Siem Reap, Cambodia - Ta Prohm, Banteay Kdei

Friday morning, we headed to Ta Prohm. Brandon was all ready to go!



















































On our way, we passed some local people planting and plowing rice in the rice fields.

Local people hanging out in a tuk tuk.

We began our walk up the path to Ta Prohm. Brandon had taken to Mr. F.

We passed some local people playing music.

Ta Prohm was a Buddhist monastery built in the mid 12th to early 13th centuries. What makes Ta Prohm so different is that there is massive fig and silk cotton tree overgrowth. Ta Prohm is intentionally left partially unrestored, and this makes the complex feel very jungle-like. I thought that there was something peaceful and private about coming upon these ruins in the jungle.

Also, the temple Ta Prohm was used as a location in the movie Tomb Raider!

This is the tree where Steven's ITP group posed for a picture three years ago. Now the tree, as well as many other areas of Ta Prohm, have been roped off. Fortunate for the preservation of the ruins, although the area looked a little less natural with the ropes.

Can you find the hidden face?

There it is! A closer look at the face.

Brandon was getting back to his old self after being sick. I also think he was very relieved to have some shade and overcast weather. Much cooler!

Cambodian people are so beautiful.

After Ta Prohm, we stopped by Banteay Kdei. This complex is very similar to Ta Prohm, largely unrestored.

Baby bump! Mommy is 17 weeks along with #2!

Can I take this little fellow home?

There was a beautiful reservoir behind Banteay Kdei.

We headed back to the hotel where Steven had a nice massage while Brandon and I rested. We were much anticipating our afternoon trip to Angkor Wat!!!

Siem Reap, Cambodia - Angkor Thom and the Roluos Group

Siem Reap, Cambodia - Here we come!


We left our apartment super early in the morning on Thursday and made our way to Changi Airport. The two hour flight to Cambodia was fairly painless. Brandon woke up when we left the apartment, so by the time we were on the plane he was ready for a nap.

Since our flight was so early in the morning, we arrived at our hotel around 8 am. We stayed at the Borei Angkor Resort and Spa. www.boreiangkor.com/resort/

As we were traveling with a toddler, we hired a driver and tour guide to help us travel more comfortably while in Siem Reap. Our tour guide, Mr. F, was at the hotel to greet us when we arrived.

I was so tired from the traveling, but we decided to make the most of our time and head out for our first excursion.

Mr. Lucky drove us to Angkor Thom. Angkor Thom was a Buddhist temple complex built around the late 12th - early 13th century.


These are the Buddha statues that line the walkway to one of Angkor Thom's entrances.

The complex's main temple is the Bayon Temple. There are 54 towers, each with 4 large faces.

We climbed up through the Bayon Temple.

So elaborate. So stunning. Such detail.

The temple features a series of bas-reliefs. Some depict historical events and scenes from everyday life. Others depict mythological events.

We walked past the Terrace of the Elephants.

What a great start to our trip!

It was so hot outside, and we were exhausted. We headed back to the car for some a/c and back to the hotel for some naps.

In the afternoon, we decided to venture out again. A very busy first day in Cambodia!

We drove past some rice fields on our way to the Roluos Group temples.

The Ruluos Group is a set of three temple complexes from the late 9th century.

Lolei was the first of the Hindu temples we visited. It was built on an island, but now the surrounding reservoir is dry. Lolei is now a monastery.

Dragon fruit growing on a mango tree.

After Lolei, we went to Preah Ko. Preah Ko is the oldest of the three temple complexes in the Roluos Group.

Brandon rode the bull.

Lastly, we visited Bakong.

After our temple tours, we had our driver drop us off at the Old Market, the downtown area of bars, restaurants, and shops in Siem Reap.

We stopped for beer at The Temple Club bar. $.50 for a beer! Can't beat that! Even though Cambodia's national currency is the riel, we only used U.S. dollars while in Siem Reap. Very neat to us that they use our currency more there than their own.

Great first day! We took a tuk tuk ride back to the hotel for $3. Cheap!!!