Ta Phrom ruins swallowed by giant silk cotton trees © Jojie Alcantara

“We cannot win this battle to save species and environments without forging an emotional bond between ourselves and nature as well – for we will not fight to save what we do not love.”~ Stephen Jay Gould

I fell in love with the ruins of the Angkor complex in Siem Reap, Cambodia. I rode the bus for 7 hours to cross the border from Saigon to Phnom Penh, and another 6 hours from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap.  I endured three movies of Angelina Jolie on the bus (obviously, they adore her). 

Where I stood perfectly still and in awe within the ruins of  Ta Phrom, so did time.  I saw the elements of the jungle creeping towards man’s mighty creation for centuries untouched. These roots of giant silk cotton trees were grasping at crumbling structures like greedy hands overpowering a lost kingdom.  The jungle now claims it as its own.

Ta Phrom, Siem Reap, Cambodia by Jojie Alcantara

Angkor Wat is a major attraction, a breathtaking vista of ancient Khmer civilization preserved for centuries and swallowed by a rich forest of giant trees. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, being in the midst of these architectural masterpieces is indescribable. It is one of my dream destinations granted.

Read my story, “In Awe of Ancient Angkor”