J+L in Transit

A Holiday in Cambodia

Siem Reap is the closest town to many of the ancient Khmer temples of Cambodia, including Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom.

Our Plane from HCMC to Siem Reap

A Very Familiar Sight for Us in Cambodia, the Back of Ti's Head (Our Faithful Tuk-Tuk Driver)

The Hotel Pool

Vegetable Khmer Curry

Amok Fish

Another Type of Khmer Curry

Cambodian Family of Five on a Motorbike

Small Kid on a Big Bike

Bayon Temple

Bayon Temple is located inside the ancient city of Angkor Thom. The Buddhist temple was built by King Jayavarman VII around the year 1200. Bayon has 216 giant stone faces which are either images of the bodhisattva of compassion, or Jayavarman VII himself.

Elephants and Tuk Tuks Carry Visitors Through the Gate to the Ancient City of Angkor Thom

The Gate to Angkor Thom

Entrance to Bayon Temple

Bayon Temple Courtyard

A Detail of the Intricate Bas-Relief Carvings at Bayon

One of the Many Faces of Bayon

Bayon Temple

Face-Off

People Dressed in Traditional Khmer Costumes

More Faces of Bayon

Towers of Bayon

Linga in the Bayon Temple, Hindu Phallic Symbol and Representative of the God Shiva

Other Temples of Angkor Thom

Angkor Thom was the ancient capital city of the Khmer Empire until it was abandoned sometime before the year 1609. Scholars believe the city once sustained a population between 80,000 and 150,000 people.

Cute Cambodian Kids Sitting in Angkor Thom

Baphuon, Pyramid-Shaped Temple in Angkor Thom

Baphuon has Steep Stairs!!

View from the Top of Baphuon

View from the Top of Baphuon

Baphuon -- Can You Spot the Reclining Buddha in this Photo? Hint: It's Huge

Phimeanakas Temple

It's a Steep Climb Up to the Ruined Top of Phimeanakas

A Small Temple in Angkor Thom with Many Trees Growing from the Foundation

A Red Tree Ant, Used in Khmer Cuisine -- The Ants' Venom Makes them Taste Like Lemons

Watch James Taste a Local Delicacy: Red Tree Ants, Plucked Fresh from the Bark of a Poisonous Tree

Later, James Ate This Dish of Beef with Red Tree Ants

A Modern Day Buddhist Temple in the Ancient City of Angkor Thom -- In This Photo, Khmer People are Being Blessed by a Monk

Terrace of the Leper King

These Scary Carvings Below and Surrounding the Terrace of the Leper King Represent the Hindu Hell

Terrace of the Elephants in Angkor Thom

Terrace of the Elephants

Panoramic View from the Terrace of the Elephants -- Ancient Khmers would Hold Elephant Fights in this Clear Area -- The Towers in the Background Once Held Prisoners to be Exposed to the Elements

Ta Prohm

Ta Prohm is a temple intentionally left partially covered by jungle. It is famous for the enormous and ancient strangler figs growing from between the stone blocks. The temple was also featured in the movie Tomb Raider.

Some Trees in Ta Prohm Were Left in Place by Archaeologists to Show How the Jungle Took Over

Ta Prohm

Us at Ta Prohm

An Ancient Tree in Ta Prohm Temple

The Roots of This Tree Are Big Enough to Hide Behind

Tree Roots Easily Shove the Massive Stone Blocks Apart

Leaving Ta Prohm, We Stopped at this Cambodian Style Gas Station -- They Keep Gas in Johnnie Walker Bottles

This Kid was the Only One Working at the Gas Station

Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat is the single largest religious monunment in the entire world. It was constructed as a Hindu temple by King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century. Most of the other Khmer Hindu temples are dedicated to Shiva, but Angkor Wat is dedicated to Vishnu. The enormous temple features intricate bas-relief carvings of Hindu myths.

The Grand Entrance to Angkor Wat is a Huge Bridge Across the Enormous Moat

Entrance to Angkor Wat

Entrance to the Outer Wall, Angkor Wat

Outer Wall, Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat

Us at Angkor Wat

Upper Courtyard in Angkor Wat

Carvings of Aspara Dancers in Various States of Complete-ness

The Outer Wall of Angkor Wat at the Back of the Complex

This Massive Bas-Relief Caring Depicts the Hindu Myth of the Churning of the Milk Sea

The Churning of the Milk Sea -- Gods Pulling on the Tail of the Many-Headed Naga Snake

The Other Side of the Mural, Demons Pull from the Head of the Snake

Carving of a War Elephant

Another Small Detail from an Absolutely Massive Carving

This Frog was Living Right Outside the Temple

Banteay Srei

Banteay Srei is a temple further away from Siem Reap than Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom. The 16 mile tuk-tuk ride there gave us our first glimpse of the beautiful Cambodian countryside. The temple was built in the year 967 and so is actually older than both Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom.

Cambodian Countryside on the Way to Banteay Srei

An Improvised Cambodian Farm Truck

Banteay Srei Temple

What a Beautiful Framed Picture :)

Cambodian Girl at Banteay Srei

One of Many Intricate Carvings

A Monk Visits Banteay Srei Temple

Banteay Srei

Another Cambodian Girl at Banteay Srei

Looking Back at Banteay Srei from the Outer Wall

A Common Sight at Cambodian Temples, Victims of Landmines Performing Traditional Music

More Cambodian Kids Hanging Out at the Temple

Another Kid Hanging Out at the Temple

Shopowner's Cute Daughter, Actual Quote: "Mom!! There's People Here! It's Not My Life to Sell Clothes!"

Waterfall Hike & 1000 Linga

After Banteay Srei, we ventured even further into the Cambodian countryside for a waterfall hike recommended by our tuk-tuk driver, Ti. The stream feeds into Tonle Sap, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. Because of the importance of Tonle Sap to the ancient Khmers, they carved many linga into the rocks of the riverbed to bless the water on its way.

We Saw This Makeshift Truck on the Way to the Waterfall Hike

Local Shop, a Common Sight Along the Side of the Road

Small Kids on a Big Bike

Hiking in the Cambodian Jungle

Steep, Muddy Cambodian Hills in Slippers? No Problem!

Cambodian Jungle

Waterfall and Many Linga Carvings -- These Bless the Water at the Source as it Flows to Tonle Sap

Another Angle of the Linga Carvings and Waterfall

More Linga

River Carvings

Another, Bigger Waterfall

Other Temples on the Big Circuit

After the waterfall hike and Banteay Srei, we visited several other temples in and around Angkor Thom.

Another Temple

Elephant!

Elephant from Below

Lin at One of the Temple Towers

James Tries to Learn Cambodian Dance

Path to the Water Temple

Walking to the Water Temple

Near the Water Temple, the Water Gets a Bit Murkier...

Water Temple

Preah Khan Temple

Pub Street

Pub Street is the main hangout for tourists and ex-pats in Siem Reap, and has most of the town’s restaurants and nightlife. Sadly, we were unable to find fried tarantula in the Old Market, perhaps it will be available next time. We were told tarantula is only sometimes available in Siem Reap, otherwise we should go to neighboring Battambang province where it is readily available in the markets.

Pub Street in Siem Reap

We Saw This Motorbike on the Way to Pub Street -- Look Closely, She is Carrying Her Own IV on a Trip Home from the Hospital!!

Pub Street Has Many of these Fish Spas -- The Fish Will Nibble the Dead Skin Off Your Feet

Outside the Old Market

Flower Shop in the Old Market

Seafood in the Old Market

Temples on the Way to Tonle Sap

On the way to Tonle Sap, we made several stops along the way as recommended by our driver. Each was a bit different from the other temples we had seen. At one of the temples, James tried to take a picture with a cow. The cow didn’t like this very much and headbutted James in the thigh.

Moments Later, This Cow Attacked James

Temple

Looking Back from the Top of the Temple

A Different Temple

Lots of Bamboo

Kids on the Way to Tonle Sap

More Kids on the Way to Tonle Sap -- This Girl Reminded Us of Malie

This Looks Fun...

Transporting a Boat to Tonle Sap

Typical House We Saw on the Way to Tonle Sap

Kids on the Side of the Road

Tonle Sap

Tonle Sap is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. The waters of Tonle Sap change direction twice a year because of a complex interaction with the Mekong River and the weather patters. Tonle Sap is very important to the region for fishing and for rice farming. We visited a floating village on the lake, a sunken forest, and watched the sunset from the roof of our boat.

Boats at Dock, Ready to Take Visitors to Tonle Sap

People Seem to Walk on Water in the Shallows of Tonle Sap

Floating Village in Tonle Sap

House in the Floating Village

Floating Village Houses

More Floating village Houses

"Main Street"?

Our 13-Year Old Small Boat Captain

Cambodian Kids Fishing from a Small Boat

Baby on Board

Another Typical Village Home

Near the Village is the Sunken Forest

Taking a Break at a Floating Restaurant in the Sunken Forest

All Hands on Deck!

Waiting for Sunset on the Roof of the Boat

Another Boat Silhouetted by the Setting Sun

Beautiful Sunset

Boats Headed Home at Dusk