Angkor...Wat time is it?

4am comes early...especially when it's actually 3am.

Destination Cambodia

If you want to live like a king on a peasant's income, #Cambodia might be the place to do it and if you're visiting from the US, you won't even need to exchange your US dollars. Cambodia's #SiemReap is quaint and wonderful. It's bustling with motorbikes and tuk tuks. Their lack of stoplights allow people weave in and out traffic like a well choreographed cinematic car chase. A family of 4 can squeezing on a single motorbike is common place. It's every bit what you'd imagine a tropical Southeast Asian city to be: it's warm, its humid, the dirt is red, and everyone is hustling for a few bucks. It's unofficial currency is the US Dollar which stretches pretty far. $20 is more than enough for 2 meals and several rounds of drinks. The Siem Reap Pub Hostel has everything a low #budget tourist could want in a temporary home. A more than fair price for clean simple rooms, a budget friendly Indoor/Outdoor Pub with both a swimming pool and pool table, and cheap laundry service for $1. The hostel's friendly staff and the laid back community atmosphere welcomes travelers, young and old, from all over the globe to create a vibe that has been one of the highlights of the trip.

Technology is great, but after becoming so dependent on a cell phone--for everything, but specifically time--I am am painfully aware that I have become a slave to its limitations.

Angkor Wat Tour

Siem Reap is famous for it's temple ruins. As part of touring them, everyone recommends viewing the sunrise over #AngkorWat. That means an early start to the day. The tour we booked through our hostel departed at 4:30am. With my phone alarm set for 4am we were all set to meet the departure time. Technology is great, but after becoming so dependent on a cell phone--for everything, but specifically time--I am am painfully aware that I have become a slave to its limitations. Turns out it's nearly impossible for a cell phone clock to stay updated as you keep your device in airplane mode during international travel. I updated the clock manually in Singapore, but Siem Reap is an hour different and I never got around to updating it. Everyone at the front desk seemed slightly annoyed and confused when we showed up an hour early and awoke them from their desk slumber to ask questions about our departure. Upon realizing my mistake, we debated going back upstairs to sleep for an hour, but at 3am the 3 flights of stairs back up to our rooms seemed more defeating than waiting it out. So we came to peace with our early, early start and chatted to the drunken pub goers of the previous evening as they returned from a night out.

Lines to take photographs where Angelina Jolie stood in the movie were astonishingly long.

Jolie Bump

The sunrise over Angkor Wat was beautiful, though I was less impressed with the actual event and more impressed by the number of people from all over the world who lined up to watch it. Listening to the "ow's and aw's" in every language was smile worthy--Side note: "ow and aw" is a universal expression. Walking through Angkor Wat and the surrounding temples to see the massive scale sandstone blocks and their intricate detail carvings up close was humbling. History of that scale really puts you in your place. The grounds are surrounded by kids and their parents trying to sell the tourists souvenirs. Some of it is a good deal, but carrying around all those souvenirs seems cumbersome.

The grand complexes of the Angkor region are nearly Wonder-of-the-World worthy. The history of Kings building temples and swinging the regions religion from Buddhism to Hindu back to Buddhism to a merger of the two, then crumbling is interesting. The wild monkeys surrounding the temple ruins make this place cinematic worthy. And ever since Tomb Raider was filmed there, the tourism to the region has spiked. Lines to take photographs where Angelina Jolie stood in the movie were astonishingly long. Like painfully long. She certainly gave the region the "Jolie bump." Avoid the photo opp and just enjoy the views. If you have time get blessed by a #Buddhist monk. Tierza and I both did it. According to him, our futures look bright.

Draft Beers for $0.50

Siem Reap Night Market

After the exhausting 10 miles of walking through the Angkor ruins, we headed out to the Siem Reap #NightMarket. I know these are common in this region, but this was my first. I was pretty giddy walking around looking at all the deals. Draft #Beer for $0.50. Massages for $2. Goldfish foot massages for $1. Meals for a few bucks. Nothing in the street has price tags, but if they do, everything is negotiable. The whole evening out can cost you less than $20.

Live like the rich and famous. Go to Seam Reap and tell everyone you know #AngelinaJolie.

Beer of the Day

Angkor Beer, Cambrew Brewery and Cambodia Beer, Khmer Brewery.