The Almighty Angkor Wat

Cambodia. A new people, a new history, a new landscape. A whole new world.

It was with great excitement that on April 1st, after more than 7 weeks in Laos, I finally crossed over to Cambodia. A long and sweaty 14 hour bus ride and here I was, Siem Reap, Cambodia, a few kilometers from the world renown Angkor Wat.

From the very first moments, I noticed Cambodia has a very distinct and interesting personality. The landscape is different, with houses having more of a French flair than in Laos and land bears many fruit trees. The language, which I had mistakingly thought would be similar to Lao, the same way Lao is similar to Thai, is indeed very different. I had to completely put aside my basic knowledge of Asian intonations and had to start rolling my Rs. The food also seems very distinct, and is absolutely tasty: sweet and sour being applied to a wide range of ingredients. Rene and I found this awesome little Khmer eatery in Siem Reap. Locals gather there en masse for lunch where for a small 1,50$, you get to eat whatever goodies is prepared, from grilled eggplants with pork crumblings to banana flower salads to amok, which is fish baked in a coconuty sauce in banana leaves.

And then there are the Khmer people, which have been absolutely amazing so far. Go beyond the harassing tuk-tuk driver and the sellers of crap, everyone is genuinely smily, generous, and welcoming. For example, while on walkin in Angkor Wat, I had this lovely lady coming up to me. She gave me a wide smile, squeezed my arm in a very motherly way, pointed at my face, and left...She liked my dimples :) Sublime!

I have truly been enjoying Siem Reap, from its many free visits of silk or spice farms or art schools to its fun shopping and cooking courses. And off course, there is almighty Angkor Wat. The place is huge, with buildings spreading over more than thirty kilometers. As you approach the giant ruined temple city, hair suddenly rise on your body and without even realizing it, a feeling of excitement and amazement builds up. The place is simply surreal.

Angkor Wat, it is centuries and centuries old, built by great monarchs of their time. The stone you touch is the stone a little Khmer girl touched while running along the alleys of her city, hand drifting on the wall. Angkor Wat, it is the documenting of daily life as well as the ultime representation of authority in sculptures. It live up to the expectations. Angkor Wat is immensity, history, and a fair dose of mystery.

Sending my love to you all,

Veronik