As I was sorting my photos of Angkor temples, I was also wondering how else I can retell my experience. If you recall, I mentioned in my blog post about Angkor Wat that I will share photos of Angkor Thom. And this is it!
With so many temples in the Angkor area, you won’t be able to memorize or remember everything. My friends and I didn’t have a professional tour guide so we really just relied on the map our tuk-tuk driver gave us.
As I mentioned before, entering Angkor Thom was like entering the world of Percy Jackson. I’m not sure if you’ve watched the movies but if you remember Camp Half-Blood? The training camp for demi-gods? Yeah, Angkor Thom is/was just like that for me.
The place was huge and wide with so many trees and grasses, monuments, and towers. There weren’t many tourists when we went so that’s a plus.
Angkor Thom means Great City. Did you know that it was considered the capital city of the Khmer Empire? And that a scene from the movie Lara Croft: Tomb Raider was shot there? PS: I’m still looking for that photo of the exact location where they filmed. You can find it anywhere online of course but I swear I took a photo of it too. Just couldn’t find it. LOL
My friends even did a short video mimicking Tomb Raider (which until now is most likely still on their cell phones and not edited yet, haha!).
Now, have you ever felt at one point that you’ve got many things to say about your travel experience but somehow, you’re speechless? That’s likely one of the reasons I created a photo blog out of my existing blog. because although I love storytelling using my words, there comes a time when I just can’t explain how I feel so I say it in photos instead. This post is one example of it.
While looking at my photos, I somehow tend to incorporate them with my favorite quotes or statements so I thought of inserting a few of my favorites throughout this post hoping that you also find relevance in them.
Here goes!
Your work is to discover your world and then with all your heart give yourself to it.
BUddha
I am amazed at this kind of tree. There are quite a few inside Angkor Thom. Every time we’d see one, I’d try to figure out in my head what image it resembles.
Of course, these intricate carvings were all around. How long do you think did they complete these?
The only thing that stands between you and your dreams is the will to try and the belief that it is actually possible.
Joel Brown
People need not fear the unknown if they are capable of achieving what they need and want.
Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist
And guys, all photos here are unfiltered so yes, the grasses are really green. I mean — I know and you know that grasses are green, duh. But this place is literally where the greener pastures are. Lol
There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.
Beverly Sills
Someone was actually napping when I passed by here. I went solo again at this point because my two friends decided that they’re too tired to climb the steep stairs of the temples. Hehe
Here’s that kind of tree again. What image can you see?
As each day comes to us refreshed and anew, so does my gratitude renew itself daily. The breaking of the sun over the horizon is my grateful heart dawning upon a blessed world.
Terri Guillemets
But in my head, I told myself – photos really have an impact no matter how weird or unrelated they are to our lives. Oddly, that’s also how I felt when I look at my photos of the Angkor temples. Life. And decisions. Inner Peace.
Hope you enjoyed my blissful snapshots. ♥ Here’s a bonus photo. I posted this on Instagram too but I thought it’s worth sharing here. Our tuk-tuk driver said that the kings would bathe in this river in the past.
True or not, I think that’s interesting. Totally made me think of the film The Ten Commandments. What do you think?
