Our driver was late and we were convinced he'd overslept when he came hooting up the street at 5.15. We couldn't get a position I the popular spot which wad already 5 people deep, but the other side of the walkway was also fine and we watched the sun rise over Angkor Wat.
Waiting in line to climb the steep stairs to the central temple I was told that scarves were not allowed as covers here. I guess too many people just remove them once inside. Fortunately I brought anther top with which covers my shoulders.
The monkeys know about take away hotel meals and after he'd successfully stolen bananas off one girl he decided he'd rather like my bag too. We got into a bit of an argument about it, me pulling it back and saying "forget it dude!" and him bearing his teeth on me. Guess he was a little surprised it didn't work. Roy came to my help and between us we managed to let him know we were not having any of his nonsense.
One of the ladies
The temple was beautiful.
At about 9.30 we drove out of Angkor to a temple about 45 minutes away. Unfortunately, on the way we drove past a motorbike with a cagefull of crammed in puppies like you see on those heartbreaking facebook posts. I tried to not think about it, but once the tears started I struggled to stop.
Later I the day when I could compose myself I mentioned to our driver, a gentle man with children and did of his own, how sad it made me. Hoping that this small act will be a start. He said he also didn't like it, so maybe there is some hope of change still.
While the temple was truly beautiful, a smaller building with lovely location and incredible carvings, I was struggling with my feelings of helplessness, sadness and a little desperation that there wasn't anything I could do in these circumstances to take some of the horror away from those poor beautiful creatures I'd seen.
From there we drove even further to where that carved sacred icons into the river bed. It was a long hot walk but we got to put our feet in the river.
Roy catching butterflies
The fish were all biting.
We cooled off under the waterfall.
On the way home, Roy bought some palm sugar.
At last! Some good wine. Roy booked dinner at a restaurant he heard about online called Marum. The food was truly delicious and because of happy hour the wine was affordable. I got a savignon blanc from New Zealand and it was so good I got 3 more! The rice paper boats cheese was delicious and the black bean and coconut curry even better!
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