One of the less well-known temples of the ancient Angkor complex, Banteay Srei offers an interesting contrast to the typical architecture found at Angkor. The pretty little temple is a short distance further from Siem Reap than most of the other temples, but is definitely worth the extra effort. While Angkor Wat is the most famous temple of South East Asia and Angkor Thom was made famous by the Tomb Raider movies, Banteay Srei has been somewhat overlooked. How is Banteay Srei different from the other Angkor temples? Unlike most of the Angkor structures, Benteay Srei was not built by a king, but by a courtier. Constructed in the 10th…

While Angkor Wat is the most famous of the ancient ruins at Angkor, there is also an enormous historical city. Featuring a royal palace, a Buddhist temple, the terrace of elephants, four impressive gateways and incredible bas-relief carvings, Angkor Thom is not to be missed. It was our first day exploring Angkor and we started with a big day. Angkor Thom is the largest of all the areas of the ancient Angkor sites, and in many ways, the most interesting. King Jayavarman VII built Angkor Thom in the late 1100s and parts of the area were developed, rather than constructed new, indicating the historic significance of the site. Angkor Thom…

One of the most famous temples in South East Asia, and arguably the world, Angkor Wat is best visited at sunrise. Inspire by the countless photos of the temple silhouetted against glowing skies, we opted to do just that and were not disappointed. The first few irritable moments of waking were quickly replaced with excitement as we stumbled into a taxi. The usually lively streets were quiet except for others making the same pre-dawn journey. The uneven surface of the bridge over Angkor Wat’s moat was the first challenge, especially as a ticketing official had just shone a torch directly in our faces. We hadn’t thought to bring a torch.…

“This good size for you” said the smiling lady in the market as I handed over a few dollars for a pair of elephant trousers (the standard loose cotton trousers of Asia). I had found a pair I liked the colour of, and with no changing room available thought they looked about right; they were meant to be loose, so an exact fit wasn’t necessary. It was only when I got back to the hotel and tried them on that I realised that, while I could get into them, they were only a good size for me if I didn’t move, eat or breathe. Ah! Well aware of the clothing…

The best known temple in Cambodia, and possibly all of south east Asia, Angkor Wat is an atmospheric and awe-inspiring structure to visit, but did you know it is only one of several enormous temple complexes in the Siem Reap area? Here are my tips on how to visit Angkor Wat. Plan your visit to the temples Some of the Angkor temples are better known than others, but there are over a dozen temples, and some of them are vast complexes that take a few hours to explore thoroughly. With a bit of research, you can decide which temples are your priorities and make sure you don’t miss ‘the best…