Temples, flowers and people in Saigon and Siem Reap

Happy Handbag Shopkeeper

This small shop off of the busy streets of Saigon was stuffed to the max with handbags of all sizes and shapes.. Many were handmade straw bags being sold for a reasonable price.

Incense in Blue Vase

There are many available places in China town in Saigon to burn incense and leave donations for prayers and wishes.

Burning incense 3

Smoke filled the room from the burning incense at a small city temple in Chinatown in Saigon.

Visiting Monk to Angkor Wat

This monk is among the many visitors every day to the temple of Angkor Wat, the most iconic of the temples in Cambodia. Angkor Wat is the best preserved of the Angkorian temples and is considered one of the most extraordinary monuments in the world.

Statue of standing Buddha with robes

Statue at Angkor Wat Temple adorned with monks robes and cloths. Walking around inside the temple and still able to see outside through the large openings.

Youngest monk at Angkor Wat Temple

Angkor Wat and Geese

Everyone is welcome to visit Angkor Wat, including any wildlife and geese. The geese do not seem to mind all of the people.

Reflection of Angkor Wat Temple in Cambodia

Moats originally surrounded the temple of Angkor Wat covering 190 meters wide. Now a large pond welcomes all of the visitors approaching Angkor Wat. temple. Construction of Angkor Wat began early in the 12th century which had been elaborated to a central tower surrounded by four smaller towers. The central monument represents Mount Meru, the mythical holy mountain at the center of the universe. The 5 towers symbolise Mount Meru's 5 peaks. Angkor Wat is enormous with the inner walls covering 1,200 square meters and are 2 meters long from bottom to top.

Monk at rest

Many robed monks spent time in the temple of Angkor Wat. They allowed you to take their photo and many of them were not looking for any donations.

Water lilly and water lilly pad

The large pond in front of Angkor Wat was covered in blooming pink water lilies, water lilly pads and lots of green leaves and algae.

Pre-wedding photograph

This couple put on their engagement clothing and adorned themselves with gold and silver jewelry for a pre-wedding photograph session in front of the Angkor Wat temple.

Long corridor of Angkor Wat

There are many carvings and bas-reliefs adorning the columns, ceilings and walls of Angkor Wat. This exterior corridor was in excellent condition for lasting nearly 900 years. The green in the stone was part of the algae growing on the columns and walls.

Three women wall carving - Angkor Wat

Bas-reliefs of three women that adorn the inner walls of the temple.

Blessing for the statue

Monks and others leave blessings on this statue near the temple of Angkor Wat.

Black and White carving at Angkor Wat Temple

Delicate stone carvings depict scenes from the Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata and also show day to day life within the Khmer empire.

Coconut white meat and milk

There are many vendors along the way, prior to getting to the Angkor Wat temple. One vendor was selling the coconuts that he split open so you could eat the white inside meat and drink the sweet coconut milk.

Motorcycle and scooter urban traffic

Cars share the busy roads in Saigon with lots of vendors on bicycles, men, women and children on scooters and everyone else trying to get through on their motorcycles.

Girls being girls in Saigon

Tourists and women in Saigon all seem to share something in common - taking photos with their cell phones!

Delicate stone carving at Angkor Wat Temple

Lotus flower in the fields

This lotus flower is growing in the ponds next to the rice fields in the countryside just outside of Siem Reap. The center of the flower looks like it could be plastic but that is how the stamen of the lotus looks. The lotus leaves are very ragged appearing which is a big difference from the water lilly pads.

Dancing pink water lilies

These gorgeous pink water lilies are seen in the ponds in front of the temple Banteay Srei which stands for beautiful woman. The temple is constructed from pink sandstone which gives added meaning to all of the pink water lilies surrounding the grounds.

Doorway to Angkor Thom

Angkor Thom in Cambodia, built with approximately 1200 square meters of inner walls is a smaller complex than Angkor Wat but still extraordinary.

Angkor Thom faces

Angkor Thom, meaning "large city", was the capital city and the center of King Jayavarman VII's vast empire. The King built the complex as an impregnable fortress at the heart of his empire from 1177 to 1181. The faces are said to be those of King Jayavarman himself, a reflection of his god-like status.

Strong face at Angkor Thom

One of the many giant faces of Angkor Thom thought to be a reflection of then King Jayavarman during his reign. The Khmer king built the fortress temple at the center of the city from 1177 to 1181. The green in the stone comes from age, green algae and moss.

Nose to nose at Angkor Thom

A photo that is taken a lot standing nose to nose with the giant faces of Angkor Thom.

Elephants and Men with Spears

Elephants have always played a major role in the history of the Khmer Empire. They led men to battle and were also revered. This elegantly carved stone bas-relief can be seen in many depictions of the elephant on the walls of Angkor Thom.

Musicians and Dancing Ladies at Angkor Thom

All of the carved stone bas-reliefs told a story of life and of the deities during the time that Angkor Thom was built.

Small adorned statue

Just like the larger statue at the Cambodian temples, this small statue at Angkor Thom was adorned with cloths from the monks. Incense was always allowed to burn at this temple.

Ray of Light at Ta Prohm Temple

Ta Prohm temple during a 10 year renovation project has many upended stone blocks but this wall is still standing in one piece inside the temple walls.

Giant tree on the Ta Prohm Temple

The Ta Prohm temple, once abandoned, was engulfed by the jungle hundreds of years ago. Now giant trees tower above the ruins and their roots are prying apart the stone blocks.

Intricate carvings into the stone of Ta Prohm Temple

Although Ta Prohm is the only temple that was left to the jungle after the rediscovery of Angkor in the late 1800's, the carvings still exist telling stories of the deities, the elephants and the fighting.

Beautiful carved columns at Ta Prohm Temple.

A renovation project of Ta Prohm is underway but this carved column still stands tall

Traditional music at Banteay Srei

Music is played by the Traditional Music Band's Victims of Land Mines. They play for the benefit of others and accept donations of those visiting Banteay Srei grounds.

Music with a leaf

This musician is creating music by blowing on a leaf. He is part of the Traditional music band's victim of Land Mines.

The Beautiful Temple of Banteay Srei

Banteay Srei temple is constructed from pink sandstone which gives it it's name that means beauty and woman. Located approximately 32 kilometers from central Siem Reap, it is the best preserved temple in Cambodia and the pink sandstone is seen nowhere else in Angkor.

Reflection of Banteay Srei in the Water Lilly Pond

Banteay Srei is the "gem" of the Angkor area boasting some of the finest examples of classical Khmer art with its remarkable fine bas-reliefs.

Banteay Srei statues sitting tall

Sweeping the fallen leaves

This grounds worker was bundled up from the sun and the insects while she stayed busy keeping all of the fallen leaves raked up at Banteay Srei. The temple site showed off how well the grounds were looked after for all of the visitors to enjoy.

Groundskeeper bike at Banteay Srei

Mode of transportation for many of the workers was their bicycle.

Peace at Banteay Srei

Local guides at Banteay Srei, while taking a lunch break, posed with a peace sign known all over the world.

Banteay Samre Temple in Cambodia

Banteay Samre has a typical lotus flower shaped tower and boasts an almost perfect condition. It is not far from the city of Siem Reap and some of its carvings are quite elaborate.

Stone doorways at Banteay Samre

Everything at Banteay Samre seems more compact - including these stone doorways all lined up so neatly.

An Outer Wall of the Temple of Bantey Samre

Many style of carvings are displayed on the outer and inner walls of the temple of Banter Samre. The lotus flower shape is used for its towers and above many of the doorway entrances.

Inner courtyard of Banteay Samre

Stacks of Stones

These stacks of stones appear to do a balancing act on top of this wall column. You can see many different colors in the stones of Banteay Samre Temple.

Burning Incense

Smoke filled the room from the burning incense at a small city temple in Chinatown in Saigon.