Meanwhile in Cambodia (more or less)...

Last night we went to our friend's friend's brother's wedding party. The only other "barang" at the party was a German tourist who agreed that the party was like a Khmer version of Octoberfest. So, this seems like a good morning to sit and post some pictures.

The Bangkok Airport looks as clean and modern as any I've seen. Amazingly, it shows no signs of having been the site of the recent protests. I don't know, but I've been told that after ousting the prime minister, the protesters stuck around and cleaned up the airport. Such a polite coup!

I've said it before, but I love the fact that the ruins of Angkor are still alive with human activity. Angkor Wat is an especially popular hangout for local people. Archaeologically, it would be better if everyone stayed away, but much would be lost if they did.

One of the main themes of Khmer temple carvings are the Apsara Dancers. This art form was nearly extinguished by the Khmer Rouge. Fortunately, it has been revived by some of the survivors of that era. It is fortunate that the temples contain so many carvings of Apsaras, because these images preserved forgotten dance postures.

This is a woman wearing a "Flying Peacock" costume. Notice the handles with which the dancer can move the wings. The wings are very cleverly designed so that they can be moved into a variety of postures and are not limited to simple flapping motions. I had not previously seen this costume, but it is definitely my favorite now.

This man was welding metal large metal shelves in a shop that we walked past.

We have been fortunate to make many friends in our visits to Cambodia. Our great friend Sophath and his wife Dahlin now have a lovely baby named Leak (pronounced Leah) who is one month old. Currently Dahlin and Leak are staying several hours drive from Siem Reap at Dahlin's parents' house. They are a lovely family, and are great cooks! Sophath works as a manager of a beautiful boutique guest house in Siem Reap, and being apart from his wife and child is very difficult for him. He misses his family so much that he says the sound of his daughter crying on the phone is sweet like music. This Monday Sophath will fulfill his life-long dream of starting to go to university. Sophath is also the King of Karaoke. Last night at the wedding party, we wondered where he had got to, then we saw he was on the stage entertaining the crowd!