Our Days in Southeast Asia

Photos from Angkor

2005-07-01T10:26:00.000-07:00

Everyone is now safely back from our research trip to Southeast Asia and we will periodically update this web log to reflect the status of our research reports and findings as well as updates on our community outreach efforts. We enjoyed using this web log as a way of communicating with family, friends, and the NKU community.

We arrived in Cambodia last Thursday and it proved impossible to continue the web log from there. So belatedly here are some of our photos from Angkor. Angkor Wat was built during the reign of Suryavarman II (1113-1150AD) and is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. The architecture and bas reliefs in this complex are quite impressive. Angkor is the world's largest religious complex.

We arrived at Angkor Wat in time for sunrise (5:41am) and because we were in Cambodia during the rainy season there were fewer visitors here than during the months of December-February.

Shawn and Rogelio in front of Angkor Wat

Sidhorn, our guide talking about the Apsaras (dancing ladies)

Sras Srong

Angkor Wat just after dawn

2005-06-21T23:18:00.000-07:00

Prasat Hin Phimai

We have finished the data collection of the Bon Non Wat artifacts and this afternoon we are leaving Phimai to head for Bangkok. Tomorrow we will be off to Cambodia. We are unsure whether or not we will have an available internet connection to continue the web log, so don't worry if you don't hear from us. We will post as soon as we get a chance. See you all soon.

2005-06-21T22:59:00.000-07:00

At the pottery village, Ban Thakaok

A Foreigner in Phi Mai by Emily Dean

Travelers in America do not experience what we have as foreigners in Phimai. America is such a melting pot that it is difficult to distinguish the difference between visitors and citizens. This isn't the case in Phimai, the people here are among the friendliest in the world. Even though we stick out like a sore thumb, we have been treated like we are in our hometown. We get a lot of attention parading around town in the back of Mr. Nim's Sangtao and even when we walk just down the street. The second week here on our way to the Banyan Tree (the largest Banyan Tree in the world) we were stopped by a father with a curious daughter. Through hand motions he expressed that his daughter wanted to feel my skin, I stuck out my arm and she touched it. She still didn't know what to think of us. Earlier the week before we had scarred a young girl in the village. She cried and clung to her mother the entire length of our visit, thinking we were ghosts.
Although our appearance has startled a few young children we feel very welcomed by their parents. Some people look at us farangs (foreigners) strangely, some turn away, many laugh at us but most smile and say hello. Phimai has been a great home for the past three weeks, we hate to say sa-wad-dee kha.

2005-06-21T22:56:00.000-07:00

Rambutan

Dinner at Phi Mai Inn by Mandy Turner

Dinner at Phimai Inn is a unique experience. Every night we eat our dinner on the sala, which resembles a large porch for outside dining. The staff is always waiting for us to arrive and greet us with hellos and smiles when we show up at our usual time, which is 7:00 pm. The table is set for us when we arrive and one of the staff begins filling our glasses with water as soon as we are seated. The food is brought out to us and generally consists of two meat dishes and two vegetable dishes. Rice is eaten at every meal in Thailand and one of the staff members comes around and serves us rice. Sometimes you have to tell them enough because they will pile your plate full of rice. We then serve ourselves from the dishes that were brought out. The service is outstanding. The staff waits on us our entire meal. Our water glasses are never empty and rice is available throughout the meal.

One of the favorite dishes for all of us is pak boon. It is a jae dish (vegetarian dish) and is made with a vegetable that is similar to water cress and just enough garlic to give it a really good flavor. It also includes red peppers, which are very spicy. Our favorite meat dishe is gai put met mamooung that is made with water chestnuts, chicken, roasted peppers, and onions. Dinner is concluded each night with a plate of fresh fruit including watermelon, pineapple, and rambutan a very sweet fruit in a strange peel.

2005-06-21T22:55:00.000-07:00

Dinner at the Phimai Inn

2005-06-17T16:58:00.000-07:00

Playing traditional instruments in a local village

2005-06-17T16:57:00.000-07:00

Torrential rain on the road from Phnom Rung to Phimai

The temperature here in Isan (northeast Thailand) has been in the high 90's with about 90% humidity. Officially Thailand has three seasons - hot, rainy, and cool - but more typically farangs (foreigners) refer to the seasons here as "hot" and "hotter". We are here in the rainy season which is from June to October; although we have experienced rain only on 2 days so far - a torrential downpour on our way home from Phanom Rung and then another rainy day this past week here in Phimai.

2005-06-17T16:55:00.000-07:00

Our photo lab during the rain

2005-06-17T16:54:00.001-07:00

Outdoor photography

As you can see we have set-up a photography area in front of the dig house and because it’s outdoors we are dependent on decent weather to complete our archival photos of objects.

2005-06-17T16:54:00.000-07:00

Rice fields at the beginning of planting season outside of Phimai

The start of the rainy season also marks the beginning of rice planting and we often see villagers working in their fields either sowing rice or weeding fields which have already been planted.

2005-06-15T08:37:00.000-07:00

Victory Gate- the ancient entrance to the timeless city of Phimai

We would like to welcome everyone back to our web log. The problems with the internet connection here at the Phimai Inn have been solved, and we are happy to be reconnected with all of you.

2005-06-15T08:35:00.000-07:00

Mr. Nim's sangtao

Thai Traffic and the Sangtao by Shawn Fehrenbach

One of the most astonishing differences between Thailand and the greater Cincinnati area is apparent on the roads. We spend a fair amount of time driving to and from different villages and houses where we are conducting research, and also taking field trips to archaeological and monumental sites around Thailand. Most of this travel is done in a vehicle known as a sangtao, which is a modified pickup truck with benches and a roof over the bed. Our regular sangtao is piloted by the wonderful Mr. Nim, whom you all met earlier in our blog. Riding in the back of this truck is an intimate way to experience all the glory of Thailand, as all five senses are in touch with the environment around you and you can interact with other travelers who love to wave and say, “hello.” My best estimate is that about 75% of the vehicles on the roads are motorbikes. People carry all kinds of amusing and precarious items on their bikes (yes, even televisions). It is common to see three people on one motorcycle, and we have even seen them packed four deep a couple times. Trips in Thailand are never a bore.

2005-06-15T08:18:00.000-07:00

how to carry a television on a motorcycle

2005-06-15T08:17:00.000-07:00

three to a bike

2005-06-15T06:02:00.000-07:00

Karaoke bar at the Phimai Inn

2005-06-15T05:59:00.000-07:00

Inside the Karaoke bar

Karaoke- A quick compare and contrast by Rogelio Rivera

There is a Karaoke Bar here at the Phimai Inn where our group is staying and I'd like to talk about some of my observations about karaoke bars. One difference from the states and Thailand that I have noticed is the Thai drinking establishments. In Thailand there seems to be two establishments; beer gardens and a karaoke bar. The karaoke bar is opposite of the ones back home. For instance the Thai do not stand in front of the bar to sing, a microphone is brought to their table. The seating environment is a more laid back; Thais sit in lounge chairs with a coffee table in front and drink or eat dinner and everyone seems to keep to their selves. What is the most surprising is that almost everyone who sings is good and they sing as if they are proud of their voices. Most of their songs are slow and mellow whereas the songs at the bars that I have been to in the States the songs are loud and with energy.

2005-06-15T05:58:00.000-07:00

Elephant ride for Emily and Shawn

2005-06-15T05:57:00.000-07:00

Rogelio and Mandy's elephant ride

On the morning of the 10th during breakfast, we caught a glimpse of an elephant walking down the road in front of the Phimai Inn. We recognized this as a rare opportunity and abandoned breakfast, much to the astonishment of the other diners. With Judy's help we were able to negotiate rides on the elephant, two at a time, for a total price of only 200 bhat (about $5)! Later in town we came across a baby elephant, which entertained us by eating vegetables from our hands and doing tricks. The elephants were brought into Phimai to raise money for a regional temple.

2005-06-15T05:55:00.000-07:00

Emily and Rogelio feeding a baby elephant

Sorry for the Delays in Posting

2005-06-14T04:04:00.000-07:00

We are currently experiencing technical difficulties in Thailand. The high-speed internet connection at the Phimai Inn has been down since just after our last posting. Our only other option is an incredibly slow connection at the local internet cafe, where I am posting this update. It is unfortunately not clear when and if the connection at the Phimai Inn will be repaired, but we are doing our best. We are all doing perfectly well and our research is moving along fabulously. This week and last we have been working particularly hard to get through all of the analysis that must be done in Phimai, so that we can spend time taking more field trips to important archaeological sites and museums towards the end of our journey. When we can get our connection back at the Inn, we will provide a much more complete update. We have many wonderful experiences that we can't wait to share.

2005-06-08T07:05:00.000-07:00

Everyday Phimai

2005-06-08T07:03:00.000-07:00

Bargain hunting at the Monday night market

On Monday nights in Phimai, the Monday night market is the place to be. It is sort of like a mix between a festival and a farmer's market in the States. You can buy hilarious t-shirts, shoes, stereo equipment, food, car parts, live fish. . . almost anything. We came home with bags full of souvenirs and plenty of baht left in our pockets.

2005-06-08T07:02:00.000-07:00

Rogelio analyzing clay pellets

Our research seems to be moving as quickly as the night market. Rogelio and Mandy are making progress on the pellets and anvils respectively, while Shawn and Emily continue to assist Judy with the analysis of mortuary vessels.

2005-06-06T07:10:00.000-07:00

Every angle is good at Prassat Hin Phimai

2005-06-06T07:09:00.000-07:00

Shawn and Rogelio hard at work