Legend says that the Khmer people are descended from the union of a mortal and a Naga princess, the Naga being an ancient reptilian race. Images of the naga as a multi-headed, hooded serpent are everywhere in Cambodia. So far I’ve only seen ones that have an odd number of heads, but apparently those with an even number of heads exist, representing different qualities than those with an odd number of heads. They are on statuary, monuments, bridges, boat launches, pagodas, wats, banknotes…and gas stations. A green, cartoony, fire-breathing naga, rising up out of an ocean (maybe of gasoline) proclaims the Tela gas station for all passing motorists to see. Perhaps that “Power for Energy” has something more to it than just standard combustion.


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