Mumbai–

BAM!  Here I am in Mumbai, India hanging out in front of the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel.  This town was called Bombay for many years by the Portuguese who arrived here long ago.  ‘Bom’ means “good” in Portuguese. . .’bay’ is “bay.”  So “good bay”–Bombay.  Mumbai comes from a combination of the goddess Mumbadevi and the word ‘Aai’ which means “mother.”  So “mother Mumbadevi”–Mumbai.

Mumbai is the most populous city in India, the fourth most populous on the planet, and the capital of the state of Maharashtra.  India’s film industry and financial industry are both centered here.

What am I doing here?  Just touring around with Arun Gandhi, one of the Mahatma’s grandsons, learning about nonviolent protest and following in the footsteps of the Mahatma himself.  Feel the amazing vibes I am sending to you from Mumbai, India. . .they are overwhelming.

It’s lovely out there.

Killer Khmer vista–

Angkor Wat just does not look real, does it?  The shot with me in it is near sunset, and the shot below me is midday.  I can stand here all day and just shoot away as the light changes minute by minute. . .quite similar to what I felt when I visited Uluru in Australia–it changed look and feel every minute as well.  Wow, quite an inter-contextual moment I am having here.

I have never stood in a more beautiful and moving spot anywhere on the planet than this one. . .maybe Kala Patar, maybe. . .but nowhere else.  Lots of places are equally as moving as this, but none are more.  The majesty of the Khmer people is alive and well. . .feel the fabulous Khmer vibes that I am sending to you. . .they are worthy of your attention.

It’s lovely out there.

Banyan trees–

The Banyan trees here at Ta Prohm in the Angkor complex of Cambodia are magnificent.  They are slowly comsuming this fabulous temple complex that was built eight hundred years ago at the height of the ancient Khmer empire.  The Earth will be reclaimed by nature. . .at least this seems to be the prime directive of nature: breakdown and grow over whatever has not been produced by nature.  Discuss among yourselves.

I love Banyan trees, and I love exploring Ta Prohm.  I send you overgrown vibes from Ta Prohm. . .feel them. . .they are all-consuming.

It’s lovely out there.

Ta Prohm–

Ta Prohm is my favorite part of the Angkor complex here in Cambodia.  Ta Prohm means “ancestor Brahma.”  The ancient Khmer name of this place is ‘Rajavihara’ which means “monastery of the king.”  Whatever we want to call it there is no denying the magnificence of this structure.  It is amazingly overgrown with giant Banyan trees (my second favorite trees on the planet after the Baobabs of Africa) which makes it feel like you are an explorer discovering these buildings for the first time.  Magical.

Ta Prohm was built in the late 1100s to the early 1200s.  Certainly there were many wonderful ceremonies and rituals performed here over the centuries.  Today the main ritual involves gringos like me standing here with my mouth wide open saying, “wow” over and over again as I gaze at the magnificent Banyans taking this place over.  This is eventually what is going to happen everywhere on the planet. . .nature will reclaim EVERYTHING.  Back to stardust all will return.  All will return.  Ommmmmmm. . .

I send you vibes of our return-to-whence-we-came from Ta Prohm here in Cambodia. . .feel them. . .they are unavoidable.

It’s lovely out there.

Lotus. . .om–

The lotus is the symbol of the world for many Asian belief systems, and it certainly applies here at the Angkor complex in Cambodia.  The most-prayed prayer in the world is ‘om mani padme hom’–“hail to the jewel in the lotus.”  The stone guy above in Angkor Thom is most definitely meditating on something close to this. . .I guarantee it.  Possibly meditating on the lotuses in the photo above. . .mmmmmm, aaaaaahh.

I am absolutely joyous exploring the Angkor complex because it reaffirms for me that we are all so much more the same than we are different.  Every tribe on the planet has built temples for worship and great structures to form a wonderful city or central meeting place to conduct the business of the people.  The only real differences that I can see are simply differences in time and differences in available resources.  Otherwise, we all seem to be on similar paths. . .doing whatever we can to make sense of the mysteries around us.

It’s lovely out there.

Shorties–

No one here in Cambodia is taller than the top of my shoulders, and all of the doorways in the Angkor complex appear to be just under six feet high.  So, a silly gringo like me stands out like a stubborn nail everywhere I go here.  But, as you all know, short physical stature is not an indicator of weakness or lack of fortitude.  Cambodians feel strong, alive, and intrepid to me.  I love Cambodians and they politely make me feel welcome here.

I send you good, strong vibes from the Angkor region of Cambodia. . .feel them. . .they are not to be trifled with.

It’s lovely out there.

Driver–

Here is my Cambodian driver.  He is with me for three days because it takes at least three days to visit the Angkor complex.  In fact, the three-day ticket is the shortest ticket that you can purchase for access to the site.  Wonderful.

This guy picked me up at the airport, picks me up every morning at my hotel, and he drives me everywhere that I want to go.  He waits for me as I do my thing, and then we move to the next location. . .we have lunch together–he is somewhat embarrassed by this because gringos normally do not want to eat with the driver, but I do. . .and then he takes me back to the hotel each evening.  I love this guy.  He is extremely sweet.  All Cambodians feel extremely sweet and low-key to me.  Amazing to see this and then recall all of the baloney that went on here back in the 60s and 70s with the killing fields, the Khmer Rouge, Pol Pot, etc.  Such sweetness everywhere. . .yet we are capable of the most egregious acts imaginable.  The human condition. . .the greatest mystery of all.  Hmmmmm. . .

It’s mystifying and lovely out there.

Banteay Srei–

I drive from Siem Reap through the countryside of Cambodia for about two hours or so. . .I see green rice patties and wooden homes built on stilts all along the way. . .lovely ride.  At the end of this drive I arrive at a temple called Banteay Srei, but more commonly referred to as The Pink Temple.  It has a pinkish hue but is actually built out of red sandstone.  Built in the tenth century, The Pink Temple is a temple to the Hindu god, Shiva. . .the destroyer.  Ah, yes, I am glad that I am here.  I love The Pink Temple.

Feel the good vibes that I am sending to you from Banteay Srei. . .they have the power to wash away any nastiness that you may be experiencing.

It’s lovely out there.

Thom–

Angkor Thom is another part of the Angkor complex.  Angkor means ‘city,’ and Thom means ‘great’–so “Great City.”  This section was built during the 1200s, and it comprises a whole bunch of buildings that make up the actual capital city of the ancient Khmer empire. . .palaces, temples, and government-type buildings are here.  All of the buildings have amazing carvings and sculptures. . .especially interesting are the many faces that adorn the towers throughout the city.  No one is exactly sure what they represent. . .could be the king, could be gods, could be bodhisattva-type figures. . .who knows?  Nevertheless, they give the entire complex a mysterious, otherworldly feel which I love.  I am honored to walk through Angkor Thom and feel the good vibes here. . .

. . .I send them to you. . .feel them. . .they are filled with the life force.

It’s lovely out there.

Carvings–

All of the carvings inside the Angkor complex here in Cambodia tell stories.  Stories of conquest, victory, good fortune, worship, the greatness of the Khmer people, hopes for good harvests, etc.  Some of these carvings are nearly one thousand years old, and they still look magnificent.  Absolutely amazing work. . .great passion is on display here.  Stone carving is always one of the most mysterious arts to me–the patience involved in making the stone smooth and almost perfect is mind-numbing. . .like the Pieta, David, Persian sculptures, etc. these carvings take my breathe away.

I send you good vibes from the carvings of Angkor. . .feel them. . .they are intricate and gorgeous.

It’s lovely out there.