Before this trip, whenever I asked people who had been to Angkor about their experience, they would get a faraway look in their eyes and speak of it fondly. They used words like “magical” and “spiritual” but offered few specifics. Now I understand. The beauty, vastness, and sheer impact of this place are almost impossible to put into words.
We started before dawn in order to see the sunrise at Angkor Wat. Our Tour Director’s father was head of the guards for Angkor Wat, so he knew exactly where to sit at sunrise and many details about the site.
Contrary to what I had read, Angkor Wat was never truly abandoned. People have always lived nearby, tending to and preserving it—one of the reasons it remains so well maintained today. Yet, when the French arrived in the late 1800s, they claimed to have “discovered” this extraordinary religious site.
The walls are covered with elaborately carved designs. They are so well preserved. Each carving is unique.
Angkor is really a complex of many many temples.
At sunset, we took a hot air balloon ride—this time with no wind, so we were actually able to fly. Once again, the most magical part was the children, who were thrilled by the balloon and by our presence. They all wanted their pictures taken, their excitement infectious.
Afterward, we enjoyed a delicious farewell dinner to celebrate our time in Cambodia.
Marsh Travels 
Not much one can say. Beautiful, inspiring, mystical, all the things that make a particular place magical. ________________________________
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