Every time I’m at the ancient sites of Angkor in Siem Reap, Cambodia, or other heritage sites around the world,  I often imagine what it would have looked like back in the day. What would these incredible historical sites have looked like in the exact spot I’d be standing, with all the laborers building these relics that still stand today. I think of the nobility using the sites for ritualistic reasons. I think of the daily lives of these people and what it must have been like. Incredible is always my conclusion.

When we’re out on tour, we try to show what it would have been like back in the day. We visit the ancestors, the villagers who continue to live a traditional lives much similar to those who came before them and built the incredible temples.

The following images give a good idea of what it would have looked like in ancient Angkor.

Terrace with Angkor Wat in the background.

Looking out from what would most likely have been the Royal Palace.

Thousands of stone masons and elephants were used in the construction of the Angkor temples.
Ancient Angkor was believed to be the largest pre-industrial city in the world at the time of construction.

From the terrace, architects and engineers directed builders during construction.

Village life and elephant shows.

The Khmer Empire was constantly under siege from the Chams (central Vietnam) and  the Siamese (Thai).

Village life in ancient Cambodia. Much of this lifestyle still exists in the Cambodian countryside.
A wonderful place to visit where old traditions and culture continues in modern times.