After hearing from alot of people that the temples at Angkor (specifically the Angkor Wat temple) are absolute must-sees in southeast Asia, we decided to add it to our itinerary. So, the day after we arrived in Bangkok, Thailand, we left again and were on a bus heading to the Cambodian border. The border crossing was a bit surreal and unlike anything we had experienced up to this point. There were people everywhere. After our bus driver slipped some extra cash to the border officials, everyone on our bus was able to get our visas processed rather quickly. We immediately noticed a difference in the poverty level the moment we crossed over the border from Thailand into Cambodia and our hearts went out to the many children we saw.

After the border crossing, we got on another bus and left for Siem Reap, the Cambodian city people use as a base for exploring the Angkor temples. We heard that the road to Siem Reap was not very good, but nothing could really prepare us for this experience! The road was literally a dirt/gravel road with enormous potholes and huge rocks all over. There was no air conditioning on the bus, and it was so hot that we had to leave all the windows open. Within minutes we and our backpacks were covered in a thin layer of reddish orange dirt. But, we were loving every minute of it! During our travels, whenever we run up against a challenge, frustration or temporary setback, we just look at each other, smile and say, "It's all part of the experience!!"

Some background on the Angkor temples: They are one of Cambodia's major attractions and a source of pride for the country. They were originally built for King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century as his state temple and capital city. Angkor Wat is the best-preserved temple at the site, it is the only one to have remained a significant religious centre since its foundation: first Hindu (dedicated to Vishnu) and then Buddhist. The temple is the epitome of the high classical style of Khmer architecture.

We learned that "Angkor Wat" actually means "City Temple": Angkor is a form of the word nokor which comes from the Sanskrit word nagara (capital), while wat is the Khmer word for temple. This temple has become a symbol of Cambodia, appearing on its national flag.

Taking some advice from Sarah and Andrew who we met in the Mekong Delta, we decided to hire a tuk-tuk driver for a full day of visiting as many temples as we could. We got up at the crack of dawn and arrived at Angkor Wat for the sunrise. The temple is breathtaking and amazing. The detail in the carvings found throughout the temple, was astounding.