Tomb Raider temple

Photo by Patrick Jones. Ta Prohm, Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Before my most recent trip to Europe, I was recapping my trip to Thailand and Cambodia. I left off the photo journey through Angkor Wat park with a post on Angkor Thom, the old capital of the Khmer Empire. Ta Prohm was featured in the 2001 film Tomb Raider, and is known for how the site is being reclaimed by the jungle. Large trees are fused with the ruins.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Trees growing into Ta Prohm.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Ta Prohm, Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Tree growing out of Ta Prohm.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Carvings at Ta Prohm.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Batik painting, Angkor National Museum

Angkor was an inspiring place. By Noon, I needed a break from the heat. The Angkor National Museum made for a good diversion, rounding out the historical perspective on the ancient sites and culture of the Khmer.

At the end of my day visit to Angkor, I returned to Siem Reap Airport for an evening flight back to Bangkok. I had Sunday 24 April to explore more of the city before the start of the UN Conference. I have a few more photos from Bangkok in the next post.

Amsterdam, Moscow, Minsk

Photo by Patrick Jones. Amsterdam, 14 May 2016.

I am back from a 10 day trip in Europe which included engagements in Moscow, Amsterdam and Minsk, Belarus. I have quite a few photos to post, and over the weekend I will also post additional photos from my trip earlier in May to Thailand and Cambodia.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Large office towers in Moscow's Capital City development.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Moscow along the river. 12 May 2016.

Angkor Thom

Photo by Patrick Jones. Bayon temple at Angkor Thom.

Photo by Patrick Jones. South gate at Angkor Thom.

After visiting Angkor Wat, I continued on to the historic Khmer capital of Angkor Thom. This site is even larger than the temple at Angkor Wat. The center of Angkor Thom contains the iconic Bayon temple, with its huge faces carved in stone.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Angkor Thom, Siem Reap, Cambodia. 23 Apr 2016.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Bayon, Angkor Thom.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Bayon, Angkor Thom. 23 Apr 2016.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Buddha at Bayon temple.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Intricate carvings at Bayon.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Dancing figures.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Baphuon Temple.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Baphuon Temple at Angkor Thom.

Photo by Patrick Jones. View from top of Baphuon.

Photo by Patrick Jones. View from top of Baphuon.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Back at the bottom of Baphuon Temple.

Baphuon temple was built in the 11th century. Renovations were only recently completed in 2011. By the time I finished climbing to the top & back to the bottom, the heat of the day was really starting to get to me. I took in one more site at Angkor, to see the Ta Prohm ruins featured in the film Tomb Raider, before ending my day at the park. I also visited the Angkor National Museum after lunch. A few more photos to follow.

Rising out of the jungle

Photo by Patrick Jones. Angkor Wat, 23 Apr 2016.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Buddha protected by Naga.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Temple cat at Angkor Wat.

This set continues my exploration of Angkor Wat, picking up from the photos here and here. The Telegraph has a timely video on why one should see Angkor Wat in one's lifetime (YouTube, 7 May 2016, link here). There's a great quote from one of the reporters retelling his own visit to Angkor, and I certainly felt this way too walking through the ruins. "You are aware, and I was certainly aware, that there are a lot of people there...but the beauty of it is such that it almost transcends that and you can find your own corner of it. It's a place that inspires and sparks wonder."

Photo by Patrick Jones. Inside Angkor Wat.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Inside Angkor Wat.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Khmer inscription over Japanese.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Inside Angkor Wat.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Angkor from the front entrance.

It really was an amazing place. I have been very lucky to see many of the world's great heritage sites - most recently Chichen Itza in Yucatan, Mexico, as well as the Pyramids in Egypt, the Great Wall of China, among others. I am so glad this worked out to see Angkor while I was in the region. I'm not sure when I will get another opportunity to go to Cambodia.

After departing the temple site, I continued on to Angkor Thom, the old capital city of the Khmer Empire. I will have photos from exploring Angkor Thom in a separate post.

John's Signature

Picking up the story of my 4th-great-grandfather John Armstrong, I was able to find a document with his signature in the probate file of his father (my 5th-great-grandfather) Thomas Armstrong.

Source: FamilySearch, Ohio probate files, Hocking County, Ohio.

John's older brother William Armstrong served as the executor for both his father's estate and his mother's. The probate files have been scanned and are available on FamilySearch, providing a wealth of information about the estates of Thomas and Margaret Patton Armstrong. I will spend some time describing the contents later in the month, after returning from another business trip.

Source: FamilySearch, probate file of Margaret Patton Armstrong.

John Armstrong received distributions from the estates of both parents, but his amount was smaller from Thomas Armstrong's estate as John had received a loan from Thomas in 1848 to help with his move from Ohio to Indiana, and John owed the debt plus interest for a total of $61.71. As John had moved to Montgomery County, Indiana, he would have returned to Hocking County, Ohio in March 1856 after the death of Thomas and in mid-1866 after the death of Margaret.

This story will next pick up with Thomas and Margaret in Hocking County, Ohio.