July 16 - More Angkor Temples

Drive to Banteay Srey

Cambodian country side –As we drove the approximate one hour to Banteay Srey, we drove through the Cambodian country side. Jungle at one time, the land is now divided into small rice fields, surrounded by earth dams. Though it is the rainy season, Cambodia is currently experiencing a drought. The fields need to be wet to plant rice, so most of the fields are not planted. Around the fields are sugar palm trees and brush. Water buffalo and cattle graze in fields.






Cambodian village – On the drive, we came to a village along the road. Most houses are one or two rooms and sit on stilts, one story up. Most of the houses had thatched roofs and outer walls, made of palm branches in a bamboo frame. The houses had windows without glass or screens. Often the windows and porch had a tarp covering it to protect from the sun and rain. Under the houses were motor bikes, hammocks, etc. The yard was dirt. Most houses had a dog, chickens and a cow or two. Some had pigs.

Banteay Samre

Break and lunch

Prasat Kravan

Ta Prohm

Ta Keo

Toumanoun Temple

Victory Gate



Balloon ride












Sunset at Phnom Bakeng – This temple is built on a hill. There are three ways to get up the hill. You could climb up a straight up stone path with stairs in some places, or ride an elephant up or walk the elephant path. Alan chose the stone path and Joyce chose to walk the elephant path. Sharon wanted to ride the elephant up, but elephant rides were for two people, so she walked with Joyce and Chanthla.

Rain storm

Drying out