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Angkor Wat at Sunset: a Spectacular Experience

10/09/2012 by Kristin 13 Comments

Day 6

After my harrowing day of travel between Bangkok and Siem Reap (where I am now), I walked into my dorm to find a group of people who would become my friends and travel buddies for the next few days.  We casually talked about our plans and elected to go together to the temples at sunset – something we had heard is quite beautiful and rumored to be even better than the famed sunrise.

Getting to Angkor Wat, most people hire a tuk-tuk (usually to the tune of $15, a truly insane price in Cambodia where everything is so cheap)

Instead, we decided to form an epic bike gang and pedaled out to Angkor Wat, happier with the $2 price tag for a bike rental.

Like a gaggle of geese we flew down the road, narrowly avoiding tuk-tuks, cars, motorbikes, and tourist vans, laughing all the way, enjoying the wind on our faces on the extremely hot and humid day.

angkor wat
At one of the Angkor Wat complex’s outer rings

I was continuously blown away by everything I saw.  On one side of me a motorbike drove by with two adults and three children packed on, all of whom smiled and waved.  On the other, the lovely moat around Angkor Wat and the intensely green jungle greeted me.  Just ahead, an elephant crossed the road and a monkey scrambled by after him.

I kept pinching myself, it seemed like a dream.  I’m finally here in Cambodia after wanting to see this wonder of the world for as long as I can remember.  It’s actually happening.  Every now and then I just paused, touching the sandstone and saying to myself “I’m in Cambodia right now.  I’m really, truly in CAMBODIA right now.”

angkor thom
Hanging out at Angkor Thom

We rode right up to Angkor Thom and climbed around for a while.  A Cambodian guard congratulated us on coming in the afternoon, after the tour busses and massive crowds.  I was continually amazed that tourists can walk right up and touch the sandstone carvings.

I continued to be blown away by the beauty for the next few hours.

The sun started to set and we biked to what everyone calls the Tomb Raider temple: Ta Prohm. We were told it was closed, but we elected to go around to the other side and sneak in anyways.  This ended up being the best move yet, as we had the temple almost completely to ourselves as the sun set.

angkor wat
Truly beautiful

We watched in awe as the sun dipped below the tree line.

In that moment I didn’t want to be anywhere else.  Nothing else was on my mind.  I was smiling from ear to ear and so happy with my present moment.  I couldn’t imagine greener pastures anywhere else.

That, for me, is the best high in the world.

As the sky turned dark we hopped back on our bikes, all of which had lights powered by our pedaling.

The ride back proved to be a little scary in the dark as the roads were getting pretty crazy at that point.  Luckily we made it back in one piece to start what was going to be an amazing night of dancing in the street and ending at an all-Cambodian night club.

But that’s a story for the next blog…

*If staying in Siem Reap, definitely consider the Mad Monkey. It was awesomely social and clean, with a good location to boot.

Many people talk about how Amazing Angkor Wat is at sunrise, but to avoid the crowds and experience another side of the temple complex, go at sunset.
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« The Harrowing Journey From Bangkok to Siem Reap
Wednesday Getaway: Angkor Wat »

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I'm Kristin, and my vision of a better world is one where more women are empowered and living out their dreams. Solo traveling is the best method I've found to become the best, bravest version of me. This site is all about how YOU can have the adventure of a lifetime in an easy, fun, approachable way, so that you can feel empowered, too. Want to learn more about me?

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Comments

  1. Joyce Martin says

    10/09/2012 at 12:05 pm

    Wow, what a wonderful experience! Best wishes:)

    Reply
  2. @thevacationwanderer says

    10/09/2012 at 3:04 pm

    You look like you are having too much fun… 😀

    Reply
    • Ava Apollo says

      10/10/2012 at 9:51 pm

      Haha yeah, maybe a little too much.

      Reply
  3. Our Oyster says

    10/09/2012 at 7:04 pm

    You got some real great photos there! I would totally go back to Angkor in a heart beat!

    Reply
    • Ava Apollo says

      10/10/2012 at 9:51 pm

      I would too! I think I might!

      Reply
  4. John says

    10/09/2012 at 8:35 pm

    Really cool, once in a lifetime experience and great job capturing it all in photos and words. Looks like you’re having fun, i’m jealous!

    Reply
    • Ava Apollo says

      10/10/2012 at 9:50 pm

      thanks John. Looks like you’ve been having some awesome travels too.

      Reply
  5. Agness says

    10/10/2012 at 2:39 am

    Angkor Wat is amazing. I explored it a few days ago. I feel so lucky to be living in Siem Reap, 5km from this beauty 🙂 What temple was your favourite one?

    Reply
    • Ava Apollo says

      10/10/2012 at 9:49 pm

      I really liked Angkor Thom. I know that’s a popular one but I can see why.

      Reply
  6. Ina says

    01/22/2017 at 11:37 pm

    Hi 🙂 where did you took the first picture? It’s amazing 🙂

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      01/23/2017 at 10:35 am

      I took them all 🙂

      Reply
      • Ina says

        01/23/2017 at 5:00 pm

        No I mean at which place did you took them 🙂 where is that beautiful place? You said outter ring but it’s huge.. 🙂 do. you know the temple name or the area?
        Thank you! 🙂

        Reply
        • Kristin says

          01/24/2017 at 10:39 am

          I think that was Bayon or Ta Phrom, one of the famous ones 🙂

          Reply

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