The Baphuon is a representation of the mythical Mt Meru. Its construction was most likely started under Suryavarman I and completed by Udayadityavarman II sometime between 1049-1065 AD. It was the center of the city of Ankor Thom at that time.
The Bayon contains 54 towers composed of thousands of carved, smiling faces some of these represent Avalokiteshvara , and others may be Jayavarman VII 1181-1219 AD). 216 of these faces are huge. It was the city center of Angor Thom when it was completed.
A bas-relief near Angkor Wat.
Angkor Wat's main entrance. It was built Suryavarman II (1112-1152) possibly as a funeary temple to honor Vishnu, the Hindu god. Around the outside of the temple are massive bas-reliefs that depict battles, armies, heaven and hell, churning of the ocean of milk, and other mythical events.
Ta Prohm has been left covered by much of the vegetation that grew over it for the last 700-800 years. Much of the temple is rubble covered with vegetation.
A bas-relief near Angkor Wat.
Ta Prohm has been left covered by much of the vegetation that grew over it for the last 700-800 years. Much of the temple is rubble covered with vegetation.
Smiling faces were not only carved in the rocks at Bayon. This one was near Ta Prohm.
A narrow passage way at Ta Prohm. Ta Prohm has been left covered by much of the vegetation that grew over it for the last 700-800 years. Much of the temple is rubble covered with vegetation.
Back yard crocodile farms are common in Siem Reap and other areas around Tonle Sap. The crocodiles are raised for their skins and many people are now raising crocs and selling the babies to others who want to raise crocociles. The Crocodylus siamensis is the most common species involved in the farm operations, but some Cuban crocodiles, Crocodylus rhombifer are also available in these farms, and hybrids do occur.
The Tonle Sap Snake Harvest. In the late 1990's the price of fish climbed and Cambodian fishermen were selling their catch and it was being exported to Thailand. The crocodile farms needed food for their crocodiles and the fishermen started to collect snakes for crocodile food. Tonle Sap was over fished. Most of the large fish of the Mekong were gone, and what was left were small species. Aquatic snakes in the lake had their predators removed and their food supply increased. Thus, it seems likely the snake population exploded. Most of the snakes involved in the harvest are homalopsids of five different species. The most common is the Rainbow Water SNake, Enhydris enhydris. The snakes are caught in gill nets as well as by hand. The "fishermen" are often entire families, including children. The boy in the boat has collected snakes in that pile of gill net behind him. The snakes are sold to middle men, who sell to other middle men, and the snakes eventually end up in the markets around the lake where they are purchased for crocodile food.
Fishermen on Tonle Sap, the largest lake in Southeast Asia.
The floodplain around Tonle Sap. The great lake increases and decreases in size each year as the Mekong River floods the Tonle Sap River. The area in the photo will eventually be covered with water and become part of the lake as the Mekong waters back up the Tonle Sap River.
Tonle Sap. In the distance is a series of stakes that make up part of a fish trap.
Fishing boat on Tonle Sap.
A child on a floating house at Chong Khneas.
