February 5,2025

I try to live my life by the Buddhist philosophy of “no expectations”. Some times it’s easy…sometimes – not so much. Especially when I’ve been looking forward to something for a long time. I have no memory of when I first became interested in Angkor Wat. Like Machu Picchu and Stonehenge …for me …it is a spiritual, historical and archaeological wonder. It’s also an architectural marvel. …at 402 acres it is the largest religious monument in the world. Built using sandstone blocks, it features five towers and intricately carved bas-reliefs. That’s the physical description.
Angkor has been on my travel wish list for a very long time…and today it finally became a reality. Nothing prepares you for Angkor Wat. Not reading the history. Not viewing videos. No travel forum, no pod cast, no documentary gave me any clue as to how Angkor would make me feel. Almost three weeks removed from the experience, I know I don’t have adequate words to describe our visit. I’ll do my best…but I think I’ll have to let my photos speak for me. One thing I can say: every time I review these photos, I’m overcome with such a sense of peace and well being…and gratitude that we were able to make this visit at this point in our lives.

We set the alarm for 4:20 am and met Savy and our Remork driver. A Remork is larger and way more comfortable than a Tuk-Tuk. It consists of a motor bike towing a covered passenger carriage.

First stop…the ticketing center…where you have your photo taken when you are issued your tickets. If Savy told me once, he told me ten times “do not lose these”. We did need them several times over the next few days.

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Timmy smiling for his ID.

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The ride to the ruins took about 30 glorious minutes

We were so lucky that Savy was able to secure permission for us to be dropped off close to the entrance. As it is…we walked for quite a bit, passing other visitors lined up at a fence… waiting for sunrise.

Savy took us to the steps of the West Library…where we found a perch from which to wait.

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Photo credit to Timmy…it’s my favorite of all the photos we took…and the only one with blue highlights.

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We sat with about 25 other visitors in total silence …

…such an extraordinary experience…the absolute silence

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You can’t tell, but there are hundreds of people lining the fence…

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As the skies brightened, Savy took our photo ♥️

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Once the sun was up, we could (kind of) get a sense of the scale of the temple grounds.

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Timmy, Savy and our driver discussing logistics.

I took these next two photos from the same spot…this one looking west…

…looking east

…all objects are much, much further than they appear

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The East Library

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A bride and groom …I can’t imagine a more magical place to marry.

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We walked to this reflecting pond for a few photos …beating most of the crowds.

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Those are the steps we perched on to view the magic.

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As we headed toward the temple we witnessed the sun rising higher over the towers.

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During the spring equinox, the sun is perfectly aligned over the middle tower. Can you imagine being so lucky as to be here then?

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Savy had to drag me away… I only relented because we had a very special appointment.

On our way to our blessing we passed through many vendor stalls

The altar is set and ready for us. Most folks receiving a blessing kneel …and we absolutely would have, but yesterday Savy arranged for us to be seated.

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These are our offerings…

Waiting for the monk

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We received orange strings during the blessing…they symbolize protection and spiritual well-being.

When I say tears were streaming, I’m not exaggerating. I needed more than a few minutes after the monk returned to his house. I like to say that I’m not a religious person…rather, I’m a spiritual person who believes that there is a force for goodness in the Universe. I felt that force in that temple and honestly…it’s still with me … So freaking lucky.

We finally left the Blessing area…and found Stupas…

As we learned in Thailand, Stupas contain relics and ashes of ancestors

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Our Remork driver fetched us and took us to the opposite end of the complex…to the towers…

I think there are less visitors this early …because it’s so far from where most folks enter the complex.

I’m trying to convey the distance from place to place

We parked Timmy and set off …

I failed to take photos of our approach and the steps that we climbed … trust me…we walked forever and the steps were steep without rails. What ever…I did it. I think I was buoyed by the blessing we’d just received.

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This is the first of two baths. Reminds me of the Roman baths in Rome and the Roman baths in Bath, England.

Isn’t something how civilizations so far apart build similar structures?

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The second bath.

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Because it’s the New Year, folks are not climbing these steps today.

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We walked and walked and climbed and climbed…

…and made it to the top most level 😊

We began at the opposite end of these ramparts.

I can’t explain what I was feeling in this moment…but thinking of it now, brings me to tears.

At the opposite end again…before we descended…I searched for Timmy and found him under the third tree from the left.

There he is 🩵

Savy called our driver as we headed back to Timmy

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So grateful to Savy for securing permission for our Remork to have access to this area.

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One last look as we drove away ♥️

So yes, we made this dream come true and yes, it was so much more than I ever could have imagined. Thanks for following along.