Traveling Back In Time At Angkor Wat

Traveling Back In Time At Angkor Wat

One of the best things to experience during travel is to wake up in a new place. It is such an amazing feeling. Currents of pure excitement surge through your being and strange feelings of ecstasy fill you.

This very feeling overwhelmed us as we woke up in the wee hours of the morning in a hotel in Siem Reap, Cambodia. We pulled the window curtains aside and saw it was still dark. But we were up and raring to go. The morning promised to begin on a spectacular note. We were about to experience something that was a dream all these years. We would be visiting the famed temple of Angkor Wat and watching the sun rise from behind the magnificent temple!

The Moment of Magic

We drove in silence through the road that led from the city of Siem Reap to the Angkor Archaeological Park. None of us spoke. We were all immersed in our own thoughts. The air was pregnant with anticipation. Though it was early morning, we could spot a lot of tourists on the way, som in Tuk-Tuks, some on bicycles, some in tourist buses and cars. All headed towards the point of attraction, the Angkor Wat Temple.

As we reached the parking lot, darkness was just giving way to light. We hurried along a long pathway that wound itself towards the largest religious monument in the world. Cool air blew across the huge water body with lotus flowers floating on it as we followed a sea of humanity making their way to watch one of the best shows put up by nature.

Our guide with his local knowledge and insight guided us to a vantage point where we could get the best views of the sunrise. The Angkor Wat temple was a dark shadow in the distance as we stood near a small lake to get the best view of the sunrise. Behind us, all along the lake men, women, and children from probably every corner of the world waited with bated breath for the magic to happen.

A collective gasp broke through the crowds as the first light of the sun pierced the clouds to caress the temple of Angkor Wat. The temple which had been a dark shape till now was bathed in an orange hue. The towers of the huge temple glistened in the ethereal glow of the sun. We were all overwhelmed by the sheer beauty of the spectacle that was unfolding before us. It was as if we had walked straight into a dream. We stood in front of one of those glossy pictures of the Angkor Wat temple bathed in the light of the early morning sun. But this was for real! We soaked in the moment and internalized the experience for we knew that these moments are rare in ones; lifetime.

We glanced back and were amazed at the size of the crowd behind us, now revealed as the cloak of darkness was thrust aside.

Back To Reality

The surreal atmosphere that enveloped us ensured that we were in a daze, in a totally different plane of existence. It was then that one of our phones rang and transported us back to reality. It was a call from home enquiring about our wellbeing, the fact that we were on Airtel international roaming ensured that we stayed seamlessly connected to our loved ones. We have been Airtel network subscribers for a long time and have always found it convenient and hassle-free to just switch on international roaming on our own connections. This is so much more convenient than taking a new connection and SIM card for our travels along with sharing our ID’s in a foreign country.

The call from home broke the magical spell of the sunrise, but it also reminded us how fortunate we were to be at the iconic site. We shared a live video with our family members, thanks to Airtel speed even on international roaming.  which is more than sufficient for our favorite and frequently uses apps like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. The pleasure of the moment was multiplied manifold as we shared those moments virtually with our family. Indeed one of the benefits of technology and good internet speed is the ability to stay connected wherever you are.

Inside The Angkor Wat Temple

The sun was above the famous temple. The crowd had dispersed. The mammoth size of the Angkor Wat Temple complex measuring 1.6 Million square meters, ensured that the huge crowds just disappeared inside its fold. We too followed our guide to spend the next few hours lost in awe as we gazed at the artistry and engineering brilliance of the people who walked the earth during the 12th century. The temple is filled with scintillating Bas reliefs, many depicting the scenes from Hindu mythology, some telling stories of victories in war of the Khmer kings. Exquisite carvings awe you as you are stunned by one beautiful carving after another. You find graceful figures of Apsaras gazing at you from unexpected nooks and crannies. Apsara whose stone face radiates a pure beauty that has endured the relentless passage of time and withstood the ravages of nature. We spent hours walking through long corridors, climbing up steep stairways, to satisfy our thirst to learn more about this massive and magnificent temple. We could have spent the whole day and more inside the Angkor Wat temple complex, but practicalities of our schedule meant that we had to make our way out.

As we walked back looking at the beautiful lotus flowers floating on the lake, again as if on cue the phone rang. It was an important call from a client who shared some information about an upcoming project. We were really waiting for this information and were glad that he could reach us so conveniently and seamlessly all the way from India. It was such a relief that our mobile network which was one of the best networks was so reliable.

As we got back into our vehicle, hunger pangs started gnawing at our entrails. All the early morning excitement had made us hungry and our stomachs craved for something. A quick search on our mobile helped us locate an appropriate vegetarian restaurant quickly. Weren’t we glad that we did not have to depend on any hotel WiFi, thanks to the cost-effective Airtel plans, we were connected on the go and the experience was so liberating! Thanks to the marvels of the latest technology at our fingertips.

The sunrise at Angkor Wat ranks as one of the best and unique sunrises that we have ever seen in our lives. Which was your favorite sunrise? Do let us know your thoughts through our comments section.

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