After an exciting sightseeing exploration of the blue sandstone ruins of Beng Mealea, our tour bus took us to a very nice restaurant in a rural setting. It was a pleasant spot, a rustic hi-set timber dwelling with large open rooms, quiet and cool. Outside the window openings birds had built nests, they hung from the tree […]
‘Blue Ruin’ of Beng Mealea – Siem Reap
December 27, 2015 by
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Naga Balustrade Once a long Naga balustrade highlighted the walk to the temple grounds of the blue ruin of Beng Mealea. These two beautifully crafted naga heads remain intact at the walkway entrance. Wow! At first glance it look chaotic, like a heap of rubble, sandstone blocks, collapsed arches and jungle vegetation; you could be forgiven for […]
Angkor – Steps in history – Angkor Wat – Siem Reap
December 11, 2015 by
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Siem Reap is considered the gateway to the Angkor UNESCO World Heritage Site. The many temples including Angkor Wat are visited by millions of tourists each year. Siem Reap has grown and now has many large comfortable hotels,motels,guesthouses and restaurants to accommodate tourists. Angkor Wat is about 6km north of Siem Reap. Angkor Wat the largest religious monument in […]
Banteay Srei – ‘Citadel of Beauty’ – Exquisite Carvings – Siem Reap
October 30, 2015 by
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Banteay Srei is a fascinating red/pink sandstone temple complex with exquisite carvings of beautiful apsaras; gable shaped pediments with carvings depicting complete scenes about Hindu mythology. A tenth century Cambodian temple well-preserved in most aspects. Banteay Srei is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. The French discovered this temple in 1914. Banteay Srei came to international attention under the De […]
Angkor Pyramid Temple – Pre Rup – Siem Reap
June 8, 2015 by
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Angkor Pyramid Temple Pre Rup is a pyramid temple, quite a different temple to the others we have looked at over the past few days. Three of the sanctuary temples appear directly ahead, however restoration of the Gopura was in progress, so we had to move around the construction. The rich red color of the laterite stone used […]
Preah Khan – Headless Dvarapala – Siem Reap
May 25, 2015 by
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Headless Dvarapala In Siem Reap we visited Preah Khan temple late in the evening after Ta Prom. Preah Khan – built for Jayavarman VII late 12 Century (1191). Like many of the temples in Angkor this temple has a foundation stone which has an amazing amount of information about the temple and life of the King […]
Water water | Rain water in Siem Reap
May 6, 2015 by
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Water flow after the rain The water flow down the main streets of Siem Reap made for slow bus travel so as to not create a wash. The locals dealing with the water flow in their own stoic fashion after the heavy rain of the last few days. Everyone just trying to stay in business and make […]
Giant Strangler Fig crushes Gallery|Ta Prohm
May 3, 2015 by
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The ancient temple of Ta Prohm looks so fragile from a distance I thought it might crumble before we reached it! A giant strangler fig rears its smooth grey trunk and light leafy canopy above the temple roof to the sky, no sign of the devastation lying inside. The ruins of Ta Prohm gripped in a crushing vice […]
Royal Green Square – Elephant Terrace – Leper King Terrace
April 27, 2015 by
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Elephant Terrace The royal green square is a large green park area fronting the Elephant Terrace and Terrace of the Leper King in the heart of Angkor Thom. Interestingly if this was the Royal Square in the Forbidden City of China it would be a huge paved area with not a blade of green grass in sight. (Click […]
Bayon – Kingdom of Kings – Siem Reap
March 30, 2015 by
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The Bayon is like a forest of rock pinnacles, a jumble of rocky towers reaching skyward, some 37 at last count, once believed to be about fifty. The block towers weathered an ancient grey, built in single stone blocks, towers seemingly arranged in no particular order, but rising towards the central tower. Most central towers have four […]