Memorial Pagoda, Choeung Ek Killing Field, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Visiting Cambodia’s Painful Past

I didn’t want to go. I skipped them the first time I visited Cambodia 8 years ago. I still didn’t want to go when Keith and I visited few months ago.  I knew it was going to be profoundly sad.  I already cried many tears just from reading books about them.  But Keith convinced me that we... Read more
Rubles in Beng Mealea, Cambodia

Beng Mealea: The Ultimate Indiana Jones Experience

The jungle temple of Beng Mealea was a perfect grand finale for our exploration of Cambodia’s Khmer temples.  It fed our desire for adventure and sense of discovery. If exploring Ta Phrom made us fantasize we were some kind of Indiana Jones, at Beng Mealea we played the part! Read more
Pyramid Temple-Prasat Thom, Koh Ker, Cambodia

Koh Ker: The Forgotten Capital of Khmer Empire

Most people are familiar with Khmer Empire’s capital of Angkor in the Siem Reap district in Cambodia, but not many have heard of Koh Ker, the once grand capital of the Khmer empire for a brief period between 928 to 944 AD. Left for a millennium in the jungle in the northern province of Cambodia close to the border of Thailand, Koh Ker is the most remote archeological site in the country. It was... Read more
Lingas on Riverberd, Kbal Spean, Cambodia

Kbal Spean: The River of Thousand Lingas

Two of our favorite adventures are hiking and exploring ancient sites. We got a dose of both when we explored Cambodia’s Kbal Spean, a unique archeological site of Angkorian era.  Although the hike was short, the site was astonishing. Kbal Spean is a river in the jungle of Kulen Hills northeast of the main Angkor area. Its riverbeds and surrounding rocks are sculpted with myriad of Hindu symbolisms dating back from the... Read more
Bantay Srei Temple, Angkor, Cambodia

Banteay Srei: The Crown Jewel of Angkor Craftmanship

We explored, Banteay Srei, the smallest major temple in Cambodia’s Angkor region.  We found that what it lacked in size, it made up in its outstanding artisanship. Its statues, bas relief, pediments and lintels are considered the finest in all Angkor temples. Built in 10th century (two centuries earlier than Angkor Wat), Banteay Srei’s beauty and remarkable... Read more
Giant Tree Roots in Ta Phrom Temple, Angkor, Cambodia

Ta Prohm Temple: Embraced by the Jungle

Keith and I explored an incredible Angkor temple that brought out the inner Lara Croft in me!   It was raw, it was mysterious, it was wild,  it transported us into another world and time. Read more
Angkor Thom South Gate, Cambodia

Angkor Thom: The Faces of South Gate & Bayon Temple

After watching the sunrise in Angkor Wat, we took a short tuk-tuk ride to the walled city of Angkor Thom. It was the capital city of Khmer empire established in the late 12th century by King Jayavarrman VII (endearingly nicknamed “King J” by our tuk-tuk driver).  This vast city is a home to cluster of splendid temple ruins, but... Read more
Monks in Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Monks Don’t Live in Angkor Wat

When we returned home from our recent trip in Cambodia, a lot of people we know were so eager to hear about our visit to Angkor Wat. We realized that so many of them are also fascinated with Angkor Wat and have it on top of their bucket list. However, we also realized that what... Read more
Kompong Phluk, Tonle Sap, Cambodia

Kompong Phluk: The Village of Stilted Houses and Flooded Forest

If you’re visiting Cambodia’s Angkor temples and crave for a change of scene, we discovered a village in Tonle  Sap Lake that may sooth your “templed out” soul.  No,  it’s not the heavily touristed and more accessible floating village of Chong Kneas but a more fascinating village about 25 kms further east. Located within the floodplains of... Read more