The Khmer Empire was at it's peak in from the 9th - 13th century as it governed a large portion of Southeast Asia. During that time the kingdom built some magnificent temples for their Buddhist beliefs and Hindu gods, but today these temples helped remind me of man's insignificance and transience. By the time the French colonized Cambodia in the 19th century, the temples were newly discovered in the midst of a dense forest. Today millions of tourists come from around the world to see these grand temples.
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| The most famous temple is Angkor Wat. It is on the national flag and one of the largest in the world. (Above) My friends and I take a break inside the temple. |
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| (Right) some of my friends take a ride around Angkor Thom, using transportation fit for kings. This is a Buddhist temple, thus the architecture pictured above. |
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| (Left) Look closely, one head might look out of place. This is the entrance to Angkor Thom, a bridge crossing the moat. (Above) We visited Ta Prohm, famous for the trees that grow in and around it, but possibly more famous after a part of the movie Tomb Raider was filmed here. |
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| While in Siem Reap, we definitely enjoyed some of the tourist attractions like this foot massage via fish! It was a fun & new experience! It tickles at first, but the little fish are hungry "to eat your dead skin cells," as advertised. |
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| Our last day in Siem Reap we visited a floating village on Tonle Sap Lake. These people literally live on the water year round. Their houses are designed to float, as are the stores, church, and school. A few enjoyed the experience of getting up close with a snake! |
