Film Feb - Apsaras over doorway Angkor, Siem Reap, Cambodia
The empty rounded archways above them once contained buddha figures, but they were either chipped off by earlier visitors or sold to them as souvenirs.
I have a bit of a thing for taking photos of doors and windows, also archaeological sites, the ruins at Angkor provided plenty for me me to shoot. I really loved the apsaras - they are described as female supernatural beings who were superb dancers. There are numerous bas-relief carvings of apsaras throughout the temples of the Angkor complex.
Visiting Angkor had been a dream for me, and it did not disappoint. So many fabulous ruins and jungle to photograph. One of the strong memories though is the child vendors everywhere, selling anything the visitor may need, no matter if they need it or not. They had films (this was still in the film days), batteries for your camera, drinks, postcards, woven scarves (a speciality of the area) bags, t-shirts and more. They could chat up tourists in multiple languages and they charmed and disarmed me.
One little boy asked where I was from and said "G'day mate" when I responded Australia. I told him I never said that and his little face fell, suddenly grave and asked "why, is it bad words?" obviously concerned someone had taught him swear words so I quickly explained it was something men said more than women and he brightened up again. And walked along side me asking me about kangaroos.
At another site a group of little girls were selling scarves and their friends watching on. I struck a deal with 2 of them and was carefully selecting my purchases. One of their friends, a little girl with a large birthmark on her face shyly touched my hair and my arm, and before I could stop her she was on her knees cleaning grass seeds and dust off my jeans (below the knee) and off my hiking boots. I paid the two little scarf sellers and she looked at me hopefully saying "me, me?" pointing at herself and I gave her $1 too, the little face broke into a big grin and she blew me kisses as we drove away.
Excellent in BW, you caught the carvings wonderfully. Fabulous story as well, I hope their smiles endure and help erase the shadows of the recent past. You've helped rekindle a desire to travel more. Thanks, at least until the bills come in!
Awesome detail and I love the high-key b&w. Your travel stories are fascinating. This is a place I would love to visit after hearing and reading about so much of its history over the years.
...Cambodia, i should have guessed, you were tasked with hunting down Pol Pot in the jungles? This is a nice shot, and a nice story, there was a journalist on this project who only lasted a couple of months she was living in Phnom Penh and her photos were superb, shame she didn't stick it..
Angkor Wat is still awesome even after 6 separate trips to Siem Reap. Great B&W it really shows off the great detail. Amazing to think the carving has lasted for centuries although your shot also shows the harvesting that has been done over the years. We are headed back up in April probably for the last time with a friend who is visiting....we leave Cambodia in June.
@palusami where to next? You must be sad to be leaving there, I'd certainly like to go back for another visit.
I intentionally didn't crop the shot, I wanted to highlight the damage done, it is such a shame
Lovely pic ... love the details - l am saddened by how the children are taught to please foreigners for a sale of goods or service! - you have had some amazing experiences on your travels!
@shepardx2 my trip was in September 2003, and I'm not sure if the children are still selling goods there, but Tanya @palusami is living in Cambodia now and has shared stories of the children vendors in the capital Phnom Penh as recently as this week
Lovely story Megan. It brings back the memory of me walking through Kunai Grass in the Owen Stanley Ranges with a young fellow who became somewhat attached to me on many a walk and on one particular occasion, he was walking ahead of me humming and singing a "Men At Work" song, but not "Land Down Under" but "Who Can It Be Now"... it spun me out that this small child from PNG knew that song!
And you also remind me off a time when I walked through long grass at Cape Wom on the north coast of PNG, kicking coconuts with the local lads and when I sat down at the end of the day, my trouser legs were just a hairy covering of grass seeds from the knee down. As I rested to start pulling out the grass seeds, I had half a dozen young hands all helping to make light of the work...
February 25th, 2012
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Lovely B&W image
I intentionally didn't crop the shot, I wanted to highlight the damage done, it is such a shame
And you also remind me off a time when I walked through long grass at Cape Wom on the north coast of PNG, kicking coconuts with the local lads and when I sat down at the end of the day, my trouser legs were just a hairy covering of grass seeds from the knee down. As I rested to start pulling out the grass seeds, I had half a dozen young hands all helping to make light of the work...