Angkor

(Elephants Terrace looking onto The Kleangs, Angkor Thom)

I have just spent the most incrediable three days seeing the temples of Angkor in Cambodia. They really are the highlight of my time in Asia so far. It is not only the temples, but also Cambodia itself. The people are so calm and the atmosphere in Siem Reap is like a balm after the madness of Bangkok. The women and children are so beautiful, and have eyes that dance when they smile. For three days we travelled around the various temples by tuk tuk. Angkor Wat is the most well known temple and indeed it is very impressive. But I think it is the combination of all the temples that make Angkor such an awe inspiring achievement.

Walking around these temples I felt so calm and peaceful. Around the corner you may see a monk or a nun. The saffron robes of the monks reflect in the pools of water. The buddha statues may have a sash of silk across them. Apart from this the colours are all of nature...the bright green of the jungle, the different hues of the limestone depending on age, the mosses, the tree trucks.

There are more photos on Nav's website (see 20 July to 25 July):

http://navroz.com/bangkok/bangkok.html

Some of my favourites:


(One of the many corridor views)


(Detail at Banteay Srei)


(Outside Neak Pean)


(The roads around the temples link the local villages together. A highlight of being in the tuk tuk was seeing day to day life: the planting of the rice paddies, the checked scarfs woren my the women, the batik skirts on the little girls, the motorcycles loaded up with wood, waterlilies or up to 5 children!)


(Bayon, Angkor Thom)


(Bayon, Angkor Thom)


(Bamteay Samre)