Cambodia, Fall 2023 ~ Travel

Cambodia was delightful, both urban Phnom Penh and more rural areas surrounding Siem Reap, where Angkor Wat temples are located. We loved meeting local people, and were blown away by their warmth, friendliness and hospitality. Cambodia is a devoutly Buddhist country, and there are thousands of temples. The temples are gilded in gold and red, with tall columns supporting ornately tiled roofs with curled up cornices. Each temple complex is filled with ornate stupas and seven-headed nagas – snake beasts representing the rainbow, and it’s magical powers to connect earth to heaven.

We found Cambodia to be cleaner than Vietnam, and busy streets and markets a little bit easier to navigate. The food was just as interesting as its more culinary-famous neighbor, and gorgeous lotus flower arrangements everywhere. Abundance of fruit and flowers, little baby frogs and upside-down geckos, and a constant insect clacket definitely reminded you of the surrounding jungle. Nowhere is its presence more felt than at Ta Prom, the famous Khmer temple overgrown by trees, where Lara Croft the Tomb Raider was doing her thing.

Phnom Penh.

The temples of Angkor Wat.

Beautiful things.

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