Day 4: chillaxing

This morning I had a much needed lie in. Although the last two days were great, I was so exhausted come last night so allowed myself to sleep as long as need be this morning. Arising around 10am, me and my dorm mate Karen headed to the sister srey cafe over looking the river for healthy breakfast and real coffee. This great little spot is run by two Aussies who decided to mate siem reap their home. The cafe is run as an ngo and supports local charities. 

Breakfast was great. We then wandered back getting caught in the most insane monsoon rain I've ever seen. It was biblical. We decided to detour on the way home to the lemongrass spa and settled in for an afternoon of treatments. I had a facial and 90 min massage. Was so indulgent but only cost about £20 for the lot. 

After spa I was feeling a little ropey so came back for a nap, fully intending on going to yoga. However I slept for a few more hours and still felt a little poorly when I woke up. I headed out with the dorm girls for supper and a wander at the night market. We ate at genevieves. Another go restaurant fun by a Aussie man. 

Tomorrow is another early start as I'm going quad biking and zip lining. 

Day 3: photography course Angkor wat

Another 4 am start today as if pre booked a photography course around the Angkor wat temples. What better place to learn how to properly use my camera and get some epic pictures of the beautiful temples. 

I was picked up by the British photography instructed with just one other person on the course. Arriving at the temples before sunrise, with a quick as easy demonstration of how to maximise the features on the camera and why and how to use a tripod. 

despite a significant lack of sun again, I got some great shots of the main temple, Angkor Wat itself.

We continued on to Angkor Thom, the temple features in tomb raider. Arriving before all the other tourists we had the place to ourself and got some fantastic pics despite the monsoon rain.

We saw another two temples pre lunch, a little more of the beaten path, learning how to have an image focused in the forefront with a blurry background.

After popping back into town for lunch and a much needed power nap, we headed back out into the rain, to the temple of faces (my favourite).

Then we were off to another temple deep in the jungle, with hardly had any other visitors. It was so beautiful, but again was another temple being consumed by the jungle.

We headed up a massive hill around 6:30 hoping for a lovely sunset but alas still too cloudy, so dragged ourselves back to town, exhausted but super happy with the pictures id taken that day. And the 17.5 km We'd walked.

Supper tonight was with some other people from the hostel. We went to a great little Mexican place called viva. I've been trying to just be veggie whilst I'm

Here and this place had a ton of options. 

I crashed around 10pm ready for a proper nights sleep and a much needed lie in.

Day 2 Siem Reap: the first glimpse of Angkor wat

Having woken up at 4 am this morning... All booked for the 'sunrise tour' the day started with me getting locked out my

Dorm in just a towel after my morning shower. Classic hostel style. After that disaster I managed to sink a coffee before leaving with all the other hostel kids for a mere $6 for half a day Angkor tour. We got to the gates to buy our passes just as it was getting light and by the time we made it to the viewing point for sunrise, not only was it ramp packed with tourists, it was light and there was no sign of the sun behind the clouds.

Still Angkor wat was as breathtaking as ever. This mystical city emerges out of the jungle from no where. 

After walking round Angkor we carried on to another temple called batong, the temple of faces which was really breathtaking (and it think was my favourite). We managed to get there before the rest of the tourists had left Angkor wat so pretty much had it to ourselves.

Next up was a temple with a lot of climbing to do. With very narrow steps.

Followed by the famous Angkor thom, the temple used in the film tomb raider (and my second favourite). The jungle has literary over taken this temple. Tree roots bursting through walls, green moss covering the statues, tumbling walls. It's really spectacular. 

After wandering round a few other temples in the complex, we returned by lunch time and chilled a little.

I then headed down to the museum of Angkor wat, a brand new set up explaining some of the history of this Khmer city. Well worth a visit.

Lunch was at the peace cafe, a community run NGO serving delicious veggie food with community outreach programs, yoga and a cookery class  ( on my list for later in the week). 

After lunch I retired to a little glorious coffee shop for an iced coffee and some chill time before and hour of sunshine by the rooftop pool. 

Next up was double yoga again, with the flying class pushing us a little further today, and glorious vinyasa thereafter. 

(Yes that's me)

Dinner was with the hostel crowd at famous Marum. Another NGO based restaurant training up underprivileged Cambodians to be waiters and chefs. The food was Khmer style and we opted for all the veggie Cambodian tapas. And desert. And the most amazing mango and coconut mojito. 

Off to bed now in prep for another 4am start!

Day 1 Siem Reap

Well I made it to yet another new country. Pretty good flight with Thai air, slept about 6 hours then a very close connection at Bangkok where I nearly didn't make my empty flight to Cambodia, but got here in the end. 

Having sorted my visa out straight away and with a stash of dollars in my back pocket, immigration was a breeze. I was picked up by my tuk tuk driver from Onedez Hostel and finally made it (despite a flat tyre on the way!).

Checked in to my dorm, locked the bags up and headed out for a much needed massage at lemongrass spa. $12 for an hour and it was amazing! I might have to go everyday...

I then came back and chilled by the rooftop pool for a bit before meeting two of the other girls in my dorm. One from Singapore and the other from New York. 

I managed to persued them both to join me for flying yoga and stay on for a second yoga class or vinyasa flow. So relaxing. 

Just trying to plan the rest of the week now. Aiming to get up at 4 tomorrow for sunrise over Angkor wat.

Looking at doing a photography course at Angkor wat itself and then a day zip lining and quad biking.

Will probably do a Cambodian cooking course just to add to my repetitoire. And lots more yoga and massages!

The next adventure: channeling my inner Lara croft in Cambodia...

It seems like ages since I last had an adventure. Although it's only been a few months it seems like all I've done is work work work since Morocco with Saoirse. This trip to Cambodia has sort of come out of no where. It's been a place I've wanted to visit since my first trip to Thailand, aged 18, when I was off working on the Thai/Burmese border with hill tribes and refugees. 

I'm hoping for a week of adventures, relaxing and time for reflection on the last few months. Here we go! 

Day 14 and day 15: back to Kathmandu

We awoke to glorious sunshine this morning. However despite the beautiful weather in the mountains, the weather back in Kathmandu was not quite so lovely and our flight was delayed 4 hours or so while we waiting for things to improve. 

We finally got called up and boarded the tiny plane back to the land of hot showers. 

First thing was first when we got back. Shower time. The boys went off to get beards trimmed and massages. I think I spent at least an hour scrubbing and managed to then find the only hair dryer in Kathmandu. Joy of joys. 

We reassembled for supper, all pretty much irrecognisable from our 'mountain' selves and headed off for pizza, beers and good times. 

Our last day we all awoke feeling a little different jaded. The altitude, weight loss and physical exercise of the previous two weeks mend our alcohol tolerance was severely impaired.

With various departure times throughout the day, a few of us headed out to the monkey temple to take in the views and see one of the main hoghlights of Kathmandu. 

It was definately worth seeing, but the effects of the earthquake have been pretty devastating here. And the rebuild is still ongoing.

Next came the time to bid farewell to my new family and flying back to the uk.

This trip had been literally life changing. I've pushed myself more that I ever thought I could and achieved something I never dreamed I would. I've seen some of the most beautiful scenery of my life but also some of the worse poverty.

I've made a new family, who I hope I'll stay in contact with. Most of all I've shown myself I can achieve the unimaginable if I just put my mind to it and focus.onwards and upwards.