Magical moments in Cambodia

The past weekend I've got the chance to explore Cambodia, who would've thought?! Let's take a look at the things I learned.

The Tonle Sap River is the lifeblood of Cambodia, pulsing through the country from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh. This natural phenomenon is also the only river in the world whose tide changes annually. With fishermen landing more than 400,000 tons of fish out of the Tonle Sap Lake annually, it is Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake. In 1997 it was designated a UNESCO biosphere reserve. It isn’t just nature that calls the Tonle Sap Lake home – settlements of floating villages also dot the expansive mass of water. These communities live out their lives on the lake. Floating schools, clinics, temples and houses bob on the water, accessible only by boat. Take a look for yourself and slide through the pictures.

Next on the agenda: catching the sunset view over Angkor Wat on Bakheng hill. I climbed up to the hill to enjoy one of the most gorgeous sunset views in the world. The excitement is limited in a short period of time from roughly 5 pm to 6 pm, merely 1 hour, which makes the sunset on Bakheng Hill become a legendary and mysteriously one.

And then, le moment suprême. I'm pretty sure that the ancient city of Angkor Wat needs no introduction. It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve scrolled past it on Instagram, seen it on the Cambodian flag, or wandered past the stalls selling mugs with the beloved 5-towered building across the front: nothing will ever prepare you for the moment you see the Angkor Wat temples in the flesh. The temple is striking from a distance and even more stunning up close; a gateway to an ancient world and the heart and soul of the country for many Cambodian people.

Built | 12th century 

Purpose | Ancient city and temple complex

Religion | Hindu initially, then Buddhist

Location | Siem Reap, Cambodia

Size | 162 hectares

I woke up at 4:00am to experience the sunrise. Other reasons for going early: less tourists in the complex, avoiding the stifling heat and having better light for photography. It can at times be a little overwhelming (especially in the heat!) yet the sheer beauty and historical significance of the area made it all worth it. Slide away!

Other temples I had the pleasure to discover:

| BANTEAY SREI |

Banteay Srei was worth a visit for a number of reasons; one being the unique red sandstone that sets it apart from the other temples, the second being its miniature scale and thousands of tiny female deity carvings. Its delicate nature has led it to be nicknamed the ‘lady temple’, ‘citadel of women’ and ‘citadel of beauty’, and it’s totally different to the other temples in the Angkor complex.

| BAYON TEMPLE |

Bayon temple is at the heart of the Angkor Thom city ruins, and is probably the most attractive of all the temple sites. Best known for its 216 distinctive smiling face carvings, it’s believed to be the mesmerising state temple of Jayavarman VII (Cambodia’s most revered King).

| TA PROHM TEMPLE |

Ta Prohm, made famous by the Tomb Raider movie being filmed there, is one of the most visually stunning in the whole complex. Over time, silk cotton trees and huge vines have woven their way through the various ancient cracks and now threaten to reclaim the temple altogether. A beautiful, otherworldly sight to see.

Thanks for reading, until next time.