“She enchanted him, he fascinated her. Shyness and sadness, no longer alone in the lands. Bound together with shared demands. Felt by both, ‘Love springs eternal.’ A life of bliss, spirits entwined, love that is pure in spirit and mind.” ~A. Halat
From the moment we set foot on the dusty red clay soil of Cambodia we understood that the land possesses magical powers. Its cities captivate you with their vibrant and unique personalities … its magnificent and mysterious temples inspire awe … its people are forever warm and welcoming … and the energy that pulses through it all is undeniable.
Cambodia’s intriguing natural beauty is fertile ground in which the vibrant blossom of new love blooms readily.
While on our most recent month in Cambodia we had the wonderful privilege of photographing our dear friend, Sara, with her love on the grounds of the Angkor Wat temples. The results are adventurous, playful, and exotic. In other words, the images are AMAZING!!
Let me back up a bit … after all, our story doesn’t start here. People do not typically just call us up out of the blue and ask us to do a destination photography session (literally) on the other side of the world; This situation is no exception. As with several of our close friends, we first met Sara through the purchase of a local Spokane/Coeur d’Alene Groupon (click here to view the Jeremiah Andrews Photography Groupon).
During their initial photography session, Jeremiah resonated with Sara’s zest for life and playful spirit. The two kept in touch over the years as Sara’s path led her abroad and, finally, to Hawaii for career and pleasurable pursuits. When Jeremiah and I traveled to Hawaii for a destination wedding we decided it was high-time to get old friends together. The resulting visit (and boogie-boarding hijinks) still bring broad smiles and belly laughs to each of us to this day.
As we planned our most recent trip to Southeast Asia we were excited to learn that Sara, again, wanted our travel paths to cross. She and her beau, Taylor, planned to join us for a little adventure abroad and have pictures taken to commemorate their love and the trip.
Combining our admiration of the ancient temples of Cambodia with this couple’s love of each other and adventurous spirit made the scenes come to life.
We spent two days traveling with the couple through several of the Angkor Wat temples in pursuit of killer images. We covered countless bumpy and treacherous miles between temple sites on our treks. The days were overwhelmingly hot and humid but our spirits were light and happy. We laughed and enjoyed all the land had to offer during our time abroad together.
Some people may not be aware of sprawling complex of Cambodian temples called “Angkor Wat” (simply translated as “City of Temples”). Others may be surprised to learn that Angkor Wat not only refers specifically to the capital temple most commonly envisioned by travelers, but also encompasses dozens of outlaying temples varying in age and size. What ever your understanding is of Cambodia and its temple jewels, you owe it to yourself to learn more about these Khmer gems. They truly are among the top wonders of the world!
We won’t soon forget our fun in Cambodia, or the ones dear to us who shared it with us this year. We hope to return to the “Kingdom of Wonder” for other photographic opportunities as soon as we are able. In the mean time … we hope you enjoy our images of Sara & Taylor’s time at Angkor Wat.
Safe travels,
Shaunna & Jeremiah