CAMBODIA | The Artist within the Ruins

One can see so many inspiring artist within the site of the ruins.

This is an art on its own, the reddish sandstone plus the green moss had turned this facade into an art.

Just look at those paintings, yeap, paintings, hand painted on site, those are no photos, no, not that guy on the left, those thing on the canvas on the front right that is.

Look at this sketch, or doodle, or call it whatever you want.

Another close-up, by a different artist, inspect those details.

Another artist seeking for inspiration?

But, what I found more interesting is the photo below, perhaps an engraving done hundred of years ago, by some inspiring artistic lovebirds.

Maybe someone could decipher this coded encryption.

Ta Phrom | Do U See What I See?

WARNING: Do not read this if you are alone at night! You've been warned!

Exploring more of the Ta Phrom ruins.

Tourists admiring the huge root "hugging" the ruins wall.


A wider view of the area where Lara Croft's did her action.


A different mystic view of the entrance, effect done in-camera.


Exploring inside the ruins. At times, there are no one in-sight, as I will try to avoid the typical touristy routes, hence I do came across some empty and eerie spot you might say.


Getting closer with the antique artifacts, sometime I do imagine that does "what if?" Just like those in the movie, which can gives you a crypt.


And finally, "something" came up, tell me what you see inside the trunk of that tree?

CAMBODIA | Ta Phrom a.k.a. The Tomb Raider's

A visit to the Angkor Thom area is not complete without stepping your feet to Ta Phrom.


As you can see from the above photo, tourists are flocking their way to Ta Phrom, it is quite difficult to capture a tourist free photo.


What is so unique about Ta Phrom if you may asked, besides the delicate carving on the walls?


Obviously, carvings can be seen everywhere, done in meticulous fashion.


But what actually stands out in Ta Phrom, are the huge tree roots that seems to hug the structure.


The tourists are captured in this photo to show the size of the tree roots!


And this is the infamous doorway where Angelina Jolie passed through in the film Tomb Raiders, as the ultra sleek Lara Croft.

ANGKOR | Warning! Climbing at your Risk!

The structures within Angkor are mostly tall with ultra steep sides.


Just by looking at the above photo, you can see the very steep gradient of the staircase (if you can call that a staircase!)


Obviously, warning are everywhere, Climbing at your own risk! But how come that guy on the warning sign seems so relax climbing the stairs?


So the question is, will you dare to climb it or just put your feet on the ground and just watch the people climbing their way up.

I must admit, it was a tough decision, after spending your dosh and time, traveling thousand of miles to come here, and to make this decision is quite tough, climbing is risky, but not climbing it might make you lost you sleep, regretting it.

There is a story of why the steps were built as such.


After so much thought, and after watching the other tourist doing their acrobatic stunt climbing, securing all of my belonging tightly to my body, especially holding tight to my priceless camera equipments, I finally decided to give it a go, balancing myself on the steps, and taking photo, thank God I made it to the top.


Hence what is on top you may ask, well, just some wild plants and ruins of course! No, kidding, actually, you can see the breathtaking view of the surrounding.


But what I wanted to share with you, is how the stairs or the ultra steep steps look like from above, well folks, this is how it looks like!

How scary is that?

And when I was on top, I said to myself, why did I "punished" myself climbing to the top, now, how do I go down?

CAMBODIA | Bayon

Actually, the number of photos taken during the trip to Cambodia is more or less the same with the number of photos taken during the recent trip to Seoul & Tokyo combined!

It was very interesting to know that, within such a "small" community in Cambodia, they are tens of thousand of photo opportunities, well from my perspective that is.

Despite about 80% usability rate of the photos taken, thou I would love to share them all, but I might not be able to post each and every one of the photos here, some might be printed and some might just be kept in my archive for future references.


An overview of the Bayon, no, not the one withthe maroon sarong, its the rocky structure on the left.


Constructed in the late 12th century during the reign of King Jayavarman II, this has been one of the recognisable images connected to classic Khmer art and architecture.


Thou to some degree, this was considered to be an architectural muddle, in part, it was constructed in a somewhat piecemeal fashion for over a century.


The surrounding tall jungle makes Bayon a bit dark and flat for photographer near sunset and sunrise.


There are about 37 standing towers.


But who the faces represented is still a matter of debate.


What I found also amazing is how they manage to carve the huge stone so tastefully, with their antique piece of equipments and mechanism!


Just look at those architectures and wonderful workmanship, without any help from any modern tools, like computers, AutoCAD and such.


A glassless window.


Just can't help shooting at this contrasting image, where those soft moss covering the hard rock wall.

SIEM REAP | Bayon in Monotone

Just a quick upload, of some photos within Bayon area.

Bayon is also greatly known as the temple with the many faces, and this photo seems so surreal.


It is also kinda ruined, well, which sites are not? Considering they are hundred of years old.


A sculptured head on the wall.


A more detail view of one of the many carvings on the wall.


Each carving or wall bass portrays some sort of a story during their era, and this photo just trying to compare the sizes of the carving.


A "real-life hidden face" within the historic wall.


Sneak peek behind the column.


A wider view of the site.

Siem Reap | Entering the Angkor Thom

As mentioned in the previous post, it is quite hard to capture photos without any people in it, unless you barricade the area then it is a different story, thou it is not advisable nor plausible.


Tourist trying to capture the site, capturing the same thing, the same view, so I just captured this moment.


The weather was quite hot, despite wearing a cool hat, visitors still prefer to stand under the shade, and looking this as a good opportunity, with the flare of the sun, I captured the moment in photo.

Yeap, flares, most photography magazines or tutorials will advise you use lens hood to avoid capturing those flares, and you will also encounters some tips to lower your ISO to reduce noises, but hei, so what about flares and noises?

What is so bad about them? Bend the rules, incorporate them into your photos, if flares and noises are problems why do they add them for filters in Photoshop and other photo editting softwares???


As it was hot and dry, and looking at the dusty area, changing one lens is a "nightmare", you can either have a less superior all in one zoom lens, or good prime lens or zoom lens, and risk of trapping dust in your sensors, or otherwise miss a good photo angle by reluctantly not to change lens, despite all those money spent and thousand of miles traveled to come here! It is your call!!


The many heads "guarding" the gate.


"Look at that interesting head! Seems so real! And Smiling even!"


Well it is interesting indeed, if this is what they meant. Not so solid rock head. A beautiful head amongst the hard rock heads.


More details of the hard rock head.


A photo opps not to be missed.


After the photoshoot, taking a rest amongst the ubiquitous tuk-tuk