Day 3

This morning I got up at 4am. The power was out in the guesthouse, so I had to stumble around in the dark, washing my face, getting dressed, and gathering my things. It rained last night, so I walked in and out of puddles to the old market area, where I was lucky to find someone to open up their shop-front and rent me a bicycle again. I was definitely their first customer of the day! There were just enough street lamps to make the ride out to Angkor do-able. It was beautiful and calm when I got there, then bunches of other tourist started coming in by tuk-tuk, taxi, bus, and van for sunrise. Still, the overall atmosphere was tranquil, and the temple itself was grand in the dew. I explored until 6:30, then biked to Bayon before the crowds got there. Had a short, pleasant conversation with some monks there. Biked back to Angkor Wat and had noodles for breakfast at a stall across from the temple entrance. I was back to Siem Reap by 9am. Too tired for more biking and sight-seeing, so I paid $5 to use the rooftop pool at one of the nice hotels by the riverside. Lazed away the rest of the morning there, had lunch, then lazed away a good chunk of the afternoon reading back at the guesthouse.
When it was cool enough to go out again, I rode my bicycle across town and returned it. Then I spent the entire evening doing one of my very favorite things - wandering. Up and down side streets and main streets; in and out of shops; through the old market, the central market, the night market; stopping for street food and fruit juice; talking and joking with strangers. Just soaking up the atmosphere.