-VISITING CAMBODIA -THE PEARL OF ASIA
(Published in The Himalayan Times, October 23, 2014)
(Sandhya Regmi)
After eight years out of my decade-long stay
and work in Vietnam, I had a change for a milestone trip to its neighboring
country—the Kingdom of Cambodia—the ‘Pearl of Asia’ and the
paradise for the ancient and enchanting archeological wonders.
And the pearl of the pearl is Angkor Wat, a colossal structure located
in Siem Reap. Tagged by UNESCO as a world heritage, the gorgeous Angkor Wat stands
as the largest and the oldest religious structure man has ever made in the
world.
We travelled by bus from Ho Chi Minh
City to Siem Reap. Immigration procedure at the boarder was chaotic. On the
way, we halted for 2 nights in Phnom Penh, enjoying its beautiful and
historical landmarks and attractions: Royal Palace with the Silver Pagoda,
National Museum, French colonial buildings, and river-side restaurants.
After a tedious 7-hour bus ride from
Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, the luxurious 4 star Prince D’ Angkor hotel & spa
welcomed us with open arms to bask in its splendor of elegance. After a plunge
in its relaxing saltwater pool and a short nap in the finely decorated deluxe
room with traditional Khmer style furnishing and wooden floor, we took a brisk
walk to the heart of the city to dine in the Temple Balcony restaurant. The
popular airy balcony surprised us not only with mouth-watering selection of
both local Khmer and international cuisine but also with Apsara Dance
performance, a living Khmer culture.
Early morning next day, after a truly
sumptuous buffet breakfast at the Blue Diamond Restaurant of Price D’ Angkor,
we headed to our main expedition to explore the legendary Angkor temples and
undiscovered treasures in Cambodia. Even the burning heat of May could not
deter us.
What a pleasant coincidence it was. The
first day of our visit to Angkor fell on the sacred day of Bhaishakh Poornima,
May the 2nd, the auspicious day of the birth of Lord Buddha. Monks within Cambodia and from the
neighboring countries had come all the way long to be in the holy land of
Angkor; we were walking together with a crowd of monks, clad in all orange
costumes, till we reached the main entrance of the colossal temples. It gave me
such a pious feeling as if I were living in the pagodas for ages. This
association with the monk outburst a blend of extreme satisfaction and joy within
my heart, the heart that has always welcomed and adored the teachings and
philosophies of Buddha & Buddhism.
Our first visit was to the legendary
Angkor Wat and the giant faces of Bayon. We stood gazing at the massive
3-tiered pyramid crowned by 5 lotus-like towers 65 meters from ground level. No exaggeration,
Angkor Wat is architecturally and artistically breathtaking!! We could see the
exterior and interior of the temple densely carved with hundreds of figures of
‘Apsaras’ and scenes from Hindu Mythology.
Though Angkor Wat was constructed as a Hindu temple, it has served as a
Buddhist pagoda since Buddhism became Cambodia’s dominant religion in the 14th
century. I paid homage to the Buddha Images before departing Angkor.
On the way trip to Bayon we could see
the south gate of Angkor Thom, a classic example of Jayavarman VII monument,
the Khmer King who constructed hundreds of monuments in Cambodia in less than a
40-year period. Angkor Thom contains the Bayon temple with its more than 2000
enormous mysterious faces. I captured several shots of Angkor Thom in my camera
which I later dared to reflect on my canvas.
While in the temple city, we also
grabbed an opportunity for a half–day trip in the Happy Ranch Horse Farm,
riding on gorgeous Cambodian horses through rice fields, villages and Buddhist
pagodas.
Now, the time for final judgment. The
trip generated both regret and relief. Regret for not visiting such a wonderful
place earlier. Relief for ultimately being able to visit the land of
archeological wonders, monks and ‘Apsaras’. Holidaying in Siem Reap and exploring
the wonders of the precious Angkor seemed to me like an endless journey as life
itself. Just as the Angkor, once the capital city of Cambodia, lost to the
world for 1000 years, got rediscovered and now stands tall as the pinnacle of
the ancient art, architecture and civilization, I found myself rejuvenated,
reunited and reincarnated in the series of Buddha Images with new creative
prowess. My trip to Cambodia remains one of the most unforgettable,
educational, and historical trips in my life.
