Nataya Walkway

Walkway extending out into the Gulf of Thailand at the Nataya Resort in Kampot, Cambodia. What I was doing at this lovely – and incredibly expensive – venue is explained here.  [NOTE: Predictions of snow in NY tomorrow had me thinking of balmy days in the Lower Mekong]. 

A Threat to Cambodia's Sacred Forests

Beautiful documentary by Kaylanee Mam about the threat to forests and forest dwellers caused by the planned construction of a hydroelectric dam in the pristine Areng Valley of southwest Cambodia. Just one of the innumerable violations of nature and indigneous humanity that occurs, it seems, almost every day on this planet. I post this piece because the Chong village is very close to where we did some of our rattan work in Cambodia (see Finally, Its a Book). [NOTE: Go here and here to find out more about the proposed dam and what you can do about it]. 

Case and Phearoom

Cambodian student, Neak Phearoom (see Earrings, Silk Scarf, and Maybe a Buddha), and my oldest son, Case (see Many Years Ago in Pontianak), descend the steps at the ruins of Angkor Wat in 2012. [NOTE: Phearoom took the current header image of "thus i have seen" during this trip (thx, Phearoom); we are waving to each other]. 

Finally, It's A Book

My book on the rattans of the Greater Mekong Region is finally out (see Almost A Book). Lot of good stuff here. The book contains: 1) an illustrated field guide to 65 rattan species (by the incomparable palm systematist, Andrew Henderson), 2) inventory and growth data from wild rattan populations in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, 3) a conservation assessment of rattan species, and 4) a relatively simple, participatory protocol for managing wild rattan populations on a sustained-yield basis.  Will be available in English, Khmer, Lao, and Vietnamese.

The book is being printed by the Agricultural Publishing House in Hanoi, and the official book launch is in Phnom Penh on February 13. I leave for Southeast Asia - for fieldwork and to give a talk at the book launch - the day after tomorrow. 

Tokay Gecko

One more marvelous thing seen at the ruins of Bayon (see Bayon, Painting at Bayon, and Incense Offering) in Cambodia: a large Tokay gecko (Gekko gecko L.) enjoying the shade afforded by the small crack between stones.   

Canes in Cambodia

Pile of rattan cane laying outside of the little rattan factory at Veal Rinh commune in Preah Sihanouk province, Cambodia (see Rattan Splitter).  I think the cane is Calamus viminalis Willd., or "phdau krek" (see Field Herbarium). [NOTE: I am very ready to go back to Cambodia and continue the rattan work. Am also curious about the status of my Fulbright application to teach in Phnom Penh next year]. 

Painting at Bayon

Came across this young man sitting in one of the shady, back passageways at the ruins of Bayon (see Bayon) in Angkor Thom. I didn't ask, but I assume he sells them to tourists. Amazing detailed and carefully rendered. Fine work. [NOTE: In addition to his paints and brushes and paper, he brought a scrap of pink Hello Kitty fabric to sit on].

Inside Angkor

A surprisingly vacant interior walkway at the main temple complex of Angkor Wat (see Monks at Angkor). [NOTE: Can't remember how I got this photo, because there were tons of people at the ruins when I visited]. 

In A Window at Pre Rup

After climbing in the blazing sun to get to the third tier of ruins at Pre Rup (see Pre Rup), I entered one of the shady interior rooms and walked over to the window to check out the view. Discovered the lovely mound of stones shown above. Precarious, yet stable. Cool to the touch. Wonder how long these have been here?

Reclining Buddha at Baphoun

On the western side of the temple of Baphoun at Angkor Wat, there is a retaining wall fashioned into a 60 m long reclining Buddha. The project was undertaken in the 15th or 16th century, and its pretty hard to make it out. The shot below of the signage about the figure may help - somewhat.  It's hard to see even when you are standing right in front of it 

[NOTE: The guidebooks refer to Baphoun as the world's largest jigsaw puzzle. The temple was taken apart piece by piece to restore it and then the Cambodia civil war broke out. All the records were subsequently destroyed duing the Khmer Rouge years, leaving archaeologists with the task of figuring out where to put each of the 300,000 stones to reconstruct the temple.]