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J O U R N E Y S | A N G K O R W AT
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in 400-acre Angkor Archaeological Park.
Angkor Thom, a fortified city state from
the 13th century and the last capital of the
Khmer Empire, is another.
Any experience in Cambodia and
Southeast Asia is enriched with some
understanding of its history. It is often
devastatingly sad, but also one of resil-
iency and endurance, embodied in the
warmth, spirit and openness of its people.
Angkor Wat is the heart and soul of Cambo-
dia, monumental in both scale and signifi-
cance, and emblazoned on its national flag.
Cambodians are fiercely proud of their
architectural inheritance and keen to share
it with the world. Currently challenged by
the extreme economic hardship wrought
by the pandemic, Angkor Wat is, as ever,
vital to the future of Cambodia—a temple
to the beauty of a country determined to
build. tourismcambodia.com
detail, the construction of the whole stag-
gering ensemble is almost too terrifying
to consider. This is a work rendered by
nerves of steel.
The erosion of the temples, from runaway
roots cascading down walls, to cracks in
the stone, to limbless artifacts, only adds
to their beauty. Perfection is all the little
imperfections, the shows of time, of trial,
and of unambiguous triumph. The environ-
ment is so immersive that when re-entering
modern life, the newness is shocking. The
place is a lost world.
It is also a place of discovery. Angkor
Wat is the largest and best known of the
temples of Angkor, but it is one among
hundreds of stone ruins. Among them is
Bayon Temple: its root-infested edifice,
which was featured alongside Angelina
Jolie in Tomb Raider, is an Instagram
sensation and a consistently popular draw
