Photos - Cambodia 1 2
Along the road from Phnom Penh to Siam Reap. Most travellers take the faster boat between these two towns, but I much prefer to travel by bus and see the passing scenery. The road was pretty bad, as usual. I woke up that morning seven minutes before the bus was due to leave, with my bag still unpacked, thanks to a night adventuring to Martini's bar, a disco reminiscent of the bar in the original Star Wars movie.
Typical scenery of the flats from the road between Phnom Penh and Siam Reap.
The central temple of Angkor Wat at sunrise. Angkor was once a mighty empire encompassing Cambodia, and parts of Laos, Vietnam and Thailand. The temples are a mind-boggingly huge complex of intricately carved Hindu temples, and they are all that. Angkor and the Tiger-Leaping Gorge in China were the two highlights of the trip.
Early morning sun on the centre of Angkor Wat
A portion of one of the four hundred-metre long carvings at each of the four bas reliefs of Angkor Wat. The carvings depict complex religious stories and would take some time to study fully.
Looking down one of the four bas reliefs with intricate carvings to the left.
Thankfully, the Khmers did not destroy the Hindu temples as Buddhism grew in favour during the reign of the Angkor empire.
An eerie face based on both the Buddha and the reigning king of the period at the [insert name] temple. There's a Ben in there too.
Several of the eerie faces
Roots coming through and over a temple that has not been restored. Falling trees, tree roots and lightning are a constant threat to the ruins of Angkor.