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Cambodia. For pop culture enthusiasts, Cambodia would be the country
Angelina Jolie put on the map. Cambodia was where the film “Lara
Croft: Tomb Raider” was shot and this is where Angelina adopted
her first child, Maddox.
Countless photographs have been taken of the
temples in Siem Reap, but beyond the photos and the Tomb Raider
movie, it is a part of Asia one truly has to experience.
I had to pack my Siem Reap experience into two
days—but perhaps a good week is needed to take in most of the key
temples at one’s leisure, to fully soak up the details of the
bas-reliefs, the architecture and offer time to breathe in the
craftsmanship, artistry, science, history and spirituality of it
all. Several temples have spots where you can light sticks of
incense and say a prayer (though a donation is expected), they also
have many places where you can quietly meditate. After all, trees
and forests surround the temples. A week would also leave time for
kicking back, going to the market and sniffing out a good deal,
biking around and sampling all sorts of Khmer food.
I did get to see Angkor Wat at sunrise and
sunset, Angkor Thom, Bayon, Tah Prohm, Terrace of the Elephants and
the Tower of the Snake Lady (I don’t remember the Khmer name for
this but our guide told us on this tower lived a snake who disguised
herself as a beautiful lady to seduce the King and compel him to
visit her up at this high tower every night) as well as take an
eye-opening boat ride on the Tonle Sap Lake. I unfortunately did not
get to see Bantay Srei (Citadel of the Women) a Hindu temple
dedicated to Shiva, which, according to an American backpacker I met
there on the first morning, had such remarkable carvings he was
going back there after breakfast to continue looking at them. And
since Bantay Srei was off the beaten track, it was much quieter,
with fewer visitors. Something to see then for my next trip there,
hopefully with some adventurous cutie who won’t mind traveling
with a chocolate junkie.
As with every trip, it’s always necessary to
know where the nearest chocolate is and in Siem Reap, it was to be
found at the Blue Pumpkin (yet another tip from the American
backpacker) a bakery where I found chocolate cakes, brownies,
chocolate croissants, chocolate lingams (yes, those phallic
symbols), chocolate cookies and dark chocolate and rocky road ice
cream.
Meals of course, were entirely Khmer. My travel
buddy, Lee, and I sampled their chicken curry which had this sweet
side to it—perhaps from the pumpkin and extra coconut. Our
favorite dish however was hands down the grilled eggplant with
ground pork at the Khmer Family Restaurant along the way to the main
temple area. Winner.
Not quite done with Siem Reap but I had to say
goodbye. Next stop—Phnom Penh. (to be continued)
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