brick an mortar buildings in the heart of Phnom Penh.

2. Dwell in the Present - The three of us were shaded in the comfort of the minivan and kept cool with modern day innovations such as the air-conditioner!

3. Look to the Future - It was a long journey and we were anxious to arrive at our destination. The narrowing perspective of the road also gives a feeling of the "light at the end of the tunnel".

Pagoda of Enlightenment (Wat Phnom)

This majestic Wat (pagoda) was one of the first landmarks we visited when we arrived in Phnom Penh. The weather was hot, humid and we had just settled in. Hardly a good start to our adventure.

Before visiting the temple, we each had a USD1 meal that included a plate of "nasi goreng" (Cambodian-style) and a huge fresh coconut. After lunch, we walked up the stairs to visit the temples that were built atop the same hill. Whilst taking pictures and enduring the warm afternoon, an english-speaking local guide walked over and offered to show us around. We knew what this meant: a huge tip was to follow.

Strangely, my worldly-wise friend decided to take up his offer and hence, we spent most of the afternoon walking around, appreciating the architecture and listening not so attentively to the stories the guide was sharing with us. I was preoccupied with snapping pictures and was hardly paying any attention to him. Although I did learnt that head of a Buddha statue was buried under the concrete dome. The statue head was recovered by Lady Penh who later erected the hilltop temple to house it. The capital city was also named in her honour.

After our mini-tour, he brought us to a nearby drink stall to cool down from the heat. There the killer question came - how much? It didn't turn out too expensive, only USD10. Seven dollars for his time, and 1 dollar for each can of coke we drank. I just didn't like the feeling of being suckered.

But while we were seated chatting with him. He suddenly told us about how he planned to live his life. It had all the hallmarks of a practising buddhist and I deeply admired his simplicity. He was a tourguide by profession. He had been doing outbound tours previously, be recently changed to inbound tours such as the one we just had. And when he has earned enough, he wanted to travel the world. After he is satisfied, he planned to return and settled down - wife, kids etc. Then he would school his kids and watch them grow up. Then when he's old, children are all grown up, he'll daily sit out in his backyard and await his death.

That short time we had conversing about his life made every cent count.