Cambodia had been on my bucket list for as long as I can remember. It was an unrealistic dream, one that was too far fetched for a long time. But that changed almost overnight when a phone call with my best friend converted into a legendary temple-hopping plan across Siem Reap. I remember I could not sleep that night, that’s what happens when dreams start turning into reality. Excited as a kid in a candy store, I started looking up travel guides, documentaries, Lonely Planet and TripAdvisor recommendations, blog posts and what not. As much as I wanted Cambodia to surprise me, once begun, I couldn’t stop reading about this magnificent land. Bookmarks about Cambodia on my laptop would still easily last a couple of years.
But all said and done, Cambodia cannot really be decoded unless you experience it. Nothing can prepare you for this country and the rich cultural heritage that has become its selling point. Cambodia surprised me with hospitality that I haven’t seen anywhere else in the world, not even in my own country which believes in equating guests to Gods. Whether it was the ever smiling and proactive hotel staff, or the tuk-tuk drivers going an extra mile, or the guides who were so generous with their stories as well as time, or the super helping Airport Staff at Siem Reap Airport or random shopkeepers selling souvenirs – I cannot put a finger on it, but I still remember their hearty smiles.
It all began with applying for a visa, which was a fairly easy process online. Though Cambodia provides Visa on arrival for Indians, it’s better to apply online to avoid queues at the small Siem Reap Airport. It cost me $40 and another sleepless night, waiting in anticipation for THE trip of the year! Booking a hotel was the next task which became an almost impossible search, because every hotel, big or small, star or budget had great reviews. I couldn’t really figure out what was going on here, so I passed on this difficult decision to my friends instead. It was only later we realized that there wasn’t a catch here. Cambodians took their hospitality so seriously that the reviews were all supposed to be nothing but great.
Like everyone else coming to Cambodia, Angkor Wat was where we wanted to begin the trip to let heritage creep in from every nook and corner and make us scream in awe. But then, someone mentioned about floating villages near Siem Reap that gave an insight into the real life of locals, beyond their rich past. It was a difficult decision, but we began the trip with a visit to a couple of floating villages, both touristy and offbeat ones, and a spectacular sunset at Lake Tonle Sap. Winding through a thick mangrove forest in a small boat, my thoughts wandered and I experienced what no piece of writing could have made me feel.
I believe that every sunset is a work of art, but this one seemed too pretty to be true. I couldn’t help but wonder how lucky are those who get to see such a spectacular painting by nature everyday. With the winds playing music, the waves creating a matching rhyme, and the sun dipping in the horizon – the nature lover in me even forgot Angkor Wat for a while.
Just when we thought we were getting to know Siem Reap, we were in for yet another surprise. Siem Reap, the temple town, is so similar yet so unlike the heritage towns of India that I am used to. At Pub Street, it was the East meeting West, and both existing in perfect harmony here. Undoubtedly, the most vibrant part of the city, this one was a bundle of energy that could keep the night oil burning. With pubs, restaurants, night markets – you could come here every night you’re in Siem Reap and still find something new or interesting you haven’t seen before.
Day one at Siem Reap wrapped up with a promise to wake up early for the sunrise at Angkor Wat. Unfortunately, the clouds made sure that I couldn’t get the picture I so wanted, but then it was still okay, because that made me give up on the camera for a while and experience how the night slowly gave way to a beautiful morning.
There is nothing I can write about Angkor Wat, that’s not written before. But it will still possibly need a couple of blog posts to gather all my thoughts about the grandeur of this largest temple in the world. At Angkor Wat, finding references to Indian mythology in the smallest of things, made me feel like a local at times, forgetting that this is a foreign country -and that really was the defining factor of this trip for me.
Angkor Complex has many imposing structures, and each one makes you stop and stare at it in awe of the ancient architects who built them. I am not capable enough, with my limited vocabulary, to share what an impeccable piece of art the Angkor Complex is. It happens rarely that something new feels so familiar – like falling in love, like the first drops of rain, like the crispy autumn leaves crunching under your feet – Angkor cannot be summed in words – or pictures- because they would never be good enough. One has to see it to believe it. Nevertheless, signing off with some frames, though they are still inadequate.
Though almost an atheist, it still comes as a happy miracle that Facebook just told me it’s Buddha Purnima today, the day I finally begin writing about Cambodia and the plethora of beautiful Buddhist Temples it hosts. Just a coincidence or the Universe is trying to send me a signal?
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This was a really interesting post, thanks for sharing your travel experience.
Mahima Git
Its just awesome.Very much excited to visit after looking these scenarios.
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