Wednesday 26 February 2014

Angkor Complex, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Stuff-packed our bags with much difficulty since we were still in summer clothes and headed to the market at the bus station before we plopped ourselves on the bus to Siem Reap. Ditched the idea of tourist sleeper bus but our "lousier" local bus was satisfactory enough -- all I needed was a toilet even if it means having to pee in a pail while the bus manoeuvre on the uneven groundings. Speaking from hindsight, we were acting like total pampered kids, complaining about the supposedly 6hours bus ride that prolonged to 8hours. We had zero clue of what laid ahead of us. (Spoiler: 36 hours third class overland) And after what seemed like 8 eternities and countless unlocking of my phone to check google maps, we have arrived. Gathered our non-existent swag when alighting because there was this Singaporean couple who probably majored in staring in university, we did not want to lose out in our self indulged backpacker race of getting to our hostels first, by the cheapest means of course. 


Window view 

Bent on saving 1usd on transport since according to our (backstabbing) best friend, Agoda, our hostel is in the heart of the hustling and bustling city centre. Let's not be petty about how we walked for 2 hours and wifi-available room was wifi-less and had to pray to all Gods because blackout hit and we had to pack to catch the bus to next city. The rest of the night was spent familiarising ourselves with the city centre and route back to our hostel (running half the time since our bodies haven't gotten used to the sanitation level and wouldn't like it if we soil our pants) and looking for legitimate bicycles to ride to Angkor Wat, the next day.

 Legendary USD1 fried noodles 


With our 1usd-rented bicycles, gritted our teeth through the unearthly 4am morning breeze -- and simultaneously, battling with diarrhea, fever, runny noses and complete darkness just for "sunrise at Angkor Wat". (Tip: don't take the wrong route, take the route that brings you to ticketing counter before the entrance. You'll need a pass to enter the complex) We made it, anyway. Not even trying to overrate the beauty of this place when I say tears welled up in my eyes because it was too much for me to handle. 

Sunrise at Angkor Wat. (Head there early to get a good spot) 








Bayon temple -- my personal favourite 


Nature takes over 




Finished our version of temple run, successfully, and we're too sick of the flooding pseudo cultured tourists around (I'm not trying to hint that I am 100% cultured but at least I don't have my boobs and ass cheeks leaking out at the temples).

It's time to move on. 

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