Preah Khan Surprise

After seeing Angkor Vat and Angkor Thom, I thought I had already seen the best of the Angkor temples and it will really be hard to still be impressed by another of these khmer ancient sites.

But I have to say that Preah Khan was a most pleasant surprise. I was not expecting much. Thought that this is just another one of those Khmer temples. But Preah Khan stands on its own as one of the better preserved temples with fine carvings and stonework. Its ancient structures also reminds you of the temples of Greece and Egypt with a lot of pillar and columns. Preah Khan which may have been a Buddhist university is one of Angkor's largest complexes.

Amazing Angkor Thom

One of the highlights of a trip to Siem Reap is a visit to the Angkor Thom temples. Within this massive and sprawling complex are four amazing monuments namely Bayon, Baphuon, Terrace of Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King.

The most impressive temple is Bayon where you will find 216 gargantuan faces of Avalokiteshavara, the Buddha of Compassion.

Ta Prohm: Trees on Temples

The magnificent temples of Ta Prohm have been used as a set for the popular films, Indiana Jones and Tomb Raider. So I had this feeling of awe of being in the actual movie set of films that I enjoyed watching in my younger days.

Ta Prohm's ancient temples with its overgrown trees which are actually part and on top of the temples are truly an awesome sight. The temples of Ta Prohm are in the midst of a tropical forest with a lot of old trees and vegetation. And this is what makes these temples unique and different from the equally impressive temples of Egypt.

Rolous Temples: The Beginnings

To fully appreciate the temples of Angkor best to start with the Rolous Group which includes Bakong and Preah Kong. While the temples of Rolous are not are impressive as the major monuments of Angkor, they nonetheless provide an insight into the beginnings and evolution of Khmer architecture.

Siem Reap Shines

Siemp Reap is a pleasant 4 hour bus ride from Phonm Penh. Once in Siem Reap you instantly feel the small town vibe and immediately welcome being here instead of the bigger city which is Phonm Penh.

It is a charming town with a river canal running around it. Accommodations are priced reasonably, food is cheap, and shopping is good value at the Old Market and Night Market. In Bar St area(photo above) near the Old Market, you will find bars and restaurants which are very tastefully done in modern or Khmer architecture. You can also experience Cambodian massage in the massage and spa places in the area. A massage is an anticipated treat after a day spent walking around the ancient temples of Angkor Wat.

A stay in Siem Reap, which is still has a lot of Old French shophouses, complements the ancient attractions around Angkor.

Sad Memories of a Civil War

Unless you are a war afficionado, the Killing Fields located about 14km from central Phonm Penh is not worth a visit. On display are skulls and bones of casualties of the civil war in Cambodia. There are also areas which are identified as the fields where men, women and children were executed.

More interesting is the Tuol Sleng Museum. The display of a rusty single bed in a classroom, photo exhibit of war atrocities,and detention and torture areas are disturbing.

Phonm Penh's Pride

Phonm Penh's best attraction is its Royal Palace which is still the official residence of its King. It is impressive in its own right but pales in comparison to the Grand Palace in Bangkok.

Within the compound of the Royal Palace is the Silver Pagoda, the floor of which is covered with 5000 shining silver tiles. Inside the Pagoda is a baccarat crystal Buddha and life-sized solid gold Buddha which is adorned with diamonds. Unfortunately, photography is not permitted so you just have to be content to view these truly remarkable Buddhas.