Banteay Kdei I think this is the last Cambodia memory for now. Banteay Kdei is a small template in the giant complex of main temples. It isn't restored yet, but unlike other unrestored temples like Ta Prohm, it's not over-run with tourists.
Kep Fishermen Back when I visited Kep in 2007 it was sitll a bit of a sleepy backwater just beginning to be rediscovered as a tourist destination. Since then there was talk of a massive casino development on the little island off the beach here.
Kbal Spean Kbal Spean is a stream in the mountains above the ancient city of Angkor which was once held sacred by the Khmer. The place was nicknamed “the River of 1,000 Lingas” for the phalic shapes chiseled into the stone bed of the stream.
Beng Melea The Angkor era template of Beng Melea is located 60 kilometers from the main complex near Seam Reap. It was barely cleared when I visited it in 2007. The way the tree roots are wrapped around the stones is almost sensuous.
Off the Beaten Track Destinations in Southeast Asia While pundits continue to argue about what the extended travel bans mean in the long term for tourism, I believe it's safe to say that most destinations that were popular before the pandemic will, eventually, be popular again. That may leave some of you in a bit of a quandry: Do you really want to go where there are a lot of people, and therefore a higher risk?
Colonial Architecture of Southeast Asia As a one-time architect, I have a deep interest in the built environment. While the colonial era — some might say “occupation” — when European powers held sway over much of Southeast Asia had a lot of negative aspects, the wedding-cake confections of the buildings it left behind are still fascinating, where they still exist.
The Top Five Ancient Temples of Southeast Asia In reviewing my 20 years worth of content and photos for the rebuild of this site, I thought it might be a good idea to summarize my favorites in a single article, to give you some travel inspiration. In this first list, I've selected some of the most memorable historic sites.
Angkor Thom The Bayon Temple of Angkor Thom in Cambodia. Angkor Thom is a large moated royal city, measuring three kilometers on a side. The complex was actually the last capital of the ancient Khmer kingdom, built by the great King Jayavarman VII around the turn of the 13th century.
Angkor Wat Temple The eastern fascade of Angkor Wat temple. The "mother of all temples" - Angkor Wat. No photograph can quite capture the immensity of this monument (which may be a tomb as well as a temple.) Some of the apparent grandeur of the complex is due to clever perspective.
Angkor Wat Temples There are more than 40 accessible sites in the Angkor Wat area. The following selections highlight the most interesting as well as the most commonly visited. If you need help sorting through it all, here's some very rudimentary advice: You must visit the temples of Angkor Wat and the Bayon, or you haven't even been to Angkor.