Greetings from Siem Reap, Cambodia!

My name is Laurel Whidden, and I am a student studying Global Health and Fine Art in HUMEC and AAP. I am so grateful to be on this trip with such a wonderful group of girls and amazing professors. I would like to thank Professor Fincher and especially Professor Vida Vanchan for making this trip happen and contributing to a lasting education.

I have absolutely no words to describe how spectacular the Cambodian temples were. I think all of us students can collectively agree that today held an experience of a lifetime. Throughout each of the three temples we visited today, we were guided by Mr. Thai, an enthusiastic and successful Cambodian local. He had an amazing ability to illustrate the histories of each temple, and the significance of monuments or artifacts we saw.

The first temple we visited, Ta Prohm, was the smallest by size, but that did not mean it wasn’t impressive. Ta Prohm was the only temple we saw that had vegetation growing on and around the buildings. In my humble opinion, I think that the ancient trees create a sense of natural and organic beauty to the temple. It is incredible to see the ways in which nature can interact with human civilizations and architecture. These impressive trees bring support and can re-engineer what was already built, creating new and profound sculptures. After visiting the Artesian workshop yesterday and seeing the hard work that is put into carving stone sculptures, it shaped our perspectives of the intricate and detailed sculptures and carvings at each temple.

The second temple of the day was Bayon. As it was another striking view, Bayon was not shaded by many trees, and us students were H.O.T. with a capital “H”. Bayon was not covered with any vegetation because it was cleared away by conservationists in 1920, several centuries after the Khmer reign ended. Removing the overgrowth allows the sandstone in the temple to degrade at a much slower rate. As we walked through Bayon, I was taken back by the intricate carvings on the sandstone walls. But these were not just any carvings, they were carvings that told stories. Each wall illustrated stories about war, death, Buddha, Vishnu, Shiva, and Brahma. The walls spoke stories about traditional medicine and spiritual healing. After each story, there is a line through the wall, signaling that the story has ended, and a new chapter has opened.

 

Lastly… you guessed it… Angkor Wat! The largest temple in Cambodia! Built for King Suryavarman II in the first half of the 12th century, the impressive architecture has made its way amongst one of the modern wonders of the world. After today, we can see why. After having no expectations of this Temple, I was positively surprised, or in other words, completely and uberly astounded by the raw beauty of this sacred place. The temple was built strategically so that the front entrance perfectly faces the West, so all geographical points are equal. With this in mind, the temple was built for symmetry, therefore each angle or perspective looks uniquely beautiful.

Our day ended watching the golden sun illuminate Angkor Wat as it melted into the western horizon. The air turned from blazing heat to a peaceful warmth. The air was sweet, with every breath you wanted to breathe deeper. I took my shoes off to feel the ground beneath me (and because honestly my sneakers were too dang sweaty), and it felt like such a freeing experience.

All in all, today was a wonderful day. It is safe to say that everyone experienced a delightful memory that will remain unforgettable. Once again, I am so grateful to be here, and I cannot wait to see what comes next! Until the next adventure!
With love,
Laurel