Prologue to the Trip

Thank the movie “In the Mood for Love” – no, not the more popular “Tomb Raider” – for planting in Nins’ head the idea of visiting Cambodia; and the added thought that time is running out for us, what with climate change and all, to get close to Cambodia’s spiritual history and culture made the prospect even more appealing, the splendors of Lara Croft’s adventures notwithstanding.

For sure, Nins knew what she wanted to do and see when she broached the idea of flying to Cambodia. Ever the happy traveler, Charlie seized the opportunity to travel – just to travel, never mind where – and discovered Cambodia as serendipity waiting to happen.

There is much to love in Siem Reap – its proximity to the intricate and majestic temples, its warm and friendly people, its quaint and charming culture. It was a trip worth remembering and savoring, and one indeed worth sharing. Although some have asked us upon our return if, “Once you’ve seen one temple, you’ve seen them all,” the only reply they will ever get for this rather dismissive question is a smile. No amount of words can do justice to the experience of being at the temples. More than just saying we’ve been there, seen them and done that, we prefer to say that we’ve experienced them -- plus a whole lot more. (We, of course, do not discount the fact that appreciating the temples is a matter of taste and interest.)

Although the experience we boast of may be incomplete, it is one we are greatly enamored with and proud to have. Our stay in Cambodia would not have been the same without The Villa Siem Reap staff, whose graciousness, hospitality and warmth made our stay even more wonderful. We don’t know if all Cambodians are like them, but if they are, we must say Cambodians are a very lovely people.

To everyone reading this, we hope the chronicles of our trip to Cambodia will somehow invoke in you the same passions it did in us (but we definitely recommend first-hand experience!). We would have camwhored ourselves to death during the trip, but fortunately for whomever, the temples were much more beautiful than we were.

Starry-eyed tourists? Perhaps.

But definitely, Cambodia is love.

A Toast to Cambodia