We rose bright and early this morning for our tour of the famous Angkor Wat ruins...
The grounds for the temple are giant- a few miles at least in diameter. There are maybe 10 temples, more or less, and through the day we visited about 6 of them. We hired a tuk tuk to drive us around to each temple, and then you walk from the road into the site. I don't think it's possible to make it around to all these ruins by walking unless you have a week! I think even with the driving we must have walked several miles. So worth every penny, every aching muscle, every minute!
It is incomprehensible to me how these temples were created, with such elaborate detail and artistic fervor. These grand structures are covered in beautiful etchings and reliefs of deities, decorations and pictorial stories. Every stone laid of many thousands of stones...a work of art. Perfection. I can only believe these people were far more advanced than they are believed to be...or they had help from star beings. (I'm serious). Truly magnificent, the most incredible ruins I have seen yet.
The energy of the place was something nearly tangible and wholly/Holy sacred. Of all days, this day was relatively cool and cloudy...and with the participation of jungle birds flying around the temple peaks, the energy was delivered in a mysterious and mystical fashion. I loved this (and not just because it was cooler), but because it really brought an austere depth to the experience.
I had the continuous strong desire to know what the ruins looked like when they were first built. To see them built; know the people then; their culture; the land...a powerful moment spent in this sacred space...really very grateful for this experience.
Our tuk tuk driver was a sweetheart. Very kind and gentle. He brought us water which he kept chilled in a cooler and shared some stories of life in Cambodia. He has lived his whole life in Siem Riep; has not left once. He spent 4 years working in a hotel, making $17/month, to save up money to fulfill his dream of becoming a tuk tuk driver. His name is Hour ("How"), and he is an honest, hard-working, and honorable man. Once again, we are blessed with the opportunity to connect with a beautiful soul.
Our day was complete with the indulgence in our daily ice cream cone; a little foot reflexology; and my first professional manicure. Kind of like the other end of the spectrum, but absolutely heaven after being on our feet all day!
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