Ready for Your Next Great Travel Adventure?
To help get you started, and to set the scene, below are descriptions from my books of some of the world’s most amazing destinations. These clips are to help you learn about the location, prep for your travels and drive up your excitement about a specific place.
Siem Reap (Angkor Wat)
…before traversing the southern end of the South China Sea to land in Siem Reap in Cambodia…we turned around and began walking up an ancient causeway at the gateway to the biggest religious monument in the world, “this is the one of archeological glory, Hollywood myth, the domain of tomb raiders, the gates of Angkor Wat…here we are reminded that faith can construct beauty, that some architects humble their talent before their own God.” Traversing the 1,600-foot grand avenue that crosses first a dike, then the courtyards and pools of the frontcourt, we walked through the main gate to enter the towering center temple and lost ourselves among the tourists and tombstones of a forgotten era…
The sandstone and red clay temples of Angkor Wat built to honor the Hindu God Vishnu were begun twelve centuries ago, then lost to time and the jungle before being reawakened by the wandering colonialists. We melted into the site. Despite the breadth of our travels this spot had few equals for its size, architectural originality and hidden secrets. Whether it had been as speculated, an administrative and cultural center or even a mausoleum as well as a religious shrine, its very existence was overwhelming. The main towers rolled-up as honeycombed peaks defining landmarks that could be seen throughout the area. The preserved facial carvings of the sovereign, dramatic scenes of daily activities and honors to the Gods had been carefully revealed in the stones as pictures flashing back to a buried time. Centuries old limbs of jungle trees had draped over the buildings as protective fingers and challenged the restoration movement to adapt or lose the battle with nature. One could not help wondering at the discussions and decisions that had taken place here, when Khmer was a mighty kingdom and the rest of the world could not imagine such wonders…
As we wandered through the stone structures, sucked back into the earth by jungle branches directing dirt paths, their roots rising from the ground beneath our feet reminded us that this bold monument had been abandoned to the earth as we all will be one day…I thought as I looked at a banyan tree devouring a building in its embrace…
As we walked on, our meanderings around the area’s ruins could have lasted for days. From viewing the city scapes of Angkor Thom with its stone carved faces reflecting duty of another era to the lesser known temples like Phnom Krom where as night fell the sand reflected red against the gates, changing the vision of crumbling history to leave one to stare at a glowing light. We came to rest on the edge of Tonlé Sap Lake to be now with today’s world, fishermen in broken boats, houses on stilts, children in torn t–shirts sat on steps and waved as they watched tourists watching them.
…the kindness and gentleness of the people, the calm air after decades of turmoil, the escaping sense of devotional calm after the jolt that was to be witnessed elsewhere. La Indochine, the old countries that were known as Indochina, had that unmistakable allure, both the ability to tranquil down to Buddha like solemnity and to ramp up to high-pressured business deals. As we lounged on the pebble-strewn edge of the lake and watched the fishing sticks ply the waters as had been done for centuries…
– Describing Siem Reap in Walking with J by Karsten Quarters
Place: Kingdom of Cambodia, on the Gulf of Thailand in in Southeast Asia
Visited: Once
Most Recent Visit: TBD
Original sites: Manageable
Familiarity: Low
English usage: Rare
Surprise
For Rising Entrepreneurs Expanding to Global Markets: As part of growing southeast Asia, Cambodia has put its economic future in the hands of investors. The scope for manufacturing, textiles or other industrial-era businesses is stronger than for online-based opportunities.
Country Details: U.N. Country Data Stats for Cambodia
Reading Recommendations (click the book cover to learn more)
Want more details about visiting Cambodia: contactcase(at)readyentrepreneur(dot)com
Disclosure: Book links are affiliate links to the Amazon.com bookstore meaning as an Amazon Associate Case Lane or Ready Entrepreneur may earn compensation from qualifying purchases. Advertising may support the maintenance of this website and the information you are receiving.
