Angkor - Lifting the Veil : A Photographic Essay of Cambodia's Khmer Empire Temples and the People Who Live Amongst Them

A bloody past has veiled the countryside of Cambodia, seemingly from the beginning of recorded history. Empires have flourished and fallen from the time of the Kingdom of Funan in the 1st century, through the golden age of Suryavarman II and Jayavarman VII in the 12th century, the decline of the jungle capital in the 14th and 15th centuries, the colonization under French rule in the 19th century and more recently by the Khmer Rouge and Pol Pot regimes. Relative calm has blanketed the land for the past decade and outsiders, hungry for the chance to view the hidden marvels of the jungle, have come in massive tourist pilgrimages. Cambodia has reacted quickly to seize this economic opportunity and the developing tourism industry in and around Angkor offers the local people an alternative to the dependency on international aid. The intention of this essay is to remove some of the mystery about Angkor and it’s caretakers, hopefully fueling the curiosity of the intrepid traveler wishing for a first hand experience along with the armchair traveler just wishing for a glimpse under the veil.Bradley, Stephen LaMarr is the author of 'Angkor - Lifting the Veil : A Photographic Essay of Cambodia's Khmer Empire Temples and the People Who Live Amongst Them', published 2006 under ISBN 9780978829100 and ISBN 0978829107.