Cambodia I hardly got to know you (Joel)

With the sun shining, the Full Moon Party coming to a close, and Siem Reap awaiting our arrival, our times of island fun  in the south of Thailand were undoubtedly coming to an end. Despite a night/early morning of raucous (and practically no sleep) the group was determined to make the ambitious, but achievable 9:30 AM ferry ride off the island. We exploited every moment of the next hour of travel to snooze, although it was nowhere near enough time to make up  for the marathon that was the Full Moon Party. 

We found ourselves once again at familiar place, the gate awaiting the departure of our next Bangkok Airways flight. The service on the next two flights was once again impeccable. The flights and connections went off without a hitch, however some notable highlights include: (1) Corey somehow sitting in the back of the plane alone while Jay, Mike, and myself enjoyed a row in the front together, (2) immediate disappointment upon opening my kosher meal to find only an apple and two green tangerines, and (3) an impressive meal service during a record setting 35 minute flight from Bangkok to Siem Reap.

We arrived in Siem Reap early in the evening where we were met by our tour guide "Mr. T". He kindly chauffeured us to our accommodations at the Memoire D'Ankor. The group was pleasantly surprised with Mr. T's recommendation. The rooms were spacious and clean and the location was more than ideal. Located in the heart of downtown Siem Reap, just a few minutes' walk from the infamous Pub Street, the Memoire served as the perfect starting point for our adventures in Cambodia.

The group was visibly tired, not sleeping for 36 hours tends to take a toll, but it was my last night in South East Asia, so we were determined to make it more than memorable. Pub Street was undoubtedly the only place to go on a night like this; with restaurants serving food from around the world, beer and spirits practically given away for free, and music blaring - this locale was sure to keep us awake. The night was a blast, we partied our way through Pub Street's famous bars Angkor What? and Temple.

After meeting some interesting characters, sharing some North American dance moves, and swapping travel stories we headed back to the hotel to grab some shut eye before our day of temple touring around Siem Reap.

Mr. T picked us up bright and early. The next several hours were spent touring three of Siem Reap's most magnificent temples; Ta Prohm, Bayon, and Angkor Wat. Having a native Cambodian tour guide is the only way to visit these temples in my opinion. Mr. T shared not only the history behind these amazing works of architecture but their significance and importance in modern day Cambodian history.  After hearing of the hardships, wars, and violence Mr. T had experienced it was hard to fathom how much the region had changed in last 35 years. 

Ta Prohm

Bayon (the smiling temple)

Angkor Wat

Our adventure continued with an ATV ride throughout the rural countryside on the outskirts of Siem Reap. The excursion was the perfect opportunity to gain insight and prospective on life in Cambodia outside the hustle and bustle of downtown Siem Reap. As we passed through rice paddies, farms, and countless local villages it was hard not to think about how our lives are so vastly different than those people we encountered. But perhaps the most surprising and memorable experience was meeting some local children who were playing at a temple just beyond the city limits. While clearly of meager upbringing, their faces were filled with smiles and joy and our group could not help but stop our tour and play some games with the crowd. 

By now my hours in South East Asia were numbered, I joined the group for a final meal of pizza, local smoothies, and Cambodian fare. I said goodbye to my travelling companions as the three were staying behind. I made my way to the airport, heading back to the grind of everyday life. South East Asia you will surely be missed!

So long 50 cent drafts :(