Blue face in blue night

The blue colour of the hour just after sunset is enhanced by a large painting in blue variations and black of a Bayon portrait. These stylised portrait covers the facade of Bayon Temple in Angkor Thom. They are supposed to be of the great emperor Jayavarman VII, who built Bayon as his State Temple. But the style imitates classic pose of a Buddha, reminding everyone JVII was the first powerful Buddhist god king of the Khmer empire.

Night market in Siem Reap is not one place. There are several. This one is from the newest, established in 2018. There are two more.

Siem Reap- morre than temples
The night markets are one of the night life activities in Siem Reap, visited by tourists and locals alike. One of the interesting aspects of Cambodia’s second largest city are the effect the large influx of visitors an expat has on the city life and offerings. There is a great chance to meet interesting people activities in this city built on the ancient Khmer Empire and the modern international culture.

Visitors and long stayers alike have offerings of museums, mine sniffing hero rats, botanical garden, animal refugee centre, Circus, art galleries, aquarium and wildness centre.

Shopping is an option not only for the evening, and then there is a wide offering of places to eat and drink. That includes fine dining with both international and local based cuisine, all the way to street food. There are offerings for bike trips, sunset trips, photo trips, Angkor off the beaten track-trips, added with options like food class, pottery class or art classes.

#saturdaynight #leisure #timeoff #khmerculture #friends #river #bridge #angkor #style #heritage #angkorwat #Cambodia #CambodiaCulture #SiemReap #nightmarket #artmarket #nightlife #food #drinks #art #artsales #Bayon #Angkorthom #Angorpark #angkorwat #expat #visitor #tourism #peace #quiet #safe #comfortable #kind #Angkoroffthebeatentrack #AOTBT #Cambodia #visitcambodia #visitsiemreap

You came to a split in the road….

…and the Apsara-crew took the road less travelled, because they make all the difference.

To manage, develop and maintain the vast human cultural treasure of the Angkor Park, the Apsara Authority was established back in 1995.

It has ha monumental task, literally speaking, taking care of the approximately 420 km2 area of the main Angkor Archaeological Park. It contains more than 70 larger temple sites, and over 1000 smaller sites and remains.

Important task and employer
Easy recognisable with their green uniforms, the Apsara Maintenance staff are making the visit into the Angkor Archaeological Park and sites possible, safe and accessible. It is a highly respected and important effort on behalf of Cambodia’s long and proud history, civilisation and culture. And of course, the common human historic value as a World Cultural Heritage site for the rest of us.

With over 3 000 employees, the Apsara Authority is the largest single employer in the Siem Reap province.

#angkorwat #angkor #pond #sunrise #wat #temple #food #asiangirl #asian #villagelife #morning #AngkorWat #Apsara #ancient #art #architecture #sculpture #archive #worldculturalheritage #hinduism #khmer #empire #buddhism #greentourism #takeonlyphotos #leaveonlyfootprints #Cambodia #citylife #countryside #daytrip #history #imperial #biking #Site #statetemple #Apsara #maintenance #crew #staff #lunch #tiffin #carrier #Chanshrak #tiffincarrier #Nikon #D300 #NikonD300 #Nikkor #14_24mm #f2_8 #2011CE #Siem #Reap #siemreap #southeastasia #visitsiemreap #visitcambodia

Bringing food for mommy

A memory from my first visit to Angkor Wat. This couple, I guess brother and sister, had their priority and duty clear this early fall day in the green season of 2011CE.

It was bringing lunch to mommy, one of the Apsara maintenance staffers at Angkor Wat. Making sure the maintenance and operation of the 8th Wonder of the World was smoothly and efficient.

State Temple, tomb, now Wat
Angkor Wat was original a royal state temple built in honour of the Hindu god Vishnu in the mid-12th Century CE. It is a tomb for the God King Suryavarman II too.
As a usurper, he needed to show his right to the throne by building this enormous religious building. It is still the largest and probably the most famous religious buildings in our common human cultural heritage.

Later it was converted to a Buddhist temple and monastery for religious worship and learning, a “Wat”.

Classic combination
Angkor Wat represents two architectural styles for Hindu temples. We have the temple mountain as a reminder of the 5 sacred Meru mountain, home of the Hindu gods. And the later galleried temple.

The galleries are even more interesting than usual. In addition to honour the gods and religious rites, it is the history of the reign of a powerful emperor.

This is one of the temples in Angkor Park where it is highly advisable to have a guide on your first visit. The size is easier to understand when you have some knowledgeable to show the important highlights and the best photo spots.

#angkorwat #angkor #pond #sunrise #wat #temple #food #asiangirl #asian #boy #villagelife #morning #AngkorWat #Apsara #ancient #art #architecture #sculpture #archive #worldculturalheritage #hinduism #khmer #empire #buddhism #greentourism #Cambodia #citylife #countryside #daytrip #history #imperial #biking #Site #statetemple #khmerchildren #lunch #tiffin #carrier #Chanshrak #tiffincarrier #Nikon #D300 #NikonD300 #Nikkor #2011CE #Siem #Reap #siemreap #southeastasia #visitsiemreap #visitcambodia

The real heroes of Angkor Park

Early morning at by the moat of Angkor Wat. This Apsara maintenance crew is doing the vital cleaning of the moat.

This moat is a 1.5 km by 1.3 km rectangle, with a width between 190 to 200 meters. The max depth is 4 meters. It is enclosing the whole Angkor Wat and symbolizes the cosmic oceans surrounding the Hindu god’s home.

It provides a crucial foundational stability for the largest religious monuments in the world. The old Khmer excelled in hydraulic engineering, and the old Angkor core capital was a hydraulic city. Angkor Wat was built at the midpoint of the 630 years of the Khmer Empire. The construction clearly demonstrates how advance their technology and engineering had advanced.

Modern heroes
This is a small shoutout to the modern heroes of Angkor; the largest part of the approximately 3000 staff that maintains, secure and restore this world cultural heritage.

It is a monumental task, pun intended. The Angkor Archaeological Park is about 420 sq. kilometres large. There are over 70 larger temple sites, and more than 1000 smaller sites and remains in the extended park.

The Apsara (Authority for the Protection of the Site and Management of the Region of Angkor) is the organisation established to run this task. You meet them first at the Angkor ticket office, but that is only one of the 15 departments.

Say hi, please
First time I visited, the ticket office was a small shack in the middle of thick jungle. Now it is a stately building with all the facilities needed to cater to thousands of tourists a day.

And then you have these maintenance guys working everywhere.

Remember to greet them with a smile and maybe a Sampeah greeting when you meet them.

#angkor #worldculturalheritage #apsaraauthority #maintenance #staff #2019CE #angkorpark #angkorwat #Apsara #architecture #bike #Cambodia #Empire #Hinduism #imperial #khmer #southeastasia #visitcambodia #visitsiemreap #worldculturalheritage #staff #angkorwattemple #moat

Night at the beach

The city of Kampong Som, or Sihanoukville, is the largest city on the coast of Cambodia.

It is most known for being the main ferry and speedboat port for the transport going to the vacation islands along the coast.

Kampong Som was for a long time the only deep-sea harbour in Cambodia, and as such a hub for export and import. A new, dedicated deep sea harbour to the northeast has taken over that task.

The last ten years, there has been a massive urban development of the city, and modern resorts, hotels and entertainment centre has taken the place from the older industrial and trade city centre.

This photo was taken an evening after dinner, on a roadtrip that would take me to Bokor mountains, Kampot and Kep the next few days.

A really nice look into another part of the variations of the Kingdom of Wonder.

#Krong #Preah #Sihanouk #kampongsom #kampong #som #ក្រុងកែប #sihanoukville #city #harbour #province #ferryport #Cambodia #speedboatport #islandadventure #peaceful #seafood #crab #nationalpark #beach #beachlife #resort #casino #hotels #kohrong #kohrongsamloem #Island #night #nightphoto #archive #2019CE

On my relations with cats. Khmer cats included

This Khmer kitten made contact from the under the hedge near my breakfast table. She was very careful, as this half-feral youngling had learnt from mommy cat.

But she was curious too. And I let her understand I was no threat.

By lunchtime she found the safest place in a demanding world of overenthusiastic children and aggressive street dogs, was to be sleeping on my shoulder.

I have a certain soft spot for cats. It is mutual.

#cat #catlover #catsonpixelfed #kitten #khmerkitten #siemreap #cambodia #visitsiemreap #safe #secure #gentlemanobligations #befriend #care #protect

Angkor travel style – most styles possible

Being on a bike, my style of exploring Angkor Park, meeting a completely different style.

Here at the West Gate of the Angkor Thom old capital, this beautiful Rolls Royce had brought their guests to visit. The kind elder couple had wanted to take this trip to Angkor for a long time. And they wanted a ride to make it very special.
I’d say they succeeded.

This gate is named Ta Kav gate in Khmer. I t is one of the four main entrances to Angkor Thom, out of the total of five gates int the capital built by the great king Jayavarman VII.
Angkor in Siem Reap, Cambodia, is truly a Kingdom of wonders. And some surprises.

There are several companies renting stylish and/or classic cars for people looking for that special travel experience in Siem Reap. Or planning a very special event. I have found several classic Mercedes, Bentleys, Italian Maseratis, and US Camaros and Mustangs. And Vipers.

#westgate #angkor #thom #cambodia #kingdomofwonder #bikingintheangkorwonderland
#rollsroyce #luxurycar #luxury #angkorthom #takavgate #jungle #khmer #art #architecture #elephants #selfie #jayavarmanvii #travelinstyle #travel #visitcambodia #visitsiemreap

An early cool morning at Angkor Wat - after the green season comes the chill one

Current reports of weather in Cambodia tells of cool nights with temperature around 20 degrees and sunny days around 30 degrees Centigrade.

This is not unusual at all. Every December and January there is a short, cold season, where temperatures in the north of the Kingdom of Wonder at night drops as low as 16 degrees C. And gets up to around 30 around lunch.

It gives the temple area a somewhat colder feel and colours than usual, too.

Like the 8th Wonder of the World, Angkor Wat.

Four seasons
Sometimes it feels like some areas have even more than two typical seasons. Meaning more than the hot and dry season, or the chill and green season. Like Siem Reap and the hills and mountains in northwest and northeast, you get some weeks between the hot and dry season and the cooler green season in May-June. The temperature drops, and some showers during the week prepares the green season in July.

And then the cooler season end of November to January.
It all come down to where you are staying. The variety in geography, natural conditions and climate means there are areas where there are only two seasons in Cambodia. Like in the South. Travel north to enjoy the variations of four.

https://drzinasia.wordpress.com/2023/12/30/freezing-in-cambodia/

#Angkor #ApsaraAuthority #bluesky #Cambodia #chillseason #climate #clothes #clothing #cold #dry #dryseason #Humid #krama #green #greenseason #scarf #spring #season #sun #travel #clothes #traveltheworld #traveltip #weather #weatherseason

Morning moment of peace and fishing in a pond

This little pond near Kror Sang Rolerng village is surrounded by rice paddocks on three sides. The local school and road to Wat Athvear is on the fourth.

Wat Athvear is both an active monastery and an old, small temple build in early Bayon style. Like Preah Enkosei on the north side of Siem Reap City, this temple from the Khmer Imperial era is one of the closest temples to Siem Reap city proper.

This is a nice spot to see a compact version of a temple between 2 main eras of Khmer imperial architecture. Normally it is very peaceful to visit Wat Athvear.

#citylife #countryside #biking #bikingintheangkorhinterland #watathvear #temple #fishing #sunrise #kingdomofwonder #Cambodia #siemreap #visitsiemreap #visitcambodia #Angkoroffthebeatentrack #AOTBT #KrorSangRolerngvillage #phnomkraom #phnomkrom #rice #ricefield #ricepaddock #2022CE

Pointing out a treasure at mysterious West Prasat Top

Exploring Angkor Park is best in the early hours of the day. The temperature is pleasant, and the light is playful and challenging.

This little temple is one of the hidden treasures near the beaten track. But atill several hundred meters off it, by bike or walk.

This morning the sun pointed out a spot to the northeast. I did not find gold, but the remain of an old guardian statue.
A good start for a peaceful visit and some reflections on this small spot in ancient times.

Small mystery
West Prasat Top is in the area where you find several larger temples like Ta Keo, Ta Nei and Ta Prohm. They are all on the east side of Siem Reap River, a couple of kilometres away from the Victory Gate and Angkor Thom. It is close to Don Mao, another small temple near one of the old East Baray docks.

But the current single tower is of post Bayon style. Meaning it was built sometimes after 1200. And the stones used to build this temple may have been reused from older structures.

This is a mysterious temple not only for confusions regarding its origin. Some of the information about this temple mixes it up with the West Top Temple in Angkor Thom.

West Prasat Top’s tower was built on a laterite platform. The pink-sandstone columns and lintels contain some decorations from the 1100s. There are visible remains of stairs leading up to the temple both to the east and west. Parts of an enclosing wall are still there, and more fragments of statues and other carvings.

The tower itself was overgrown when I visited, but recently excavations and renovations has cleared it and cleaned it, and West Prasat Top is pretty in pink today.

#angkor #AOTBT #offthebeatentrack #colours #green #buddhism #angkorthom #1200CE 🎶🎶 #bikingintheangwonderland 🎶🎶 #temple #Park #visitsiemreap #visitcambodia #kingdomofwonder #architecture #art #KhmerEmpire #imperial #greentourism #angkorwat #siemreap #southeastasia #worldculturalheritage

Just a morning moment by Srah Srang Baray

This is one of the spots in Siem Reap good for both sunrise and sunset moments. The sunrise spot here is the laterite docks in front of the Banteay Kdei temple. From the docks to the temple gate there is a short walk.

Prasat Banteay Kdei, translated as ‘A Citadel of Chambers', but also known as "Citadel of Monks' cells” was built around 1200 CE. It was built a Buddhist temple during the reign on Jayavarman VII, the great god King himself being a Buddhist.
It is quite similar in design as the nearby more famous Ta Prohm. But more compact and with a lower profile.

It is one of the temples in Angkor that has been more or less in constant use from its construction up until modern times.

Visit Banteay Kdei is a suitable activity after enjoying the sunrise, and maybe a snack, drink or even breakfast nearby.

Joy and love sunset
The sunset is both pretty and peaceful from the other side. This is a popular spot for locals to enjoy sunset. Very often young couples meet here.

Srah Srang and Banteay Kdei are in the T-crossing where the roads for the small circle and grand circle meets. These circles are the recommended first visitors’ routes for the core Angkor Temples. Along the reservoir and temple on its north and southwest side there are a lot of cafes, restaurants and street food stalls. Snacks and drinks are sold until past sunset.

Srah Srang Baray measures 700 by 350 meter. There is a platform in the centre of the Baray, meaning there might have been a larger temple there originally. Now there is a small tower with a spire showing that location.

Srah Srang was modified by Jayavarman VII around 1200 CE. Partly to make it able to compensate for the failing East Baray reservoir. And to support the design of Banteay Kdei.

#2019CE #ancient #angkor #angkorpark #architecture #art #biking #bluesky #buddhism #Cambodia #citylife #greentourism #khmer #banteaykdei #visitsiemreap #srahsrang #visitcambodia #worldculturalheritage

Sunset, rays and clouds over top rice

Sunsets are interesting phenomena. Like when the sun making out with a particular wild cloud before setting for the night.
Not exactly the calming mood sunsets from the clichés.
The soothing part here are the rice fields, full of green plants growing to be delicious rice.

Top notch rice
Cambodia is said to have several hundred, even thousands, types of rice. Often changing main type from one village to the next.

Rice from Cambodia is in the top tier every time rice experts taste where in the world the best rice is grown. Like they did last year.

The upside being in the Kingdom is not only the great produce and the delicious variations of food and dishes. The good thing is the fragrance and taste of Cambodian rice make for a quick meal or a snack. All you need is a bowl of freshly steamed local rice. And a drop or three of your favourite condiment sauce. Or sauces. And some fresh chilli.

It is chhnang ឆ្ងាញ់ៗ – delicious – all by itself!

https://www.irri.org/where-we-work/countries/cambodia

#sunset #sky #drama #bluesky #farmland #countryside #landscape #DomDek #art #buddhism #capital #citylife #countryside #daytrip #history #imperial #khmer #market #classickhmer #archivephoto #offthebeatentrack #angkor #siemreap #visitsiemreap #cambodia #rice #ricefield #dirttrack #backcountry #greentourism #wordclass #bestriceintheworld

“No food after midnight, no water, and stay away from bright light"

The monkeys at Phnom Bros temple are, like most temple monkeys throughout SEA, very used to humans. So much that they tend to be more domesticated than wild animals.

Cheeky troublemakers
These banana-crazed pig-tailed macaques are also quite the personalities, for good and bad. Keeping a distance, especially to their children, is highly recommended.

Unless you want trouble comparable to a mass attack of gremlins.

These monkeys are small, but they are strong and have sharp teeth. So, there is no use try picking a fight expecting to win.

Small gene pools
Another challenge for these monkeys is the few members in some of the local group. That is causing problems with inbreeding due to small gene pools.

First time I visited Phnom Bros there were some extreme examples of what happens when inbreeding Habsburger-style happens. To use a European example of what happens when science is lacking.

Three years later this inbreeding problem was mostly gone. And the monkey numbers were visibly larger. The Khmer caretakers of these animals are smarter than the Habsburgers. They make sure the monkeys are healthier, playing their part in these important cultural heritage sites.

I like that the monkeys also add some personality when visiting. Like the pose of Stripey here.

The Khmer female advantage
Phnom Bros and Phnom Srei are twin temples between Kampong Cham and Kampong Thom. They play an important role in the cultural history of Cambodia when it comes to engagements.

And why it is the man who must seek the lady and her family’s approval of engagement and marriage at the lady's home.

https://drzinasia.wordpress.com/2021/04/27/the-brother-and-sister-pagodas-2/

#2019CE #animalphotography #art #buddhism #Cambodia #countryside #kampongcham #kampongthom #khmerculture #khmerwomen #khmer #monkey #Pagoda #PhnomBros #PhnomSrei #visitCambodia #macaques #stripe #gremlin #Nikkor #Nikon #58mm #niftyfiftyeight

Liquid gold poured by a warm sunset

People loving scenic sunsets will enjoy every evening in Siem Reap, Cambodia, too. And they will have a new spot every afternoon. These spots are both inside and outside Angkor Arhcaeological Park. And when taking in the sunset experience, you can eat well and enjoy refreshments from stalls nearby.

This shot was taken near the West Baray, បារាយណ៍ខាងលិច, the gigantic manmade water reservoir from the middle of the Khmer Angkor imperial era. Nearly 900 years after its completion it still plays a vital role in water and flood management for the Angkor Archaeological Park, Siem Reap city and the surrounding farmland.

The West Baray are used by locals and visitors alike, for leisure, bathing, boating, fishing and visit to the West Mebon temple on the artificial island in the Baray.

Built for the ages
Measuring appx 7.8 times 2.1-kilometre, West Baray is not a dugout. It is built with human made earthen dikes, with a height of 11,9 meters. The maximum capacity is 53 million m³ water. These 53 billion litres equal 14 billion gallons of water in medieval measurements.

It was finished appx 1066 CE, the same year England was conquered by the Norse rulers of Normandy.

West Baray is 12 kilometres from Central Siem Reap, mostly on flat, well-maintained roads. Easy to get to by tuktuk or car, or a nice, brisk bike ride morning or afternoon.

https://drzinasia.wordpress.com/2024/09/01/golden-sunset-near-west-mebon/

#Angkor #ancient #art #architecture #sculpture #archive #worldculturalheritage #hinduism #khmer #empire #buddhism #visitcambodia #visitsiemreap #greentourism #biking #sunset #sunsettrip #sunsetexperience #Cambodia #Kampuchea #southeastasia #westmebon #sunrise #westbaray #sightseeing #Water #reservoir #khmer #archive #architecture #siemreap #hydraulics #city #empire #visitcambodia #takeonlyphotos #leaveonlyfootprints 🎶🎶 #bikingintheangkorwonderland 🎶🎶

The last Hindu temple built in the greatest Buddhist kings’ capital

That time a hidden temple revealed itself in green season livery. A misty morning at East Top Temple, Angkor Thom.
Prasat Top Khang Kaeut (Eastern Prasat Top), ប្រាសាទតុប ខាងកើត or Mangalartha temple is a small Hindu temple with several images of the God Vishnu. The temple is mostly unvisited and very peaceful.

Green temple
The vegetation has taken over most of the surroundings. That makes for some stunning photo opportunities. During or just after green season this gets extraordinary, with deep, green moss and fresh green all around this temple.

Top Khang Kaeut was built during the reign of Jayavarman VII, the great Buddhist god king, and was initiated in 1295CE. It was built in honour of Mangalartha, a son of a Hindu Brahmin priest/guru kept in high regard by the god king. That gives a glimpse into the religious tolerance and structures in the Khmer Empire.

Small temple, large importance
This is the last significant Hindu Temple built in the Khmer Empire before the major change to Buddhism as State religion. It was built during the era of the most powerful of the Buddhist kings of Angkor. It is the last temple built in the high Angkor time frame with a definitive known initiating date.

The “Hidden Temple”-name is because anyone who wants to explore this small temple and site needs to actively go looking for it. It is not on any of the ordinary visiting trips in Angkor Park. If not biking, the visitor needs to walk some hundred meters into the thick forest. Tuk Tuks or cars cannot drive there.

It is a nice 12 km ride from central Siem Reap.

https://drzinasia.wordpress.com/2024/05/15/the-secret-temple-in-angkor-thom/

#angkor #greenseason #AOTBT #offthebeatentrack #KhangKaeut #Mangalartha #vishnu #green #hinduism #jayavarmanvii #angkorthom #1295CE #hindu #temple #Park #ricefield #visitsiemreap #visitcambodia #ancient #architecture #Cambodia #KhmerEmpire #southeastasia #worldculturalheritage

Visit to an impressing off the main track citadel temple

Banteay Thom, the big (Thom) Citadel (Banteay), is 10 km north of Angkor Wat and 15 km out Siem Reap City limits. It is accessible by motorbike or a proper bike only.

This temple was built during the rule of Jayavarman VII "the Great" in early 1200s CE. There is one main entrance to the east, and a gate blockaded by debris to the west. Remains of a moat surrounds the old temple.

As a temple built by a mighty god king, it is of stately qualities including some very advanced arts and stone carvings.
After the anteroom and Gopuras, the main three towers are of impressive sizes. But in some need of restoration.

Being outside the main Angkor Park area, there is no need for an Angkor temple pass to visit. It is a truly quiet place with spots and details to study closely, without the queueing and crowds in the more famous temple from JVIIs reign.
Unfortunately, its solitude location means that the temple has been a target for looting into quite recent times.

Banteay Thom is surrounded by rice fields. Visiting during harvest season means meeting and surprise a lot of locals tending to their fields. Including the field where the young Khmer works, where you can listen to the latest in Khmer pop music.

That is not a bad thing. Kh-pop is patent, modern pop worth listen to. And makes a nice cultural contrast to the old Archaeological structure.

#angkor #siemreap #visitsiemreap #cambodia #offthebeatentrack #kingdomofwonder #angkortemples 🎶🎶 #bikingintheangkorwonderland 🎶🎶 #AOTBT #offthebeatentrack #Banteay #thom #Banteaythom #bike #rice #ricefield #dirttrack #backcountry #greentourism #Jayavarman #VII #JVII #J7 #Angkor #Thom #1250CE

The little village temple in 890s Hariharalaya

An early morning visit to the very old Prasat Trapeang Kaek ប្រាសាទត្រពាំងក្អែក with two oxen.

Prasat Trapeang Kaek, or O Ka-aek temple, is a single tower temple built in Hariharalaya. This was the second capital of Angkor Empire. O Ka-Aek was built 50 years before the capital was moved to the area near Angkor Thom.

O Ka-aek is part of the standalone temples in Roluos group. Probably it was built as a village temple. It is situated close to the old main dirt roads leading into the southern part of modern Siem Reap.

O Ka-aek is appx two kilometre west for Bakong Temple, the first large temple built in mountain style in the Khmer Empire.

Peace on the main old road
Since it is off track modern roads, O Ka-aek is rather peaceful and gives a chance to look closely on early architecture and art in the Angkor Empire. Even if the walls mostly have caved in, there are surprisingly well-kept stone art in the remaining structure. The north and south permanently closed gates have amazingly detailed carvings still.

The single tower temple is built in old Khmer Hindu style closely resemble development from the older Chenla style.
It is also on a nice green spot, meaning that the locals let animals graze around it. Two oxen were doing this on my visit, stopping only to study me study the O Ka-aek temple.

Getting here is easy by any vehicle or bike. It is a nice 18 km bike ride one way from Siem Reap. As the old road is gravel mostly, a mountain/terrain bike is advisable.

https://drzinasia.wordpress.com/2024/11/10/a-green-small-spot-at-prasat-trapeang-kaek/

#angkor #hariharalaya #roluosgroup #temple #okaaektemple #PrasatTrapeangKaek #TrapeangKaek #angkor #architecture #roluos #bikingintheangkorwonderland #bluesky #hinduism #890CE #offthebeatentrack #angkoroffthebeatentrack #AOTBT #Cambodia #ancientcapital #countryside #daytrip #greentourism #khmer #Pagoda #visitsiemreap #southeastasia #visitcambodia #worldculturalheritage

Partly removing them. They are getting better at incorporating the trees in the renovation. Latest effort at Ta Prohm impressed me by both opening up the temple remains and making the trees play a role in presenting the temple character and framing it.