Cambodia - Ankor Wat

Siem Reap - Angkor Thom, the Bayon - 113 degrees at 10 a.m. Feeling like some kind of a slug, sweaty, oozing, dripping, yukky, red, but oh boy, what beauty!  Classified  as World Heritage Site by UNESCO, there are a series of incredible temples built in the 12 - 13th centuries.  One of my dreams come true.  I have taken so many pictures, here are a few.  Enjoy!

Sadly known through Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge regime who took power in 1975.  They immediately evacuated the cities and sent the entire population on forced marches to rural work projects. They attempted to rebuild the country's agriculture on the model of the 11th century, discarded Western medicine, and destroyed temples, libraries, and anything considered Western. Over a million Cambodians, out of a total population of 8 million, died from executions, overwork, starvation and disease. 

Peace efforts began in Paris in 1989 under the State of Cambodia, culminating two years later in October 1991 in a comprehensive peace settlement. The United Nations was given a mandate to enforce a ceasefire, and deal with refugees and disarmament known as the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC). In recent years, reconstruction efforts have progressed and led to some political stability under the form of a multiparty democracy under a constitutional monarchy. The stability established following the conflict was shaken in 1997 by a coup d'état, but has otherwise remained in place. Cambodia has been aided by a number of more developed nations like Japan, France, Germany, Canada, Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom.

80% of the population are farmers, producing rice, the exportation of which is the country's major source of income, the second one being tourism.  50% of the people are under 22.  Cambodia is the Asian country the most affected by Aids. 

UNESCO and several other organisations are now restoring the temples.

Angkor Thom - The setting of Tomb Raider

Here is a site of extraordinary photographies of Angkor: http://www.mcdermottgallery.com/