balustrade of princes holding the nine-headed buddhist cobra along the causeway leading into angkor thom

south gate of angkor thom, the largest temple complex in siem reap

closer view of smiling buddha faces on south gate

bayon temple at the center of angkor thom

the bayon temple has 54 towers with four smiling buddha face on each

closer view of the bayon temple

much of the bayon temple is in ruins

smiling buddha faces

this is a very happy place (and must have been ecstatic in the 12th century)

more smiling buddha faces

closeup of smiling buddha face

amazingly detailed bas-relief covered many of the temple walls

donkey or horse being sacrificed

view of the cambodia jungle as seen from the bayon temple

two three-headed elephants from hindu mythology

mythological hindu garuda bird

view of angkor wat from across the moat

view of the moat around angkor wat

celestial dancers known as apsaras

bas-relief carving of women with very fancy hair-dos

female carvings

closeup of female carvings

angkor wat and reflecting pool

shameless photo-op

angkor wat had the most incredible bas-relief carving for hundreds of meters along the passageways on the perimeter of the templ

more bas-relief

closeup of ringed "artificial mountain"-style towers of angkor wat

closeup of justin, in intriguing "half-squat" pose

justin watt meets angkor wat

sanskrit relief

much of angkor wat and the bayon temple have been restored by UNESCO, but the cambodian government has chosen Ta Prohm ("th

bayon tree growing on roof of ta prohm

closer shot of bayon roots securing tree to temple roof

the bayon roots seem amazingly adaptive and organic

this is a a dead bayon tree with a ficus tree growing up around it

yet another incredible bayon tree growing on the temple

spot justin amongst the bayon tree roots

on the way to the siem reap airport, we stopped at an enormous artifical lake (west baray) built during the 12th century

beside the artifical lake: beetles and crickets for snacking

closeup of crunchy crickets!