Wednesday, December 18, 2019 | Siem Reap, Cambodia | Language: Khmer, French and English widely spoken | Population: 139,458 | Currency: Cambodian

Our exploration of Angkor Archaeological Park continued to a visit to Angkor Thom. This city, the last capital of the Khmer Empire, once housed priests, palace officials and military. At the center of the ancient city is the most iconic construction of all, the “Face Temple.” So called for the 216 smiling gargantuan faces of Avalokiteshvara adorning the ancient building. The site is also known as the Temple of Bayon.

  

Once Angkor Wat became an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992, it has increasingly attracted visitors from all over the world. With a 20% increase in tourism every year, artists and peddlers have become ubiquitous.

For a different perspective, we boarded a helicopter to see the temples from above.

Time to put our Cambodian visas away and pull out the ones needed for Vietnam.