September 19, 2025
LONGSHAN TEMPLE, one of the most popular in town and so pretty!
This Temple was very active with lots of locals in doing prays for their past relations, remember it's the Ghost Festival. So lots of food donations are brought to the temple, blessed by the incense burning in the big metal pot shown here and then left for those in need. The other thing is you hear coins and wood blocks being dropped all around the areas where people are praying - I asked a local what the symbolism or significance of this was and they told me your asking the spirit for direction. Not really sure I get it all but was fascinating to watch. Beautiful place especially at night and the tables and chairs and tents seem to be temporary meeting spots during this festival time to share a meal.
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WOW!! I can't believe it has been two years of sailing around the World already for me and my fellow shipmates on the Villa Vie Odyssey! We left Belfast, Ireland back on September 30, 2024 and it has been such a great adventure to date! We have been to 201 different ports, some more than once, during those two years, with much more to come!
Before coming to Cambodia , I sadly have to admit I was unaware of the landmine problems they face. On our first night in Siem Reap, where we hiked up the hill to try and see the sunset views, there was a small band of men playing instruments and our tuk tuk driver explained to me they were victims of landmine explosions who had lost limbs or their sight and were trying to make money via donations to support their families.
I rallied for our last temple of the morning, because I heard this one was unique and I think it was my favorite. Ta Prohm was built starting in 1186 by King Jayavarman VII as a Buddhist monastery and university dedicated to the king's mother. It was left mostly un-restored so that huge banyan and silk cotton trees grow directly over and through the walls. In 2001, the Lara Croft: Tomb Raider movie was filmed here.