Description
Temples and Elephants: Narrative of a Journey of Exploration through Upper Siam and Lao by Carl Bock is a travelogue documenting his 19th-century expedition through present-day Thailand and Laos. Commissioned by the King of Siam, Bock recorded his observations of local cultures, religions, landscapes, and wildlife, especially focusing on Buddhist temples and elephants. The book combines ethnographic detail with colonial-era curiosity, offering a Western perspective on Southeast Asia during a time of limited European access and understanding.
