Cambodia Pillows

Bayon is one of the most visited temples in the vast Angkor Wat complex. The temple was part of Angkor Thom, itself the capital city of the Khmer kingdom, but was abandoned for centuries. Today only the most durable of the structures remain, but even they show the passage of time. That said, the ruins are remarkable and are a testament to the incredible architectural merit of the time. This image is of what appears to be a formerly covered passageway. A lintel remains over the portal, but otherwise, just the vertical stonework seems to have survived. But even in its ruin, it speaks to the power this place must have once held.

Created on my trips to Asia

This is one of the "face towers" that adorn the Bayon temple in Angkor Thom. The huge faces, 216 of them, at the various sites in Angkor Thom are often grouped in fours around towers. Each of the faces is very similar to any other, Scholars are unsure of who they might represent, a bodhisattva, Brahma, or maybe King Jayavarman VII, who was responsible for the construction of Angkor Thom. All that aside, when capturing the image I was really drawn to the power of these faces as they adorn the towers. The faces seemed so peaceful with closed eyes and gentle smiles.

You need to get there early to see Angkor Wat at its best. The early morning light brings tranquility to this remarkably peaceful place. Of course, you are not alone. Angkor Wat is the biggest tourist attraction in Cambodia, it even appears on the national flag. But the place is so enormous that finding a spot without tourists is not difficult. The temple was originally dedicated to the Indian god, Vishnu, but became a Buddhist temple within a hundred years of its construction, which started during the early 12th century. This image is a westerly view along the first inner gallery.

So what is this? The image depicts just a small sampling of the incredible array of bas relief carvings that line the galleries in Angkor Wat. Apart from minor variations, each character in the carvings is the same. Although carved about 800–900 years ago, these carvings have been protected from the elements as they line the inner walls of the galleries that surround the tiers of the temple. Angkor Wat is an architectural triumph.

Created on my trips to Asia

Within the wider Angkor Wat complex is Angkor Thom, which was a city constructed for King Jayavarman VII in the late 12th century. As a city, it consists of many sites, only the most durable of which remain. This image is of an open gallery in the Bayon Temple. I was really drawn to the wonderful colours in the columns. I hope you enjoy it as well.

This is one of the "face towers" that adorn the Bayon temple in Angkor Thom. The huge faces, 216 of them, at the various sites in Angkor Thom are grouped in fours around towers. Each of the faces is very similar to any other, Scholars are unsure of who they might represent, a bodhisattva, Brahma, or maybe King Jayavarman VII, who was responsible for the construction of Angkor Thom. All that aside, when capturing the image I was really drawn to the power of the faces that adorn the towers. The faces seems so peaceful with closed eyes and gentle smiles.

The View from the Window Seat

I was surprised to see the paintings of natural colors that the stones of the temples of angor take on. Green mosses, oxidation of iron contained in construction materials.

The remarkable banyan trees that grow in, around, and through the ruins in the medieval temples in Angkor are spectacular to behold. The structures, dating back over 800 years were abandoned at the time of the collapse of Khmer empire, and so, over the centuries, the jungle has retaken possession. These trees, enormous in size, have the most amazing roots, which snake over the old sandstone structures. The tree in the image sits right against the wall of the Banteay Kdei temple, with part of the roots passing through a window in wall.

This image was captured within Angkor Thom, which is a part of the overall Angkor Wat complex. Constructed during the 12th century, Angkor Thom was the Khmer capital city but was later abandoned. The image depicts a doorway within one of the remaining structures.

This image depicts one of the wonderful bas relief carvings on the walls of the Bayon Temple in Angkor Thom. Although time has taken its toll, the statue is essentially intact, as are the wonderful stone-carved ornamentations that surround it. I remember having to wait several minutes to capture this image because of the constant procession of visitors passing by.

This is a Khmer Cambodian young girl Chibi character in traditional dress. Her cute little smile can melt hearts of parents everywhere.

Vietnam War The Vietnam War, also known as the Second Indochina War, and in Vietnam as the Resistance War Against America or simply the American War, was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was a war against the spread of Communism.

This is a gopura, or gopuram, located near the Phimeanakas Temple in Angkor Thom, which is very close to Siem Reap in Cambodia. Gopura, of this kind, were typically located at the edge of the grounds of medieval Hindu temples, where they acted as the entrance to the grounds. The Phimeanakas Temple dates from the 10th century, so this gopura may be of a similar age. We look at these incredibly old structures where just the stonework remains. They must surely have had many embellishments during their heydays. But even today, they stand as noble structures, which is what I wanted to capture.

The Angkor Archaeological Park,near Siem Reap, Cambodia, is home to many temples and other structures. This image is of the Banteay Kdei temple, a Buddhist temple that dates back to 12th century. When capturing this image, I was really drawn to the weathering on the sandstone and the resulting wonderful warm tones.

Angkor Wat isn't just one temple, but a complex of many temples spread over a wide area. The complex is so large that you need to hire a tuk-tuk and driver for the day to be transported around the vast complex. This image is of the Tonle Om gate, which is the south gate into the Angkor Thom temple and its surroundings. The gate, also known as a gopura, straddles the road. Around the gate are four gigantic faces, known as Avalokiteśvara or Padmapani. These faces appear on several other structures within the Angkor Wat complex. When capturing this image, I was really taken with the serene power of the faces; they seemed to embody calm and compassion.

So what is this? The image depicts just one of the many, many screens that line the galleries surrounding the tiers in Angkor Wat. The screens allow light to enter the galleries during the day. These screens are essentially identical, the only real difference being whether they were intact or not. In some of the screens, one or more of the pillars were missing, but this one is intact. The pillars in each screen must have been turned on a lathe in order to create such perfectly formed spindles, both within each screen and from screen to screen. It is remarkable that such delicate structures could have survived for nine hundred years. Angkor Wat is not just a remarkable tourist destination, it is an architectural wonder.

Within the wider Angkor Wat complex is Angkor Thom, which was a city constructed for King Jayavarman VII in the late 12th century. As a city, it consists of many sites, only the most durable of which remain. This image is of an open gallery in one of those remaining structures. I was really drawn to the wonderful warmth of the stonework. I hope you enjoy it as well.

You need to get there early to see Angkor Wat at its best. The early morning light brings tranquility to this remarkably peaceful place. Of course, you are not alone. Angkor Wat is the biggest tourist attraction in Cambodia, it even appears on the national flag. But the place is so enormous that finding a spot without tourists is not difficult. The temple was originally dedicated to the Indian god, Vishnu, but became a Buddhist temple within a hundred years of its construction, which started during the early 12th century. This image is the view along the southern gallery of the first inner wall.

A few years ago, I took a car ride in Cambodia from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap. Although the journey was slow, all day at about 60 kph, the sights to my Western eyes were extraordinary. I couldn't get over the way people used motorbikes. Motorbikes are at the heart of commerce in Southeast Asia; there's nothing a motorbike can't do. But to me, this man takes the prize; I think that that load would have daunted the most ardent of pickup truck drivers and yet this was the sight on the road to Siem Reap, and probably an everyday occurrence for the rider involved here. I couldn't help but notice that he was keeping his feet up near the handlebars. maybe it was a comfort thing, but could it be that the little engine was really hot?

The Ta Prohm Temple within the Angkor Wat Archaeological Park is a marvel to behold because of the way the jungle has encroached in and over the temple structure. The temple was abandoned during the 15th century after the fall of the Khmer Empire and only "rediscovered" over the past century or so. During this lost time, the banyan trees have grown up and out of the stonework. The trees are gigantic, but it is the roots that are so fascinating in the way they have snaked their way down over the ruins. Over time these roots have forced their way into the temple stonework, forcing it apart, with the result that much of the temple is in collapse. Interestingly, the authorities have chosen to allow this continued encroachment because of the ...

This artwork captures the ancient wisdom and timeless beauty of the temples of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. The intricate carvings and architecture of the temples are a testament to the skill and craftsmanship of the Khmer people. The artwork also evokes a sense of mystery and wonder, as it hints at the secrets that lie hidden within the temples.

This is a Khmer Cambodian child Chibi character . He is so cute with his big eyes and traditional outfit.

Buddha surrounded by lotus

Vietnam War The Vietnam War, also known as the Second Indochina War, and in Vietnam as the Resistance War Against America or simply the American War, was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. The war was a war to stop the spread of Communism in Southeast Asia.

Inspired by an image taken by Vino Li. All humans are the same inside and we are all as soft as paper. Cut us and we all bleed the same blood. https://unsplash.com/photos/wG9QVz8rmfY

Deep in the jungles of Cambodia lies the majestic temple city of Angkor Wat.

Khmer woman making spicy papaya salad.

A vivid sunrise at Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia

green solid style

A beautiful Cambodian dancer, in traditional national costume, performing traditional Apsara Dance.

This image is of the Banteay Kdei temple, or at least a part it, in the Angkor Archaeological Park near Siem Reap, Cambodia. The temple was built during the 12th century. While not the largest of the Angkorian temples, it has many of the features of Bayon and Ta Prohm. When capturing this image, I was particularly drawn to the wonderful architectural style and the robustness of the structure. This was a building that was built to last; look at the exposed structure of the roof in the portion that has collapsed.

Created on my trips to Asia