The visitor's first view is much like her last - awe inspiring

Angkor Wat is widely-believed to be the largest religious structure in the world. Never abandoned to the elements, it is also the best preserved

The temples of Angkor were built in the Angkorian period, at the height of the Khmer empire's power, a span of more than 600 yrs. from AD 802 to 1432

The monks' robes offer a stark contrast to the bare temple walls

The Bayon stands in the exact center of Angkor Thom, a 10 km city, and is easily the second most popular temple after Angkor Wat

The Bayon is a collection of 54 gothic towers decorated with 216 enormous smiling faces of Avalokiteshvara

The Bayon is shrouded in mystery - researchers still do not understand its exact function and symbolism

This elderly man is burning incense in offering at a small shrine outside the Bayon

Despite the fact that we did not share a language, we had a nice long conversation with these young monks

Monks are walking, talking and contemplating at nearly every turn

These nuns were quite a sight as they scrambled over temple ruins to get whereever they were going

This walled area was once the site of the royal palace; there's nothing much left today except two sandstone pools that are now used as swimming holes

Imagine if ancient temples were your playground?

How many monks does it take to drive a Cambodian tuk tuk?

The causeway leading up to Angkor Wat

One of the many inner courtyards of the magnificent Angkor Wat

We hiked up one of the mountain temples to get a better view of Angkor Wat

Some people got a lift up the mountain from some pachadermy

The view just before sunset

A view of the towers of Angkor Wat, probably looking much as it did centuries earlier

The Thais sacked Angkor in 1351 and in 1431, at which time the Khmer court moved to Phnom Penh abandoning the city to the elements and holy men

We rose early (VERY) to watch the sun rise over the pools of Angkor Wat

We waited patiently during two sunrises, but the light we were hoping for never materialized

These little cherubs came out to greet us when our motorcycle taxi stopped for gas

Ta Prohm is one of the most alluring temples. Left to be swallowed by the jungle, the massive root systems claim the temple walls and dwarf Lisa

You get the feeling that you are in an "other-worldly" place at Ta Prohm and are reminded of the jungle's awesome power

One of our treasured memories in Cambodia was an early morning spent wandering around the deserted courtyards and narrow corridors of Ta Prohm

Sweeping the dirt???

Much of the temple's courtyards and corridors are impassable, clogged with piles of intricately carved stone blocks

Notice any resemblance?? (add pic of cover of lonely planet)

Banteay Srei

Banteay Srei, a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva, is widely considered the crown jewel of Angkorian art.

Banteay Srei means 'Citadel of the Women'. It is said the temple must have been built by women as the delicate carvings are too fine for a man's touch

Exhausted from touring and the intense heat, these two little ones entertained us frolicking in the water in front of Angkor Wat