Within minutes of crossing the border at Chau Doc we noticed happier and more honest people, cleaner streets and a laid back and friendly atmosphere. Finally we were treated as people again, no longer being rudely hurded into buses and boats like cattle. I was even referred to as 'sir' throughout our stay in Cambodia. Its fair to say that we really enjoyed spending time here.
Its fair to say that I felt at home here.
Siem Reap is the gateway to the amazing Temples of Angkor that were built between the 9th and 13th centuries. You can only stand back in admiration of the size, scale and symmetery. Each temple is grander and more elaborate than the previous.
This corridor of Banteay Kdei was more than 50m long, each doorway beautifully stone carved.
Our favourite temple, Ta Prohm. This was used as a set for the 'Tomb Raider' movie.
Over the centuries the jungle has gradually invaded this temple. See massive tree roots behind Suvi.
Wow, this tree looks like an octopus.
Giant trees showing no respect for the temple.
Just spectacular!
Former grand courtyard of Ta Prohm now crumbling. At one point, it took an incredible 80,000 people just to maintain this temple.
Victory Gate, Angkor Thom.
I have never walked under a tree before.
Within the walls of Angkor Thom, the famous Bayon Temple.
One of 216 gargantuan faces of Bayon, built around 1200bc. Some temples took 40 years to complete. You can see why.
Each stone of the temple....
....was individually crafted
Some of the 11,000 individual figures of Bayon.
Cycling was the best ( and cheapest ) way to get around the Temples of Angkor. I have never sweated as much in my life over our 30km ride!
300m Terrace of Elephants leading to Baphuom Temple.....the restoration project is said to be the worlds largest jigsaw puzzle.....see just a few of the pieces in the foreground.
South Gate of Angkor Thom. The city's walls streatch for 12km and are 6m high and 8m wide every step of the way.
...And now the grand daddy, Angkor Wat, the worlds largest religious building. This temple is the centerpiece of a massive site and surrounded by a huge moat that would put any English castle to shame.
Angkor Wat is the 'show piece' of the Temples of Angkor, capital of Cambodia's ancient Khmer empire. The hundreds of temples surviving today are just the skeleton of a once vast political, religious and social empire that boasted a population of 1 million people at a time when London was a little town of 50,000 inhabitants.
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