20 Countries 2020: Cambodia – My Travel Notions

Phnom Penh

We crossed into Cambodia from Vietnam on Sunday spending about 10 hours on a relatively comfortable public coach bus. The on board staff, a young woman, took care of helping those of us who needed a visa, like myself, obtain one for $35 USD, before dropping our Intrepid Travel Cambodia tour group off at our hotel in Phnom Penh.

Cambodia doesn’t feel as hectic or as vibrant as Vietnam even though the capital city of Phnom Penh has a modern-looking downtown. I think I’m just missing the craziness of Vietnam.

Our first full day in the Phnom Penh took us to the the Tual Sleng Prison, Security Prison 21 or S21 interrogation and detention center and also to the Killing Fields where some one million Cambodians were murdered and dumped into mass graves by the Khmer Rouge regime during a four year period of 1975 to 1979.

It is estimated that 12,000 to 20,000 people were interrogated and tortured at the Tual Sleng Prison, Security Prison 21 or S21 by the Khmer Rouge. Policies that disregarded human life and produced repression and massacres on a massive scale was how the Khmer Rouge regime ruled over the Cambodian people for four years.

From the prison and other places in the country blindfolded, frightened prisoners would be brought by the truckload to the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek where they would be led to ditches and pits to be battered to death with iron bars, pickaxes, machetes and many other makeshift weapons. The high cost of ammunition made it cost prohibitive to use. Although there were several hundred other ‘killing fields’ in Cambodia, the largest was Choeung Ek, which serves as a monument to all those who died – and the very few who survived.

Yet the death toll from the executions, disease, starvation and overwork is estimated to be between 1.7 to three million people.

And just when you think the inhumanity of these kinds of barbaric acts could never be repeated again after the Nazis murdered six million Jews from 1941 to 1945, the Khmer Rouge came along. Never underestimate the power for evil to thrive.

Let me introduce you to Phnom Penh, the capital city of the 8th country on my #20countries2020 tour with #intrepidtravel. Next stop Battambang, Cambodia.

This is Norng Chan Phal and when he was 9 years old, he became one of four children survivors found at the Tual Sleng Prison, Security Prison 21 or S21 after the Khmer Rouge abandoned the capital and S-21.
Phal, at the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, is holding the book written about him and his family as he stands at the former torture center where he last saw his mother before she was taken to the Killing Fields at of Choeung Ek. Phal, along with his younger brother and two other children, were hiding under clothes behind the prison when they were found by Vietnamese soldiers. (March 2, 2020)

Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, once a school that became Security Prison 21 or S21, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where it is estimated that 12,000 to 20,000 people were interrogated and tortured here by the Khmer Rouge. Policies that disregarded human life and produced repression and massacres on a massive scale was how the Khmer Rouge regime ruled over the Cambodian people for four years. Prisoners from S21 were taken to the ‘killing fields’ at Choeung Ek, executed and buried in mass graves. (March 2, 2020)

There are 14 white anonymous graves of people found and buried here at what was once called S21 but is now the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, It is estimated that between 12,000 and 20,000 people were imprisoned here by the Khmer Rouge. (March 2, 2020)

Building A of the former S21 interrogation and torture center is now the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where it is estimated that 12,000 to 20,000 people were interrogated and tortured by the Khmer Rouge. This building holds the large cells in which the bodies of the last victims were discovered. (March 2, 2020)

Building B of the former S21 interrogation and torture center is now the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where it is estimated that 12,000 to 20,000 people were interrogated and tortured by the Khmer Rouge.
This area of the museum contains some photos of the victims. Whole and extended families, literally anyone who was suspected of doing anything from practicing a religion being against the Pol Pot Regime, could be tortured and killed. (March 2, 2020)

Building C of the former S21 interrogation and torture center is now the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, holds the rooms sub-divided into small cells for prisoners. (March 2, 2020)

The barbed wire Building C of the former S21 interrogation and torture center is now the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, holds the rooms sub-divided into small cells for prisoners. (March 2, 2020)

The subdivided cells of the former S21 interrogation and torture center is now the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where peasants, workers, intellectuals, farmers, basically innocent people were interrogated and tortured. (March 2, 2020)

The courtyard memorial to the Cambodian victims of the Khmer Rouge at the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum formerly the interrogation and torture center called S21 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. (March 2, 2020)

This large faded billboard sized photo photo at the former interrogation and torture center called S21 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia shows four children who survived at the center when they were found hiding under clothes behind the prison by Vietnamese soldiers. The second boy from the left is the then 9-year-old Norng Chan Phal and his brother to the right. (March 2, 2020)

The truck stop drawing at the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek illustrates trucks transporting frightened, blindfolded victims from Tuol Sleng Prison and other places in the country would be led to ditches and pits to be battered to death with iron bars, pickaxes, machetes and many other makeshift weapons. The high cost of ammunition made it cost prohibitive to use. Although there were several hundred other ‘killing fields’ in Cambodia, the largest was Choeung Ek, which serves as a monument to all those who died – and the very few who survived. (March 2, 2020)

The detention center drawing at the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek shows how frightened, blindfolded and silent prisoners were kept when too many prisoners were arriving to kill once they were removed from the trucks. Instead of being killed immediately the prisoners were brought here to wait to be bludgeoned to death. (March 2, 2020)

Walking paths are set up over mass burial grounds where some one million people are thought to have been murdered and buried together at the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek. (March 2, 2020)

The Killing Fields of Choeung Ek just outside of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. (March 2, 2020)

A loudspeaker was placed on this tree to mask the moaning sounds of the people being bludgeoned to death here at the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek just outside of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. (March 2, 2020)

The killing tree where young innocent babies were smashed to death here at the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek just outside of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. (March 2, 2020)

The Killing Fields of Choeung Ek just outside of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, is actually a mass grave site where almost 17,000 innocents were slaughtered mercilessly for no fault of their own. In the distance is the Buddhist memorial stupa of Choeung Ek. (March 2, 2020

Pieces of clothing from the murdered Cambodians at the hands of the Khmer Rouge can still be seen at the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek just outside of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. (March 2, 2020)

The Buddhist memorial stupa at the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek just outside of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, with its glass sides is comprised of multiple layers of human skulls.
The 5,000 or so skulls are a harsh reminder of the many innocent Cambodians executed a little more than 45 years ago. The skulls bear the physical marks of the trauma they suffered. (March 2, 2020)

The multiple layers of human skulls, the remains of innocent Cambodians executed by the Khmer Rouge are memorialized at this Buddhist memorial stupa at the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek just outside of Phnom Penh. The 5,000 or so skulls are a harsh reminder of the many innocent Cambodians executed a little more than 45 years ago. The skulls bear the physical marks of the trauma they suffered. (March 2, 2020)

The National Museum of Cambodia in Phnom Penh is Cambodia’s largest museum of cultural and archaeological history. It’s architectural design is described as an enlarged Cambodian temple. It took two-and-a-half years from the laying of the foundation stone in August 1917 for it to be completed in April 1920.
During the Khmer Rouge regime (from 1975 to 1979), all aspects of Cambodian life including the cultural realm were devastated. The Museum, along with the rest of Phnom Penh, was evacuated and abandoned. (March 2, 2020)

Inside the National Museum of Cambodia in Phnom Penh. (March 2, 2020)

The Reclining Vishnu from West Mebon, Angkor inside the National Museum of Cambodia in Phnom Penh is from the 11th century and made of Bronze. (March 2, 2020)

Love the all knowing smile and peaceful pose of this Maitreya 1930s copper statue at the National Museum of Cambodia in Phnom Penh. (March 2, 2020)

The courtyard of the National Museum of Cambodia in Phnom Penh. (March 2, 2020)

Me inside the courtyard of the National Museum of Cambodia in Phnom Penh. (March 2, 2020)

Ornate cement gate around a Buddhist Temple in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. (March 2, 2020)

A close-up of the ornate cement gate around a Buddhist Temple in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. (March 2, 2020)

Outdoor wall art by Kakada Yi in an alleyway along Street 240 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. (March 2, 2020)

Street life in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. (March 2, 2020)

Another ornate cement gate around a Buddhist Temple in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. (March 1, 2020)

A close-up of the ornate cement gate around a Buddhist Temple in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. (March 1, 2020)

Street life in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. (March 1, 2020)

The sun setting by the King Norodom Sihanouk Monument in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. It honors Sihanouk’s accomplishment of liberating the country on November 9, 1953 from French Protectorate in Cambodia. (March 1, 2020)

The King Norodom Sihanouk Monument in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. (March 1, 2020)

In a small pavilion is this statue of Madame or Lady Penh, whom the capital city of Phnom Penh is supposedly partly named after. Phnom Penh means ‘Penh’s Hill’. And across from this statue is Wat Phnom which means ‘Hill Temple’. (March 1, 2020)

A close-up of the statue of the wealthy Madam Penh whom the capital city of Phnom Penh in Cambodia is said to be partly named after. (March 1, 2020)

The Wat Phnom, built in 1327, is the tallest religious structure in Cambodia’s capital city of Phnom Penh and considered a sacred site. This Buddhist temple is also the namesake of the capital city. (March 1, 2020)

Night market in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where picnic-style outdoor seating is available for people eating from the various food stalls. (March 1, 2020)

Kampong Luong & Battambang

The bus ride along Cambodia’s bumpy Highway 5 is literally under construction from Phnom Penh to our final destination of the day, Battambang. The one saving grace from the day-long bus ride on Tuesday was the air conditioned bus so the penetrating heat and construction dirt could be kept at bay.

Along the way, before getting to Battambang, we stopped in Kampong Luong to walk along the colorful market and take a boat ride along the Tonlé Sap Lake to admire the floating village. This post covers our journey Tuesday with the stop in Kampong Luong and the very touristy, but nice, breezy ride along the railway tracks on a norm or Cambodia’s bamboo train after we arrived in Battambang. It also covers our Wednesday morning Rural Food and Cycle Tour through the countryside of Battambang with delicious treats, along with a very sore bottom, along the way.

Here’s Kampong Luong and Battambang. Next stop Siem Reap and one of the Wonders of the World, Angkor Wat.

The dusty and busy street market in Kampong Luong, Cambodia, where we stopped on Tuesday to stretch our legs from our very bumpy bus ride to Battambang. (March 3, 2020)

A woman selling drinks in these canisters in Kampong Luong, Cambodia, where we stopped on Tuesday to stretch our legs from our very bumpy bus ride to Battambang. (March 3, 2020)

A group photo with the woman selling drinks in a canister in Kampong Luong where we stopped to stretch our legs from our very bumpy bus ride to Battambang. From left: (March 3, 2020)

Kampong Luong, Cambodia, where we stopped on Tuesday to stretch our legs from our very bumpy bus ride to Battambang. (March 3, 2020)

Our group heading to our private boat to through the Kampong Luong large floating village on the Tonlé Sap Lake in Cambodia. (March 3, 2020)

Our Intrepid Travel group on the boat to cruise through the Kompong Luong large floating village on the Tonlé Sap Lake in Cambodia. The group from left includes: Brian, Carol, Timmy, Lisa, Sani, Steve, Brian, Chris, Ian, Isobel, Donna, Chanmol and me. (March 3, 2020)

The Kompong Luong large floating village on the Tonlé Sap Lake in Cambodia. (March 3, 2020)

Homes on the land by the Kompong Luong large floating village along the Tonlé Sap Lake in Cambodia. (March 3, 2020)

At a roundabout, as we entered Battambang, Cambodia, is this giant statue of a man black man holding a stick. His name is Ta Dumbong and the locals come to this roundabout to pray and give offerings of flowers and even food. (March 3, 2020)

A close-up of the giant statue of Ta Dumbong at a roundabout in Battambang, Cambodia. (March 3, 2020)

Views of Battambang, Cambodia, from the window of my 6th floor room at the Classy Hotel.(March 3, 2020)

The Bamboo train station vendors in Battambang, Cambodia, offering a bamboo platform ride along the train tracks of the countryside mainly for us tourists. The bamboo platform is placed over two sets of steel wheels and powered by what looks like a small motorcycle engine with a belt drive attached to the rear axle. The original bamboo trains were propelled by hand using poles. (March 3, 2020)

Some members of my Cambodia Intrepid Travel tour decided to try this very touristy ride along the train tracks in Battambang on the norry, a bamboo flatbed (ours was actually a wood slats flatbed) on removable set of two steel wheels. From left: Ian, Donna, Brian and me. (March 3, 2020)

Setting up the bamboo train for our group members to ride in the countryside of Battambang, Cambodia. (March 3, 2020)

Riding along the rails on bamboo trains was at one time was how farmers and villagers transported goods between Battambang and Phnom Penh in Cambodia. (March 3, 2020)

To return back to the Bamboo train station vendors in Battambang, Cambodia, the norry or bamboo platform is easily turned around so the motor is to the rear of the platform. (March 3, 2020)

Capping off this very full day was a meal at the home of a local family in Battambang, Cambodia. (March 3, 2020)

Me geared up and ready to ride around the countryside of Battambang, Cambodia, to see how village industry producers make their living. The bicycle tour covered a distance of about 14 miles or 24 kilometers, but I tuckered out at our last stop and took the tuk-tuk ride back to the hotel. Thanks Lisa, my travel mate on the Intrepid Travel Cambodia portion of the tour, for the photo. (March 4, 2020)

Our Intrepid Travel leader for Cambodia, Chanmol, and our bike tour guide Phalla with Soksabike giving our group instructions about the morning bike ride through the countryside villages of Battambang, Cambodia, and what we need to know about our bikes and staying safe during our ride. (March 4, 2020)

The 1st stop of our Rural Food and Cycle Tour through the countryside villages of Battambang, Cambodia, was at the home and workshop of rice paper makers. (March 4, 2020)

These two people, brother and sister ages 58 and 61, work 12 hours a day making anywhere from 2,500 to 3,000 rice papers for $5 to $7 USD a day in the workshop of their home in a countryside village in Battambang, Cambodia. (March 4, 2020)

This 61-year-old woman works 12 hours a day alongside her 58-year-old brother to produce enough rice paper, that hopefully gets sold to wholesale buyers, from their home’s workshop in the countryside village of Battambang, Cambodia. (March 4, 2020)

The 2nd stop of our Rural Food and Cycle Tour through the countryside villages of Battambang, Cambodia, was at the home and banana plantation for a variety of banana treats from chips to dried banana cake. (March 4, 2020)

The group digging in and enjoying the banana products like banana chips and dried banana cakes during our Rural Food and Cycle Tour through the Battambang countryside villages. (March 4, 2020)

Making the banana cake with thinly cut strips that are placed end to end on this board at this family run small banana plantation in a countryside village of Battambang, Cambodia. (March 4, 2020)

Our Rural Food and Cycle Tour guide Phalla with Soksabike in Battambang, Cambodia, showing and explain this many layered sun dried banana cake. (March 4, 2020)

The home of the banana plantation family of 12 in a countryside village of Battambang, Cambodia. Generations of families live together and everyone, except the oldest person and the little children in this family, work. (March 4, 2020)

The 3rd stop of our Rural Food and Cycle Tour through the countryside villages of Battambang, Cambodia, was at the home of rice wine makers. Our bike riding guide Phalla with Soksabike sharing with us the ingredients needed to make the paste used for producing rice wine, an alcoholic beverage fermented and distilled from rice. (March 4, 2020)

Some of the ingredients used in making rice wine includes the rice, yeast, garlic, ginger, chili, pepper and several other items all ground down to make a paste. (March 4, 2020)

The outdoor rice wine family distillery in the Battambang, Cambodia, countryside where after being cooked, the softened rice is is laid out to cool. Then the paste is mixed with the rice and placed in an air-tight container until the starches in the rice convert into sugars, resulting in a mildly alcoholic liquid. (March 4, 2020)

These outdoor stoves at the wine rice makers home are incredibly hot and these two work over these stoves daily in the already hot and humid weather of Cambodia here in the Battambang countryside. (March 4, 2020)

Yes, these are snakes in a jar of rice wine and although we were all welcomed to taste it, I decided to pass. So, there, I’m not quite as adventurous as people think I am, but others on the tour tried it and survived. I did have a very small taste of the regular and fruit flavored rice wine and both had a very strong alcohol content that was rather warm going down here in the countryside of Battambang, Cambodia. (March 4, 2020)

The 4th stop of our Rural Food and Cycle Tour through the countryside villages of Battambang was to quench our thirst with coconut water straight out of the coconut. Here I am with my fellow travelers, hot, sweaty and tired enjoying the natural electrolytes of coconut water which contains sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus. Coconut water is packed with potassium, more than found in one banana or 15 sport drinks. From left: Steve, Sani, Lisa, Donna, Brian, Barbara, Carol and me. (March 4, 2020)

After drinking the delicious coconut water, the coconut was cracked open so we could eat the white, fleshy part, the coconut meat, which isn’t very sweet in these young coconut. (March 4, 2020)

The 5th and final stop of our Rural Food and Cycle Tour through the Battambang countryside was to taste bamboo sticky rice and see how it’s made. (March 4, 2020)

Bamboo sticky rice is basically made with glutinous rice, sugars, coconut milk and some boiled black beans placed in a hollowed out bamboo tube and cooked over a charcoal stove. It is actually quite tasty. (March 4, 2020)

Our Rural Food and Cycle Tour guide Phalla with Soksabike in Battambang, Cambodia, demonstrating how to peel away the bamboo tube to access the sweet bamboo sticky rice. (March 4, 2020)

Bamboo sticky rice is basically rice with sugars, coconut milk and some black beans placed in a hollowed out bamboo tube and cooked over a charcoal stove. My tour group is definitely enjoying this sweet tasty dessert as our bike riding tour through the Battambang, Cambodia, countryside came to a close. (March 4, 2020

I was sweaty, tired and my butt hurt from the bicycle seat so for the last stretch was this comfy back to the hotel where I had a quick shower, changed my clothes and packed up my suitcase for our six hour bus drive, in thankfully an air conditioned van, to Siem Reap for three nights. (March 4, 2020)

Battambang, Cambodia, countryside. (March 4, 2020)

An Islamic mosque in a small Muslim community in the Battambang, Cambodia, countryside. (March 4, 2020)

Homes in the Battambang, Cambodia, countryside. (March 4, 2020)

Pottery for sale along the street of the Battambang, Cambodia, countryside. (March 4, 2020)

Battambang, Cambodia, residential and commercial street. (March 4, 2020)

The Ancient City of the Angkor; Present-day Siem Reap

Thursday had to be the hottest day ever in Cambodia, but it honestly did not matter because it was all about the temples of the Ancient City of Angkor, modern day Siem Reap. Angkor, the capital city of the Khmer Empire, was a mega city between 1010 and 1220. It is also home to one of the Wonders of the World, Angkor Wat.

Angkor Wat, along with the other Angkor temples, is part of the Angkor Archaeological Park of temples comprising the most significant Khmer architecture.

There’s so much about Angkor Wat, and rightly so, but we also spent the day visiting three other incredible Angor temples: Angkor Thom, Banteay Srei and Ta Prohm used as a location in the film Tomb Raider.

For now, the temples of ancient Angkor around the modern city of Siem Reap in Cambodia during my #20countries2020 with #intrepidtravel.

The moat of the ancient city of Angkor in Cambodia, present-day Siem Reap (March 5, 2020)

Angkor Wat

Getting to walk the grounds of Angkor Wat, a Buddhist temple complex, is considered the largest religious monument in the world. And as such is often incredibly crowded but on this day and because of the impact of coronavirus on tourism, our Intrepid Travel group pretty much had this World Wonder and UNESCO World Heritage Site to ourselves.

The temple was built by the Khmer King Suryavarman, who reigned 1113-c.1150, in the early 12th century in Angkor, the capital of the Khmer Empire as the state temple for the Empire. Originally constructed as a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu for the Khmer Empire, it was gradually transformed into a Buddhist temple towards the end of the 12th century.

The lengthy causeway, the towers, the courtyards and the carvings of the Khmer women rendered in stone, I was enthralled.

Me having made my way down the long causeway after the main west entrance of Angkor Wat, one of the Wonders of the World plus a UNESCO World Heritage Site, containing the magnificent remains of the Khmer civilization. Angkor Wat, a temple complex in Cambodia now in the modern city of Siem Reap, Cambodia, was built in the 12th century by King Suryavarman II who reigned 1113–c. 1150. (March 5, 2020)

Angkor Wat, originally constructed as a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu for the Khmer Empire, it was gradually transformed into a Buddhist temple towards the end of the 12th century. This richly decorated view with the moat shows three gates that face west which is considered unusual for the mainly Hindu-influenced Angkorian temples. (March 5, 2020)

A temporary pontoon bridge, leading to Angkor Wat, was built so that restoration could be made to the ancient stone bridge (to the left of the photo). Angkor Wat, considered one of the largest religious monuments ever constructed, is the main temple inside the Angkor Archaeological Park. (March 5, 2020)

The ancient stone bridge of Angkor Wat, the ancient Buddhist temple, Wonder of the World and UNESCO Heritage site, was unfortunately closed for restoration. (March 5, 2020)

The Angkor Wat temple while crossing the pontoon bridge, of the former ancient city of Angkor, now just outside the modern city of Siem Reap, Cambodia. It was originally constructed as a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu for the Khmer Empire, but it was gradually transformed into a Buddhist temple towards the end of the 12th century. (March 5, 2020)

A closer view of the Angkor Wat temple after crossing the pontoon bridge, of the former ancient city of Angkor, now just outside the modern city of Siem Reap, Cambodia. (March 5, 2020)

The west entrance of Angkor Wat with its three ruined towers off of the ancient sand stone bridge or causeway currently under restoration in the modern city of Siem Reap, Cambodia. (March 5, 2020)

A close-up of the west entrance of Angkor Wat with its three ruined towers off of the ancient sand stone bridge or causeway currently under restoration in the modern city of Siem Reap, Cambodia. (March 5, 2020)

A view of the closed-off ancient sand stone bridge or causeway under restoration at Angkor Wat, Cambodia. (March 5, 2020)

Entering the southern tower of Angkor Wat, the ancient Buddhist temple in Cambodia and by the modern city of Siem Reap. (March 5, 2020)

Taking another long walk on the causeway inside Angkor Wat, the most famous temple of the Angkor Archaeological Park that also contains the magnificent remains of other capitals of the Khmer Empire of the 9th to the 15th centuries. The name Angkor Wat translates to “temple city” in the Khmer language of the region and references the fact that it was built by Emperor Suryavarman II, who ruled the region from 1113 to 1150, as the state temple and political center of his empire. (March 5, 2020)

Inside a central courtyard of the Angkor Wat temple constructed in the early 12th century (between 1113 and 1150) is considered to be the largest religious monument in the world. (March 5, 2020)

I absolutely fell in love with these intricately carved women characterized as “celestial nymphs” or demi-goddesses called “devatas,” immortalized in sandstone between 1116-1150 AD inside the walls of the ancient temple of Angkor Wat. The true identity of these 1800 or so carved women and meaning of them are not known even the name devata was applied long after the Angkor civilization fell. (March 5, 2020)

Ancient text on a corridor column inside the great ancient temple of Angkor Wat, near the modern city of Siem Reap, Cambodia. (March 5, 2020)

A close-up of a carving on a column inside the ancient city temple complex of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. (March 5, 2020)

A beautiful carved corridor inside the ancient city temple complex of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. (March 5, 2020)

A corridor leading to an ancient staircase inside the ancient city temple complex of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. (March 5, 2020)

Towers inside the ancient city temple complex of Angkor Wat in Cambodia.(March 5, 2020)

The Khmer women rendered in stone at the ancient city of Angkor at the Angkor Wat temple complex were so beautifully done that if I had the time, I would have stopped at each one to pay my respects because they were all so enchantingly beautiful. And, oddly enough a number of the women had carved features favoring African women. (March 5, 2020)

A close-up of the Khmer women rendered in stone at the ancient city of Angkor, inside the temple of Angkor Wat, by the modern city of Siem Reap in Cambodia. And, as I mentioned oddly a number of the women have features favoring African women. (March 5, 2020)

More of the Khmer women rendered in stone at the ancient temple of Angkor Wat in the ancient city of Angkor in Cambodia. (March 5, 2020)

The towers and stairs of the ancient city temple complex of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. (March 5, 2020)

These stairs lead to the Central Sanctuary of Angkor Wat, the ancient Buddhist temple in Cambodia. Normally, I was told there’s a long line of people waiting to hike up these slanted stairs but as you can see, there’s no one waiting. But in order to go up, you’re required to have your shoulders, chest and knees covered and you have to remove your hat. (March 5, 2020)

The view below from a top the staircase at the Central Sanctuary of the ancient temple complex of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. (March 5, 2020)

Views from a top the Central Sanctuary of the ancient temple complex of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. (March 5, 2020)

Inside the Central Sanctuary of the ancient temple of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. (March 5, 2020)

The Central Sanctuary Tower of Angkor Wat, the ancient Buddhist Temple in Cambodia, is the summit of the Pyramid representing mythycal Mount Meru, symbolizing the center of the world and the axis of the universe. (March 5, 2020)

Me inside the Central Sanctuary of the ancient temple of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. (March 5, 2020)

The Buddha inside this sacred inner sanctum at the Central Sanctuary of Angkor Wat, the ancient Buddhist Temple in Cambodia, is a place where people can make offers and light candles. (March 5, 2020)

More views from a top the Central Sanctuary of the ancient temple of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. (March 5, 2020)

More of the beautiful Khmer women rendered in stone in the Central Sanctuary of the ancient temple of Angkor Wat by the modern city of Siem Reap in Cambodia.(March 5, 2020)

I don’t normally pose for these kinds of tourist photos but these young people looked adorable dressed in their traditional Khmer dress that I had to stop for a photo after I descended from the top of the Central Sanctuary at the ancient temple of Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
I really got a kick out of doing this. For an ancient site that is normally quite crowded, there was literally no one there. And, these young people charge $1 USD for a photo. It was worth $1 and so much more. Don’t these young women remind of the gorgeous women in the various carvings? (March 5, 2020)

Okay, just one more adorable photo with these young people in the traditional Khmer dress at the ancient temple of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. (March 5, 2020)

The Outer Gallery of the ancient temple of Angkor Wat in Cambodia has a gorgeous wall of bas-relief carvings on the wall inside its corridor. (March 5, 2020)

The corridor of the Outer Gallery of the ancient temple complex of Angkor Wat in Cambodia with its gorgeous wall of bas-relief carvings. (March 5, 2020)

The bas-relief carvings inside the corridor of the Outer Gallery of the ancient temple complex of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. (March 5, 2020)

The bas-relief carving of the Churning of the Sea of Milk on the wall inside the corridor of the Outer Gallery of the ancient temple of Angkor Wat in Cambodia shows Vishnu in the centre, his turtle Avatar Kurma below, asuras and devas to left and right, and apsaras and Indra above. (March 5, 2020)

Exiting the east side of the ancient Buddhist temple complex of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. (March 5, 2020)

One more view while exiting the East side of the ancient Buddhist temple complex of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. (March 5, 2020)

Another structure just outside the east side exit of the ancient Buddhist temple complex of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. (March 5, 2020)

Another view of the moat, just outside the East exit, that surrounds the ancient temple of Angkor Wat one of several temples in the Angkor Archaeological Park area near the modern city of Siem Reap in Cambodia. (March 5, 2020)

Angkor Thom

Angkor Thom was built in the late 12th or early 13th century as the official state temple of the Mahayana Buddhist King Jayavarman VII. Angkor Thom is one of several temples in the Angkor Archaeological Park area near the modern city of Siem Reap in Cambodia. Its 200 gargantuan faces along its gothic towers gave Angkor Thom a distinct feel.

South Gate bridge entrance of Angkor Thom with its statues of gods and demons. This is the side of the demons. (March 5, 2020)

South gate of Angkor Thom along with a bridge of statues of gods and demons. These are the demons. (March 5, 2020)

South gate of Angkor Thom along with a bridge of statues of gods and demons. These are the gods. (March 5, 2020)

The wonderful introduction to the ancient Buddhist temple of Angkor Thom is this restored South Gate. The figures on the left, exhibiting serene expression, are the gods, while those on the right, with grimaced, fierce-looking heads, are the asuras. (March 5, 2020)

The South Gate entrance of the Angkor Thom temple of the ancient city of Angkor in Cambodia. (March 5, 2020)

Me by the towers of Angkor Thom which was built in the late 12th or early 13th century as the official state temple of the Mahayana Buddhist King Jayavarman VII. Angkor Thom is one of several temples in the Angkor Archaeological Park area near the modern city of Siem Reap in Cambodia. (March 5, 2020)

The gothic towers of Angkor Thom are decorated with more than 200 gargantuan faces here at the Angkor Archaeological Park area near the modern city of Siem Reap in Cambodia. (March 5, 2020)

A Buddhat inside an inner temple of Angkor Thom at the Angkor Archaeological Park area near the modern city of Siem Reap in Cambodia. (March 5, 2020)

Our guide for some of the ancient Angkor city temples, Rath, who fondly goes by Johnny Temple, decided to get creative and took this group shot inside an inner temple of Angkor Thom at the Angkor Archaeological Park area near the modern city of Siem Reap in Cambodia. From left: Tommy, Ian, Isabel, Lisa, Brian, me, Chris, Sani, Carol, Lisa, Steve, Barbara and Brian. (March 5, 2020)

The smiling and many gargantuan faces carved out of the Angkor Thom towers here at the Angkor Archaeological Park area near the modern city of Siem Reap in Cambodia. (March 5, 2020)

Another Johnny Temple, our guide for the ancient city of Angkor temples, photos ideas with me nose to nose with one of the 200 or more gargantuan faces carved out of the Angkor Thom towers here at the Angkor Archaeological Park area near the modern city of Siem Reap in Cambodia. (March 5, 2020)

Not exactly nose to nose like the other one, but this is a fuller view of the gargantuan faces carved out of the Angkor Thom towers here at the Angkor Archaeological Park area near the modern city of Siem Reap in Cambodia. (March 5, 2020)

Angkor Thom temple of the Angkor Archaeological Park area near the modern city of Siem Reap in Cambodia. (March 5, 2020)

The beautifully carved dancing devatas with what looks like bullet holes at the Angkor Thom temple of the Angkor Archaeological Park area near the modern city of Siem Reap in Cambodia. (March 5, 2020)

A close-up of the beautifully carved dancing devatas with what looks like bullet holes at the Angkor Thom temple of the Angkor Archaeological Park area near the modern city of Siem Reap in Cambodia. (March 5, 2020)

Rath, better known as Johnny Temple, our Angkor temple guide getting in on my selfie shot at the Angkor Thom temple at the Angkor Archaeological Park area near the modern city of Siem Reap in Cambodia. (March 5, 2020)

Banteay Srei Temple

The 10th century Banteay Srei temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva is built largely of red sandstone, a medium that lends itself to the elaborate decorative wall carvings at the Angkor Archaeological Park area near the modern city of Siem Reap in Cambodia. The buildings are smaller in scale, unusual in comparison to the other temples of ancient Angkor.

The elaborate red sandstone wall carving of the Banteay Srei temple at the Angkor Archaeological Park area near the modern city of Siem Reap in Cambodia. (March 5, 2020)

A close-up of the intricately carved red sandstone wall carving of the Banteay Srei temple at the Angkor Archaeological Park area near the modern city of Siem Reap. (March 5, 2020)

This is the extent of the crowds at a temple, in this case Banteay Srei of ancient Angkor outside the modern city of Siem Reap in Cambodia. (March 5, 2020)

The intricate relief carving of red colored sandstone of Banteay Srei temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva and part of the ancient city of Angkor’s temples, outside the modern city of Siem Reap, in Cambodia. (March 5, 2020)

Me at the Banteay Srei temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva and part of the ancient city of Angkor’s temples in Cambodia. (March 5, 2020)

A close-up of the intricate relief carvings of the red colored sandstone of Banteay Srei temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva and part of the ancient city of Angkor’s temples, outside the modern city of Siem Reap, in Cambodia. (March 5, 2020)

Exiting through the outdoor gift shop of the Banteay Srei temple where vendors wait outside for the few tourists. (March 5, 2020)

Members of my Intrepid Travel group as we make our way out of the Banteay Srei temple through the outdoor gift shops where visitors are few due to the coronavirus scare. (March 5, 2020)

Ta Prohm Temple (location for the movie Tomb Raider)

The temple of Ta Prohm was built at the height of the Khmer Empire by Jayavarman VII as a Buddhist monastery and center of learning. Ta Proh built in the late 12th and early 13centuries in the richly decorative Khmer style of Bayon was originally called Rajavihara.

Each of the temples of the Ancient City of Angkor have their own atmospheric feel to them but Ta Prohm, with its combination of trees growing out of the ruins and the encroaching jungle, is mesmerizing. The fig tree roods wind through various structures creating this magical, yet cohesive, merger of nature and architecture enhancing its mystical feel.This impressive jungle/ruin take over obviously made it an engaging and adventurous site for the 2001 action adventure movie movie Lara Croft: Tomb Raider based on a video game series featuring the character Lara Croft, played by American actress Angelina Jolie.

I’m hot, I’m sweating, I’m tired but I had see the temple of Ta Prohm of the ancient city of Angkor and which was used as a location in the film Tomb Raider. Each of the temples have their own atmospheric feel to them, but Ta Prohm in the ancient city of Angkor in Cambia, with its combination of trees growing out of the ruins and the encroaching jungle enhances its mystical feel. (March 5, 2020)

The mystical temple of Ta Prohm of the ancient city of Angkor in Cambodia. (March 5, 2020)

My Intrepid Travel group making our way through the mystical temple of Ta Prohm of the ancient city of Angkor in Cambodia and we are practically by ourselves. (March 5, 2020)

The ruins of the temple of Ta Prohm the former Buddhist monastery and university in the ancient city of Angkor in Cambodia. (March 5, 2020)

Ta Prohm, once home to hundreds of monks, is strangled by fig trees and devoured by its ruins, make it one of the more atmospheric temples of the ancient city of Angkor in Cambodia. (March 5, 2020)

The bas-relief carvings along the doorway of Ta Prohm in the ancient city of Angkor and part of the Angkor Archaeological Park area near the modern city of Siem Reap in Cambodia. (March 5, 2020)

The trees growing out of the ruins are the most distinctive feature of Ta Prohm in the ancient city of Angkor in Cambodia. (March 5, 2020)

The mystical ruins of Ta Prohm a former Buddhist monastery and university in the ancient city of Angkor and part of the Angkor Archaeological Park area near the modern city of Siem Reap in Cambodia. A beautiful end to a very full day of ancient Angkor temple hopping in Cambodia’s heat. (March 5, 2020)

Ziplining

I have no idea why I decided to zipline through the Angkor Archaeological Park jungle in Siem Reap, Cambodia, but I’m so glad I did. And oddly enough, at no point was I scared, uncomfortable or had a desire to turn back. With the threat of the coronavirus looming over so many and the concerns and panic we all seem to have, I just wanted to stay in the present moment and enjoy an opportunity to do something I’ve never done before.

Friday, I ziplined and Saturday I left Cambodia to start another tour back in Bangkok, Thailand. Seems I’m back to the beginning, but more of that later as I take to the trees of Angkor in Cambodia, the 8th country of my #20countries2020 tour with #intrepidtravel.

Getting geared up for my first ever zipline adventure during the Angkor zipline tour in the forest of the Angkor Archaeological Park near Siem Reap, Cambodia. Thank you Lisa for the photo. (March 6, 2020)

All geared up and ready to go at Anchor Zipline, a zip line tour in Siem Reap, Cambodia, located in the forest of Angkor Archaeological Park. Before even getting geared up, I had to read and sign a document understanding the safety policies and the four main safety rules: Never ever clip or up clip yourself; Don’t run or jump out of the platform; Don’t touch the cable while doing zip line; and Please leave your feet up one-two when you get the feet-up signal. (March 6, 2020)

After getting geared up and told about the safety rules, a group of three young men demonstrated for us, on the ground, what we should be doing with our hands and feet before, during and after our ‘flight’. For a novice like me, these safety instructions were paramount to me having a great experience, which I did. (March 6, 2020)

The first part required taking the steps up to a platform, where our harnesses were clipped to safety gear attached to the platform during the Angkor zipline tour in the forest of the Angkor Archaeological Park near Siem Reap, Cambodia. (March 6, 2020)

A walk on the wild side over a bridge to the next platform, for my first Zipline flight, all while my harness is being clipped to protective gear during the Angkor zipline tour in the forest of the Angkor Archaeological Park near Siem Reap, Cambodia. (March 6, 2020)

Getting ready to make my first flying lesson during the Angkor zipline tour in the forest of the Angkor Archaeological Park near Siem Reap, Cambodia. (March 6, 2020)

Thank you Lisa, one of my Intrepid Travel Cambodia tour mates, for taking this video of my first and rather fabulous zipline experience during the Angkor zipline tour in the forest of the Angkor Archaeological Park near Siem Reap, Cambodia. (March 6, 2020)

That’s Lisa making her way to the last and longest flight, at least for me, during the Angkor zipline tour in the forest of the Angkor Archaeological Park near Siem Reap, Cambodia. (March 6, 2020)

And this, the longest of my zipline flights during the Angkor zipline tour in the forest of the Angkor Archaeological Park near Siem Reap, Cambodia. Thank you again Lisa for filming this! (March 6, 2020)