Angkor WHAT?

Angkor Wat in Cambodia deserves special mention, although it is impossible to describe the incredible splendor, grace, and magic of the thousand-year-old temples without falling prey to the language of clichés and bad poetry. It's big. It's awesome. It's mind blowing. It’s hot. It's petrified history. Etc. 

Instead, I offer a projection of scenes from Ancient Angkor Daily Life:

Scene: Traffic Jam

“We’ve been walking the elephants around the temple perimeter for three years now! Will they ever finish the main gate??!!”

“Oh, I know! There are only two seasons in Angkor! Mud and temple construction.”

Scene: After School

"Little Devi was drawing phalluses on the walls of the hut again. I'm not sure the school trip to the temple was such a good idea..."

Scene: Making Offerings

"If I have to climb these steps for Vishnu one more time I'm converting to animism!"

Outside some of the temples there were a variety of musical ensembles performing on traditional instruments. Most of the players were victims of landmine explosions from the Khmer Rouge. With a leaf from a tree, one man was playing melodies with better intonation and ornamentation than most conservatory students I know. I think of all the time I spent complaining that my reeds are not perfectly chiseled while studying clarinet and it occurs to me that Western classical performance students could benefit greatly from more global exposure.