Ta Prohm

   We had a three day pass to visit Angkor Wat Temple, which seemed like a lot when we were first told but after our first day there, spending hours visiting just three temples, I realized that a three day pass was no where near enough time to possibly see the entire temple. The second days visit was to go see the sunrise which ended up being a little disappointing considering just how early we had to wake up. The only advantage of being there as the sun rose was that the amount of people around was significantly smaller than when we had visited the previous day, when it was almost impossible to get a good photo without another tourist walking into your shot. We quickly loaded up into tuk-tuks and headed back to explore one of the temples we had visited previously before anyone else decided to do the same.

   Ta Prohm is probably the most recognizable temple in Angkor Wat simply because it was used as one of the locations in Tomb Raider. Visiting it again with no one but the ten or so people from our group that decided to come out for the sunrise was a completely different experience than the day before. With no one around the struggle between nature and man was so much more overwhelming. It was so peaceful and quiet that you could really just hear the rustling of the leaves in the slight morning breeze and the echoes of your footsteps in the various walk ways. This is honestly one of the most peaceful moments in my life, it was absolutely beautiful. Everything about the temples is just breathtaking. If you even just think about the construction of them and all the intricate designs that are carved into the stone it's really amazing to think what humans were capable of so many years ago before all the modern day technology.  If you're ever in Siem Reap make sure you go to Angkor Wat for the sunrise and go explore the temples before the rush of tourists comes, you won't regret it.