"Bamboo trains" run along the government tracks in rural Cambodia. The government would like to get rid of them, but with only one passenger train in the country, which runs only one day a week, the bamboo trains meet a needs of the people.
The religious complex was built for Suryavarman II, who reigned between 1112 and 1152, as his state temple and capital city. Part of the Angkor World Heritage Site, it is the largest religious building in the world.
Angkor Wat is the prime example of the classical style of Khmer architecture to which it has given its name, the Angkor Wat style. It combines two basic plans of architecture: a central temple mountain surrounded by a galleried temple.
Devatas are characteristic of the Angkor Wat style of bas relief carving, and these female religious and devotional figures are said to be guardian spirits.
Angkor is swarming with young Cambodian children searching for tourists to buy their souvenirs. Some are incredible entrepreneurs mastering 6 or 7 languages. But all are fun to play with.
Ta Prohm was one of the first temples founded by Jayavarman VII after ascending the throne in 1181 A.D.. Ta Prohm is certainly "one of the most imposing temples and the one which had best merged with the jungle".
The Ta Prohm temple is typical for the huge roots of trees and jungle overgrowth reclaiming the buildings. It was intentionally left partially unrestored until 2010, when authorities started to take a more aggressive approach to restoration.
Carved stone faces gaze down from the towers of the Bayon temple. The Buddhist temple was constructed for Jayavaraman VII in the late 12th to early 13th century. It lies in the centre of the capital city, Angkor Thom.
Banteay Srei is known for the intricacy of its carvings. This carving is of a kala, a mythical creature representative of time and of the god Shiva.
This tablet can be found flanking the doorway of one of the tower of the Lolei temple, the northernmost temple of the Roluos group.
It seems that this monk is a fervent adept of cup massage. Cup massage is performed with medical cups, which have vacuum-sucking and thermal impact on the skin and muscles. That is definitely a therapy that leaves its marks.
In the heat of the day, this man was simply enjoying a cigarette next to a buddhist monastery in the Roluos Group.
The central market in Siem Reap is the place to find food, clothes and jewellery.
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Motorbikes in Phnom Penh rule the streets. They zip through the city and you better watch out when you cross a street.
Francois Marechal Photography
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