Our last full day in Siem Reap, after all the temple exploration we were finally visiting the most famous ones- saving the best for last. At least we did it right. I rarely think waking up for a sunrise is worth it. I think sunsets are just as pretty and you don't have to wake up at an insanely early hour to see them. However, if you're visiting Angkor Wat it's worth it. It was amazing how many people were there wandering around in the darkness just to see the sun rise over the temple. This is just another time I wish pictures could really capture the beauty we saw.







After watching the sun rise, we went to explore the massive temple. It was so beautiful with so many intricate carvings and so fun to wander around. Most of the people who watched the sunrise left immediately afterward, so it was pretty empty. 

Please forgive my outfit, but I was sick of clothes and I just wanted to wear my elephant pants. Also Chad did not want to hug me- still stings a bit.




These were seriously everywhere across huge stretches of wall.



 Brittany was pretty over all the stairs so she found another route to a different section.

The towers from the classic pictures of Angkor Wat are a bit less impressive closer up.


No people!!

Tricycle crew!


After Angkor Wat we headed to another one of the most famous temples there, The Bayon Temple. If you look closely at all the pictures, you'll see a lot of faces. That's what the temple is famous for.

Not the temple, just the world's coolest bridge.

So on another bridge you see these guys. On both sides, but slightly different. We found out that the story is that the men (not pictured) and the Gods had a tug of war. The men won and were given the gift of a goddess. 



See not from the interwebs, Chad's actually there.


This dancing lady is the goddess the men won.


Sweat bandannas and sunglasses for everyone!
Our third stop, Ta Prohm, is also lovingly referred to as "The Tomb Raider Temple" because Angelina Jolie's cinematic masterpiece Tomb Raider was filmed here. Fun fact, Daniel Craig was in Tomb Raider so I have now walked where he has walked.


This was one of my favorite temples to explore because it just still looked so untouched. The negative was that there were a lot of Ina tourists, but because they all go in groups and only spend about 10 minutes at each temple, we were free of them pretty quickly.


There was a huge pile of stones, so in true Chad fashion he started to climb.

And so we followed and let me tell you the view from the top was amazing (Edit: You're welcome).

See!


I really have no idea why these exist, but I really like that they do. I also really want it to have been done by some kid bored while his parents were off playing and now people walk all reverent around them trying to be culturally sensitive- you know, like I did.
The last temple of our Cambodian visit was pretty remote and relatively deserted. When we pulled up those two other tourists were swarmed by more kid sellers than I've ever seen. I laughed and pulled out my camera. That kid, he's coming my way.


This temple was cool because it had a new and old temple on the same property.

It was uncool because, seriously, do you see those steps?

View from the top of the old one. We managed to summon the energy to climb it!
After all our temple adventures we went home and took a nap and then went to dinner at Eric's. He was having a big feast/party with his sisters and invited some of the other expats in the area to join. It was seriously so much fun and his family is so great. So sweet and kept telling us "don't fill up on the rice! Fill up on the meat". We were having Singaporean hot pot, also called "steam boat". I liked it better than Chinese hot pot. So that's 3 countries that do it better now. (For the record it's France, Cambodia and Singapore.)


That cute little girl is a Cambodian girl that Eric sponsors so she can go to school instead of working.

Us with our driver, Mao. He was so sweet and kind and I love him.
The next day we began our crazy journey back to Bangkok for our flights. We were first picked up by a bus to head towards the town that is on the boarder of Cambodia and Thailand. Originally we were going to follow a crazy bus, walk, tuk tuk, train route, but then decided for a few more dollars it might be worth it to just take the bus the entire way. (Note: I am now torn about this because the bus once again dropped us off in a rando part of town that didn't have public transport and overpriced taxis... but it was easier).

Before we left, we got to watch an awesome Cambodian wedding procession! Also, our hostel was so cute! We were leaving earlier than we thought so we didn't get (free) breakfast, but right before we left one of the employees came running out with a half dozen AMAZING loaves of bread for us. I loved them!




All of the monies we accumulated on the trip. Chinese, Macauan, Hong Kongese (??), Thai, Cambodian, Cambodian (they use US and Cambodian money) and Malaysian

3 super sad to be leaving Cambodia faces.

The Thailand Cambodian boarder.

Ugh so after we crossed the boarder they said "just wait over there for us" and pointed at an area that was literally 100% shade free. I was dying. Brittany tried to be happier.