Ancient Cambodia mysteries
13th book excerpt from the ‘Backpacker to Nomad’ travel memoir
The unveiling
Darkness masked the most famous main central structure and walking along the wide graveled flat bridge felt like walking into history. Southeast Asia was full of temples, and although the architecture was incredible and intricate, after a while, they all looked the same. The novelty had well and truly worn off. However, this felt different. It was almost as if the breeze floating through was actually ghosts whispering stories of its history.
Goosebumps started to pop all over the closer the structure became, although it remained hidden in the darkness. Voices and excited accents from all over the world became louder. Most people chose to get as close as possible, but Alex noticed an open spot — one perfect to capture the sunrise, but far enough away from the crowd. We both perched on to the steps along with a handful of others on this small open concrete bricked structure.
“Have you thought more? Before, at the cart, you were deep in thought… was it about your decision?” she asked as she sat a step lower but turned back towards me.
“I’ve not given it much thought at all to be honest — just thinking about what this place is going to be like… you know, the conspiracy theories.”
“OK, well, you know what I think. But it will come to you, the right thing as always. Just do not force it, let it happen naturally and the right decision will come.”
“Yeah, I know, I will do, but not today.”
Natural masterpiece
Alex untwisted, staring back out at the darkness as light excited voices lifted from the huge gathering crowd in front and the handful behind on the steps. Angkor Wat was one of the most famous ancient temple complexes in the world. It was up there with the pyramids of Egypt, and the Aztec and Mayan temples of Central America. But through ignorance, I had no knowledge of its significance or history other than knowing it was used in movies like Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation. That was the main reason I wanted to visit it — to feel like Indiana Jones.
However, I learned it was the largest temple complex in the world, measuring 162 hectares, and was the capital of the Khmer Empire. It was originally built as a Hindu temple but was later converted into a Buddhist temple. All of this was learned through research over the past few nights. But more than its place in religion, which I had no interest in, it was its mythology that fascinated me. More so the number of conspiracy theories surrounding Cambodia’s most famous ancient complex.
Time to become Indiana jones in Ancient Cambodia
Most conspiracy theories revolved around aliens, one even suggesting the whole complex was built in one day by a divine entity. I don’t know if I believe in that, but from the pictures and videos — and even sitting here not being able to see it yet — there was a mystical feel to it.
A collective gasp replaced all the light chatter in the air. A violet beam shot and grew from the horizon, the tiniest glimmer of light peeked through in the far distance. It wasn’t aliens coming to marvel at their own work, but the morning was breaking.
The violet beam grew bigger before turning into a lavender sheen, lifting like a curtain against the pitch-black sky. The defeated army of darkness started to retreat. Silhouettes of the surrounding jungle trees started to appear first before three large cones from the central structure made their presence known. Its appearance turned the gasps into cheers for the grandest of unveilings. The lavender sheen had taken over the immediate sky, but darkness lingered above in the distance.
