A most fascinating journey

It is five thirty in the morning. There is not even a chink of light and I wonder what am I doing awake at this time in the middle of the jungle, while I enjoy a terrible coffee.

Then I remembered it, I´m in Angkor, in Cambodia´s northern province of Siem Reap. I am hoping to see one of the most impressive of human creations, the Temple of Angkor Wat.

It is still too dark, and I only brought my camera and passport with me, so I decide to follow a group of foresighted people guided by their torches.
The only thing I know as we walk through this old bridge made of rock, I can see the reflections of the lights shining on the water beside us.

At some point, we reach this open area where everybody has settled in order to enjoy the awaited spectacle.
Suddenly, I start to appreciate the first ray of sunlight peeking out making the figure of the ancient temple visible. The sun seems to dawdle now almost seeming to want to take it´s time lingering over the domes. By the time the sun is way up in the sky, shining from above, I´m already so impressed, as are the others around me.

I can see, walking through its ,many passages that this place played an important role in the political and cultural development of the region. The treasures preserved there illustrate the splendor of the city that once was. If you area careful observer you can see monks submerged in meditation or monkeys climbing its walls. One becomes captivated by its silence.
Roots from millenary trees grow over the structure proving that the land once claimed by humans now is taken by nature. But it is not a violent invasion; it is delicate, like nature and humanity agreed on it with mutual respect, like nature values the beauty of this human creation.

And here I was, so captivated, touched by its magnificence, with the only wish that this place remains still, and hoping that people from further generations could enjoy this treasure as I did.

Because for once, human´s creation and nature becomes one.