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Show - jf Page BIO Ancient marvels of Cambodia... Continued from page B7... The gambling industry here was established about seven years ago with Asian investors from other countries providing the capital. The change from Thailand to Cambodia was like entering a time machine. The poverty of rural Cambodia is quite real and to - ffjfre It took fifteen hours to do what is essentially the equivalent of driving from Moab to Flagstaff, Arizona. On the following morning we hired a driver to take us to the ancient temples that are scattered about an area of 77 square miles. We purchased a three-da- y pass at the entrance station and began our tour into the wonders of an Asian culture that existed at the same time as the Puebloan culture here on the Colorado Plateau. Three days turned out to be a drop in the bucket. Susette and I have never traveled internationally until this trip and we have never seen the ruins of Rome, see this poverty juxtaposed with Las Vegas-lik- e buildings was very unsettling. The casinos are very controversial and have created resentments among the Cambodian people, mainly because the profits leave the country and provide little opportunity for Cambodians outside of a subsistence job. Greece, Egypt, or the Yucatan. So we confess that we are not qualified to fully explain the wonders of the ancient world. The general consensus among the international travelers we spoke with, however, was that Angkor Wat is a remarkable gift for the citizens of the world. We were certainly impressed with the gift before us. The endless surprises and perplexities begged us to go on and on and on, and our leg muscles were pushed to the limit each day. This visit also turned into an exercise of looking at that, which was present and imagining that, which was absent. Fitting in all the puzzle pieces was a let of fun for us. I know it is an old cliche to say youve got to see this place! but that is my advice. Every stone exposed to the sun, except the paving stones, is a work of sculptured art. But time, for example, has removed much of the stucco that once served as the base for murals of colored paint, and the ornamental carvings of finished wood have long since rotted away. Vandals, acts of Nature and accidents have broken many of the statues and some of the finer finished works of stone. And centuries The dominant temples at Angkor Wat, which were occupied by the royal family of Cambodia until the start of World War I. Photo by John Weisheit. Dr. Todd Hackney optometrist 471 South Main Street 7 Desert Plaza 259-944-1 Complete Family Eye Care rt Diagnostic Equipment Evaluation for Eye Disease, Glaucoma, Cataracts Complete Contact Lens Service Gas Permeable, Soft Lenses for astigmatism, Tinted lenses to change eye color, Disposables, Monovision Complete Optical Service e bifocals, Fashion tints, Photochromies, High Index lenses (thinner and lighter), coating Large Selection of Fashion Frames State-of-the-A- No-lin- C nO -- Thursday, February 10, 2005 Though modern-da- y ta many stone walls and temples that otherwise would have weathered the effects of time quite slowly. The roots of the massive trees that yet remain alive have totally assimilated themselves into the joints and crags of some buildings and dominate the scene like temple guardians. Some of the missing artwork is still with us and located at various national museums throughout the world. For example, archeologists from France started their scientific inventory of these ruins back in the 1860s and some of the artifacts they discovered Per Person cation, skills training and employment for the Cambodian .i 4 - -- f vv 'V Tirst Course Second Course Poie Gras Tourchon with Sage Roasted Pear and Brown Butter Vinaigrette Course Butter Poached Maine Lobster with Sun Dried Tomato Cous Cous, Shaved Pennel and Lobster Emulsion Or Colorado Rack of Lamb with Black Trumpet Mushroom Risotto and "Tarragon Honey Mustard Dessert Chocolate Gelato and House Made Truffles Executive chef, Michael Weist Room Packages and Rates Available Call for details. Reservations ELK MOUNTAIN RESORT 970-151-9- 00 97 Ellc Walk www.ellcmountainresort.com h people, and to provide infra- structure for Cambodias growing tourist economy. Besides restoring fallen temples, workers are removing the centuries of sediment that have accumulated in the ancient water works that were originally dug below grade and by hand. (As I mentioned in my previous article, the terrain in this part of Cambodia is extremely flat.) The perimeters of these massive catchments are bordered with square blocks of cut stone. The water works include reservoirs, pools, canals and moats. The source of water for the reservoirs come from drainage systems that collect rainwater from the surface during the wet season; groundwater seepage also helps to fill the reservoirs. Watching the modern-da- y workers dredging these basins was very interesting. Using long, flat spades as a lever, a team of workers pried a section of mud (like prying off a hunk of glacial ice) into the reservoir or moat. This chunk of mud will float because the organic matter trapped inside makes it lighter than water. The workers then coax this deep, rectangular mass of floating mud on to a conveyer belt, which is then loaded on to a waiting truck and hauled away. This method made me speculate that the modern workers might be repeating the excavation process of the ancients. Well, that ends my three part series for the readers of The Times Independent. I would like to thank the T--I for giving me this opportunity to share. I would also like to thank Susette and Lara for the year-lon- g planning that went into this trip; to Owen and Nantiya for showing us a real cultural experience; and to all our friends who tended the home and business while we were away. If anybody feels the urge to visit SE Asia, please feel free to contact us and we will be happy to provide assistance to you. -- mm of one temple at the main complex. 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