The Majesty of Angkor

Every day is an adventure. Life is full of ups and downs and you never know what might happen to you when you walk out the door. This saying is never more true than when you're traveling. Literally every single day holds new places to see, people to meet, food to eat, and things to do. The time since my last post has been no exception. We hiked a plateau to see three of the coolest waterfalls I've ever seen. We kayaked down the mighty Mekong in search of rare river dolphins that hide among its many islands (and found them!). We met Peace Corps volunteers from China and exchanged stories about the differences and similarities between our country. But even these extremely exciting stories can't quite compete with the majesty of Angkor.

Located just outside of the beautiful city of Siem Reap in Cambodia, Angkor is the name of the region that once was the seat of the mighty Khmer empire. From the 9th to the 15th century, a succession of monarchs captured and ruled over most of the area that is today Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and parts of Vietnam and southern China. The immensity of the Khmer empire was surpassed only by the magnificent temples, palaces, and other religious buildings its many rulers built right in the heart of their empire. Though many of the temples and palaces have been destroyed since then, many still remain and stand testament of this once glorious regime.

Exploring the ruins of Angkor is absolutely awe inspiring. The temples are massive, yet covered by extremely beautiful and detailed carvings. Though originally Hindu they were later converted to Buddhist temples, and as a result of this crossover the carvings are of both Buddhist and Hindu images. Smack dab in the middle of Angkor lies the famous Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument in the world. This extraordinary structure is breathtaking at all times of the day but especially so at sunrise. With services still held occasionally inside, it radiates an aura of tranquility and power unlike anywhere else in the world.

The two days we spent exploring all the temples were wonderful. Walking through the forest, climbing to the top of temples, and touching the amazing sandstone structures... It really made me wonder what life must have been like back then. Though very quiet and calm now, it once thrived with priests, kings, and villagers, all carving a life together out of the jungle. It makes me wish more than ever that I could spend just one day living a life in the past....

The temples of the Khmer empire show the amazing things people can do when they set their mind to it, and demonstrate the immense power of the human imagination. Angkor is unlike anywhere else in the world, and this ruined capitol deserves to be at the top of every single person's bucket list.