Temples, more temples...

I have had three days of temple exploring-really awsome. Can't wait to upload my 500 pictures! It has been wonderful to immerse myself in this 9th-12th century ancient empire and all its glories. It does cause one to ponder empires and their eventual fall from glory. Cambodia is a struggling country and quite poor, but people are very kind and friendly even with a continuing resentment about US bombs and unexploded mines harming people to this day. What a weight our government has left on the world.The only harsh words I heard were about my lack of care for my three day temple pass. I managed to tear a corner of it,and that was frowned on by several gatekeepers. There is quite a bit of respect for protocol here.And still alot of traditional religous practices-mixes of Buddhasim and left over Hindu. I've been praying to false (who knows?) idols quite a bit, just to see the drill. For Vishnu worship, we brought fruit & money, all the Buddhas get lotus flowers, insence sticks and money. It reminds me of Catholic rituals. bowing & prayers. Much more drumming around the bigger pagodas. I think I've earned some merit...reminds me of chants for souls in purgatory. Whatever happened to purgatory anyway?

Being templed-out I spent the day with some market shopping and then respite from the heat, sipping lemon drink in a "butterfly" tea cafe which had netting over the garden to keep butterflies in. I went to the local bookstore and traded a book for postcards, had coffee with some Australian folks I met and generally hung out. I am in the last leg of journey now, headed for Hanoi tomorrw. It's been tough to have ten days alone, but I've chatted up strangers and watched weird TV at night.It's a very different experience from my time in Vietnam. Being a tourist is really an experience in privilege and difference. I feel even more grateful for my time in Tinh Khe, connected and part of a community, however briefly.