From there 12 vertiginous staircases lead to the top level - the centre of the universe, since Angkor Wat is a model of Mount Meru which in Hindu mythology represents the cosmos.

BBC: Millennium mayhem at Angkor Wat

Among the largest underlying components of PHO, in trading today Waters Corp. ( NYSE: WAT) is off about 1.5%, Flowserve Corp. ( NYSE: FLS) is down about 2%, and Pall Corp. ( NYSE: PLL) is lower by about 1.9%.

FORBES: PHO, WAT, FLS, PLL: ETF Outflow Alert

The President will begin his visit with a tour of the Wat Pho Royal Monastery, which is one of the iconic religious and cultural sites in Thailand.

WHITEHOUSE: The White House

Mr Hun Sen is said to be obsessed with Cambodia's ancient Khmer kingdom, which built the awesome Angkor Wat complex and once ruled much of Indochina.

ECONOMIST: One of the last (we hope) Asian strongmen