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Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Unquestionably, one of the wonders of the ancient world.

We sandwiched this visit between our stays in Thailand and Laos.  Three days and three nights.  More ruins than we could ever have imagined.   

Siem Reap - the nearest town to Angkor - was experiencing a building boom.  Foundations for future mega-hotels littered the road from the town to Angkor.  By now, this strip must be utterly transformed - Las Vegas, Cambodian-style?
August 200017 Images3199 visitsAlbum by David KohlPhotos by David Kohl & Ross Rosenberg
Enlarge photo 1 Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat is undoubtedly the largest and best preserved monument at Angkor.  Built between as a funerary temple for Suryavarman II (1112-52) to honor Vishnu, the Hindu deity.
Enlarge photo 2 54 Demons
In front of this gate stands 54 demons and 54 gods - a motif taken from a story in a bas-relief at Angkor Wat.
Enlarge photo 3 54 Gods
Enlarge photo 4 God close-up
Enlarge photo 5 Demon profile
Enlarge photo 6 Gate with elephant emerging
Angkor Thom - a fortified city built by one of Angkor's greatest kings - Jayavaraman VII (ruled 1181-1201).  The city had five gates - one facing north, south, west and two facing east.
Enlarge photo 7 Elephant and driver
Enlarge photo 8 A dollar means nothing to you!
Cambodian girls asking for money -and refusing ballpoint pens.  What were we thinking?
Enlarge photo 9 Ta Prohm
This monument is being swallowed by the jungle.  It is one of the most evocative sites in the complex.  Most of the complex probably looked like this when Henri Mouhot - the European credited for "discovering" the site - stumbled upon it in 1858.
Enlarge photo 10 Ta Prohm
Built in around 1186, Ta Prohm was a Buddhist temple.
Enlarge photo 11 Ta Prohm bas relief
Enlarge photo 12 Bayon
There are more than 200 gargantuan faces of Avalokiteshvara staring at visitors throughout this site.
Enlarge photo 13 Bayon
Enlarge photo 14 Bayon
Enlarge photo 15 Jungle view
Enlarge photo 16 Main Square - Siem Reap
Dirt roads and motorized bicycles prevailed in this town.
Enlarge photo 17 La Noria
A charming, small French-run hotel in Siem Reap with a restaurant that serves a delicious blend of French and Khmer food.