When we returned from Laos we did some more sight seeing around Siem Reap. I had a few days in work and I introduced mum to a few of my friends in Cambodia with a few lovely dinners and drinks. We managed to do a day of Christmas shopping for the family round the markets and mum came into work for a day in order to let the students I work with practice their English.
“The traveller was active; he went strenuously in search of people, of adventure, of experience. The tourist is passive; he expects interesting things to happen to him. He goes "sight-seeing."” - Daniel J. Boorstin
On one of the evenings out we headed to a traditional Khmer show of Apsara dancing . This traditional dance form depicts stories and scenarios from life and history. The dancing itself is slow and precise and a lot of the beauty is in the curve of the hands and feet, not to mention the outfits. The music for which was provided by a group of students from a local deaf school.

(this ones off the net)
You will also find images of Apsaras all over the temples here as this tradition is steeped in history.

You will also find images of Apsaras all over the temples here as this tradition is steeped in history.
After the dancing the group also showed he audience traditional shadow puppet show. The story we saw was about two young cow herders, I think they were arguing about something and there is a moral at the end.

(pics aren't mine as the light was terrible and my photos useless)
The puppets are shown through a translucent screen and are made of flat lether with holes in to give emphasis and definition. The puppets are manipulated via sticks.

It was great fun to see these traditions in action.
"Tradition is the illusion of permanence." -Woody Allen
"Without tradition, art is a flock of sheep without a shepherd. Without innovation, it is a corpse." - Winston Churchill
The puppets are shown through a translucent screen and are made of flat lether with holes in to give emphasis and definition. The puppets are manipulated via sticks.

It was great fun to see these traditions in action.
"Tradition is the illusion of permanence." -Woody Allen
"Without tradition, art is a flock of sheep without a shepherd. Without innovation, it is a corpse." - Winston Churchill