Vietnam & Cambodia

Angkor Wat and the Temple Zone in Cambodia

After leaving Vietnam Cindy and I, along with sister Janet and friend Mary Ann spent four days in Siem Reap, Cambodia touring the UNESCO World Heritage site of Angkor Wat and the other Angkor monuments. We signed up for a REI Extension that explored Angkor Wat, the fortified city of Angkor Thom and the town of Siem Reap.

Angkor Wat in the morning.
The crowds show up for sunrise at Angkor Wat.
It’s a steep climb to the top of Angkor Wat.
Cindy, Mary Ann and Janet
Long carved galleys show battle scenes.

The remarkable Bayon Temple, adorned by over 200 smiling stone faces created in the likeness of a Khmer King.

Here and there in the temples our guide pointed out areas where the builders had not completed carvings, according to him, once a king died work ceased on his temple and the new king wanted his own temple started.

Unfinished carvings.

He Ta Prohm Temple or “old Brahma” temple is squeezed by the roots of enormous trees and gigantic creepers.

Tourists line up to get a photo at the doorway used in the Tomb Raider movie.

On our last day in Siem Reap, we visited the Artesians Angkor workshop and market in Siem Reap. They train Cambodians in traditional Khmer crafts of stone and wood carving, painting on statues and on silk, lacquering, and silver plating.