JA Lens

Amongst the temples found in Angkor, Bantaey Srei stands out in its relatively small size while bearing extremely fine sandstone relief carvings that protrudes out in 3D. It is located about 20 km north of Angkor and almost at the foot of the Kulen Mountains.

'You want rice?'

"I'm bored! Where are my customers!"

If you are the market type, make sure you take a pit stop at Psar Chas in Siem Reap. The wet and dry market caters mainly to the locals; so you'll have an authentic traditional marketing experience here.

In this image, a skilled silk worker is tying the silk threads into patterns. The craftswomen of Artisans d'Angkor are trained in this unique resist dyeing technique of ikat to produce their beautiful and high quality silk.

This is the main showroom of Artisans d'Angkor in Siem Reap. The finished handicrafts of the various workshops are displayed for the viewing pleasure of visitors as well as for sale.

In this image, a craftsman is polishing a buddhist statue at the Artisans d'Angkor showcase workshop in Siem Reap. Since its establishment in 1998, Artisans d'Angkor has dedicated itself to preserve the Khmer traditional skills such as stone carving, wood carving, lacquering, gilding and silk-making. It does this through its 6-month training program in a specific traditional handicraft skill.

"I work solely for the people of Cambodia and in past years, I went regularly into the rural areas and jungles of my country to help clear landmines of which there are an estimated to be over three million. I have found many thousands of relics of the war from clearing the mines and exhibit them at the Siem Reap landmine museum of which I am the curator.
My only goal in life is to make my country safe for my people." - Aki Ra

Looking for souvenirs in Siem Reap? The Angkor Night Market and the Noon Night Market are two places you can search for a bargain or two.

The night scene at Siem Reap is as happening as most tourist spots in South East Asia! The Pub Street is what its name says... this street is filled with pubs! With fancy names like Aha, Angkor What? Bar, Linga Bar, Miss Wong and X Bar, party animals are spoilt for choice!

Bright orange juicy raw cashew nuts! I came across these while exploring Angkor. They were sold on the path to one of the temples.

Fancy getting a hair-do and total makeover in the wet Old Market in Siem Reap?

Just a stone throw away from Siem Reap's Old Market and Pub Street is the showcase workshop of Artisans d'Angkor. Visitors are given the opportunity to witness first hand the work of various craftsmen and women who had been trained and given jobs by Artisans d'Angkor. Under their 6-month training program, rural youths are given the opportunity to learn either the art of stone carving, wood carving, lacquering, silk weaving or silver plating.

This lady was spinning manually by hand a bicycle wheel without tyre to extract quality silk thread. Around her were neatly arranged spools of shiny silk thread. They were ready to be used by her fellow colleagues to weave silk fabric.