Travel tales, tips, and photographs from a Southeast Asian backpacker. Follow me on these social networks.

Subscribe to RSS Feed Facebook Twitter Flickr YouTube
Posts tagged "temple"
TravelTuesday Picture of the Week: Wat Phra Si Sanphet (Ayutthaya, Thailand)

TravelTuesday Picture of the Week: Wat Phra Si Sanphet (Ayutthaya, Thailand)

Wat Phra Si Sanphet was built in 1448 by King Borommatrailokanat in the ancient Siamese kingdom of Ayutthaya.

TravelTuesday Picture of the Week: Motorbike at Phra That Luang (Vientiane, Laos)

Phra That Luang <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pha_That_Luang> is a national symbol of Laos. It is a large Buddhist stupa in the center of its capital, Vientiane. The original was supposedly built in the 3rd century, and has been built and rebuilt many times since then. The current structure is a restoration and reconstruction from the 1930s. I hope...

TravelTuesday Picture of the Week: Goa Gajah (Bali, Indonesia)

Goa Gajah is is located near Ubud on the island of Bali in Indonesia. It is also known as the Elephant Cave. Goa Gajah was built in the 9th century, while the cave’s entrance seen in the photo dates back to the 11th century. I hope you enjoyed the first TravelTuesday Picture of the Week...

Khawp Jai, Laos!

And so the adventure ends. It was my biggest and longest trip since last year’s three-week Southeast Asian trip, and my first major one this year (not to mention the first one with my new passport). It was an exciting one for me, too, visiting a new country for the first time, and revisiting a...

Temples, Toys, and Tigers, Oh My! (Singapore: Day 13, 12-Apr-09)

I decided to take it a little easier on my first full day in Singapore, leaving most of my sightseeing for the walking tour I was planning to do the next day. Because I was staying right at the heart of Little India, I figured the most natural start of my day was to look...

TravelTuesday Picture of the Week – Prambanan Under (Re)Construction

Prambanan is a gorgeous Hindu temple located near Jogjakarta, Indonesia. It’s a massive and impressive complex with many stupas. It certainly holds its own against its more famous neighbor, Borobudur, and deserves a place on any itinerary to Jogja. Unfortunately, an earthquake in May 2006 caused major damage and knocked down some of the stupas...

TravelTuesday Picture of the Week: Hot Air Balloon over Angkor Wat (Cambodia)

There are many ways to explore Angkor Wat. Most do it on foot, getting there by tuk-tuk, bicycle, motorcycle, or even elephant (or maybe that’s just Bayon). But for the more adventurous (and moneyed) tourist, nothing beats an aerial view. You can take a helicopter ride (I met a helicopter pilot during a CouchSurfing meet-up...

Angkor Wet (Angkor Wat: Day 9, 08-Apr-09)

After a cloudly sunrise at Angkor Wat (which I blogged about), it was time for a quick breakfast before exploring the grounds. I joined the throngs of people leaving the premises and riding their tuk-tuks to one of the many restaurants in the area. As I was wrapping up breakfast, the rain started to fall....

The Sun Will Come Out… (Sunrise at Angkor Wat: Day 9, 08-Apr-09)

Sunrise at Angkor Wat is one of those so-called must-sees that would change your life forever. The sight of the sun rising and slowly revealing the glory of Angkor Wat is supposed to be awe-inspiring and absolutely beautiful. So, despite the fact that it meant waking up early and skipping breakfast, I told my tuk-tuk...

TravelTuesday Picture of the Week: Cambodian Kid Climbing Phimeanakas

This week's TravelTuesday Picture of the Week is taken at one of the many structures in Angkor Thom (which I recently wrote about). Phimeanakas is a tall temple within Angkor Thom, with steep, crumbling steps leading to the top. I hesitated and wondered if it was safe, and if I could handle the tricky climb....

Day 8 (07-Apr-09): Temple Raider (Angkor Thom, Ta Prohm, and Temples of Angkor)

My second day in Siem Reap and Angkor was spent exploring the so-called "heavy hitters" of Angkor, which included the magnificent complex of Angkor Thom, as well as the nature-ravaged ruins of Ta Prohm. These were places featured prominently in travelogues, as well as in pop culture, including shows such as The Amazing Race and...