THE KINGDOM OF WONDERS

  THE KINGDOM OF WONDERS
-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 2^nd, 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.