On Thursday morning, a guide came to our hotel for a 5am pick-up to head out to watch the stunning sunrise at Angkor Wat. It was crowded but well worth it! We don’t see many sunrises (more of a sunset family) but this one was one we couldn’t miss. We drove through the dark in two tuk tuks, followed the crowds over the bridge and towards the viewing platform where we stood and were mesmerised by the kaleidoscope of colors. A “pinch me” moment!

Then it was time to head into the main temple. Angkor Wat was commissioned by the Khmer king Suryavarman II in the early 12th century in Yaśodharapura (present-day Angkor), the capital of the Khmer Empire. The construction of the temple commenced in 1122 CE and was completed in 1150 CE. The scope of the complex is astonishing and the details are intricate. I was particularly enthralled with the carvings that covered huge areas, telling stories and depicting kings, warriors and everyday life. We walked around and explored for a bit, seeing the four large pools that held water, looking at the galleries full of beautiful carvings and admiring the iconic towers. Everyone except Luisa and our guide (no on under 12 is allowed up) climbed the steep stairs to the third floor for beautiful views.

From there we drove in the tuk tuks to Ta Prohm temple, which is featured in the film Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. This temple was very cool because of all the trees growing through parts of the temple, such as the silk-cotton tree, strangler fig and spong tree. It was fascinating to see how they push and weave their way through the stones. The carvings were also so beautiful!

Our final stop was to the Bayon, known for the smiling stone faces of Brahma. We walked along the Terrace of Elephants to the temple. We saw a lot of mischievous monkeys and enjoyed the views as we approached the temple. And then in the temple, we were so impressed with the huge face carvings and all the intricate details. It was an informative, interesting day where we learned so much about Cambodian history and got to appreciate these beautiful works of art. We are so grateful to our guide who patiently explained everything!

On Friday, we went on another interesting excursion with the same guide. This time we visited the floating village of Kampong Phluk. First we stopped at the Rolous Market which had everything from fruits to vegetables to a pig’s head to fish still swimming in the bucket. They also had clothing and packaged foods and fishing supplies. It went on and on and on! Our guide told us the market takes places everyday in the morning and then again in the afternoon. While it was overwhelming, I do think it was good for everyone to experience.

From there we went to the boats and headed down the Siem Reap River towards Tonlé Sap lake, passing by the floating village of Kampong Phluk. It was so neat to see how they live! There were little kids rowing boats on their way to school. We watched how they got the fish out of the nets with these spinning machines. We stopped by a crocodile farm where they also have smaller boats to take you deeper into the mangroves. They have a police station, medical clinic, temple, church and school, all on stilts. They were a couple of restaurants and some little stores. It was really cool! The people living there depend on fishing and tourism. Currently the water is at its highest level since the rainy season is wrapping up. Over the next several months, the water will fall around three meters lower, leaving the houses quite far up!

And then we ended in the lake, where we sat still for reveal minutes, enjoying the peace of the lake, and our guide told us more about Cambodia’s history. Our guide was born in 1984 and told us a few scary stories about his childhood and how the war impacted his family. It is very powerful to hear these stories firsthand. And also important, especially since violent conflicts continue to plague many parts of the world.

Speaking of, our guide pointed us in the direction of SPOONS, a restaurant with a good cause. They provide training and opportunities for underprivileged youth. Another worthy organization if you are looking to contribute to Cambodia’s development.