Wat Bo, Siem Reap

Although this is the oldest and best temple in Siem Reap, the main town for Angkor Wat, it's not really on the tourist trail and doesn't really cater for tourists. It has a very intricate roof and beautiful carvings, but sadly is not in the best state of preservation. It was a bit of a shock to see modern-day temples in a state of disrepair after seeing the tremendous efforts that are still being made at the archaeological sites a few miles up the road. If this was in Thailand it would have been lovingly restored to painted and gilded glory. This is a reminder that it's only 30 years since the whole of Cambodia was in the grip of war, famine, genocide and repression under the Khmer Rouge and the country has done phenomenally well to develop in the way that it has in those years. Siem Reap is a as welcoming to visitors as anywhere we've been.