Through Temples and Time: Cambodia and Vietnam

Our member Mr C. Mukherjee reflects on his recent trip to Cambodia and Vietnam—places which offered unforgettable sights and sensations that no diary could contain.

Recently, I visited Cambodia and Vietnam. Our first stop was Siem Reap. After seeing some local attractions, we went to Angkor Wat, a vast complex of Hindu-Buddhist temples. Built nearly 900 years ago by King Suryavarman II, it was originally dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. The sight was staggeringly beautiful, but I felt an eerie stillness in the air. There was something haunting about the towering spires, the giant stone steps, and the jungle creeping over the weathered sandstone.
Next, we visited Ta Prohm, a Brahma temple built sometime after Angkor Wat. The trees growing out of these ruins are believed to be 1,000 to 1,500 years old. The scale of the architecture was overwhelming. I kept wondering how a mere tremor could send those ancient blocks tumbling down, burying everything beneath them.
From Cambodia, we travelled to Vietnam. Hanoi was a treat for the senses—clean, well-maintained, and full of life. We enjoyed a lovely cruise, and along the way, we had the chance to get into Vietnam’s famous basket boats. At Da Nang, a beautiful city on the coast of the South China Sea, we saw the Dragon bridge. Its arched beams of steel are constructed in the shape of the sea monster. At the Ba Na Hills, we walked across the extraordinary Golden Bridge, which rests on two giant hands of fibreglass and wire mesh. There we enjoyed one of the longest cable-car rides in the world.
Throughout the trip, I noticed some travellers around me going overboard, jotting down notes, filming videos, and clicking numerous selfies. In trying to document every moment breathlessly, they seemed to miss something essential—the experience itself.
I recognise that some form of documenting one’s travels can be meaningful. The photos accompanying this narrative, for instance, capture the essence of what I lived and remember; they allow me to share my experiences with you. Beyond this, I do not believe in chronicling or journalising my travels. I prefer to trust my memory. If we breathe in our surroundings deeply enough, they will stay with us forever.

(as narrated to Support Elders by our member)