Last week me and my colleagues went to Cambodia. Our destination..... to see the famous Angkor Wat. It was a 2hours flight from LCCT to Siem Reap. Upon arrival we were picked up by Soh Phrea and Lee which is our tour guide and driver respectively. Roughly 30mins ride we arrive at our hotel "The Villa" which is owned by an Australian. I've got to say im quite satisfied with the room that offered me a nice bath and a good nights sleep.
Ah, enough with the intro and more about the country and its people. The weather there is pretty hot and the soil are dusty... but those is just minor setbacks to what Cambodia has to offer. On the first day we get to have a taste of Cambodian country side... 1st stop the great Ton Le Sap lake. On the way there we get to see countless rows of shacks alongside a uneven muddy road which made our ride felt like a 4WD expedition. After the bumpy ride we arrived at the mouth of the river which supplies the water to the great lake, from here we took a boat to have a view of the floating village and catch a glimpse of the everyday life of the residents there. On the way there we manage to see a floating school, basketball court and hospital. Here is where we get to see the divide in the society on one hand we see children in uniforms getting education but on the other hand we see children working by skipping from boat to boat selling drinks and doing chores. By looking at their lifestyle it is very disheartening to see the extreme poverty that the villagers are facing, living in perilous conditions. But it is good to know that the orgnization such as UNESCO are making a difference in these people's life by providing them with well water, education and several other projects.
Another thing that is not to be missed is the sunset from a temple built high atop the hills although the clouds were not too kind but the evening sky and surrounding where just breathtaking. There is a feeling of warmth and inner peace as the sun dissapeared before the shelter of the clouds in the horizon.
Next is what made Cambodia famous world over and it is even featured on the nations flag is none other than the one and only "Angkor Wat". The great temple which withstood a thousand years of torture by nature and war in all its glory. Built around moat the Angkor Wat is said to be the mountain of the gods where the water around are said to symbolize the cosmos in hinduism. It is really hard to imagine how magnificent it was just a century before. It is truly the masterpiece of Khmer achitecture. From the detailed Bas-relief carvings on the wall to the perfect geometry of the stone blocks its really hard to believe that all of these were built without the use of any machinery. Sadly the last level of the temple are closed to vistors as it is undergoing restoration work. Another magnificient temple was "Bayon" its truly remarkable architecture with towers bearing hundred of faces of the creator king Jayavarman VII as well as bas-relief carvings gives us a glimpse of how life was back then. Last but not least is the temple "Ta Phrom" the temple made popular in the Tomb Raider movie starred by Angelina Jolie. Whats unique about this temple is the humongous tree that have grown atop the once abandoned temple for hundreds of years, the root covered structure is a unison of man-made wonder and nature. What can i say...... simply astounding. There are a few temples that i have left out but equally unique in its own distinctive way.
Best of all i have learnt something very valuble on this trip. Travel is not only about the place, the people, the culture or the food its also about the people with you on the trip.... experiencing all this together with your closest friends ..... Priceless.....
