Asura face welcoming you to Siem Reap and the ancient city of Angkor Thom.
54 Gods and 54 Demons line each bridge into the city
They each hold up part of the Naga Serpent, churning the Sea of Milk at creation
Up close and personal with a couple Asura demons
South gate into Angkor Thom
Facing South
From atop the city walls looking South
Bayon - the Buddhist/Hindu temple at the center of Angkor Thom
Welcome to Bayon
Apsara (angelic dancers) carved into one of Bayon's entrances
The central tower at Bayon
Bas relief carvings cover the walls, here Muslim Warriors are invading by boat
Khmer (Cambodian) soldiers and an elephant.
Chinese soldiers.
One of the Bayon's 200+ faces
Linga & Yoni - Hindu signs of male and female
Sneaking a kiss
Multiple towers make up Bayon, most topped with four carved faces pointing in the cardinal directions
Upper level and sanctuary at Bayon
Venerating the Buddha in the heart of Bayon
A lamp unto my feet
Bayon
Nature reclaiming the land in Angkor Thom
The Royal Bathing Pool
Inscriptions in the entry gate
Carvings in the entry gate
Buddhist monk atop Phnom Bakheng
Angkor Wat rises in the distance, like mystical Mount Meru
Sunset from Phnom Bakheng
Guardian Lion atop Phnom Bakheng
Tuk Tuk I (our first and favorite driver) escorting us through Siem Reap
Old Market at Siem Reap
Siem Reap Side Street
Moon over Angkor Wat
A new day dawns
The spires of Angkor Wat stand out as the sky glows orange
The sun emerges from behind Angkor Wat
A new day begins at the largest religious complex on the planet
Morning life in the shadow of Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat is pockmarked with bullet holes from the Khmer Rouge's occupation of the temple complex.
More than 1700 Apsara grace the walls of Angkor Wat.
The Apsara on the right bears oily evidence of wandering hands
Originally a Hindu temple, Vishnu occupied the highest sanctuary of the temple. He has since been replaced by Buddha.
Apsara with a good dental plan (the only one with teeth showing)
Columns supporting the outer gallery
Floor to ceiling Bas Reliefs cover the outer walls
From the Ramayana, here the evil King Rawana (with 10 heads and 20 arms) is under attack from Hanuman's Monkey Army
Central spire of Angkor Wat
Upper Level of Angkor Wat
Buddhist Monk at Angkor Wat
View from the top
A steep climb to reach the upper level
Inner Courtyards of Angkor Wat
Ta Prohm is a temple that has been reclaimed in large part by the jungle
Towering trees knock some walls down . . .
. . . and keep others standing.
Entwined
Exploring the ruins
Apsara Entwined
Banteay Srei has some of the most intricate carvings in the region and is one of the few composed of pink stone.
Small but beautiful, described by some as the Jewel of Angkor
Carvings above the entry
Entryway into the temple
Replica statues - the originals have been sent to museums in Phnom Penh & Paris
Banteay Srei
Apsara at Banteay Srei
Remnants and reminders of the carpet bombing and minefields that scarred Cambodia and its people - on display at the SIem Reap Land Mine Museum.
An estimated 6 million unexploded mines still lie in wait for unfortunate souls to uncover the hard way.
Brutal Simplicity.
A small sample of the deactivated mines NGO's have retrieved from the surrounding area.
Signs like this dot the countryside.
Mines are indiscriminate in their victims.
Cambodian Countryside
Cambodian Countryside . . . the dry season is definitely upon us.
Patches of green are few and far between.
East entry to Banteay Samre
Banteay Samre - a quiet destination off the main tourist track
Banteay Samre
Naga Serpent and Banteay Samre's central tower
Elephant guarding East Mebon.
Guardian Lion on the upper level of East Mebon
Westward looking elephant at East Mebon
Atop Pre Rup
The view of the countryside is incredible
View from Pre Rup
Pre Rup near sunset
A night on the town along Pub Street in Siem Reap
Morning bike ride to the Northeast Cluster of temples led to some fun exploring
Inside Preah Khan, an ancient Buddhist University.
Apsara out of joint
One of many Buddhas
The central stupa
Abandoned hallways
A massive building dwarfed by a massive tree
Signs of the dry season
Ta Som - another quiet retreat
Successful postcard saleskids inside Ta Som
East gate to Ta Som wrapped in a strangler fig
Hotel Gardens
HanumanaAlaya - a blissful retreat after trekking through the temples
Streets of Siem Reap
