Neak Pean

A 12th century Buddhist temple. Water once flow from the central pool into the four peripheral pools via ornamental spout

The Spout

East Mebon

East Mebon was built in the 10th century. It stands on what was an artificial island at the centre of the now dry East Boray reservoir

Cashew Nut

The cashew nut is actually the seed of  the kidney-shaped drupe that grows at the end of the cashew apple.

Pre Rup

Pre Rup means "Turning the Body" and refers to the traditional method of cremation in which a corpse's outline is traced in the cinders first in one direction then the other. This suggests the temple may once served as a royal crematorium.

 

Banteay Srei



Banteay Srei means the Citadel of Women. Dedicated to Shiva, this temple was founded in the 10th century by Hindu priests and unlike most monuments in Angkor, is not a royal temple. It is well preserved  and has the best carving among the Angkor temples.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is located about 32 km from Siem Reap and is considered far by Angkor standards bearing in mind the conditions of the roads  but certainly worth the trip. A must see in Angkor

 

Siem Reap

A charming old town with colonial buildings

 

Lunch in town before heading back to Angkor

 

Tonle Sap

Tonle Sap or "the Great Lake" is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. This lake is unique for two reasons. Its flow changes direction twice a year and  expands and shrinks dramatically with the season.From mid May to early October (the wet season) the level of the Mekong rises rapidly  causing the water  to flow into Tonle Sap. During this period the lake swells from 2500 sq km  to 13,000 sq km and its depth increases from 2.2 m to more than 10m. Around the start of October, as the water level in the Mekong begins to fall, the Tonle Sap river reverses its flow into the Mekong thus draining the lake.

 

Deep into the lake lies the floating village. This village moves according to the season

 

 

 

A floating "shopping centre" built for tourists