Seam Reap

There are three very interesting places that I had the luxury to visit in my first two weeks in Cambodia.

For purpose of conciseness, the first was the small city of Seam Reap, where I visited Angkor Wat,the ancient Cambodian ruins that date roughly 900 years old from 1113.

The Second visit was a motorcycle ride of one hour to the Killing fields, 30 km from Phenom Penh ,my current residence.

The third, and by far the saddest, was the prison, situated in the city itself. That visit coincided on the same day with the killing fields visit. The latter two were experiences in seeing the human capability for evil. Thank God ,I had my two Cambodian friends with me to share my shock, sadness and disbelief.

Well, let me start with Seam Reap . It’s the hometown of my colleague Rashna and is situated 400 km north of where we live. That translates to a six hour comfortable bus ride. Thank God the bus had a toilet.

The trip was uneventful,the country side was beautiful, and the chairs restful. I slept two hours. The houses were all on stilts to prevent monsoonal flooding. Most had rice fields behind them. Livestock was everywhere to be seen. As I mentioned before, I even saw a woman bathing cow in a river

Most people here are Buddhist,so it wasn’t a shock, just a passing amusement. Fruit trees were equally prevalent.

We borrowed a car from Rashna’s friend, and got around very comfortably. SeamReap is a small city by Cambodian standards,and a small town by western standards. We settled in a very comfortable hotel . I was shocked to find the cost was $15 a night. we were very comfortable and wanted nothing.

We visited Rashna’s, communal home. It was supplied by a well with a pump, Helen Keller style. The water was cool and refreshing. The hospitality was amazing. He had built the house with his brother. It was simple , small and comfortable. I met his wife and kids. That made me miss my own even more. Sweet people they were

At Angkor Wat,the first ting I noticed was snake statues.They were clearly cobra like with the typical flaps at the neck. In Cambodian language they are called Naga.

They represent strength and as such, protect the domain of the royalty. The Cambodian people believe that they are descendants of the snake,not so foreign perhaps when you consider the story of Adam and Eve and the temptation by the serpent.
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They also believe that their first queen was descendant of the Naga king
There were two or three bridges. These represented a bridge from the underworld to our world,as well as a bridge from our world to heaven. All were built from huge stones. These stones averaged 5 tonnes in weight and were carried by elephants in ancient times.`

The temples were dedicated to the Hindu belief in Vishnu,one of the incarnations of their deity. It showed the epic battles he took place in through beautiful engravings on the walls.

There were 5 different ruins. We visited three I abstained from the last. My colleague Jeremy and his sister Ting went up. They took up that challenge alone, and climbed to dizzying heights.

We climbed to the top. I am notoriously bad at balance,and the steps were very small for my big feet. As such,I had Jeremy holding one arm and Rasna the other. The top most level must have been 100 steps above ground level. Thanks to my 2 companions, no injuries or falling occurred.

The last ruins that jeremy visited had very narrow steps. One look at them and I said no. Too high,. Too steep, an attempt could easily have been catastrophic. I know my limits.

We also went for a cow barbecue at the night. It was an entire cow on a huge spit . The ribs were already exposed as it was half eaten. It was pitch black night. The butchers were muslim and the meat permissible. They cut pieces off and cooked them for us.

Well after all the excitement and climbing, we decided to take the night bus back. I slept the whole way,and arrived in the morning refreshed.

Visitng Cambodia

Arrived in sunny Cambodia on a Wednesday night after an uneventful 2 hour flight from Singapore. I was very emotional at the airport, and while saying goodbye ,the last goodbye to my youngest son, Yusuf, since he was home from school. The others had their googbyes in the morning as they had school or necessary work.

Must have hugged him three four times tightly kissing him. The tears flowed very easily the entire day. My friend told me that others in the airport avoided me .as I looked so sad. Why? I will be away for at least 4 months. all alone, and my total work assignment will be two years. As Cambodia is only a 2 hour flight, I can visit the family a few times a year,God willing

Cambodian people are very hospitable. At meals, they serve Chinese tea,and continue to refill the cup until you signal them to stop. The tea is warm and light. Unfortunately for me, Cambodians are very fond of pork, I cant eat that , so I restrict myself to vegetables and bread when necessary. Lots of fish is available. They equally enjoy beer, and I equally abstain.

The weather in Cambodia is tropical. It is February but the temperature is 25C or higher. In Canada, it might well be -25, and I would be shivering.

We have a local friend helping us. The currency here is Real 1US $ = 4000, but everything is paid in dollars. Hotels, food etc. The food I eat is nice,but has loads of MSG.

There is a Muslim community here, albeit small.I believe 13%. Some speak Malay. They spoke a Malay sermon in the mosque on Friday. The muslim ladies wear head scarfs, and the men typical muslim hats.

Everything seems cheap,unless you eat western diets. A decent hotel room is $15 a night, A Mars bar in contrast is $1 and box of cornflakes$2.50. Local food is cheap. A meal for four people costs $10. Imports are expensive.

Some people drive Toyotas and Mercedes, and the non-city roads are narrow and 2 lanes.
We stayed in Phnom Penh from Wednesday night. On Friday, we took a 6 hr bus up north to Seam Reap (314 km), the more historical city. Visited an ancient temple today called Ankor Wat. It had Buddhist and Hindu monasteries dating 800 or so years. They were cut from huge stones weighing 3 tons. Elephants carried the stones in ancient times. These places had very high towers. Statues of Buddha were ubiquitous.

The landscape was much like Vietnam. Rice padi fields everywhere. Many houses are built on stilts. That prevents flooding during monsoon season. Cows were everywhere. I even saw a lady bathing a cow in the river. People here dress semi conservatively.

Tomorrow night we return via night bus. Many stars are visible as there are few street lights outside the city. We are in the middle of farmland and country.

The prophet

The prophet was a man

To him none compare

In essence so good

Of him none were scared

He prayed all  night

With swollen feet

For our forgiveness

Our mercy to seek

His smile lit

The  world blue

Abolished hate

His message true

Born an orphan

With mother  to pass

What comfort had he?

Yet mercy it lasts

He shyed away

From all idolatry

To find true God
To finally see

His people hated him

And what was his sin

Care for the orphan

To all he’d grin

Greeted all with smiles

Even enemy deep

His Love for us

To this day replete

Perchance to meet him

Oh but to try

Alas fall short

Can’t even cry

The prophet my dear

The prophet my love

Send blessings on you

From Allah above

Beg dear Allah

To dry these tears

From broken words

And enemies leers

Oh dear God

Me I can’t defend

My strength it’s gone

From loves it ends

I turn to him

The one whose true

My lord dear God

My lord so true

And beg of him

On prophet dear

Bestow your blessings

Deep and sincere

Robert Frost" The road not taken"

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

A beautiful article about the Logic of Islam

Of Love and hate

I am so burning mad
Slapped in the face by dears

Rewarded sincerity

Perhaps not so dear

Turned away in scornful frown

I know a test for me

Who feels too weak to fight

Their vengeance cant be free

I beg of them forgive

Who would not give me face
Nor hear a word they do

Blamed of ill disgrace

And yet they turn to me

Beg me of some task

I ask entreat groan

Their  enmity it lasts

Why can we not forgive

I ask oh pitiful  man

In hate not satisfied

So fruitless a poor plan

Who is it who won’t; let go

Of fleeting life a dream

We justify our hate

Under muffled scream

If we hurt those ones

Does our pain grow less

Alas it is not so

Ever mounting stress

Perhaps if we forgave

Of those bonds break loose

Life would come more sweet

Untie that dreadful noose

We hold our own selves down

Our hate it self consumes

In binge not satisfy

Digging our own tombs

If we loved not hate

We might see some true light

Liberated free

No need for pain or fright

Let us vow to love

If only smallest show

Perchance liberty

Might help us soar and grow

Our God he  shows  true love

And we disgraceful hate

Oh pitiful humankind

Time to clean the slate

Goodbye for now

How to say good bye

It scares me to dear life

I’m not a one to quit

But thus avoid more strife

How to prove myself

To those who doubt me

To those who marginalize

To them who will not see

I’ve said it time again

Alas they merely scoff

Will not believe resolve

Doubt they’ll see me off

Ungrateful friends some are

I doubt they would me miss

No smile for journey long

Less tender goodbye kiss

I will to prove myself

If only just to me

Ill not stand down and die

Just searching to be free

Alas I know its done

The time it merely waits

What lies ahead don’t know less care

Searching for my fate

I think I may return

Dear god knows only when

Hold my head up high

Its begun not at an end

And still the pangs of doubt

Gazing to unknown

Can I say I have learnt?

In this have I grown?