My Cambodia Experience - Have you been?

I experienced Cambodia a few years ago and it changed my life. I feel so honored to have been able to visit some of the most intriguing land on the planet. To see what humans are capable of creating for a king. Angkor Wat (Temple City) and Angkor Thom (Great City) are two of the most unbelievable places I have ever traveled to. The vastness of these temples and buildings is beyond anything I have ever seen before. I felt like a little speck on the planet that day. Something that I didn't realize was how much deep culture and history is shared on the walls of these temples. Angkor Wat was built in the 12th century by King Suryavarman II (posthumously named Paramavishnuloka ) as a tribute to the Hindu god Vishnu. I was kind of dumbfounded when I realized this place was built for Vishnu and here I am, little ol' Shannon, walking among the splendor just as the people did thousands of years ago. My heart was filled with joy and excitement as I climbed among the twisted roots of thousand year old trees that now have taken over these great works of art. I couldn't help but wonder if the people came and relished in these masterpieces or if they just worked tirelessly day and night and never had time to see the beauty at it's completion. I mean, some of it took hundreds of years to create. I remember stopping to take photos and it dawned on me that I was there, standing in that moment, mouth wide open... I put down the camera and just sat on a stone next to a relief of the beautiful Shiva and I touched it! I just put my hand across the cold stone feeling complete awe in the sheer size of each carving and the exquisite details that each artist put into the stone. I am glad I stopped to BE in the moment and not just take a picture. I picked up the camera and snapped a few of Shiva and then put it in my backpack and enjoyed the rest of my journey through time. It was ethereal and I am so happy I didn't waste any time getting the true experience of Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom. A trip of a lifetime. Photos courtesy of me. This one is our tour guide was named Lucky and his knowledge was fascinating! He knew what each symbol stood for.