SIEM REAP: Ta Prom

The Khmer Empire was one of the MOST powerful in South East Asia for centuries. From the 9^th to the 13^th centuries its territory included what is now Thailand, Laos and parts of Vietnam. It was huge, rich and strong.

It had Hindu and Buddhist influences. The kings built temples to symbolize how powerful the empire was. People didn’t live in the temples, they were to show heaven on earth.

There are hundreds of temples. Most people know Angkor Wat, which is on the Cambodian flag now.

I have been to the Angkor temples three times now, but the first two times, I was only almost 3 and almost 4 and I didn’t remember a lot.

One of my memories is having a tantrum at Ta Prom, when Mum wanted to take a photo. We went to Ta Prom first.

oh, this is me leaving Luang Prabang to fly to Siem Reap

Like Luang Prabang, it is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They haven’t restored all of Ta Prom to show people how the jungle strangled the temples after the civilization declined.

Here are some photos of Ta Prom.

At least Mum got her photos of me draped over Ta Prom (without a tantrum!)

scaffolding is holding up a tree root over the temple!