Life is Beautiful (Cambodia)

Sometimes we take for granted how lucky we are. I had the great fortunate of spending nearly a month in Cambodia back in March. I was planning on only two weeks but I couldn't leave this magical place so soon. The people were very friendly, the countryside beautiful, and the food...fantastic.

But beyond this there is sadness. A country recovering from a mass genocide, secret bombings during the Vietnam War, and civil war. You would be hard pressed to find a country who has suffered more than Cambodia in the last century. These pictures bring back a lot of memories -- both of extreme joy and sadness. I love Cambodia and the Khmer people. Thank you.

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/neilta/55421652​84/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/neilta/55326444​50/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/neilta/55597839​43/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/neilta/55762998​13/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/neilta/55810602​34/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/neilta/55293295​90/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/neilta/55368846​98/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/neilta/55172992​48/

Did you get a chance to go to Cheung Ek village? That is the place where the movie The Killing Field was based on.

Very cool shots.

awesome set, these are very good

Thanks all.

tkadrum wrote in post #12776053
Did you get a chance to go to Cheung Ek village? That is the place where the movie The Killing Field was based on.

Cheung Ek is where the second last shot is taken. That's at the memorial at the Killing Fields.

From my post on Flickr: The Killing Fields of Choeung Ek in Cambodia was the final resting place for 17,000 people executed by the Khmer Rouge from 1975 to 1979. The former orchard and Chinese graveyard is now a memorial site featuring a Buddhist Stupa, mass graves, and a small museum. At the memorial stupa, you can see over 5,000 human skulls on display -- with visible bullet holes or signs of severe trauma to the head (this was to save on the cost of bullets).

If you weren't reminded by the posted signs, walking through the mass grave area would not be much different than a walk at your local park. Shockingly, Choeung Ek only represents a small number of the 20,492 mass graves currently surveyed in Cambodia representing 1,112,829 lives.

great captures - favorite are the bicycle panning and fishing boat.

As a stand alone photo, #1 is my favorite. As part of the story you are telling, #7 really makes the point. Well done and thanks for sharing.

Beautiful shots!! I was in Cambodia In June and very interesting to live the life of the people there for time I there and seeing life in view way....

moeronn wrote in post #12781820
As a stand alone photo, #1 is my favorite. As part of the story you are telling, #7 really makes the point. Well done and thanks for sharing.

Thanks! I think #1 also tells a great story. The tree growing from rubble to me is symbolic of the Cambodian people and their struggles the last half century.

azncarbos wrote in post #12782124
Beautiful shots!! I was in Cambodia In June and very interesting to live the life of the people there for time I there and seeing life in view way....

I'm glad you got a chance to go. It's such a fantastic place, I can't say enough good things about it.