Landmines, easier laid than removed, continue killing and maiming in Cambodia, nearly forty years later

Sailing Faith: The Long

Way Home

The Granger Family in the streets of Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

The Gregg A Granger

Family Adventure

Abandoned U. S. aircraft in War Crimes Museum, Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Bangkok, Thailand

The cheesiest tour since our voyage began almost three years ago is The Damnoen Saduak Floating Market.  Hearing floating market, we recall Banjermasin.  This market has more souvenirs for sale than anything else.  Canoes with produce have more cut and packaged in plastic wrap than in their natural skin.  The Tour Buses are lined up and there are more white guys than Thais, a staged production in Thai Tourism Culture.

Cambodia

While Europeans were living like Mel Gibson in “Braveheart” Asians, specifically the Khmer were building temples and governments and cities like what we witness the remnants of today.   Angkor Wat is probably the most famous of the temples in this area.  By remnants, I’m speaking of those parts of civilization constructed of durable materials – stone.  The residences and palaces were made of wood, and didn’t survive, but the temples and walls are of stone and have survived the 800-1,000 years.

In the afternoon, on our way back to our guest house, we stop at the Landmine Museum.  It was started by a man, who as a boy worked for the Khmer Rouge to walk in front of the soldiers to locate landmines for them.  He was expendable because at eight years old, he was too young to carry a rifle.  Most of the people staffing the museum are victims of recent landmine accidents.

An Angkor temple near Siem Reap, Cambodia