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S H U T T E R B U G S I N S I E M R E A P
PhotoTrekkers fired away at scenes that
seemed unchanged for centuries. We
saw fishermen casting their nets onto
the water. Kids and old ladies floated by
on wooden canoes toward thatched-
roofed homes. We stopped to say
“hi” at a nearby floating school, and
took some fun portraits of its teachers
and students. Later on we went back
to the temple trail to check out the
dark, ancient passageways and half-
collapsed towers of Preah Khan.
The absolute highlight of our trip,
however, came the next morning at
the temple of Beng Mealea. Think
of this complex as another Angkor
Wat — except that it was practically
unrestored. Broken walls and dislocated
sculptures lay strewn over its 180sqm
area. Forest covered much of the site,
giving it the exciting atmosphere of an
undiscovered, jungle-clad ruin.
This was where the excitement
reached fever pitch. I watched as our
shutterbugs clambered over piles of
fallen laterite bricks, looking for the best
angles of this incredibly picturesque
building. I saw Raymond Calacday, an
entrepreneur from Manila, perched with
his tripod-mounted camera on a temple
roof. Just below him, Lee Ledesma,
an engineer, was clicking away at a
dramatically lit statue. They may be
something else in their regular lives, but
on this day they were all photographers
on assignment.
Then there was one final stop
to make: Wat Atwea, a Buddhist
monastery south of Siem Reap. This
was where we ended our tour on a
spiritual note, with a water blessing
given by a resident monk.
In the end, we all came back from
PhotoTreks: Angkor with more than
just photographs. Meeting new friends
and the memories of an unforgettable
adventure — these were what made
this trip a rousing success. Next on
Smile
PhotoTrek: Kuala Lumpur and
Malacca from September 13 to 16.
www.facebook.com/smilecebupacific,
PhotoTreks@skylightimages.info
Have camera, will travel! The
PhotoTrekkers put their shooting
skills to the test on a local
grandma (top) and at one of the
countless temple ruins (below)
TEMPLE
RAIDER
GEAR
For the
Smile
PhotoTreks:
Angkor adventure, our
shutterbugs were gear-
ready for action
A carryall
It’s easy to lose
yourself in the
ruins of once-
hallowed halls,
so remember to
pack the essentials
— sunblock, bottle
of water, a change of clothes — in a
lightweight, all-weather backpack that’s
easy to lug around. The Timberland
Adult 30L Daypack Backpack is a great
bet: it’s roomy enough for a week’s
worth of clothes and has an internal
compartment for precious hardware like
laptops and tablets.
Eyewear
Don’t forget to take
care of your real
lenses — your
eyes — and pack
along a pair of
anti-glare sunnies.
The Rudy Project
Skyman Sunglasses are sleek and
functional — it’s got durable frames and
interchangeable lenses, making them a
versatile companion for any expedition.
Travel towel
Travel photography
involves a lot of
long hours of
being exposed to
the elements, and
Cambodia’s daytime
sun can reduce you to a
puddle of sweat. Stay cool and dry with
an amazingly absorbent piece of cloth,
the Timberland Premium Microfiber
Travel Towel.