I visited the Siem Reap region of Cambodia this past fall, a place rich in history and culture.
Here are 16 pictures (all photos taken by or of me) which give you a taste of why I was so fascinated by the Siem Reap region:
Life in the Countryside Around Siem Reap
Although the main attraction of Siem Reap is the amazing Angkor Temple complex, I was most intrigued by the culture and life of the people in the countryside around Siem Reap.
Both of these women appear old enough to have lived through the 1970s with Pol Pot, the Khmer Rouge, and the Killing Fields. It was not until 1993 that the King of Cambodia was restored. In spite of this recent history, the Cambodian people are warm and clearly resilient, and survivors.
The Markets and Food of Siem Reap
Angkor Temple Complex
The Angkor temple complex dates to the 12th century and features Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument in the world. Each temple in the complex has unique characteristics and histories.
Blessings abound at Angkor Wat. Although the complex is full of tourists, it is a peaceful place to be.
Tonle Sap Floating Village
Another unique place we visited was the floating villages on Tonle Sap lake (a very large fresh water lake). We were told that non-Cambodians, primarily Vietnamese, could not own land, so they lived in floating villages on water. Seeing this way of life was fascinating.
Kulen Mountain
Kulen Mountain rises almost 1600 feet from the flats of Siem Reap and offers gorgeous hiking and stunning vistas, plus a unique underwater temple.
I was so happy and thankful to have the opportunity to see Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, and the countryside around it.
Thank you for reading and if you missed my similar highlights about from visiting Laos, you can find them here: Visiting Laos.
Beautiful Paul!
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Thank you Liz. And happy belated birthday. For as much of the world as you have seen (and the stories you have), I would love to have you as a regular guest blogger. Let me know…..
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Nice post!
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Thank you sincerely.
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I love Cambodia, especially Siem Reap. Brings back some good memories.
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