Angkor Wat

The area around Angkor Wat near the city of Siem Reap, Cambodia, is truly one of the amazing wonders of the world. The dramatic vastness and richness of these ruins illustrate what a magnificent place this must have been in it's prime. I wonder about the amazement of seeing these ruins for the first time buried in the jungle as dreamed about when watching Indiana Jones movies of years ago. There are several sections to this area typically classified as "Angkor Wat". Angkro Wat itself is a large, moated set of temples and ruins that is illustrated in the first few images. Also included further around this area is the Angkor Thom complex, mostly noted for the amazing large sculptured faces of Bayon. Nearby is the "Laura Croft" area of Ta Prohm, where the large native trees engulf the ruins in dramatic fashion. Finally, further out away from Siem Reap are the two newer sites, including Banteay Srei and its finely ornamented carvings dedicated to women and the still jungle-covered area of Beng Mealea.