Angkor Wat main causeway at 3:30PM. This was my second visit to Angkor Wat that day as I wanted to see it in at dawn and in the afternoon. This was taken from the external wall which gave me an elevated view above the pathway to the temple. Two libraries flank either side of the main complex.

SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA - Siem Reap is a small town, nestled among rice paddy fields 4 hours drive on rocky roads north of the capital of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. It is home to the ancient Khmer Empire's great temple ruins. UNESCO has designated Angkor Wat as a World Heritage Site, but there are many other smaller complexes in the surrounding countryside that are just as significant, if not more beautiful to explore. In terms of archaeological significance, it rivals sites like the Pyramids of the Nile, Machu Pichu and the Mayan Ruins of Mexico. But unlike these other places, rampant development has not taken place and visitors are allowed to take in the unspoiled atmosphere up close. This will probably not be the case in a few more years.

Come with me and see Siem Reap through my eyes ...

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Zero Chance > A moat surrounds the temple, and on the other side of the moat one can sit under the cool shade of leafy trees and wile away the time.

Zero Chance > Angkor Wat at sunrise. Arriving 15 minutes before the first light of day I was stunned to see the place buzzing with tourist activity. Led by my guide to a spot by the northern reflecting pool, I was able to get some of the most fantastic sunrise shots in my life. The redness of the sky was just amazing, but like the cherry blossums of Japan, so short lived. Within a matter of minutes, the colour was gone from the sky so my advice get set up ahead of time.

Zero Chance > While the previous picture shows Angkor Wat in all its morning glory, here is the reality. A crowd of tourists, three to four deep. If I had not gotten the 4:30AM morning call, and leaned on my guide for inside knowledge, I would not have found my spot in time. This shot was taken within 10 minutes of the previous one.

Zero Chance > The men (and woman) that proved indispensible for this first time visitor. Mucking around in the dark with a tiny flashlight is much better when following the footsteps of someone who has been there countless times in such conditions.

Zero Chance > I added some exposure compesation to give a clearer view. In reality, it was not this bright. The soft morning light revealing Angkor Wat's details. The books say that first timers should come in the afternoon as that is when the direction of the light reveals more detail than in the morning when the temple is back lit. But I try to not go by the book.

Zero Chance > Angkor Wat is visually, architecturally and artistically breathtaking. The grounds are surrounded by a moat, a forest, and an exterior wall. When first approaching, one sees only a two dimensional picture as the temple grounds are so wide and the land so flat. But then as you walk into the complx, the layers unfold around you into a three-dimensional image.

Zero Chance > OK, in hindsight I should have waited at my spot by the pond because 15 minutes later the sun broke the horizon, rising like a golden egg. I would have gotten another fantastic picture with the 5 spires in the foreground. But as it was I got this shot by the pathway leading to the exterior wall, as tourists were just arriving to the temple.

Zero Chance > Angkor Wat main causeway at 3:30PM. This was my second visit to Angkor Wat that day as I wanted to see it in at dawn and in the afternoon. This was taken from the external wall which gave me an elevated view above the pathway to the temple. Two libraries flank either side of the main complex.

Angkor Wat main causeway at 3:30PM. This was my second visit to Angkor Wat that day as I wanted to see it in at dawn and in the afternoon. This was taken from the external wall which gave me an elevated view above the pathway to the temple. Two libraries flank either side of the main complex.