Adventures of an Islander

“Destination reached. 5 Dolla. 4 dolla for tuk-tuk and 1 dolla for breadfast”, the driver mumbled incoherently. Whilst walking down the alleys of Siem Reap, you will often hear one dolla, one dolla. Well, nearly everything is one Dollar. “Fried in imported peanut oil from Amrica”, the tuk-tuk driver continued whilst giving me a handful of fried cricket. After spending thirty days backpacking throughout South East Asia, I was accustomed to eat anything which can be found in the “weird-thing-that-people-eat section” of a culinary magazine. Sauteed tarantula and roasted moth larvae were my favorite street food. They are delicious, trust me. It was around 5 A.M and the sky was transitioning from black to its deepest shade of blue. I was still sleepy and automatically in a grumpy mood. I am far from being a morning person; but this was my penultimate day in Siem Reap and I had to see the sunrise. I paid the 5 dollars and headed inside while munching the crickets – my protein boost for the day.

I was at the gateway. I took out the compass and tried to figure out my way to the west side. As per numerous reviews on travel websites; sunrise is best seen from a pond filled with lavender colored lotus flowers situated on the western side of the main sanctuary. Walking down the stone path, through the ancient gates and amidst the huge Kapok trees, I eventually reached what was supposedly the pond. The latter was bustling with garrulous tourists mostly from China; around a hundred of them. No, actually there were more: around three hundred. They stood around the lake, barricading it as if it was an Emerald mine. Despite being 5 feet and 11 inches; it was impossible for me to catch the glimpse of even one lotus flower.

Eventually, the sun spread its first rays of light in Cambodia, carrying with it the torch of a new day. Purple and crimson hues peered over the magnificent temple’s peak. There were a collective oohs and aahs. But I could not see anything except the carved pinnacle of the antique shrine which was illuminating brightly . I painfully stood on my toes trying to see the famous shadow. It is said that as the sun rises, you actually see the silhouette of the temple reflected in the lake. I was furious for waking up late at 4.30 AM. I promised myself to come back tomorrow even earlier to contemplate the shadows of Angkor Wat when Helios will rise from his chariots. I will never wait the last days to visit the travel treasure of a country. Never.