The Murmur of Nature in Cambodia

In Siem Reap I wake up to astounding cacophonies of insects. Their singsongs accompany my journey throughout the day, from my waking at dawn to my resting at dusk. Thousands and thousands of them, each releasing its own distinctive sounds, perhaps by stridulating. There must be quite a few cicadas there as well.

It is only in Siem Reap that I hear this bold harmony of insects crying, punctuating the day. The nature here murmurs into the human ears an unlikely fusion of variating pitches. This may be the tenor of mating, for summer is only about to begin.  The sounds of Siem Reap takes me to an other-world, of a realm of dreams, primeval and raw.

I realize that this would be the prelude to the upcoming adventure at Angkor Wat. Yet without any warning signs, heavens can rain down a storm at any time. That is the only time when the insect singsongs are overwhelmed, the roaring pour-down washes away the murmurs of nature. But soon, the insects are at it again, making a plethora of pitches.

We took the Tuk Tuk and drove through the muddy roads of Siem Reap in this misty morning. Angkor Wat revealed itself as the sun blessed this land with its luminescence. At first I could only make out the blurred outlines of the temples in a gray and shadowy mass. Then I could see the grand silhouettes coming into full view. I was excited, for everything in this wonderful morning spoke a language of unfamiliarity and charm. I stepped into an ancient civilization, leaving behind all my burdens to where they belonged.