'Be happy not only because everything is good but because you can see the good in everything.'
Life is an illusion of what we make it out to be. During a few hours of intense conversation with Aubella, we discussed how to change and reverse the discontented conditions we come across daily into a better day and tomorrow. I was so glad to hear our chat had changed her outlook more positively. We all seek happiness, finding ways to get there in a manner you will never want to return to any other state of being, which is the goal of authentic living.
Back to Cambodia and Siem Reap...
Every time I hear of the city of Siem Reap, the temples of Angkor Wat are associated with it, and boy, did I find out why!
The French Indochina was formed out of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos in 1950, with puppet rulers governing each state until the Geneva Conference of 1954, when absolute independence was felt. This sounds now, but I was just reading my notes from my guide, Nak, on the importance of the Strait of Malacca as the busiest sea route in the world. He mentioned that a third of the world's transportation is through this route; hence, control of it means control of the South China Sea. As I googled it now, that is where the missing aeroplane from Kuala Lumpur, which incidentally happened the same Friday 7 March evening I was flying back from Singapore to London, was last traced changing course and travelling West over the Strait of Malacca. Who really knows?!?
The sunsets and sunrises by the site of Angkor Wat were genuinely magnificent, and crowds gathered to take photos of each slight movement of the sun by the second. Even getting to the site by 6:00am was not early enough not to face walls of people walking the bridge as pilgrims who had waited long to be there. Now, here we all were, watching the scene silently and in awe.
King Suryavarman II was responsible for constructing Angkor Wat early in the 12th century until he passed away, with others following.
Life is an illusion of what we make it out to be. During a few hours of intense conversation with Aubella, we discussed how to change and reverse the discontented conditions we come across daily into a better day and tomorrow. I was so glad to hear our chat had changed her outlook more positively. We all seek happiness, finding ways to get there in a manner you will never want to return to any other state of being, which is the goal of authentic living.
Back to Cambodia and Siem Reap...
Every time I hear of the city of Siem Reap, the temples of Angkor Wat are associated with it, and boy, did I find out why!
The French Indochina was formed out of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos in 1950, with puppet rulers governing each state until the Geneva Conference of 1954, when absolute independence was felt. This sounds now, but I was just reading my notes from my guide, Nak, on the importance of the Strait of Malacca as the busiest sea route in the world. He mentioned that a third of the world's transportation is through this route; hence, control of it means control of the South China Sea. As I googled it now, that is where the missing aeroplane from Kuala Lumpur, which incidentally happened the same Friday 7 March evening I was flying back from Singapore to London, was last traced changing course and travelling West over the Strait of Malacca. Who really knows?!?
The sunsets and sunrises by the site of Angkor Wat were genuinely magnificent, and crowds gathered to take photos of each slight movement of the sun by the second. Even getting to the site by 6:00am was not early enough not to face walls of people walking the bridge as pilgrims who had waited long to be there. Now, here we all were, watching the scene silently and in awe.
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| Sunset opposite Angkor Wat |
King Suryavarman II was responsible for constructing Angkor Wat early in the 12th century until he passed away, with others following.
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| Crowds awaiting the sunrise |
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| Sunrise at Angkor Wat |
I lost Nak as he left me amongst other visitors, awaiting the sun to rise as though it were waking in its glory behind the Angkor War.
After the photo shoots, I realised my guide was nowhere in sight, and in all honesty, I found it bliss to be going around such grandeur of holy grounds, where I felt like a child in a playground—content.
Although the building was only three floors from the Temple and 65 metres high, there were many steps to climb.
Walking from room to room with high ceilings, I came across colourfully decorated Buddhas with fabrics and ornaments. Gorgeous!
Just as I was wandering around aimlessly, a school of Cambodian children came up the many steps to where I stood on top of the Temple. I followed the youngsters and their older lady companions and stood close enough to zoom the lens of my camera towards them while they were not watching, just not to be offensive. The children seemed so happy exploring the different corners of Angkor Wat.
I left them thinking, now I have been lost for a while, better get back, a group of men and women dressed in the (what I assume was) National Cambodian clothes and large, old-fashioned cameras with pods in hand, going to probably a photo shoot, so I followed them. Like a child in Disneyland, I was over the moon with the thought of being so blessed in every way.
After the photo shoots, I realised my guide was nowhere in sight, and in all honesty, I found it bliss to be going around such grandeur of holy grounds, where I felt like a child in a playground—content.
Although the building was only three floors from the Temple and 65 metres high, there were many steps to climb.
Walking from room to room with high ceilings, I came across colourfully decorated Buddhas with fabrics and ornaments. Gorgeous!
Just as I was wandering around aimlessly, a school of Cambodian children came up the many steps to where I stood on top of the Temple. I followed the youngsters and their older lady companions and stood close enough to zoom the lens of my camera towards them while they were not watching, just not to be offensive. The children seemed so happy exploring the different corners of Angkor Wat.
I left them thinking, now I have been lost for a while, better get back, a group of men and women dressed in the (what I assume was) National Cambodian clothes and large, old-fashioned cameras with pods in hand, going to probably a photo shoot, so I followed them. Like a child in Disneyland, I was over the moon with the thought of being so blessed in every way.
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| Peace & a smile is all we need ... indeed. |
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| Getting ready for a photoshoot |
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| The walk back from the Temple |
Finally, with all the hundreds of photos safely at hand, I walked back to the bridge just outside the Temple and pretended to be quite upset that my guide had not done his job well by losing me right at the start of the tour. Seeing him standing outside the gates with a grin, I looked ahead and simply walked off as he kept calling my name. No sign of mercy there; he ran behind me; I stopped and simply said (angrily, I may add):
"You lost me right at the start of the tour this morning. I'm very upset, so I will keep quiet, or I may say things to regret later. So take me to the car, please, in silence!"
We rode back to Shinta Mani Resort without a word; I got off and left the car as Nak said:
"See you at two this afternoon, Haldita."
As a rule of life, I do my best not to keep anger within. It is poison, and never mind being on holiday, I choose not to hold grudges. They serve no purpose, but they do not push my buttons.
Mmmm ... I like the new me! Haha.
After another lavish breakfast and a couple of hours in the sun by the pool, it was time to shower and be ready for yet another marvel of this city to be discovered. My arrival outside the hotel entrance was somewhat past two in the afternoon, however, Nak and our driver Mr T were outside waiting. As we drove off, I voiced my disappointment. I questioned whether an apology was in order, and Nak obligingly offered to do so and informed me of our boat ride that afternoon on Tonle Sap (the largest lake in Cambodia and one of the largest in the world) to visit the floating villages. The fishermen's houses along the water were built high from the ground due to the numerous floods between July and October.
"You lost me right at the start of the tour this morning. I'm very upset, so I will keep quiet, or I may say things to regret later. So take me to the car, please, in silence!"
We rode back to Shinta Mani Resort without a word; I got off and left the car as Nak said:
"See you at two this afternoon, Haldita."
As a rule of life, I do my best not to keep anger within. It is poison, and never mind being on holiday, I choose not to hold grudges. They serve no purpose, but they do not push my buttons.
Mmmm ... I like the new me! Haha.
After another lavish breakfast and a couple of hours in the sun by the pool, it was time to shower and be ready for yet another marvel of this city to be discovered. My arrival outside the hotel entrance was somewhat past two in the afternoon, however, Nak and our driver Mr T were outside waiting. As we drove off, I voiced my disappointment. I questioned whether an apology was in order, and Nak obligingly offered to do so and informed me of our boat ride that afternoon on Tonle Sap (the largest lake in Cambodia and one of the largest in the world) to visit the floating villages. The fishermen's houses along the water were built high from the ground due to the numerous floods between July and October.
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| Children playing in the lake water |
Although the lake is located only 55 km outside of Siem Reap, the long drive there and back left me somewhat restless, and I could not wait to get back to shower and meet the two lovely sisters I had met getting on the plane to Cambodia for dinner at AHA restaurant. Pub Street is where the evening action is meant to take place, and indeed, it was a super busy pedestrianised street filled with vendors and tourists.
Another restaurant I was recommended and visited was Sugar Palm. The forty-minute wait for the Amok fish to be prepared was too long to endure, so I opted for the fish curry, which was the most delicious one I have tasted to date. That was my last dinner alone, thank goodness, as I was beginning to get bored of my own company for so long.
Other leisurely enjoyments in Siem Reap were the stone massages and the wrap at my hotel's wonderfully peaceful spa. A spot of retail therapy at the shops next to Shinta Mani, one in particular owned by a trendy French couple, where the lady convinced me effortlessly to purchase many of their designed and manufactured wraps, earrings, and God knows what else at just one boutique.
Everyone who has been to Cambodia recalls memories inevitably involving the ever-smiling and amiable Khmer people. My flight from Siem Reap to Singapore and London went flawlessly. I got home with incredible scenes memorised of special moments spent on my two-and-a-half-week voyage of discovering Vietnam and Cambodia.
Next will be my last visit to Marbella and the Seville Feria ... Hasta luego amigos!
Another restaurant I was recommended and visited was Sugar Palm. The forty-minute wait for the Amok fish to be prepared was too long to endure, so I opted for the fish curry, which was the most delicious one I have tasted to date. That was my last dinner alone, thank goodness, as I was beginning to get bored of my own company for so long.
Other leisurely enjoyments in Siem Reap were the stone massages and the wrap at my hotel's wonderfully peaceful spa. A spot of retail therapy at the shops next to Shinta Mani, one in particular owned by a trendy French couple, where the lady convinced me effortlessly to purchase many of their designed and manufactured wraps, earrings, and God knows what else at just one boutique.
Everyone who has been to Cambodia recalls memories inevitably involving the ever-smiling and amiable Khmer people. My flight from Siem Reap to Singapore and London went flawlessly. I got home with incredible scenes memorised of special moments spent on my two-and-a-half-week voyage of discovering Vietnam and Cambodia.
Next will be my last visit to Marbella and the Seville Feria ... Hasta luego amigos!
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