Author Archives: annie

K’bal Spean

Posted on March 8, 2012 by annie

The Khmer Empire is known for its carvings in sandstone seen in the temples such as Angkor Wat.   They were carved along temple walls or on lintles over massive doors.  They depict major scenes in the Hindu script or … Continue reading →

Posted in Cambodia | 2 Comments

Picnic in a War Zone

Posted on March 8, 2012 by annie

  Preah Vihear is an ancient Khmer temple on the border with Thailand. It was built high on a hilltop in the ninth century near the beginning of the Khmer empire.  It took us about five hours of travel to … Continue reading →

Posted in Cambodia | 2 Comments

Working in Cambodia

Posted on February 26, 2012 by annie

I knew better.  I had read the books on Cambodian culture.  I knew how I was supposed to behave while working in there.  For example, from the book Culture Smart: Cambodia: Any difference of opinion or any criticism must be conveyed … Continue reading →

Posted in Cambodia | 2 Comments

Life Lessons

Posted on February 10, 2012 by annie

Across the Siem Reap River from our apartment is a temple.  We see it from our balcony.  It’s a classic Cambodian Buddhist temple with lots of gables, peaks, and pointy serpents on the corners of the red tiled roofs.  We … Continue reading →

Posted in Cambodia | 4 Comments

A Day in Bangkok

Posted on January 29, 2012 by annie

The day was not as I planned.  In fact my plan was to wake up early and go to the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew, one of the must sees in Bangkok. Everyone who visits Bangkok goes there. But … Continue reading →

Posted in Thailand | 1 Comment

Pi Nan and Mindful Farm

Posted on January 13, 2012 by annie

When Hank was in first grade, his class had some pen pals near Chiang Mai, Thailand.  They were kids from a small village attending a small school.  The school was run by a monk named Chinnaworn.  Our kids would send … Continue reading →

Posted in Thailand | 1 Comment

Kathakali

Posted on January 11, 2012 by annie

Just before we arrived in the southern Indian state of Kerala I finished reading the book The God of Small Things.  From this story I learned about Kathakali, a form of dance-drama based on the ancient Indian stories of Rama and … Continue reading →

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Lukla to Namche Bazaar: Trekking in Nepal

Posted on December 16, 2011 by annie

      We didn’t intend to visit Nepal.  It wasn’t on the original itinerary.   We were thinking about the Himalayas, the tallest mountains in the world.  We wouldn’t be able to get there until late November.   We … Continue reading →

Posted in Nepal | 9 Comments

The Jagran

Posted on December 14, 2011 by annie

Less than a kilometer away from Sri Ram Ashram is a small village, Shampyur.  It is so quiet compared with the big city, Haridwar, six kilometers away.  But one night the quiet was disturbed.  A family in the village hosted … Continue reading →

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Sri Ram Ashram

Posted on November 30, 2011 by annie

I always thought an ashram would be full of austere gurus meditating for hours with their students then moving into yoga poses for the next several hours all while fasting on thinned cow’s milk.  The word ashram, however, means home … Continue reading →

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