The next stop in our trip after Vietnam was to the beautiful country of Cambodia. In my last post, I discussed some of the things I loved most about Vietnam, and I will do the same here for Cambodia! Our first host city was Siem Reap, home to Angkor Wat. Angkor Wat is the largest religious structure in the world, and was built under the Khmer Dynasty in the 12th century. We woke up extremely early the day that we were set to tour it, as we had a 4:30 a.m. departure time from our hotel. Although everyone was a bit sleepy, seeing the sunrise come over the temple, filling the sky with gorgeous hues of orange and gold, was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The temple’s beauty cannot be conveyed well enough through pictures, for it truly takes your breath away in person. We were able to explore the temple complex, and I will never forget the way that I walked around in awe! We saw lots of other temples that day and the following day, including Bayon, Angkor Thom, and Banteay Srei. Seeing these ancient temples in person and looking at the intricate carvings found on their walls told a story that I didn’t expect to move me so greatly. Getting to lay eyes on things that are so ancient and have seen so many phases of human history is an incredibly immersive learning opportunity. Studying abroad is all about learning outside of the classroom and soaking up experiences. I could have learned about the temples’ histories sitting in a classroom in Tuscaloosa, but my interest would never be as great as it was when I was able to see them right in front of me. Cambodia was full of history and a rich culture. I am so grateful to have been able to experience this treasure!
