We’re here for the tapestries! I’ve always wanted to do an improv like that to talk my way into a German castle, but the opportunity has yet to present itself. I’ve got it in my back pocket, just in case.

This place could not be further from Germany… this is a temple a few hours from Siem Reap in Cambodia… it is quite deep in the jungle and it was quite a thrill to explore it!

Filed under the categories: Angkor Wat, Cambodia, Siem Reap, Travel

I heard the Amazing Race was just in Cambodia in Siem Reap, where Angkor Wat is. I haven’t seen it yet, although that is one of the reality shows I kinda like. I’d love to go on it someday… if you want to go one with me and have an inking for adventure, let me know!

Filed under the categories: Angkor Wat, Cambodia, Travel

It had been a good several hours of trekking through a muggy jungle before getting to this place. I’ve been to a lot of muggy places (even Houston), but nothing compared to this place. When explorers "re-discovered" this temple just a few centuries ago, it was completely covered in jungle. I can’t imagine how hard the work was to clear the jungle back from the temple….

After emerging from the trees, I sat here for about 30 mins to regain my wits, and of course took a few shots to help pass the time while my ipod streamed some Baraka soundtrack action.

This one also uses my textures from the newer tutorial in this section

Filed under the categories: Angkor Wat, Cambodia, Musings, Siem Reap, Travel

This is a temple near the main wat of Angkor in Siem Reap. The sunset was going crazy and then some Cambodian security came to clear people out of the temple. I stayed on the run (sorta), ducking in and out of these little tombs when they came around in their cute little uniforms. I would have been more intimidated if they looked like Cambodian military (I don’t want to mess with those guys), but they looked like hired help… Eventually everyone was gone but me and a few security guards, making the rounds… eventually the rouse was up and my Metal Geal Solid routine had run its course.

Filed under the categories: Angkor Wat, Cambodia, Siem Reap, Travel

This is a temple not too far from the main one at Angkor Wat. I noticed it was about 95 degrees while at the first temple, and a very cool 94 degrees while here. Also, there was a wonderful 1 MPH breeze that I detected for a few seconds.

As I changed lenses, I think I lost about a liter of sweat down into the inner chamber… that couldn’t have been good for the old Nikon.

Filed under the categories: Angkor Wat, Cambodia, Siem Reap, Travel

I could hardly figure out where to look first! I was happy to have a second pair of eyes there with my camera, so I could look at one thing while the lens and attached remote looked at something else! Every 10 minutes the clouds moved and the light changed, creating a different scene as I snapped away in bliss.

You can feel the morning humidity hanging on the air over the lagoon. It was a little after 5 in the morning at Angkor Wat, and a small Cambodian girl had brought me a little chair to sit down in by the water. She also brought coffee and condensed milk, refilling me every 20 minutes or so. I think the chair and the coffee was the the best $2 I ever spent!

Filed under the categories: Angkor Wat, Cambodia, Siem Reap, Travel

I arrived about 4:30 AM and was alone except for a few monks that were moving about, preparing for their morning offerings. The mist and humidity hung thick in the air, and you can really feel it in this shot. The whole scene was 200% dreamy, and the thick layer of fog made it impossible for my eyes or camera to focus on anything except for the impressionist vision itself.

Filed under the categories: Angkor Wat, Cambodia, Musings, Siem Reap, Travel

This was one of my favorite temples in Cambodia. The various restoration foundations left this temple largely untouched, and they allowed the jungle growth to continue winding its way into the ancient stones. I also liked that there was hardly anyone around, leaving me to explore it in relative peace.

Filed under the categories: Angkor Wat, Cambodia, Siem Reap, Travel

This was shot about an hour outside of Siem Reap in a remote temple that is not often visited. I was very happy to go and explore all the reliefs…. I could not recommend it more!

Filed under the categories: Angkor Wat, Cambodia, Siem Reap, Travel

At the top of this crumbling ruin at a temple several km from Angkor Wat was this overgrown hole. Hot and moist vegetation seeped down into the lower chamber.

Filed under the categories: Angkor Wat, Cambodia, Siem Reap, Travel

The apsaras sprung from the churned milk of the Rig Veda and entertain the gods and fallen heroes with their dancing winsome ways. Every apsara is in a slightly different pose as thousands of them stare outwards from the ruins in and around Angkor Wat. Each figure is almost a millennia old, and they still maintain the fine craftsmanship through the tropical growth and the jungle heat.

Filed under the categories: Angkor Wat, Cambodia, Siem Reap, Travel

I’ve never sweat as much in my life as I did while exploring the remote parts of Cambodia. This temple was about an hour by sketchy motorbike outside of Siem Reap. There was absolutely no shade anywhere, since the only parts of the temple that remained standing offered no cover at all!

Filed under the categories: Angkor Wat, Cambodia, Siem Reap, Travel