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50 States & D.C. Marathon Group U.S.A.

News Items

02/02/09
Larry Welch ON THE RUN...IN CAMBODIA NANCY BRINKER’S TIPS FOR SUCCESS YOU NEED VISION TO SEE AND ARTICULATE YOUR GOALS. AS HELEN KELLER SAID WHEN SOMEONE EXPRESSED SORROW AT HER BEING BLIND, THERE IS NOTHING WORSE THAN BEING ABLE TO SEE AND HAVE NO VISION. YOU NEED TO BE A STRONG LEADER TO ENLIST THE SUPPORT OF OTHERS AND MAKE YOUR VISION A REALITY. YOU NEED TO KEEP YOUR FOCUS RAZOR SHARP. IF YOUR LENS BECOMES UNFOCUSED, CHAOS WILL ENSUE. YOU NEED TO CREATE A TEAM TO REALIZE A DREAM. YOU MUST PERSUADE PEOPLE TO SHARE SUCCESSES AND THE DISAPPOINTMENTS—AND TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER. YOU NEED TO BE PERSISTENT. AS MY DAD TOLD ME, MOST PEOPLE FAIL BECAUSE THEY JUST GIVE UP. HE WAS RIGHT. IT TAKES COURAGE TO NOT ONLY HOLD TRUE TO YOUR UNIQUENESS, BUT TO EMBRACE IT, KNOWING THAT MANY WILL NOT GET IT. THAT’S OKAY. AS YOUR UNIQUENESS OPENS NEW DOORS FOR YOU AND YOUR APPRECIATION OF WHO YOU REALLY ARE EXPANDS, YOU’LL SEE THAT YOU’LL SEE THAT YOU HAVE A UNIQUE WAY TO EXPRESS YOURSELF IN THIS WORLD...A WAY THAT NO ONE CAN DUPLICATE. Cynthia Kersey, founder, Unstoppable Enterprises; author of Unstoppable; motivational speaker; established the Unstoppable Foundation to raise funds and awareness for women’s issues worldwide REMEMBER, WHAT YOU GET BY REACHING YOUR DESTINATION ISN’T NEARLY AS IMPORTANT AS WHAT YOU BECOME BY REACHING YOUR GOALS – WHAT YOU WILL BECOME IS THE WINNER YOU WERE BORN TO BE! Zig Ziglar, author, salesman, motivational speaker, author of God’s Way is Still the Best Way MANY PERSONS HAVE A WRONG IDEA OF WHAT CONSTITUTES TRUE HAPPINESS. IT IS NOT ATTAINED THROUGH SELF-GRATIFICATION BUT Nancy Brinker, breast cancer survivor; founder of The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer foundation; women’s health care advocate; US Ambassador to Hungary (2001-2003); Chief of Protocol, US State Department (2007- 09); Time magazine List of the 100 Most Influential People in the World, 2008; recipient of numerous awards for unstinting devotion to improving women’s health care as well as love and admiration for her humanity; political activist who promotes public service; and philanthropist THROUGH FIDELITY TO A WORTHY PURPOSE. Helen Keller (1880-1968), author, political activist, lecturer, traveler, first deafblind person to earn a bachelor of arts degree; founder, The Helen Keller Foundation and co-founder, American Civil Liberties Union Welcome to On the run..., it’s a personal e-news about positive thinking and travel adventures written for people striving to be their best. If you received this publication in error please send response with the word unsubscribe in the subject line to lnwelch@aol.com. If you would like to extend On the run... to your friends ask them to write the word subscribe in the subject line. On the run... is written by Larry Welch, an American living in Thailand. In his day-to-day routine, Larry is owner of the Full Moon Rubber Plantation at Nakhon Phanom and teaches English at the Suankularb Wittayalai Rangsit School in a northern suburb of Bangkok. Angkor Wat, Khmer Stories in Stone Most people would agree that the two most memorable experiences in Asia are to visit the Great Wall of China and Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Saving the Great Wall of China for another day, what follows is some of the Khmer Stories in Stone that I learned from spending a highly enjoyable Christmas holiday surveying Angkor Wat at Siem Reap, Cambodia. By way of orientation, Angkor Wat (wat means temple in both Thai and Khmer, the national language of Cambodia) was constructed in the early 12th century by King Suryavarman II. At the time it was dedicated to Vishnu, the ultimate Hindu god. The Khmer Empire, comparable in historical significance to Europe’s Roman Empire, was a major Asian power from 802 to 1432. Initially a nation of Hindu worshippers, the kingdom also learned of Buddhism and the two religions often competed for prominence, sometimes peacefully, sometimes not. Angkor Wat is one temple; however, the term Angkor refers to Cambodia and can be synonymous with the collection of wats that comprised the Khmer Empire. In Siem Reap Province (the equivalent of a county in the USA or UK), there are 292 ancient temples, 40 of which have been sufficiently restored to be safely visited by tourists. In Cambodia, there are nearly a thousand ancient temples with the Angkor Empire extending across Thailand, Myanmar (formerly Burma), Laos, and Vietnam. There are more ancient temples in each of those countries. But Angkor Wat remains the crown jewel and is the only wat that has been continuously occupied since being constructed. It is also the largest monument dedicated to religion in the world. The wats of Angkor are mostly amidst heavy jungle with back roads to transport tourists, researchers, and the small army of engineers and archeologists that have been focused on learning and preserving the temples for 102 years. It is an endless job given the ravages of the tropical environment not to mention the greed of art thieves who continue to steal whenever anyone turns their back. Since the Cambodian civil war (1970-75) and Khmer Rouge genocide regime (1975-79), other temples continue to be mined with unexploded munitions that have not yet been cleared. One of the main features of Angkor Wat is that it uses the symbolism of Mount Meru, which is part of both Hindu and Buddhist mythology. The legend goes that the world is divided into regions with heaven above and hell below. Sound familiar? The mythical Mount Meru separates earth from the heavens. There are five peaks at Mount Meru. As a result, Angkor Wat has five towers; the main tower is 213 feet high. As noted, the The sunrise photograph above shows the moat with the Angkor Temple complex in the background. The moat is 660 feet wide and was once filled with crocodiles to discourage invaders. On the left is the causeway that allowed worshippers to enter the 500-acre grounds. Now the partially rebuilt causeway transports a million tourists annually to see the ruins, reconstruction efforts, and feel the mood of such a grand structure. There is one common goal in the heart of every Cambodian and that is to visit Angkor Wat once in their lifetime. Photograph below is an aerial view of Angkor Wat surrounded by jungle. The moat is credited with benefiting preservation of the temple because it kept encroaching jungle from invading the grounds. Photograph below is aerial view of the temple showing moat, west and east causeways. Angkor Wat at Sunrise complex is surrounded by a moat; the waters in the moat represent the mythical oceans surrounding the earth. Angkor Wat is a majestic complex. The beauty and its impact on the human spirit are astonishing. There are stone carvings that tell stories of everyday life, religious mythology, and heroic battles defending the kingdom. The symmetry of the architectural layout provides mirrored images, profiles and silhouettes that keep observers in awe. What made construction of such impressive structures possible was the relationship between the king and the gods. Upon taking office, the king would construct an impressive temple to confirm his good relationship with the gods. The theme of these temples was dedicated to whatever religion the king believed in. It was also common for a king to dedicate a temple to his parents and other ancestors. So many of these temples were constructed over the 500 year history of the Khmer Empire because once a king died, they were not re-used by a succeeding ruler. In the case of Angkor Wat, it was initially dedicated as a Hindu place of worship, but later events changed the orientation to Buddhism. Although almost all statutes have been either stolen or removed for safekeeping, the thousands of bas (low relief) stone carvings on the inner and outer walls is sufficient to give pilgrims the sense that they are The gopura or gateway entrance is the main architectural feature of the wall that surrounds any Khmer temple. Photograph above shows the gopura to Angkor Wat. It is 750 feet wide with five entranceways: three for pedestrians and two are large enough for vehicles and elephants. The southern pedestrian entrance on the right is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu (shown at left). The three principal Indian gods at Angkor Wat are Shiva, Brahma, and Vishnu. Vishnu is known as the Protector and is shown in a typical position: standing with four arms and holding a conch shell for sounding victory over chaos; a ball representing the Earth; a mace which is the symbol of his power; and a discus, an invincible weapon. A good god, whenever the world is threatened by evil, he assumes the role of savior and descends to Earth, usually reincarnated as a human or animal and guides mankind through the dissemination of his love, which ultimately triumphs over the forces of evil. Gopura, Angkor Wat walking through what was once a celestial paradise and that is precisely the mood that the architects and artists intended to convey. The area around Angkor Wat was the largest preindustrial city in the world with an estimated population of one million people. Many of the citizens were artisans and working class people who built and maintained the temple complexes in the area. At Angkor Wat an estimated 97,000 people were involved with construction and the ongoing maintenance. Angkor Wat was constructed of two primary materials: Laterite, which was cut from the ground, especially the moat area, dressed into building blocks and left in the air to cure. Relatively soft mudstone, when exposed to the air and sun it became quite hard and proved an excellent material for foundations and interior structures. Reddish in color, it is porous and not suitable for outer decoration or carving. Sandstone is the other natural resource mined and moved to Angkor Wat. The sandstone was quarried in the Kulen Hills, located about 30 miles northeast of Angkor Wat. It was first moved on the Siem Reap River, then transferred to elephants, carts, and a roller-pulley mechanism for transportation to the building site. The sandstone was used for all facing on the laterite and it is on the sandstone that we see the beautiful carvings. The stones vary in color from grey to pinkish, yellowish to greenish. Missing building materials are wood and paint, which have deteriorated to nonexistence. Further, Angkor Wat was sacked by invading Thais who not only carted off tapestries, carpets, furniture and jewelry, but also took thousands of slaves back to Siam for temple construction of its own. As an aside to the capture of slaves, the king’s Apsaras (royal dancers) were also captured and became the genesis for classical dance in Siam (now Thailand). Historians suspect that this massive attack on the Khmer capital was one of the major factors in crumbling of the empire. Besides incursions by the Thais, the Chams from Vietnam were regular attackers. Even today Apsaras There are many fine sculptured features at Angkor Wat, but none is more intriguing or beautiful than the Apsaras, which adorn the inner and outer walls. At Angkor Wat there are 2,000 of these celestial dancers who entertained the gods and were the sensual rewards of kings and heroes who died bravely. In Khmer mythology they were elevated alone to special importance in temple decoration. All of the 2,000 Apsaras at Angkor Wat are shown with a smiling face, beautiful costumes, and jewelry. They are carved in low relief (bas) in sandstone and stand from 2-5 feet in height. The human dimension that made such grandeur possible was a caste system similar to the hierarchy in ancient Egypt and Mexico where the Pharaohs and Maya erected their pyramids. There was a long line of kings, a class of priests, and merchants, and a pcaste of slaves (captives of war), laborers, masons, sculptors, and decorators. Architects and the artisans at Angkor Wat were part of the lower level of society. The area around Angkor Wat was comparable in size to Greater London, held far more people, making it the largest population center in the pre-industrial world. In preserving Angkor Wat, the ravages of nature are one thing to contend with in the encroachment of jungle and harsh tropical climate, the other is encroachment by all of us. There are now a million visitors annually to Siem Reap where we find luxury hotels, golf courses, swimming pools, restaurants, and transportation. In our human wake we leave pollution, the Siem Reap River is now terribly dirty, but worse is the lowering water table. As the groundwater lowers beneath the temple complex, buildings sink, tilt and ultimately collapse. In closing, I thank my guide, Meng Chhieng Yin (nickname Tiger), for his explanations and patiently answering all my curious questions about not only the temples at Angkor Wat, but also life in Cambodia. Professional guides are expected to go the extra mile with their clients, but Tiger put his heart into being more than what one would expect. Thank you also to Michael Freeman and Claude Jacques for the education I received in reading their book, Ancient Angkor (River Books, 2008); and to Dawn Rooney for all the knowledge she shared in her book, Angkor (Airphoto, 2005). Where would we be without books and teachers who give light on our journey of discovery? I hope you will continue your stroll along the following pages for more photographs and captions of the interesting world at Angkor Wat. King Suryavarman II and his Entourage In an area nearly 300 feet long on what is referred to as the South Gallery, there is a continuous sculpture of a military procession, which has an historical basis. It shows King Suryavarman II, the temple’s builder, and his army. This small section shows the king seated and in keeping with his rank, larger than any other figure. The entire procession features war elephants, priests, soldiers, musicians, servants, standard bearers, Siamese mercenaries, princesses, ladies of the court, ministers and army commanders. The detail is sufficiently rich that educated observers can easily identify ranks and nationalities, and the royal symbolism intended by the artists. These bas reliefs have a total extent of 1,800 feet by 6-feet high and are one of the most famous creations in Khmer art. Besides the military procession shown above, most of the themes are from Hindu sources and feature the gods with all their bravery, challenges and ultimate triumphs. Weather Worn Angkor Wat This view of east side of Angkor Wat shows years of tropical weathering. What isn’t shown because it was closed for restoration is one of the greatest scenes ever sculpted into stone, Churning of the Ocean of Milk. In Hindu mythology, Churning of the Ocean of Milk is a famous event in which the gods and demons churn the ocean in a tug of war that lasts 1,000 years. In the end, an elixir is produced giving the gods immortality and incorruptibility. More than immortality the gods are rewarded by a three-headed elephant named Airavata, the goddess Laksmi, a milk-white horse, Chanda the moon god, and a cow of plenty among other prizes. Out-of- sight in this photograph is scaffolding being used by workers sponsored by India who are making an effort to preserve the building and important sculptures. Central Tower There was nothing built at Angkor Wat without design, purpose and calculation. At left is the temple’s central tower. It is surrounded by four lesser towers. The collection of five is shaped in the form of a lotus bud. The central tower rises from the center of the temple 213 feet representing the mythical Mount Meru, which according to Buddhist and Hindu legend is situated at the center of the universe and is home of the gods. The towers are symbolic mountain peaks, the outer wall of the temple are mountains at the edge of the world, and the surrounding moat is the oceans beyond. The stairs take climbers up 40 steps (131 feet) at a 70 degree angle. The climb isn’t easy and is characteristic of many Buddhist temples. The trek up is intended to be a formidable experience representing the climb up a real mountain. These two Apsaras (heavenly dancers) are upper left are part of the collection of 2,000 that adorn the walls at Angkor Wat. At first glance they appear repetitive, and then you realize that each is different in personality. Although all have an adorable smile, faces are different as well as costumes, hairstyles, headdresses, and jewels that are uniquely their own. Some are dark, others light and that reflects cleaning for preservation. Left to nature’s way, the entire temple complex would be covered in black mildew and mold. In the photographs at upper right are two real life Apsaras from a dance troupe at Siem Reap. The graciousness of their movements and physical beauty are qualities that never tire the eye. There are stories in stone a thousand years old and stories that are told in their dance equally distant from our day and age. Photograph at left shows history in the making at Angkor Wat as I sampled my first ever glass of palm juice. Besides the refreshing pick-me-up (high sugar content), I met Sophan Pring, a 22-year old palm juice maker and saleslady. Business was slow, she smiled, I smiled, and we got our picture taken together. The grounds of Angkor Wat are filled with the Asian Palmyra Palm, producer of this great tasting juice. Palm juice can also be distilled into beer and wine while the palm leaves are used to weave baskets, fans, hats, mats, and umbrellas. Asparas, Then and Now Palm Juice and a Pretty Girl ~ In Closing ~ Thanks for being the good readers that you are and hanging onto every last detail. As I reflect on Siem Reap and the temples at Angkor, it is seems that I had the perfect holiday for meeting people, seeing sights, and learning more about the world. Now living in the reality of being a school teacher I reflect and write while finding myself caught in the joy of being amidst 3,300 smiling youngsters. I’ve decided that it is all but impossible to have a bad day in such circumstances; the personality power behind those smiles just won’t let it happen. I know that some of them think I am the best thing since the invention of fried rice, but from my sense of being it is the reverse that is true. Living in Pathumthini Province just north of Bangkok, we’ve just come off of a cold snap, the chilliest in 10 years. Kids came to school wrapped in scarves, sweaters and jackets. Their teeth chattered, they had goosebumps, and there was a rash of runny noses. The temperature had dropped to 59F degrees. I also put on a jacket, but it was a little out of sympathy for my family and friends in Michigan who are under Jack Frost’s thumb with subzero temperatures along with snow and wind. It is now in the 70-90F temperature range in the Bangkok region and I am not exactly chomping at the bit for a family reunion in Michigan. Hello! Very nice to meet you. Thank you for coming to see Angkor Wat. I give you flower for souvenir. I wish you good luck with your job and all your family. Nice to speak with you. I’m very happy to meet you. I hope you coming again. I hope to see you again. I like your smile. I hope you coming to see Angkor Wat again. I hope you like my flower. I hope you don’t forget me. From Sary, good bye! Good bye! Drawn on the handwritten note was a bouquet of flowers and each small merchant: Sach, Sary, and Sreyoun, (photograph at right) gave me a note with identical handwritten wording. This excellent public relations maneuver on the grounds near Angkor Wat almost swayed me into buying something, instead I gave the girls a monetary donation, and they in turn gave me samples of what they were selling. They also made me promise that if I saw them again I would buy substantial quantities of merchandise. Sadly the local police shakedown many children like these for $1 a day for them to stay in business. If it doesn’t show in the photograph, please know that these are among the most adorable kids in the world. Sach, Sary, and Sreyoun Two weeks ago, I had a rare opportunity to visit with two of my former workmates from Singapore. This was the first time I had met with any of the old gang since retiring 18 months ago. Frank Boyd and Jack Stanley were passing through Bangkok on a Navy assignment at the nearby beach resort of Pattaya. Frank in particular makes a specialty of being selected for these locations! We had a great lunch and chit-chat at Finnegan’s Pub and it was yet another experience proving that old friends are the best friends. We talked about old times and new times. Returning home by taxi I decided that I am glad that the old times are in the past and that I am now having new times in the sunny radiance of Thai kids. You may be pleased to know that in the next issue of On the run... I’ll continue to explain more about the wonderment at Angkor. I want to show you where Angelina Jolie and Harrison Ford filmed parts of their now classic movies, Tomb Raider and Indiana Jones, Raider’s of the Lost Ark, respectively, plus so much more. Keep being your best!

12/19/02
EXOTIC MARATHONS Would you like to travel to exotic places to do a marathon? Well I have the person for you to do just that. Kathy Loper a runner herself for over 33 years, and has twenty-five years of Event Directing experience. You can join a group of running enthusiasts from around the world on a marathon of a lifetime in Russia, Great Wall of China, Switzerland, Thailand to name a few. You can get more information by contacting: Kathy Loper Events 7801 Mission Center Court Suite 103 San Diego, CA 92108 #619-298-7448 E-mail: kathy@kathyloperevents.com www.kathyloperevents.com