While riding a scooter around Kratie, Cambodia I happened to pass several men carving a dugout from a large tree trunk. They were in the process of roughing out the dragonboat and though they didn’t seem to have much time to explain the details to a passing foreigner, they did show me how they had set fire to it the night before to soften the wood, allowing them to stretch the sides and make it wider.
When I showed the photos to the hotel manager, he offered to take me to another boat that was under construction just a few blocks away. We had just enough time to give it a quick look when rain began to pour and we had to retreat back to the hotel. While I was there, he pointed out the Province Governor who was there to inspect their progress. They take dragon racing very seriously around here.
That was about nine months ago. Yesterday I received an email from Veronica, a maritime archaeologist from Spain who specializes in Khmer boat building traditions. She had found my original post by searching “The Google” and wondered if I had anymore photos. Despite making three separate trips to Cambodia, she had never been lucky enough to actually witness one being built.
I gladly passed on every shot I had (and now wish I’d taken more) to help with her research and will now make an extra effort to take more when I make my upcoming visa run into Laos. She also sent me a link to her website, Archaeology for Travelers, which is devoted to travel, history and responsible tourism. I had no idea a site existed that covered two of my favorite things –travel and archeol… archaleo… ummm… old stuff– and highly recommend you pop over and check it out.
{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
What are the odds!? Huh! Internet is one small community, and I am really happy to have “met” someone like you who is so passionate about life and have the quality of admiring things just for the sake of it. I mean, who would have actually stopped in the middle of nowhere to take a look at what some Cambodians were doing with a tree trunk? Well, I guess only few people. And I’m very happy that you were one of them!! Thanks for sending me the pictures, I’ll put them to good use!! :D
Cheers!!
V.
Huh… when I was a kid I always wanted to be an archaeologist (due to an obsession with ancient Egypt). Veronica’s website looks rad; thanks for passing it along!
Sweet little nugget that gets me stoked for always keeping my camera on hand! nice work Johnny, way to stay low and slow…the only way to go!
Thanks, man!
Wow, the internet really blows my mind sometimes!
Thanks for the comment, Andi.
Very cool! Can’t wait to check out Veronica’s site.
She’s a “maritime archaeologist from Spain who specializes in Khmer boat building traditions”? That is a very specific job, and it must be awesome when she introduces herself at parties. (“You’re a…what now?”) As a bonus, her site is super cool!
I wanted to be a paleontologist when I was growing up. Loved me some dinosaur bones.
Definitely a cool gig. I considered archaeology myself when I was young — wanted to dig up some Mayan temples.
For me Travel + Archaeology = Indiana Jones, so the name is already high in the cool factor.
Totally agree!
they carve out a boat from a tree? that sounds like a lot of work
It really is. After they have shaped and joined the three pieces, they carve decorations into it and paint it. And you’ll see teams of rowers practicing on the rivers for months before the races.
I am still considering going back to school for archaeology! I’m already scared that Shaun will have to pry me out of Guatemala with all those live digs. :)
Lovely site!
I’m just back from running around like a loon in Petra pretending to be the world’s most famous archaeologist. I’ve only had a quick look so far but have added Veronica’s site to my RSS feed for some of the real thing.
The internet sure has made the world seem a whole lot smaller.
It’s amazing how much the internet has changed the world in every single aspect. I agree with Joe, the internet has really made the world smaller…!
You will never know how lucky you are before somebody asks you something they can’t grasp while you got it effortlessly :) She really has a thing for boats. Thanks for sharing Wes!
So cool to see something being created the traditional way! It’s undoubtedly a huge effort, but well worth it and a beautiful piece of craftsmanship is created. Beautiful!