..conquering my Goliath: The Cambodia Travel..

After making through the days of staying under the heat of the sun, travelling hours by land and by water, and the type that which your clothes haven't even dried yet, I'm up again to saunter a different kind of travel.

I have a confession to make.

I have an ostensibly poor sense of direction.

Though I love my solitude most of the time, I'd never went through any travel by myself. It's one of my Goliaths.

This year as I turned to crispy digits of 29, I figured out how it is to get out of my secluded cocoon and experience something I always wanted, but never done before. 

To travel alone.

I ensconced myself in a 10-minute drive Paradise Eco-Resort in Siem Reap, the gate way to the great Angkor Wat.

The lush green veranda welcomed me as I woke up to a fine bed of silk adorned by mosquito net. It seemed like I am existing in the 13th century atmosphere.

{BELOW} 

The incense-filled temple that was once the center of religious activities was invigorating. It swept away the scorching heat of the sun. Momentarily, I close my eyes and venerate the God I believed in.

Striding the insides of the Khmer Empire, the intricate wall carvings, the art that stood the test of time, proud of its existence despite of being ruined is undoubtedly breath-taking.

{BELOW} The mystical faces of Baylon Temple

I've never been to the highest point of my life, literally speaking, until I managed to reach the top of Baylon Temple. It's was Buddhist day, the day of their worship when I stroll around, so some of the peaks were close for foreigners according to tradition. Luckily, I was escorted by a tour guide fluent in English. I questioned my own accent. 

This photo was taken by a Canadian photographer, of whom after taking the picture asked, "did you like it?". 

And I wondered where Starbucks is located at that moment. 

{ABOVE} 

How nature can be as robust as the structures of Ta Prohm, made famous by Angelina Jolie's Tomb Raider.

More than the faces I've seen in the Baylon Temple are the faces of different people. People, whom like me, is on journey. For Service.

For Mystery.

 For Mercy

 For Life's special gifts.

For Dreams yet to fulfill.

 For Love.

As the sun beats down, and the air brushes my hair sweetened with Cambodian breeze, I realized that Time is sometimes a traitor. It slips away undetected. It doesn't wait. It passes away quietly while the world is hurling by so many noises, like it did for how many centuries to the great Angkor Wat, to the Khmer Dynasty. But we are not like these structures. We will decay in no time. We will be ruined by nature. We will be forgotten. We will be ruined by Time. 

And so while life hasn't snap away, while you can play with time, go out and explore both the nonchalant and clandestine corners of the world. Don't be afraid, for help will always come. I've seen it in the face of strangers I met, in the face of Cambodian children selling souvenirs for a living, in my driver, in Soepo, my hostess, even the intangible touches of sun and air. 

I've seen God's different faces. 

And I like it.  

..if you want to travel light..

I am waiting for my boarding time as to this writing. I was fetched by my sister from the airport yesterday. We were sharing stories as we usually do. This one grasped my heart the most....

How did Isaac found Rebecca?

Abraham was very old then when he ordered his servant to look for a wife for his son Isaac. Without Isaac's knowing, the servant travelled as far as outside the city as he was ordered. It was late afternoon, the servant  along with his camels rest near the well and prayed to the Lord:

*"You, Lord, are the God my master Abraham worships. Please keep your promise to him and let me find a wife for Isaac today. The young women of the city will soon come to this well for water, and I’ll ask one of them for a drink. If she gives me a drink and then offers to get some water for my camels, I’ll know she is the one you have chosen and that you have kept your promise to my master."

While he was still praying, a beautiful unmarried young woman came by with a water jar on her shoulder. She was Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Abraham’s brother Nahor and his wife Milcah. Rebekah walked past Abraham’s servant, then went over to the well, and filled her water jar. When she started back, Abraham’s servant ran to her and said, “Please let me have a drink of water.”

“I’ll be glad to,” she answered. Then she quickly took the jar from her shoulder and held it while he drank. After he had finished, she said, “Now I’ll give your camels all the water they want.” She quickly poured out water for them, and she kept going back for more, until his camels had drunk all they wanted. Abraham’s servant did not say a word, but he watched everything Rebekah did, because he wanted to know for certain if this was the woman the Lord had chosen.

Did Isaac know that his father Abraham is doing all these things for him? No.

Did Isaac asked Abraham to do all those things for him while he was busy doing the things his father asked from him? No.

Just like God who is our Father, He too works in silence for our best. Even without our asking! Even without our knowing! Sometimes we might overlook and think that God is asking too much from us. "Lord, anu na naman po ito?" But what tears that escaped our eyes that the Lord does not see? What pain that crushes our hearts that He did not feel? What cross we are carrying that He did not win? What battles are we going through that He will not triumph?

I surrender my all to You who are all-knowing, Lord. Take my yoke. You know my soul, You know my heart. My soul is at peace with Your unequivocal love. Grant me the courage to say YES to Your will as You work behind  for our "Rebekah".

With that, I know I can travel light.