Story & Memorial in Cambodian History | 29 June 2013 Reflecting, processing, blankly staring at walls and through windows
People
Woman holding one of the many palm leaf and jasmine bud decorative objects crafted the morning of the stupa ceremony – Takeo
Bustling life at the mountain top temple – Phnom Bokor, Kampot
The exhumed mass graves located in front of the memorial – Wat Kampong Tralach, Kampot
In conversation with Shirley Gunn, executive director of Human Rights Media Centre in South Africa – Blue Dog Guesthouse, Phnom Penh
Family haphazardly thrown together for the afternoon to aid in research – Wat Champuh Ka’ek, Kandal (Photo by Borima Chan)
Chin Sen looking into the genocide memorial – Wat Kampong Tralach, Kampot
Man tidying up at Angkor Wat – Angkor, Siem Reap
Father and daughter test out the sand – Kampong Som
After a visit to Tuol Sleng, with Sarah Lischer, professor in the Politics and International Affairs Department at Wake Forest University and author of Dangerous Sanctuaries: Refugee Camps, Civil War, and the Dilemmas of Humanitarian Aid – Terrace 95, Phnom Penh (Photo by Friendly Server at Terrace 95)
On a visit to the temple – Wat Ounalom, Phnom Penh (Photo by Tom Som)
A young woman expertly folds back the petals of lotus flowers that will later dress the shrines – Phnom Oudong, Kandal
Yutney near an informational board near the memorials – Wat Tmei, Siem Reap
Interviewing with the 74-year old Oeung Duong in collaboration with HelpAge Cambodia staff – Srey Oeu, Battambang (Photo by Lee Nemo)
In discussion with the 71-year old Lang Chhay Vuon Yen about the state of the local temple after the genocide, his experiences, and the memorial on site – Wat Chrey, Battambang (Photo by Angela Lim)
Girls around the stupa pose for a picture – Takeo
Being a tourist today – Silver Pagoda, Phnom Penh
Maximizing space on the way back into Phnom Penh for the work week – Phnom Oudong, Kandal
Crowds rapidly quiet down and bow their heads in respect when the body of the king father Norodom Sihanouk passes by near Independence Monument – Phnom Penh
Players and audiences fill up on breakfast before the golf tournament begins – Grand Phnom Penh Golf Club, Phnom Penh
Staff of HelpAge made fieldwork in Battambang a rewarding collaborative project, from left to right, Angela Lim, Sampov Bun, Xuan Dong Le, and Sunheng Chab – Wat Chrey, Battambang
View from the mat where I was napping after a long day riding around the Robas Mongkol commune – Wat Koh Kralos, Battambang
Young girl spends most of the ferry ride napping behind the driver – From Sihanoukville to Koh Rong, Kampong Som
Brightly clad caddies mobilize for the Grand Phnom Penh Golf Club and Union for Youth Federation of Cambodia Charity Tournament (a mouthful) – Grand Phnom Penh Golf Club, Phnom Penh
Hospitality family welcome us for an afternoon of lunching and lounging – Phnom Oudong, Kandal
Audience listens to the priest at one of the many events during the morning of the stupa ceremony – Takeo
Aunt Sumpha sampling a batch of Orville Redenbacher’s best popped goods – Home, Phnom Penh
The ladies, finished with preparing the flower decorations, sit sarong-clad, krama-wrapped, and feet propped – Takeo
Easter fellowship with company, watermelon, and longan – Water of Life Church, Phnom Penh
Sak handles one of the skulls exposed in the memorial’s second tier encasement – Wat Samdech Mony, Battambang
68-year old Sokpeak Chan Sen, who lives near the wat, grabbed the keys to open the memorial – Wat Kampong Tralach, Kampot
Aunt Channary at the foot of Grandmother Mao – Phnom Bokor, Kampot
Young boy burning the ubiquitous color paper strip inside Arthaross Temple – Phnom Oudong, Kandal
Mother and daughter (the one with hair sprouting from the top) at the sea – Kampong Som
My trio of aunt companions (plus one other woman I don’t know), faces in delight – Phnom Bokor, Kampot
A farmily send off at the airport, a common sight – Phnom Penh International Airport, Phnom Penh
Figuring out this contraption called a hat – Kampong Som
Cambodia Fulbrighters and Kolap Mao, who brought us to Takeo to see the stupa ceremony – Somewhere down the hot road from the stupa site, Takeo
Baby Naly and the lotus offering – Wat Champuh Ka’ek, Kandal
Family doing their thing in the water (while I bum on the sand) – Kampong Som
The legendary giant golden Buddha inside the Arthaross Temple, non-traditionally facing the east – Phnom Oudong, Kandal
I spy a spy – At the House, Phnom Penh
Inside listening to the monk tell us about the temple’s history and Buddha’s teachings – Wat Tha Loas Chah, Battambang (Photo by Angela Lim)
Roat feeds the monkeys hanging around the stairway entrance of the mountain shrine – Phnom Oudong, Kandal
Local kids hang around the memorial and temple site – Wat Champuh Ka’ek, Kandal
Row upon row of post-lunch relaxation – Phnom Oudong, Kandal
Monk and fellow friend-comrade on site for conversation, Wat Kesararam, Siem Reap
The only smoothie stall and its owner that I wholly trust in Cambodia – Tuol Tompong, Phnom Penh
Mac at the sea – Kampong Som
Doing something or other with my notes – Wat Tha Loas Chah, Battambang (Photo by Angela Lim)
Chin Sen gives context about the history of the mass graves as the local young monks look on – Wat Kampong Tralach, Kampot
Young guide Roat tells stories about the mountain – Phnom Oudong, Kandal
Stopping by the crowded altar on Highway 3 to Kampong Som to say a prayer to Grandmother Mao, divine protector of travelers (Note the flashing lotus lights in the background and think: modern technology meets ancient ritual, yeah that’s right) – Highway 3 to Kampong Som
At a commune hall on break during fieldwork day with HelpAge staff member Angela Lim – Mount Russei, Battambang (Photo by Lee Nemo)
Everyone is taking advantage of their cameras – Phnom Bokor, Kampot
When I first met 14-year old Roat – Phnom Oudong, Kandal
Chatting with Venerable Nhork Penh and his high school mate – Wat Ounalom, Phnom Penh (Photo by Tom Som)
Lacy, jeweled onlooker on the day the king father Norodom Sihanouk’s body is brought back into Cambodia – Near Independence Monument, Phnom Penh
My “little brother pals” who hang out on the corner outside my house – Phnom Penh, Kandal
Chatting on the steps of a blindingly gold shrine – Wat Tha Loas Chah, Battambang (Photo by Angela Lim)
Interviewing with 87-year old Kloth Loth in collaboration with HelpAge Cambodia – Prey Nil, Battambang (Photo by Lee Nemo)
Finally done after so long, too tired to care about posing for photos – Angkor, Siem Reap (Photo by Friendly Stranger at the End of the Race)
Before the imminent plunge – Kampong Som
I failed at trying to buy a small piece of candy here, either because the little girl wouldn’t sell me anything, or because she didn’t understand what I was asking – Koan Ka’ek, Battambang