Sunrise at Angkor Wat

We get up early early to take the tuk tuk to Angkor Wat for sunrise.  Julien and Sharon show up a few minutes later, and then I run into Louisa and Beth again.  One of the guys from the Plain of Jars tour is also in attendance.  Small world, this Southeast Asia.  It’s too cloudy for a spectacular sunrise, so we get some breakfast before Jess and I check out Angkor Wat. 

It’s huge and amazing, and thankfully not too crowded.  We wander around for a while there, then get in the tuk tuk to Angkor Thom.  Angkor Thom has a bunch of smaller temples, and we check out Bayon first, which is probably my favourite.  Lots of towers, with heads atop them.  Next we investigate the Elephant terraces.  A young kid leads us to a temple, and Jess is certain we’re going to be killed, but instead he wants some money for taking us the long way to the temple.  When we ignore his request, he doesn’t seem too surprised.  Last up is   Ta Prohm, where they filmed one of the Tomb Raider movies. 

In the afternoon, Sarat, the owner of the guesthouse, takes me to book a flight to Hanoi for the next day.  My initial plan was to start in the south and head north, but plans were meant to be changed.

Catherine, Jess, and I meet Pen and Wiki for dinner and some drinks.  We say goodbye to Pennie and Wiki for the forseeable future, and check out the Beatocello film near the children’s hospital.  It focuses on Dr. Beat, a Swiss doctor, who pushes for better aid for the children of Cambodia. 

Next we head to the night market so Catherine and Jess, who both go home tomorrow, can get some souvenirs.  After that, it’s my last sleep in Cambodia.