Thursday, March 01, 2007

no more temples, I promise.... maybe

What's the big deal with all these temples and shrines anyway. So what, so they were made over a thousand years ago in some cases.
But I say poo to you naysayers. I can hear you from here in the heart of darkness. Like a whisper in the wind.
"nay"
I don't care I think these things are amongst the coolest things I have ever seen.

So Mr. Cook seems to be babbling for no discernible reason, no big deal. He is just concerned that the readers may be getting a bit bored of the temples. As the title suggests though, these are the last ones. We think.

So Ms. Cook and I and a stateside friends ventured far out into the wilderness to visit the last temples on our list. And after an hour plus in a tuktuk, one way, we hiked for two kilometers to a river shrine and a waterfall. Many of you may be wondering how far 2k is, it is about 17 dollars canadian. I think. Okay so I don't know how far, but it was far and hot and uphill.

An interesting side note is that this is the first and only hill we climbed in Cambodia. It is a very flat country.

Anyway we went to Kbal Spean, pronounced Krykewski, a shrine carved in to the rocks of a stream bed and dating from the 900's. The hike was hot and steep, but ultimately worth it. The riverbed is carved with mermaid's, monkeys, frogs, crocs, cows, and lingas. So many lingas in fact that it is known as the river of a thousand linga's. Which is comical because linga is also the khmer word for a certain part of a male anatomy.















Then we went to Banteay Srei, or the citadel of beauty or women. Srei meaning beauty or woman. A small temple built of pink sandstone so the carvings are far more intricate. This one was built around the tenth or eleventh centuries as well.













Our final stop was Pre Rup a large temple with twenty four towers and very tall. I don't have my guide book handy and forgot all the real significance of this one. But it was neat, lots of carved lions or the remnants there of.

Wednesday, February 28, 2007

When in Rome...

Are we getting ready for emergency surgery or was it a really dusty road to the temples? Whatever the reason, I think its safe to say that we look goooooooood.....




Sunday, February 25, 2007

Mardi Gras 2007

So we're a week late and well into Lent, but nevermind. We're in a Buddhist country so no one's paying attention anyway. Here are the rest of the photos from last night's Mardi Gras festivities:

http://www1.snapfish.com/share/p=125251172394628555/
l=245288240/g=10809889/otsc=SYE/otsi=SALB


It was the first large street party thrown by The Warehouse and Viva and overall it was a huge success...once "the luge" was up and running that is. Good times were had by all - which is made obvious by the fact that it is almost 4pm here the day after and some of the major players are only just now straggling in.

He had to try it a second time...



And yes....that is a pink shirt he is wearing.

Saturday, February 17, 2007

See? Beauty and Brains can get the job done...




As long as you give them four or five days to figure it out. Ladies and Gentleman, "THE LUGE":












Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Ms. Cook to the rescue.

Mr. Cook tried and tried to post pictures yesterday, but couldn't make it work. One of us is the beauty and one of us is the brains...

Here are the pictures of "THE LUGE".

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Damn. Apparently neither one of us is the brains of this operation. I can't make it work either. And I was so looking forward to taunting Mr. Cook with my superior computer skills.

Stay tuned...this has to work one of these days.

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

ease his pain...

I know, Iknow. I have been derelict in my duties, ship me off to exxon so I can became a tanker captain . Or maybe the bush administration has room for someone who has so blatantly neglected his faithful readers. I humbly throw my self at your various feet and beg...

If you build it they will come

... your apologies. Wait, what the hell was that?
Anyways, I wish I could say that I had a good excuse for my absence from WORD, but I don't. True business has picked up, but that hasn't kept Ms. Cook from writing. No the blame rests solely on my broad shoulders. The buck shall not be pas...

If you build it they will come

... sed. There it was louder that time, surely you noticed that.

Build what? Who will come? What is this cheap Kevin Costner crap all about?

Am I losing my mind (a little but that is neither here nor there), or do I have a point?
I do have a point and not just the top of my head. Well actually my head is almost perfectly spherical and abnormally large so it doesn't really have a point, but the old saw still cuts so I had to use that joke.

Many of you know that the other holidays are rapidly approaching. And while I am a brother of the ULF, I know little of these oddly named fetes. Good friday, ash wednesday, thirsty thursday, and last but certainly not least fat tuesday or as the french say Mardi Gras these were all only recently explained to me. But I do know one thing, another french saying that strolls hand in hand with mardi gras. Laissez bon temps roulez, or something like that.

LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL

That is right the good folks here at the Warehouse are bring the french quarter to the corner of the Old Market. Complete with cajun food, balcony bead tossing, giant puppets, and all sorts of

If you build it they will come

Alright already, I thought I was explaining it. What more do you want me to say?

cool their drink

I'm sorry, what?

Cool their drink

No, I heard, but what does that mean?

It means that their drinks will probably be too warm because you are in Cambodia, and it is really hot there.

I hate you disembodied voice

Well you ask a stupid question

Ok I get it YOU want us to build a two story ice luge for peoples drinks. coming right up.

In all truth the real credit goes to Scott the proprietor of Viva the mexican restaurant next door that is taking part in the mardi gras festivities with us.

and now for the first time in Cambodia, and maybe even the world I present to you

THE LUGE

Sunday, February 11, 2007

Trip to the Temples

A good friend from the states was in town, so we thought we would take the opportunity to visit the temples again. Here are some of the better pictures from our explorations....