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May 6, 2015 By Hailey

An Afternoon in Angkor Wat

When I was a kid,ngm-1982-may-714 I came across an old copy of the 1982 May issue of National Geographic. Since that moment, I have never forgotten the enigmatic stone face glaring out from that magazine’s cover and the fantastical images of the jungle-run ruins of Angkor held within its pages.

While planning a two week trip to Thailand, I simply couldn’t resist including in the itinerary a visit to neighboring Cambodia. After all, my childhood dream of traversing the temples of Angkor – and in particular, exploring the iconic structure of Angkor Wat – was within reach.

Thousands of miles and a two weeks later, I am over-the-moon excited to share some of my snapshots from an afternoon in Angkor Wat.

Angkor Wat Bas Reliefs

Angkor Wat Bas Reliefs

Influenced by India and the Indonesian island of Java, the Angkorian Empire began in the 9th century when King Jayavarman II took control and proclaimed himself to be the reincarnation of the Hindu god Shiva. Thus began a line of god-kings who ruled the Khmer people of Cambodia and the surrounding regions for a few hundred years. Each king constructed elaborate temples in the fashion of their beliefs, which alternated between Hinduism and Buddhism; every new temple had to be greater and grander than its predecessor. Constructed in the 1100s during their Golden Age, Angkor Wat was one of the last major temples of the Angkor Empire.

Lotus Tower of Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat Stairs

Intricate details clothe the stone of Angkor Wat with exquisite charm and mystical meanings. Entire walls and doorways are covered in delightfully decorative patterns, tiny etchings, and graceful embellishments rife symbolism and style. Unmistakable and unmissable are the apsara dancers – over three thousand of them – which line the buildings with their flirtatious smiles and whimsical hairstyles. Yet, these dynamic examples only scratch the surface: Angkor Wat’s artistic complexity is so vast that it would take much more than one afternoon to uncover all of its secrets.

Angkor Wat Doorway Detail

Apsara at Angkor Wat
Apsara dancers at Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat Bas Reliefs

Angkor Wat Reliefs

Although the former home to fallen kings, Angkor Wat was never fully abandoned nor reclaimed by the jungle, like so many other sites across the Cambodian countryside. Even today, Angkor Wat still functions as an active temple. Buddhists monks have free access to the grounds, and they have established places of meditation and worship throughout the complex.

Angkor Wat Buddhist Monks
Angkor Wat Buddha
Child Buddhist Monk
Monks at Angkor Wat

Of course, there were more people at Angkor than the peaceful monks, but my tour of the golden towered complex blessedly afforded me more solitude than many other visitors experience for two main reasons. First, I visited during the slow season; April is the hottest month of the year, when many recommend avoiding the oppressive heat and humidity. And second, I toured Angkor Wat the last two hours before closing.

Angkor Wat View

Angkor Wat Interior

Loads of folks arrive at Angkor Wat just before dawn so they can watch the sun rise directly behind the spiritual superstructure. As a result of this practice and the fact that Angkor Wat is the closest temple to the city of Siem Reap, this area can become fairly crowded in the morning. From my own experience, I can say that visiting during sunset was quite special and altogether spectacular.

Clouds and Birds

Angkor Wat Sunset View

IMG_3672

Because of its magnificent scope and architectural mastery, Angkor Wat has become the Machu Picchu of Southeast Asia, now attracting more than 2 million visitors each year. This archeological wonder is the pride of the Khmer people, a precious key that unlocks great stories from our world’s history. But for all its importance and grandeur, local children still swim in the muddy moat waters just outside the main entrance – making it all the more extraordinary.

Angkor Wat Swimming


Hello readers! What do you think about Angkor Wat? Have you been somewhere that you learned about as a child but never imagined having the opportunity to visit? 

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  1. Aubrey Bosch says

    June 6, 2015 at 9:33 am

    Man I would love to just roam there alone and wonder what it must have been like. I’m sure it was such a dream to be there!! I’m not sure that I had one place that I dreamed of as a child, but I do recall just loving my visit to Paris and thinking while I was there about the children’s book Madaleine. It felt cool to be walking the streets of a place of such inspiration for literature and cinema. Seeing the Eiffel Tower was definitely a dream come true. Quite breath-taking!!

    Reply
    • Hailey says

      June 6, 2015 at 1:03 pm

      I can definitely relate to your stroll along the streets of Paris! There is something profound about experiencing a famous location for the first time, and we draw upon the connections we have stored up in our memory banks as we move through it.

      Reply

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Hailey Domeck is a Southern girl with a Spanish heart and Swiss soul.

As a wife, mom, and travel addict, her love for mountains, fairy-tales, and great food keep her mind and heart always on the lookout for the next great adventure.

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💫 2020 - not about travel; all about family. 💫

#littleAlpenRose #WaveyBow
For me, this year was all about #motherhood - the For me, this year was all about #motherhood - the beauty of growing a child in the womb and then nurturing a precious newborn around the clock; the wild roller coaster of shepherding a toddler, whose contagious joy and  stubborn defiance make each day a challenge and a gift; the mundane tasks that help make a home feel warm and welcoming; and a bunch of other things. 

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📷: @whitneykeilman
Merry Christmas, y’all! 🤍 No matter your circ Merry Christmas, y’all! 🤍 No matter your circumstances, may you experience JOY in this holiday season and have HOPE  for a brighter year ahead. 

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#littleAlpenRose #WaveyBow 

📷: @whitneykeilman
• T H A N K F U L • We are saying thanks for • T H A N K F U L • 

We are saying thanks for all things in life this week. It’s so easy to get stuck on either the big picture or the tiny details, but I believe it’s important to take it all in - like I did on this ridge overlooking #Manang Village last year while trekking the #AnnapurnaCircuit in #Nepal. 

Creating a culture of gratitude takes intentionality and discipline... and it’s especially not easy when babies and toddlers demand so much of you at all hours of the day and night. Yet, here we are at the start of the holiday season, and I’m choosing to be grateful for the whole lot. 

What are you thankful for this year?
Hooray, it’s the weekend! 🥳 I don’t have a Hooray, it’s the weekend! 🥳

I don’t have any big plans today (#newbornlife), but I’m recalling the joy of “Heidi Hailey” in the Himalayas last November. ☺️ Shout out to @thatdutchieguy for bringing his Polaroid camera on our #CreateConnectNepal journey... what a fun way to capture special moments, - like my favorite stretch of the #AnnapurnaCircuit in the #Manang District ❣️

What are you up to this weekend?
As I sit here nursing an 8-week old babe, it’s j As I sit here nursing an 8-week old babe, it’s just wild to me that on this date exactly one year ago, I was walking among giants and completed the most difficult hike of my life. 

On November 11, 2019, the #CreateConnectNepal team and I went up and over the Thorong La Pass. At 17,769 feet (5416m), this is the pinnacle of the Annapurna Circuit and one of the highest mountain passes in the world. The day began in the dark with a grueling 4+ hour ascent through snow-kissed trails and then required a fierce descent down a bone dry valley. It demanded everything of me. 

Yet, that day up and over Thorong La was just one part of my epic adventure in #Nepal last November. I am eternally grateful for that experience and cherish those memories dearly. I also miss those people a lot. ❣️
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