The Terrace: Return from Vacation-Land

My Christmas present to myself was a 4-day vacation to Siem Reap town to hang out with my Peace Corps buddies and stuff myself full of Western food. I managed to blow nearly an entire month's salary in 4 days, 1.5 of which were spent on a bus. Go me! (Incidentally, I have discovered what must be one of the least desirable jobs in Cambodia: bus driver on the Siem Reap-Battambang route. My butt has yet to forgive me for doing this twice ever. Imagine if it was your job...? To be sure, there are worse roads in Cambodia, but I'll venture that few are as bad for as long.)

I'll say more on Siem Reap later, and commence with the weekend rundown. It mostly involved long periods of internet-gazing punctuated by large Western meals (and beers). Kevin, Sarah, and I also discovered a swimming pool, which may be the best place to spend Christmas Eve, ever. Sarah and I forgot our swimsuits, so we swam Khmer style, in our clothes.

And the sun, how it shone.

I also managed to get into the Angkor Wat complex for a quick sunset photo op (entry is free for foreigners after 5:30 pm) on my friend's rickety bike (no offense, Sarah). I couldn't make it up any temple stairs before twilight really set in, so I didn't get any spectacular photos. But now I can at least say that I have laid my eyes on Angkor Wat, and this less than 11 months after arriving in Cambodia. Again, go me! I nearly got lost in the complex in the twilight but managed to find the road back to town in time for a hamburger.