Flashback to the glory days

And then from the depths of Cambodia's recent history, we climbed to the height of its history during the Angkor period...and explored the ruins of Angkor Wat. The symbolic 5 towers of the temple of Angkor are found everywhere in Cambodia, from the flag and national beer, to just about every restaurant and guesthouse. There is great pride in the civilization that dominated the region (from the 9th-13th centuries) that Cambodians boast of today. The ruins stretch across the countryside, but we spent a beautiful two days exploring the densest concentration of temples by bicycle. It was so easy to lose ourselves in these incredible structures being reclaimed by nature. Surrounded by lush jungle, the ruins embody the everpresent battle between man and nature. A great civilization that thrived due to its ability to 'control' nature, manipulating water resources...ultimately became a victim of nature after years of drought. Then the jungle reclaims the territory it lost and flourishes once again. Huge trees laid claim to stone entryways and walls, dwarfing the magnificent structures, and weaving their roots between massive stone bricks. A particularly beautiful moment was standing in the middle of one of the more remote temples when it started to rain. We were at the base of a tower that no longer had a roof, and the raindrops flashed in the light before reaching us in the dark, damp, moss-covered confines of the temple.