CAMBODIA

 Journey to Angkor

The dirty road from Thailand-Cambodia border to Angkor could be in better shape. The 100km bumpy ride took full 5 hours.

Refreshment break for tired travelers. You have to try these fried giant spiders!

Angkor

The City of Angkor Thom is surrounded by a tall wall and a wide moat. The city can be entered only through one of its five gates.

Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat: View at the galleries of the middle and top levels

Angkor Wat: Main sanctuary located in the middle of the top level

Angkor Wat: Walls are decorated with hundreds of dancing apsaras

Bayon is the main temple of Angkor Thom. Its 37 towers are decorated with famous smiling faces.

Together among the towers of Bayon

Banteay Srey is a smaller but beautifully decorated temple

Detail of the decorations at Banteay Srey

Temple Ta Prohm has not yet been reconstructed. Surrounding jungle is slowly taking over here.

Palaces are being grown over by tree roots

Marek would have definitely welcomed a larger bike if there was one available! Nevertheless, the bicycle was a great vehicle for getting to the many Angkor temples.

Cambodian kids and teenagers are stationed in front of every temple and try to sell almost anything to passing tourists. Sometimes it is hard to escape. (Marek is sitting in a carriage pulled by a motorcycle, which we hired one day to get to the more distant temples.) 

Phnom Penh

Waterfront of the Mekong river in Phnom Penh. This wide boulevard and beautiful park cannot hide the real and poor side of Cambodia - small children are washing themselves in the dirty river (on the right).

The Royal Palace in Phnom Penh is beautiful. This Napoleon pavilion does not seem to fit here, however.

Throne Hall of the Royal Palace. Asian and European architecture styles are nicely combined inside.

Silver Pagoda's name comes from its floor made of over 5000 silver tiles. Some valuable Buddha statues are also displayed here.

Masks used in traditional theatre plays inspired by the epic Ramayana.

Beautiful houses along the Mekong waterfront

And a side road with a small vegetable market

Phnom Penh is a city of contrasts - beautiful avenues are mixed with dirty side roads with rundown houses

Monks are heading from a temple to an evening English class