ANGKOR WAT. I have always been intrigued by ancient civilizations. Angkor Wat is the world's largest religious complex constructed between 900 and 1200 AD. The area was home to 750,000 to 1,000,000 people and contains more than a thousand Hindu/Buddhist temples spread over 300 miles. It was never totally abandoned. But war, disease, decades-long droughts, and extreme monsoons dramatically reduced its population.

I enjoyed exploring ancient stone relics warmed by the sun with my hands, touching a thousand years of history. Crumbling walls and impressive carvings decayed over time and were engulfed by giant Banyon Trees. In my mind, I imagined people hauling, stacking, and carving stones in the sweltering heat. If I listened closely, I could imagine their voices whispering through the jungle breeze.

I wondered who lived here and pondered the mystery of why they left. Unfortunately, the answers are not available, whatever the encroaching jungle did not reclaim tomb raiders carted off leaving Angkor Wat just a fascinating shadow of itself.