Angkor in Cambodia, once a thriving city which flourished from approximately the 9th to 15th centuries, should be near the top of all travelers lists of places to see. I have visited the temples of Angkor a couple of times. A few days stay in Siem Reap while exploring these ancient ruins is usually sufficient enough time to get a feel for the place, though the photographer could easily spend many days or weeks here, finding dynamic compositions and waiting for optimal light.
Ta Prohm has been left in much of the same condition, with centuries of strangler figs and silk-cotton trees growing out of the ruins and reaching upward to the sky. Ta Prohm is my favorite of the ancient ruins. In fact, I proposed to my wife here, figuring I’d never find a more timeless destination than this.
If it looks familiar, Angelina Jolie’s Tomb Raider used the temple of Ta Prohm as a shooting location.
The City of the Soaring Dragon, Hanoi in northern Vietnam was probably our favorite place during a month-long visit to this colorful Southeast Asian country. Now recognized as a top tourist destination, Hanoi is the type of place you just want to explore, and it offers many treasures in the way of lakes, temples, restaurants, galleries, shops, and countless other gems. For the photographer, it’s an endless paradise! 