+ Msytical Crestone

Crestone is a tiny town, nestled on the west side of a rugged beautiful mountain range. tucked into these foothills, on the edge of the st. louis Valley, just an hour from New Mexico are a string of Zen Centers and buddhist meditation organizations. We quietly explored as we headed towards New Mexcio on day 2 of the adventure.

the Strupa of Crestone

Yaks in the Valley

Crestone Stupa and mountains 

Me and Otis / Art in the Zen Center 

inside the Zen Center. An amazing work of craftsmanship. 

The boarder into New Mexico

+ Temple of the Golden Buddha in a Thunderstorm

This was one of my favorite temples we went to during the trip. The paths around the property were lined with giant bonsais like these and many benches to sit and relax and soak up the beauty around you.

Vietnam Buddhas were very different from Thailand and Cambodia. They liked to give them halos of neon.

Temple dogs

offerings on a small shrine

A miniature shrine with offerings nestles between a couple Bonsai trees

The temple next to the golden buddha. The storm rolled in at the same time as we did. We took shelter in this beautiful space for about an hour while it poured. 

+ Angkor pt. III

Angkor Thom!

An interesting seed/fruit that was falling from a tree. 

The embellishments on every wall and every corner was just so intricate and beautiful. It really puts modern baseboards and crown molding to shame

This kind monk said prayers for both of us while he tied a bright red bracelet onto our wrists.

The clearest directions a westerner could hope for these parts.

One of the many giant trees around Thom

Stones awaiting their eventual and glorious reassembly

I could be wrong, but I think this is one reassembled walls.

Temple Dog

Cows being meandering around the outskirts of the temple. There are farmlands and humble shack homes very close to many of the temples.

Mr. Chandy was our man. This was how we get anywhere in Cambodia. 

Our one and only selfie of the trip, in honor of all the Chinese tourists, we didn't need a selfie stick, we used our realy arms!

+ Angkor Wat pt. II

The Samudra Manthan story played out many times in reliefes and statues; the good and evil dieties pull back and forth, churning with the feet, the milky ocean of creation

The Angkor builders did not you any adhesive or morter in their construction, rather they rubbed the sides to the exact side and flatness they wanted so each stone would fit perfectly into place

a wall within Angkor Thom

The ghosts of Bayon. They say the buddhas within Angkor were modeled after the Khmer Emporer and Angkoy founder, Javayarman II.

We bought a watermelon juice from this nice gentleman on our second day of exploring Angkor. It was hot, humid, and we were dying of thirst. Raw fruit prepared at street vendors who dont have clean water are often the source of getting sick, which is what happened to us our 3rd day in Cambodia. 

dismantled stones arranged strategially and awaiting grand reconstruction. Signs announced the Archeologist organization from Italy and Japan.

to Ankor Thom