SE Asia Day 38: Siem Reap

/ alliwanders

Angkor Wat is generally used as the name for the whole temple area here in Siem Reap when it’s actually just a small square temple within the vast greater complex. Today we visited several other temples in the brown square in the map above, including the one made famous in the Tomb Raider movie.

The different temples were built by different kings in different centuries and it’s all very confusing so no history, just photos. So many photos….

Gods protecting the bridge over the moat
Angkor Thom, famous for its many towers
And for the 4 Buddha faces on each tower
Just a warren of dark corridors, stairs and small courtyards. No inside space we could access but hallways and looted of all decorations
Baphoun Temple
We could only climb to the top, walk around, and descend the other side
Can you spot the sleeping Buddha?
Listening attentively(?) to our guide talk about Phimeanaskas Temple inside the former Royal residence
Guard gate
Guard lion

The sun was beating down and it was past noon so we all voted to break for lunch before visiting our last temple: Ta Prohm, aka Tomb Raider temple. This temple is just ruins, slowly being consumed by strangler fig trees.

4-faced Buddha gate tower
The butterflies loved me!

We finished up our long sightseeing day about 4pm and had a free evening ahead of us. Some went out to wine & dine but I took advantage of the time to chill and hopefully catch up on my photos then sleep!

Last day of the tour is tomorrow, basically just a travel day back to Bangkok.