Cambodia is everything I hoped it would be and more. It is at times depressing, but always moving. Its beautiful, inspiring, overwhelming, hectic, and generally fascinating. Its the forgotten gem of Southeast Asia... Looking back on the past week and a half I could count the number of people who have looked upset or frustrated on one hand. The smiles and greetings are often overwhelming, but they are coupled with a laid back mind set that will never get old. We have been in the big cities, quiet beach towns and everywhere in between and the only unifying characteristic is the warm hearted people (well that and the paralyzing heat). Rabbit island was as relaxing as it was gorgeous, and the crab traps are always pulled in just in time for dinner. Kep is a sleepy little beach town that was all but abandoned when the Khmer rouge burnt it to the ground in the 70's. It is only now reappearing on the map as a Cambodian travel destination, and being lower profile than the Thai beaches across the gulf, it still offers secluded crowd-less beaches. It was a definite highlight, but this country has an uncanny ability to out do itself. Every meal seems better than the last, every family seems more friendly than the last, and every day is filled with deeper and deeper cultural experiences. I watched the sunrise at Angkor Wat this morning. I wrote that off as being the pinnacle Cambodian experience, and then I laid eyes on Bayon.
The magnificence of Siem Reap is clearly rooted in its grandeur, but also in its detail. Ornate detailing covers every visible inch of every hand carved stone. Walking in and amongst the temples is overwhelming- as much so as any experience I have ever had.
Millions of construction hours went into every single temple complex, and today, in less than 8 hours, we rushed through three of them. It feels almost disrespectful and yet I can not name a structure I've ever respected more. Two more days at the temples then we are off to Laos.
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