Angkor Wat

WELCOME BLOG ANTARCTICA JOURNAL IMAGES OF ANTARCTICA MACHU PICCHU THE AMAZON RIVERBOAT ADVENTURE SLIDESHOW - PERU IRELAND CHIP AND PIN - THE NEW PARADIGM IMAGES - THE DALMATIAN COAST THE DALMATIAN COAST, PARIS AND ZERMATT DISCOVERING BURMA & NEPAL MY EVEREST DREAM MEMORABLE BURMA I MEMORABLE BURMA II NEPAL HIGHLIGHTS RUSSIA & TUSCANY INSIDE RUSSIA BEST OF SOUTHEAST ASIA PIX THE SOUTHEAST ASIA GRAND TOUR TURKEY & GREECE TURKEY & GREECE PIX COLORS OF MOROCCO A FLASH FLOOD! WHAT ABOUT A CRUISE? 27 WATERFALLS TRIP CANCELLATION INSURANCE A CHINA SAMPLER DISCOVERING EASTERN EUROPE THE "NEW" OLD EUROPE PHOTO GALLERY -- EASTERN EUROPE A HAIR-RAISING ADVENTURE IN INDIA INDIA COLLAGE I INDIA COLLAGE II INDIA COLLAGE III RUNNING WITH THE BULLS BARCELONA PHOTO GALLERY-- SPAIN ZIP-LINING IN BELIZE DEATH VALLEY CANNES, CINQUE TERRE & PROVENCE PHOTO GALLERY - PROVENCE ADVENTURES IN LAOS & VIETNAM LUANG PRABANG VIENTIANE HALONG BAY HUE THAILAND ADVENTURE IMAGES OF THAILAND ANGKOR WAT ADVENTURE TRAVEL ON A BUDGET REMEMBERING 9/11 MY FRIEND TONY, 1956-2018 AN IRISH BLESSING

Angkor Wat: Images

The ruins of Angkor Wat were spread over a much larger area than we had anticipated, so we made arrangements with a local moto driver to drive us in and around the complex for the duration of our three day stay in the adjacent town of Siem Riep.  A moto is the most common form of local transportation and consists of a small motorcycle that pulls a carriage that seats 2 or 3 people.

Angkor Wat was completed in the twelfth century although it was built over a period covering the previous two hundred years.  The French began a restoration in the 1960's, but this was disrupted by the civil war and remains unfinished.  The scale is enormous -- Katie, the tiny figure in blue, can be seen at the top of this structure

This is in the complex of temples where the Lara Croft Tomb Raider movie was filmed.  Its no wonder everyone wanted their picture taken here! 

 

Some of the structures are amazingly well-preserved, while others are just rubble.  There are no guards and virtually no security, so you can climb the exteriors and explore the interiors.

As you can see in this shot, some of the temples are literally buried within the roots and trunks of trees.

The second evening our moto driver recommended a cultural extravaganza.  There was a fabulous buffet with a huge array of local delicacies, including fruits, vegetables, soups and meats, and this was followed by a spectacularly colorful performance!