Temples of Angkor, Cambodia

Another "Must See" on this trip: Angkor Wat and the hundreds of other temples and structures of Cambodia's ancient Khmer Empire spanning some 600 years between AD 802 and the 1400s, around the time of the Columbus voyage to the Americas. This place was booming back then with a massive and sophisticated civilization, connected with India and China by trade out of the Mekong delta. The legacy left for us today is mind boggling.

The largest religious structure in the world: Angkor Wat.

Exquisite carvings depicting everything from the numerous god-kings of various Khmer empires, to historic battles, to Hindu to Buddhist religiosity, to scenes of daily life a thousand years ago... Pretty BORING to the four year old world traveler! And where do you start with all of this stuff? And, how long before one carved rock looks like any other? So despite the hoards of other tour-ons and the quasi-Cambodian "bubble" that is the accompanying hotel city of Siam Reap, lets get on with some photos.


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Bayon Stone Head

A very bored child in the overgrowth of Ta Prohm, 12th century.

"Okay, now let me shoot the photos!"

This is your classic postcard shot...

Preah Khan---almost neoclassical

These ladies stand between two headless statues guarding the entrance to this temple. Over the centuries, vegetation and vandalism have taken their toll.

Hangin' Out

Sunset on a library within Angkor Wat.

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We were able to escape the hoards, albeit with some difficulty. Okay, so the temples are awe inspiring even with the crowds of fellow-gawkers... but its time to put our history lessons aside and move on.

View of the rice fields near Tonle Sap Lake.


So we are off again. Our Asian journey is almost running short on time as we plan to return home in March after some time in Loas and maybe another stint on a Thailand beach...? We hope that all is well with you!