Superstitions…magic…spirits…traditions…
Many Cambodians take it all very, very seriously.
Take the magic tattoos as an example…
One afternoon in Siem Reap…as we made our way across a small village…we came upon a couple of men taking a break in a little piece of shade on the grounds of the local temple. Both had intriguing tattoos…and of course…I had to know more.
From my understanding through the interpretation of our guide…magic tattoos are believed to bring good luck and were mostly used by soldiers seeking protection from flying bullets and landmines in the battlefield. Both had been soldiers in the past…both with hand-drawn scripts and patterns engraved on their skin…including the tops of their feet.
The tattoo artists themselves are known for their magical powers…directly transferring this power during the tattoo process to the individual. One can imagine how long it took for a full body tattoo especially learning that “back in the day” the tattoos were made by hand using a thin needle and some type of ink creation by combining material inside of alkaline batteries with rice wine. Hmm… Can’t even imagine how long it took…or the pain involved…with a whole body tattoo.
I think both of the men were as curious about me as much as I was about them…allowing me full access to photograph them and generating lots of laughter when I would show them their image in the viewfinder. Adorable! And then there’s the spirit houses…more on those soon! I love learning about religion, spirits and traditions in various cultures…so intriguing!
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So where does the time go? And why is it that the older I get the faster it goes? I start my mornings early…and the next thing I know…poof! It’s over! Since my return from Cambodia I’ve been consumed with working on my little creative space, planting flowers in the backyard, editing photos, and basically enjoying these warm desert evenings here in Arizona. So hopefully the next week or so, I’ll get caught up on all my stories that I’ve just been dying to share with you!
I must share this little story though before I go…this past Sunday afternoon I was taking in a little backyard time and heard the doorbell ring. Reluctantly I got up and as I made my way to the door I could see three small children and an adult. Because my front door is mostly glass, I could see the adult had a platter of cookies. Hmmm. I opened the door and the oldest child (probably around seven years old) said…”We love our neighbors so we wanted to bring you a cookie!” The mother proceeds to tell me that she’s trying to teach her children to be good neighbors. If you recall it was the children of Santa Catalina that brought all the clothes to share with the children in Nicaragua. Here’s to helping restore my faith in humanity when our world needs more compassion, maturity and civility now more than ever!
I’m going to start my commentary backwards (no surprise) because I just love the story of the neighbor and children. What a wonderful mom to teach her children how to be humanatarians. That is someting I always said I worried about, after having Jess and figured you have to live by example.
What a pleasant surprise for you!
So interesting about the tattooed men and the history and culture behind it.
I know that tattoos have great meaning in some cultures.
I’m not sure if you know that it is not religiously acceptable for people of the jewish faith to get tattoos due to the Nazi’s and tattooing numbers. If you choose to get a tatoo (excluding of course, those that were prisoners of the Nazi’s), you are not allowed to be buried in a jewish cemetary.
That always confused me since you are allowed to be cremated, which I would think would make more sense.
Maybe it’s just me because I never grew up learning about my religion and have 4 tattoos (which have meaning to me), and cremation disturbs me and reminds me of the Nazi’s.
Although, I didn’t embrace my religion, I could never bring myself to go to the museum in DC.
Thanks for sharing, RR.
XO
A totally pleasant surprise! So refreshing and it still amazes me when I think about it! Oh, this is so interesting about the Jewish faith and tattoos! I did not know that! I have not been to the museum in DC either…but just experiencing the Tuol Sleng Genocide museum in Phnom Penh had a huge impact on me. I have, however, on my NYC to do list – to visit two of the Jewish museums in NYC. I agree that it’s hard to experience…but I think we often have to be reminded of these horrific events to make us appreciate our life… Thank YOU for sharing! xoxo
Since it’s been quite a long time, pre-internet since I learned this, I decided I should probably research what I was always told.
Turns out, I’m not exactly accurate on both tattoos and cremation in the jewish faith.
It’s more of a belief of keeping the body in the closest form it was given to you in and burial is preferred but for people, such as myself, who are ignorant to the practices of the jewish faith and laws, it is acceptable.
This is just one of the websites I researched just on tattoos.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4403144,00.html
Oh, and I definitely agree, it is a part of history just like any genocide, slavery, holocast, etc. museum that we must not forget.
There was a class in Jess’s HS that was only for Honors students that was just on the Vietnam War. How cool is that? I hated history classes and never had 1 good teacher. How cool it would be just to take one piece of history and concentrate on that? What a shame it wasn’t available for all students.
Thanks for teaching me again on something I thought I knew! I just didn’t want to put misinformation out there.
Thanks. Love you! XO
Thanks for the clarification and the link! Will look forward to reading more. Oh how I’d love to be a student and listen in on a class just on the Vietnam War. I have to admit when I was a student her age…I wasn’t the most attentive in history class! Thanks my dear! Love you too!
I bet this time was a very good get together for you all, don’t you just love how some people are so open to sharing? And speaking of love, that cute guy’s gorgeous blue hat, wow! And more love coming right to your front door, that would go a long way in restoring my faith, too, which is in bad need of that right now.
We have really enjoyed your fantastic images from the amazing trips you’ve made and can feel so many emotions coming through … well done, dear girl xo
I know…gotta LOVE that gorgeous blue hat! I’m sure there’s a story behind it, but I was so wrapped up in understanding the story about the tattoos that I failed to get that one! Thanks always sweet Susan for your visits! xo
What a great story about the tattoos. I never heard anything like that before. I guess if you believe in what you are doing it works for you… I love the photos you captured of both men, and I am always amazed at how you get people to just open up and tell you their stories… LOVE that! The children bringing you the cookies is just adorable and kudos to the mother for teaching her children well. Amazing how sharing something as simple as cookies can make your whole day… Thanks for sharing your travel stories and stories of your days with us. Love and BIG hugs and counting the days till we have more time together… XoXo
So true…if you BELIEVE! I think in most cases people are so appreciative when you are interested in them…and are totally open to sharing! Thank you so much for always supporting my postings and yes, I’m counting the days too!!!
Fantastic. A very interesting read. Tattoos intrigue me…the art work & meaning. But I do not have any. I do have a few antique metal tattoo pens from Asia. How wonderful that you had someone with you to interpret. Love the cookie story!
Thanks Cathy!! I have two small ones so I know the time involved which just amazes me to think about what goes into tattooing a full body! Oh, antique metal tattoo pens…you must share on a future blog post! Would love to see!
If their skin could talk! Don’t you wonder what it all says and means to them! Astrid’s son Jeroen has chosen a few tattoos for his right upper arm/shoulder, every one meaning something important to him. When it’s personal like that it seems extra special.
But that knitted hat! Don’t you wonder what THAT story it. OMG. And the one who knitted it…do they know who’s wearing???
And the stories, both there and HERE. Keep telling these stories because we need to hear there is still LOVE LOVE LOVE in our world today, all around us.
Oh gosh yes…would love to have a better understanding of all those symbols! And yes, that hat! Like I mentioned in another comment I was so busy with understanding tattoos that I failed to get the story about the hat. I’m sure there’s one too! Perhaps I’ll find him again on my next visit, 🙂 THANK YOU so much Ginnie!
The pain of having all the tattoos.I love the reluctant smiles and the obvious joy they had in showing and explaining their magical body art. The blue hat?? ADORABLE.
When I looked into conservation in Kenya I met some American veterans from Afghanistan who had a lot of tattoos and explained that in a kind of secret code it showed where and when they have been over there, which unit and some tattoos were meant as protection. Those former veterans belonged to an organisation called “vet paw” which support anti-poaching units mostly in Tanzania.
I love the cookie story – so little can make a great difference.
I’m glad everyone is loving the blue hat! Me too! Oh how interesting on what you learned from the American veterans from Afghanistan…and that even some of those were meant for protection. Thanks for sharing that. And how wonderful…Vet Paw! That’s what I so love about traveling…learning all these bits and pieces about beliefs and their culture…and what inspires people. Thanks so much!
Im so glad there are still parents putting in practise what the preach! not only talking but doing it with the little ones, thats the way to do it,,, hands to work 🙂
And what can we say about magic tattoos, addictive !!!!
Tattoos should be important. My son has a ‘sleeve’ tattoo and he went to a man who is famous for its tattoos. You go to him and you tell your life story. He specialized in Maori, Polynesian, Samoan and some other tribes. http://www.jimorie.com/
So yes I can relate on that. Your body is your ‘book of life’.
And good of that mom showing that neighbours are important and meet them with a smile. When I do my run around the citadel, I say ‘good morning’ to everybody I meet and look them in the eyes. There are some homeless people too sitting around, I always will say HI and add something like; ‘hope it stays dry’, or ‘sun we be out soon’. They are people too and never ignore them for being alive.
Thanks for the link! Will definitely check it out! I so agree with you Astrid! When I’m in NYC I speak to people even when I’ve been told…oh, it’s too dangerous to speak to people. WHAT? What’s the point in living?? Thanks always for your thoughts!