1. Eyes

Eyes…  I keep noticing them everywhere I go…  The interesting shapes and sizes of people’s eyes here in Siem Reap, Cambodia, as well as those that are carved into stone.  I just spent nearly two hours at Bayon Temple photographing many of the beautiful stone eyes on the serene, peaceful faces that are there.  Now I’ve come across the face of a beautiful little girl with enormous dark eyes.  She’s looking at me.  I gently smile so that I don’t frighten her with my camera.  “Hello,” I say, but she doesn’t reply.  “I’m Lisa,” I say, pointing to myself.  “Leeesa,” I repeat slowly, but she doesn’t say anything.  She simply stares at me.  I look around for an adult she might be with, but I don’t see anyone.  For a girl her age, that seems odd.  “May I take your photograph?” I ask.  No reply or movement.  She just continues to stare at me.  I squat down to be at eye-level with her and offer her a smile with my eyes before I take her image.  If there was a time for her to run away, it would be now.  But she doesn’t.  She doesn’t flinch, smile, speak or run.  She stands in place allowing me to photograph her, seemingly interested in me and what’s happening.  “Thank you,” I say, standing back up.  “Do you want to see?”  I turn my camera around to show her the photo, but she doesn’t look.  She’s looking at me like she’s seen a ghost, and I wonder if I remind her of someone.  Maybe she’s just curious.  I don’t know…  “Bye…” I say, giving a little wave.  “Bye.”  I wonder what was going on behind those eyes of hers, for a girl of her age…