Cambodia: Pre Rup Temple

These pictures were taken in Pre Rup, a typical mountain-like temple. It is traditionally believed to be a funerary temple. Only on that particular day in our 5 days stay in Siem Reap that had a clear blue sky. We made some considerable shots here, especially on the centre prasat (pyramid temple).

Pre Rup: A girl awaits her customers to buy some souvenirs. I don't remember what she was selling, postcard I guess. Something worth buying, only $1 for 10 pieces of postcards.

Pre Rup: The towers are made of bricks. The central prasat stands on a two-tier planform, with axial stairways guarded by lions.

Cambodia: Tonle Sap Lake

Tonle Sap Lake – an eye opener visit. It’s one of the largest fresh water floodplain lake in the world. The size of the lake will increase in wet season and decrease in dry season. This annual flood cycle creates an incredibly productive environment for both wildlife and people. There are 170 floating villages on the lake itself with a population of 3.5 million. Fishing is the dominant activity of all the villagers. Over 70% of the protein consumed throughout Cambodia is estimated to come from fish from the Tonle Sap. The road to Tonle Sap is some paved, but mostly rough and extremely dusty. There is no electricity in the village. Naked or half-naked children running everywhere in the village.

Fishing is the most common job here for the villagers. But there are quite a number of “entrepreneurs” too, mostly seen were women and children. They sell fruits, drinks, tit-bits and souvenirs on their small boats. They are skillful and fearless rowing a boat in the middle of such a big lake. Some of them are using speed boat to easily approach and jump onto the tourist boats. Items are sold at $1 each.

A self-potrait of mine - Photo courtesy from Kok Sheng. As we were too immersed in photographing the scenaries of the places we stepped on, we did not make many photo of ourself. Like what Kok Sheng grumbled, it maybe more than a curse than a blessing to be entrusted as the photograher in many of his club events and activities. Your face simply appear no where when you review the "harvest" after the events.

We arrived at one of the villages around 6.30PM and “landed” on a floating souvenir shop. We did not buy much any souvenir on our first day there. This shop is 3 stories high, on top of it is an open space where tourists can relax and watch the sun set from the lake. It’s was a windy evening and when the clouds were blew off by the strong wind, and when the suns shines through the clouds it gives a spectacular view on the sky which is rarely seen. We call this the “Jesus Light”. I learnt this term from brother Albert during the Bukit Janing trip.

On our departure from the lake, the sky gradually turned red and the sun was slowly “sinking” into the sea. This is the first and last most beautiful sun set scenery we had throughout our stay in Siem Reap.

Cambodia: Walk to flourished Civilisation

While wandering inside the Angkor temple, we met two friendly Cambodia monks few times in such a large temple. One of them is English speaking, by the name of Lorn Bunthouen. We chatted a while, and photographed with them and they also tell us what are the “must-see” temples in Angkor from the map. He keeps abreast with modern technology too, asking me to send him the photos we took to his email account upon my return.



This is another picture taken on Day 3. The local children were sharing their breakfast by the lake side. A kid was attracted by the beauty of the Angkor temple and making few eye connections to it. I believe we are somehow connected, for that reason we were there to witness this once flourished and collapsed empire.


At dawn on day 3, we woke up and left hotel as early as 5.30AM for sunrise in Angkor Wat. As warned by our travel coach, we shouldn’t be expecting high chances to see sunrise in May - the start of raining season. So, we proceed with the least hope, should there is any sun rise by chance, we are so much pampered and lucky then. Although we did not get to see the sun rise eventually, we made the best use of our effort to get up early to enjoy the morning breeze by the lake side in front of the temple. Many other people were enjoying their breakfast and hot coffee, posing for the camera, waiting for miracle and some just proceed with the next item in their itinerary.


These loving dancer couples are taking rest in the Bayon temple. The lady dancer is giving the man dancer a massage after their performance. A traditional Apsara dance show is an absolute must for the visitor to Cambodia.

Photo courtesy from Kok Sheng: Me and the "spoiled" guy Jason posing by the window of Angkor Wat temple. Black & Whilte gives a different feel.

Angkor Wat at night. The temple is open at night for tourist to make night visit at USD 25 on top on the day’s pass you have purchased. We were told that it is mainly visited by the Korean tourists for the night session. The lightened up Angkor Wat at night gives an entirely different feel to the beholders. It’s just like the legendary Apsara – the supernatural beings who appear as young women of great beauty and elegance who are proficient in the art of dancing and able to change their shapes at will.

Children selling souvenirs everywhere. Surprisingly, these children command good simple conversational English although do not formally go to school. Some can even speak few foreign languages, amazing!

Ta Prohm – another must see temple in the Angkor. It is only partially cleared of jungle overgrowth and intentionally left partially unrestored. Massive fig and silk-cotton trees grow from the temple towers and corridors giving some of the best “Tree in Temple” photo opportunity. Here, we witnessed the power of the nature.


I don’t recall the temple name where I had this child picture taken. I guess it’s Banteay Kdei. It’s the next temple we paid our visit to after the jungle temple, Ta Phrom. She is kind and generous enough for me to photograph her. I like her for being natural in front of the camera. No camera shy showed.


I particularly like this picture; it gives the feel of having a natural photo framing. The girl looked outside the window with anxiety as if searching for some answers. But the King Jayavarma resembled Buddha face give a great contrast, with calm and ever smiling face… “Look not from outside, the answer always lies within.”


On our way to Tonle Sap(The Great Lake), many boats were grounded on the river bed. Raining season just started and the water has not reached the sufficient level to provide a smooth travel along the river. Pictured our hired transportation coach cum guide helping t0 move the stucked boat.

I would like give a credit here to our coach, Sotheara (or Theara). He is a nice and honest man. He is well versed in English, explaining every single detail to your questions. Our trip wouldn’t be nice and pleasant without his guide. This man supported himself to complete a university degree in English Literature; volunteering teaching the local children in order to help them for better future. He has been urging donor for some simple stationary like pencil, eraser and sharpener to the students. We will buy some for the students should we have friends visiting Siem Reap. You may contact me if you would like to engage his service touring you around the Angkorian temples.

The Apsara – Also known as the heavenly nymphs are carved at the Angkor Thom and Angkor Wat’s main temple complex, decorating or safe guarding the temples. We watched the traditional Apsara dancing in the Jasmine Angkor Restaurant on our first day in Siem Reap. We did not know what “Apsara” meant, and often mispronounced it as “Aspara”. Only when we have visited few temples and saw the real carved image of them, we got the pronunciation correct.