The Temples of Angkor

By Noemi Gamel

There is something about temples that draws us to them, no matter what our religious or spiritual stance. We spent two day visiting the temples of Angkor in Siem Reap, Cambodia. We liked some of them so much we visited them twice, such as Angkor Wat (the centerpiece of all the structures) and Ta Prohm (the jungle temple)

Angkor Wat is the best known temple in Cambodia. It is even featured on the Cambodian flag. We learned that Angkor Wat was built in a swift 38 years by the power of one million people and 4,000 elephants. We spent two hours walking through the causeways, open rooms, shrines, and stairways. We were humbled to find that some of the visitors were not simply there to admire the architecture or take in the historical value: they were there to worship. They burned incense and kneeled before the Buddhas in reverence. While I will not pretend that I understand the features or history of Buddhism, I appreciate its beauty and simplicity.

Ta Prohm was one of my favorite temples. It is over 900 years old and has been partly reclaimed by the surrounding jungle. Seeing the trees breaking the stone and intertwine themselves as part of the temple’s architecture is like looking into a time capsule.
I think we learn a lot about a culture when you look at its history and architecture. You learn what they cherish the most. Visiting the temples of Angkor was like peeking in the window of Cambodian culture.

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