Inside Angkor Complex and Angkor Thom

I woke up early in my first morning in Siem Reap last December 2007. Siem Reap, Cambodia serves as a gateway to the temples and ruins of Angkor.


Breakfast is included in the room rate which is farely cheap and value for money.


View from outside the hotel. Right across the hotel is a Siem Reap River.


I rode a car going to Angkor Complex.


We stopped first at the gate of the complex to get a pass which is required and inspected in every attraction inside.


I went first to Angkor Thom city. Inside this gate are temples built on different times like Bayon, Baphuon, Phimeanakas, etc.


Bayon was the official temple of the Mahayana Buddhist King Jayavarman VII and is the main temple inside Angkor Thom.


Wall carvings


Ruins


Corridors


Apsaras


Bayon


Baphuon is a temple across Bayon. It was under renovation when I was there and the only accessible areas are the exteriors.


Elevated walkway of Baphuon


Phimeanakas is a Hindu temple, once served as the King's temple.


Water


Terrace of the Elephants is part of the walls of Angkor Thom used as a stage or grand stand when doing public ceremonies.


Terrace of the Leper King


I went out of Angkor Thom and visited other places in Angkor Complex. My next stop was the Ta Phrom (also known as Rajavihara), once served as a Mahayana Buddhist school and monastery.


The place is famous for large trees growing out of the ruins. It is a popular tourist destination and easy to distinguish among others for this is where scenes of Tomb Raider was shot.


After walking around a lot in the complex, I saw a small eatery serving coconuts. I'm uber thirsty by that time and decided to take a rest and chill.


Sras Srang, a baray, once served as a bathing pool for the royalties.


Across Sras Srang is Banteay Kdei, a Buddhist temple similar to Bayon.


For lunch, I ate in Viroth's restaurant a couple of blocks from my hotel.


Appetizer


For main course I had chicken curry with rice and vegetables.


For desert I had fruits and pastry.