Durbar Square, Kathmandu

The most popular UNESCO World Heritage site in Nepal is Durbar Square. It's only a half hour stroll from the backpacker area of Thamel.

Some of the temples date back to the 12th century.

For a bit of modernity there is the Royal Palace (the white building).

Angkor Wat, Part 4/4 Siem Reap, Cambodia

Apart from the Angkor Wat (Angkor Temple) complex, there are others like the Bayon Temple complex seen here.

Look closely and you can see the faces of the god-kings.

Here is one of them.

The god-kings' presence is everywhere.

Buy some souvenirs and help a Cambodian family.

Angkor Wat Part 2, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Here are some of the friezes and bas-relief in Angkor Wat. If they whet your appetite, there is no shortage of reference materials you can dip into.

 

Angkor Wat temples are scattered over a vast area. It reminds me of  Bagan in Burma where I saw thousands of pagodas.

A 1-day, 3-day, 1-week pass costs US$20, 40 and 60 respectively.

I bought the 1-day pass. For me it was enough. With my bicycle my range was extended but to cover the whole area would have taken me days.

(BTW, have you booked your ticket to Siem Reap? Seems air tickets from Singapore at least are selling out very fast.)

Angkor Wat Part 1/3, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Locals making their way to the temple complex.

The causeway to the temple complex.

One of the many balustrades lining the causeway.

The most famous image in Cambodia.

The courtyard in the temple.

I'm no expert in Angkorian history. The basic facts are that Angkor Wat was built in the 12th century, and gradually expanded with each successive king.

Angkor Wat  is only one of the several temple complexes in the area which is really huge. A bicycle or motorbike is the ideal way to move around.

For the casual observer one day is enough.