The Ruins of Angkor
The ruins of Angkor contain 70 temples scattered over about 50 square miles, with the biggest group located in Angkor Thom, the capital city of the Khmer Empire. They were built over a 500-year period between 790 and 1307 C.E., by a succession of Khmer kings. The biggest and most impressive of the temples, Angkor Wat, was built by Suryavarman II around 1100. It measures 1.5 kilometers by 1.3 kilometers, and is a microcosm of the Hindu universe, a representation of Mount Meru. Exploring the ruins definitely takes time and considerable stamina; Cambodia is bloody hot, even in the cool season, so bring suntan lotion, a hat, and plenty of water. It's best to hire a guide; without someone to explain what you're seeing, the ruins lose a lot of their flavor. A Cambodian guide will cost about $20/day, and a car and driver about the same. With four of us, this came out fairly cheap, $10/day.
	Angkor Wat, the biggest and most impressive temple in Angkor.
	The Bayon, the central temple in the city of Angkor Thom, known for its faces and bas-relief carvings.
	Around the Angkor Ruins, including people and places.
	Ta Prohm--where much of Tomb Raider was shot. This is an exquisite temple with many trees growing out of the ruins.
	Banteay Srei, a small but intricately decorated temple about 20 km away from the main complex. One of my favorites.
	Restoration work under way around the ruins.