Siem Reap

Siem Reap, Cambodia

Currently staying at Green Village Palace and moving 10/1/07 to Angkor Shadow Hotel

[p.s. This must be the point at which we “burned out” with the travel blog updates.  Photos continue for a while, but the journaling seems to have dried up]

01Angkor Wat at SunriseThe utterly amazing Angkor Wat at sunrise. (so good, we managed to wake up early for two of them).

02 Angkor ReliefA typical sandstone relief carved into one of the many, many, many, temple walls.

03 Angkor WatSun protection essential under Angkor Wat's baking sun (Jo sporting her lotion-less Sunveil gear).

04 Face of AngkorOne of a multitude of faces at the Bayon Temple in Angkor Thom.

05 Angkor SunsetAlong with a thousand fellow travelers on top of Phnom Bakheng (circa 9th century).

07 Take it backSome of the most beautiful spots in and around Angkor are where the trees are silently and slowly overtaking the ruins.

08 Take it backSome of the most beautiful spots in and around Angkor are where the trees are silently and slowly overtaking the ruins.

09 Take it backSome of the most beautiful spots in and around Angkor are where the trees are silently and slowly overtaking the ruins.

10 Too much amazing territory to exploreThe Angkor site is huge - covering a massive amount of territory. Most ruins are concentrated in an area about 75 square miles, with more than 1000 temple ruins and other buildings. A photographic dream!

11 Ancient DoorwayWalking around the great city, imagining what life would be like 100's of years ago in the glory days of the Khmer Empire.

12 Dusty rideBecause of the massive distances involved, we visited the sites with the help of a hired tuk-tuk. The ride was long, hot and dusty to the remote reaches of Banteay Srei and Kbal Spean (the valley of 1000 Lingas).

13 Kbal SpeanSome of the ancient Lingas carved directly into the riverbed of the Kbal Spean river - the most ancient site in the region predating Angkor Wat by some 200 years.

14 Morning MistMystical moments.

15 Another typical reliefWithout a doubt, the temple of all temples - Angkor Wat!

16 Silk WormsAfter getting templed out in Angkor Wat, we decided to check out a couple of other sites around Siem Reap including this silk manufacturing centre. A great explanation and tour of the whole process.

17 Extracting SilkExtracting the silk from the cocoons.

18 Silk twistingTechnique to combine three threads into one for a stronger thread.

19 Dying the silkAll natural dies.

20 LoomAnd finally weaving the silk into fabric.

Where I stayed

Green Village Angkor Hotel – No. 147, Wat Damnak Road, Salakamroeuk, Siem Reap Central Area, Siem Reap, Cambodia