Angkor Wat (Short Circuit)

Angkor Wat is considered one of the largest Hindu/Buddhist temples in the world and it was the center of the Khmer Empire.  I'm sure you've seen a lot of pictures or at least heard about it.  However, pictures, even mine, do it no justice.  It is a marvel and feat, especially considering the time in which it was built (12th century).  It was one of the most expensive attractions we went to see, paying $40 for a 3 day pass.  However, you can't travel that far and not so see it.  So, here are a few of my photos from Angkor Wat and some of the surrounding temples in the area.  

(If you blow up this picture, you can see a bridge crossing the water/moat)

(Here is a picture from the same bridge in the picture above, with the outside wall of the Angkor Wat complex.)

 (A fresco/art in the walls of the temple)

(Here you can see the main temple in the background.  This is after passing through the outside gate.)

(Unfortunately, since we were there during the slow season, there was quite a bit of construction going on.  Not only at this temple, but at a lot of them.)

 (The inner sanctum, with each hallway pointing in a cardinal direction and each direction having some representation)

(Again, to give you a perspective on size, here were the steep steps we had to climb to get up to the inner sanctuary/area of worship.)

(Again, notice the detail, for a temple built in the 1100s, this is pretty amazing, at least in my opinion)

(Here you are looking back out towards the outer gate.  This is to give you an idea of the height and the advantage point of those inside the temple.)

(This was at the end of one of the hallways emanating from the center sanctum.  I can't quite remember what this specific statue stood for.)

  

 (A few more Buddhist statues)

(An entirely different area of the complex.  This one was special for the stone heads that lined both sides of the street.) 

(A few elephants going for a walk)

(Not quite lined up but close enough.  Notice again how small the people are in these pictures...)

(Faces in the rock)

(A few more structures)

(I'm not 100% but I believe this is where Tomb Raider, or at least a few scenes from it were shot)

 (A few elephants with their trunks hanging down at the Tomb of the Elephant King)

 (Here is a picture of a wall and I know it's hard to make out what is on the wall)

 (Here's a better close up of the same wall.  Just to give you an idea of the detail, time, and resources that went in to making that wall.)

(Since the complex was abandoned for hundreds of years, vegetation started to take over at a few of the structures.)

(This whole thing is in the middle of nowhere and it took us half a day to get through the short circuit.  You can also ride a bicycle, but after walking and riding, it would have been a very long day.  So, we paid $15 for a tuk tuk for the day.)

(Then again, this might have been the Tomb Raider place, I'm not quite sure...)

(A few protectors)

(Me and some of the vegetation)

 (The area is still used for worship by some and by others it is exploited to make money.  I guess that's the same anywhere you go in the world.)

(They must have had some big feet back in the day)

 (Gate/Entrance to one of the temples)

 (Somebody's house or living shelter on the grounds)

(A few kids hanging out)

The Life of Pai

One of my favorite stops in Thailand, next to Chaing Mai was a little tiny town to the north called Pai.  I guess it is considered the Hippie BackPacker town of Thailand.  It was laid back and relaxing.  I even went on a tubing trip which was an adventure.  Unfortunately, there aren't any pictures of that.  Here are a few of the photos from Pai.  

(Candles)

 (Some interesting art work - Pai is falling in LOVE)

(A quirky little toy shop with some interesting gizmos)

(A piece of art I liked - there were street vendors every night and it was a quaint, cozy, non invasive market where you could look at works and enjoy your time outside.)

(Breeze of Pai Guest House - a nice little hostel for around $10 a night)

(The traveling pink van)

(This was the good luck charm outside of our hostel)

 ('Traditional' Chinese village outside of Pai.  They were still doing a bit of work.)

 (Entrance to the Chinese Village)

(A few from the scooter we rented for a day)

(A natural water slide which looked more dangerous than fun.  Needless to say, I didn't make the trip down.)

(Some of the handicrafts for sale)

 (The 'Grand Canyon' of Thailand)

(Another shot at the Canyon)

 (Yep, saw quite a few of these guys around Pai.  Didn't ride any but I did get a chance to feed one for $2 or $3.)

(Peace Bridge from the Japanese invasion I believe - it's been a while)

 (Yep, here were some people riding an elephant.  I'm not really upset I didn't do it.)

 (Temple)

 (A view of the countryside)

(A lying Buddha)

(Traditional wagon outside one of the temples)

 (They love the Buddha)

(Someone's house...)

 (I am not sure if I would call this a temple or a place of worship.  I believe it is supposed to hold a relic of the Buddha.)

 (Guardian outside one of the temples)

(In this tiny town there were lots of great places to eat and the food was great.  Also, there were a lot of vegetarian options.)

(This was outside city hall or the police station.  I guess it's ok to mix beliefs and government in Thailand...)