Ta Prohm: Phantom Footsteps and Childhood Dreams

Staring up at the giant lichen-covered face of a smiling Buddha carved in centuries-old stone I thought “love at first sight isn’t just in the movies.”

Warm reddish sand nestled over my sandals as the Cambodian heat sent a trickle of sweat down my spine. I didn’t care. I was here. Finally standing before Ta Prohm Temple in Siem Reap smiling right back at Buddha.

Childhood Dreams Do Come True

I had dreamed of Siem Reap’s jungle ruins ever since my eight-year old self fell in love with it on the cover of National Geographic. That one image opened my heart and unleashed a world of childhood wonder.

Being an Indiana Jones movie lover and adventurer at heart had skyrocketed the dream of exploring Ta Prohm to the top of my ‘things to do when I grow up’ list. It took me nearly 40 years, but I finally arrived.

And the feeling was phenomenal. The massive banyan trees’ thick ropes of roots wove themselves into living webs creeping over the temple walls. The only way to describe it is to say that my heart smiled. Standing there with the warm sand invading my sandals it was a dream come true.

Tomb Raiding in Ta Prohm

Ta Prohm—made famous by the 2001 action adventure movie Tomb Raider—is now affectionately called the Tomb Raider Temple. Reawakening my childhood wonder and nature lover’s heart, I wanted to explore it quietly away from people so I could feel the real Ta Prohm.

Wandering off to the lesser visited areas, I felt a deep peace surround me. I saw ancient carved pillars and perfectly symmetrical architecture still standing centuries after they were built. It is easy to see how magic could happen here.

There is a timelessness to Ta Prohm. Craning my head back to gaze upon the canopy of gigantic banyan trees, I understood why Cambodians consider them sacred. These trees are hundreds of years old. They have their own spirit. Starting from a tiny seed dropped on the temple walls by birds they take hold to create a magical landscape.

The very air seemed to vibrate with an awe-inspiring sense of timeless peace. Standing quietly thinking of this was when it happened. The most surreal experience of my life.

Phantoms and Footsteps

Like a phantom materializing from thin air, a small Cambodian boy appeared. Smiling and waving to me all he said was, “Come, I show you beauty.”

I followed. It felt safe. And like the right thing to do. I could feel it in the calm of my heart.

His little bare feet expertly navigated dark tunnels, narrow walkways, and hairpin turns over fallen ruins. Following the soft patter of those little feet on the earth changed my life.

As if he had been walking those ruins for centuries, true to his word, he showed me beauty—hidden treasures like secrets shared with an honored few. My favorite was a tiny buddha face peeking through thick ancient roots as if mother nature respected the peaceful serenity of Buddha and refused to hide his face.

We never spoke. We didn’t need to. He only smiled and waved for me to catch up as he hurried around one corner and the next weaving our way through Ta Prohm’s heart.

Then he stopped. Pointing through a small doorway sunken halfway into the ground, he just smiled and gestured I go. It was goodbye.

As I passed through the doorway into the light, suddenly the world crashed down around me. Noise, people, hands on my arms, and sighs of relief fell down on me. You see, I had arrived at Ta Prohm with a group. They were worried because they could not find me.

What seemed like 10 minutes to me had been over an hour. My beautiful guide had taken me to see the real Ta Prohm. The Ta Prohm I had always dreamed of and, to this day, am still not sure if he was real or a spirit sent to fulfill my childhood dreams.

… m t our writers

Judi Cohen, a full-time traveler and travel writer from Toronto, Canada, has a passion for luxury, off-the-beaten-path destinations, and small ship cruises around the world. She shares her photography and stories from over 90 countries on Instagram (@TravelingJudi) and is a contributing writer for various publications. A health coach, Judi enjoys wellness experiences and sampling local food and wine while traveling. Judi serves as a National Board Member for Travelmedia.

Christine Cutler is a writer, photographer, guide, editor, and teacher whose work has appeared in numerous publications. A dual Italian-American citizen, Chris lives with her feet in Palm Harbor, Florida and her heart in Italy. Connect with her on coldpastaandredwine.com and christinecutler.com

Jeanine Consoli is a travel writer, photographer, and foodie from Sarasota, Florida. A retired teacher, she used summers to explore destinations and journal about it all. She loves uncovering the history, culture, and flavor of each place, finding special places off the beaten path at home and abroad.

Diane Dobry, an online educator and freelance writer /blogger writes mostly about Hungary, Florida and New York, and briefly imported Hungarian wines to the US. Online and on social media she’s at GettingHungary.com, DiscoveryDaze.com, and HungarianAquarian.com. She’s also writing several non-fiction books and hosting podcasts on travel and wine.

Robin Dohrn-Simpson has been traveling for as long as she can remember. With over 25 years in the travel industry, she has traveled to over 70 countries and 50 states. You can generally find her exploring somewhere. She’s tried to cure her wanderlust, but it is not possible! Lisa Evans is a freelance travel writer and photographer who enjoys all things in nature and outdoors. History is another passion. Every place has a story to tell if only you find it. You can find her at writerlisa.com or on Instagram and Twitter @mygypsytravel

Michelle Fedosoff is a photographer and writer whose work has appeared in various publications. She has visited thirteen countries and is always on the lookout for unique and interesting things. She is a member of IFWTWA, CAPA, and IAPP. www.sitesandbites.org

Amanda Finn is a queer award-winning theater, travel, and lifestyle writer. Her work has been featured on Huffington Post, Ms. Magazine, Yahoo, and more. In late 2021, she launched Dreamsuitcase.com , a website that caters to building confidence in travelers

Joeann Fossland was bitten by the travel bug decades ago and has never recovered. A baby-boomer, free-spirit, she has visited 30 countries and four continents. Road trips, historic hotels, hot springs, tennis courts, and roads less traveled are her favorite writing topics. Her blog is www.JoeannsView.com

Maria Haase is editor-in-chief of several online publications. A self-proclaimed serial expat, blogger-turned-publisher, and spicy food aficionado, Maria grew up in Germany and now splits her time between the United States and Europe. She chronicles her insider experiences from a local’s perspective at EuropeUpClose.com and runs SanDiegoExplorer.com with her husband Greg.

Brigitte Hasbron is the owner of The Food Tease, the Canadian Capital’s only combined culinary and travel blog. Her column, The Bon Vivant of Luxe Ottawa Magazine depicts her culinary and travel adventures. She has also been published in other platforms including Taste & Travel, Modern Mississauga and Natalie Maclean's website.

Michael Hodgson is a winner of a Silver Medal from the North American Travel Journalists Association for travel writing excellence in both 2019 and 2020, and a gold medal for photography excellence from the International Food Wine and Travel Writers Association in 2021. More of Michael's writing and photography can be found at HITravelTales.com. His travels have taken him to all seven continents.

Kim Jackson is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in Agassiz, BC, Canada. She focuses on travel, exploring nature, wine, and hikes. Kim's journeys have taken her to many places within North America and, most recently, to Uganda. She enjoys exploring her province of British Columbia and finds joy in researching new places to visit and incorporates her interests into her travels.

A member of IFWTWA and SATW, Scott Kendall is editor of PlayStayEat.com as well as a freelance travel writer, photographer, and videographer based in The Woodlands, Texas. He has traveled extensively throughout the US and Europe. In addition to writing for PlayStayEat, Scott has written for several publications. Catch up with him at PlayStayEat.com,ScottKendallTravels.com and scottkendalltravels@gmail.com.

Noreen Kompanik is a San Diego-based travel journalist with 700 published articles; assistant editor of Food, Wine, Travel Magazine and editor of Travel By Vacation Rental Magazine. She’s a regular contributor to Travel Pulse, San Diego Explorer, and GoNOMAD. Noreen and her partner also created the Travel Writer’s Café and travel writing retreats under their business model Travel Writer’s University.

Sharon Kurtz is a freelance writer and photographer. Her passion is travel, and she welcomes opportunities to share stories of people, places, food, and flavors around the corner or around the world. Dallas, Texas, is home with her husband and three spoiled dogs, but her carry-on is always packed, ready for the next adventure. http://sharonkkurtz.com

Kathleen Messmer is a photographer, filmmaker, journalist, and wildlife advocate. She believes the world is an amazing place and presents her experiences with humor and appreciation for other world cultures. Her adventures are presented in a number of publications including her own travel journal at indiespirit.live and kathleenmessmer.com.

Linda Milks specializes in exploring all that is food, wine, and travel by connecting with people to learn about their activities, culture, food and wine. Linda serves on the board of the International Food Wine and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) and is Treasurer. Find Linda’s website at: https:// toastingfoodwinetravel.com/

Robyn Nowell is a freelance writer and photographer based in Melbourne, Australia. She has been a prolific traveler since a young age and has no plans to stop. Her interest in food knows no bounds. Robyn holds Diplôme Universitaire Hautes Études de la Gastronomie HEG and a Masters of Gastronomic Tourism.

Robin O’Neal Smith is a freelance travel writer based in Pennsylvania. Robin is an expert contributor for Travel Awaits and Extended Weekend Getaways. She loves inspiring others to live their dreams of travel. Follow her travels on https://instagram.com/ atouchofluxurytravel.

Janie H. Pace is a travel writer and photographer based in Fort Worth, Texas. Traveling locally and internationally, she works closely with editors to provide the best writing and photography possible. After a career in advertising and sales, Janie knows what makes compelling, substantial content. See her adventures at www.journeymapped.com.

Charlene Peters is a long-time travel journalist who shares her picturesque and palatable journeys and wellness experiences around the globe. She has published thousands of featured lifestyle stories and is author of “Travel Makes Me Hungry,” a book that connects the world through food. www.Spavalous.com

Heather Raulerson is a freelance writer and photographer from Detroit. She is the owner of Raulersongirlstravel, a travel website sharing her adventures and photographs from around the world. She loves slow travel, getting to know the local culture, and always exploring with her camera. She has been published in several publications.

Elizabeth Smith is a former French and Spanish professor turned award-winning writer, copywriter, and editor by way of a detour through the Napa Valley and Sonoma County wine industry as a wine club manager. She is a member of Les Dames d’Escoffier International Sacramento Chapter. Connect with Elizabeth at info@easmith.net.

Cori Solomon, an award-winning writer/ photographer in Los Angeles, can often be found traveling with her dogs in tow. Her blog, The Written Palette, focuses on travel, art, food, wine, and pets. Cori's background is real estate. Also, being an animal artist, her articles utilize the art palette both visually and verbally.

Julie Dee Suman is a Maryland-based freelance travel writer and photographer. She has traveled to over 43 countries across five continents. In addition to featuring the MidAtlantic Region, Julie enjoys destination travel focusing on nature and wildlife excursions. She is a member of the Travel Writers Café, International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA), and TravMedia.

Unstoppable Stacey Wittig is a travel writer based in Flagstaff, Arizona. She does not let age, gender, or family stop her from traveling. Hery hubby prefers not to travel, so she typically goes solo. Catch up with her at https://unstoppablestaceytravel.com/.

Bel Woodhouse is author of “21 Reasons to Visit …” travel guides and a full-time writer, photographer, and videographer passionate about traveling. A fun-loving Aussie living in the Mexican Caribbean she’s always frolicking in the ocean, trekking through jungle, or crawling over something. Follow her on Instagram @thetravelbag.guru,Travel Writer Bel or web at thetravelbag.guru