Siem Reap, Cambodia

Out of the city once again and off to the pride and joy of Cambodia; Angkor Wat. After a 6 hour bus ride on the most uncomfortable bus EVER we arrived in the biggest tourist attraction city in Cambodia.

Angkor Wat was built in the 12th century for King Suryavarman II and is today the worlds largest religious structure ever built. It was first a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu and then later became a Buddhist temple in the 15th and 16th century. During the Khmer Rouge all religion was banned and the temple was partially destroyed. Most of the Buddhas that are in every temple had their heads cut off or removed from the stone that they were implanted in.

Upon arriving in Siem Reap we bought our overly priced tickets for the next two days to explore the inside world of Angkor Wat. We started by hiking up to the only temple on a hill and watching the sun set on Cambodia. And the next day we woke at 4:30am to get to Angkor Wat before sunrise to see the sun coming up over the temple.

We explored my first of the seven wonders of the World with bike (we rented bikes for a day as a different mode of transportation) and with Tuk Tuk. Stopping at all the various temples along the way that were built for various different reasons during the period of King Suryavarman II. After two and half days of temple exploring we were a bit templed out.

We went back to Siem Reap to give blood (yes, we stopped at the Children's Hospital on the way back to town and all gave blood. For Ella and me it was our first time ever giving blood) and kick it with some of our new local Cambodian friends (they invited us out to the locals bar for night or partying Cambodian style).

Tomorrow catching a bus for a day and a half adventure of crossing the border into Lao!! Woot Woot!