Seam Reap, Cambodia

Angkor Wat at Sunset

Angkor Archaeological Park

You may not be familiar with the city of Seam Reap because it is Angkor Wat that is frequently posted on travel information sites. Seam Reap is the city located close to Angkor Wat.  Angkor Archaeological Park stretches over four hundred square kilometer and includes a variety of sites to visit . This area became the capital of the Khmer Empire in the early ninth century and was the major power in southeast Asia which later became Cambodia.  The first city had a defensive mote, brick and stone temple, with a wooden palace.  All the wooden structures are long gone but the stone structures still create an impressive site.

Angkor Wat

We visited Angkor Wat (city temple) at sunrise, which is a good time to walk around before it becomes too hot.  This is not a great time to take a picture of Angkor Wat with its five spires as it it difficult to know in advance if it will be cloudy. There are also a lot of tour groups that arrive at this time. Angkor Wat was built by the Khmer Empire and is surrounded by a moat.

Entrance Naga to Angkor Wat

Climbing to the top of Angkor Wat

Angkor Tom

Another site is Angkor Tom (great city).  The center of Angkor Tom is Bayon Buddhist Temple with 216 faces watching pilgrims. Bayon is the center of Angkor Tom.

Withing Angkor Tom you will find the columns that was the Royal Palace and the Terrace of the Elephants.

Terrace of the Elephants

Ta Prohm

This site reminds me of Raiders of the Lost Ark with the trees growing in the ruins. At some time the ruins will no longer be visible.


These site reminds us the power of the jungle to take over and reclaim the land.

Banteay Srei

This was a Hindu Temple which was carved from a pinkish stone and has the finest stone carvings.  Banteay Srei means Citadel of the Women.

We visited these ruins just before it was closing as the sun was going down. This increased the pinkish effect of the stone.

Couple having pictures taken prior to their wedding at Angkor Wat