July 2016 - What an adventure that we planned. My sister came back from a one year work-and travel in NZ and Australia with a prolonged stopover option in Bangkok. Good opportunity for us to finally visit Thailand. Coincidentally my best friend from school was also around and joined our travels for a bit. After arriving in Asia and having a relaxed day on the Chao Praya, we took the train to the Cambodian border the next day. The train ride was an awesome experience already. A tuktuk took us to the border (beware of fake visa offices) and it cost us maybe half an hour and some shine dollar bills at the customs, to get our Visa and resume travel.The 2 hour busride to Siem Riep was in a comfortable Vantaxi with 10 other tourists, including 2 potential rip-off stopovers on the way. Surprise: the bus station was a few km outside Siem and overpriced tuktuks offered us a ride to the centre. We didn't have too much luggage so started walking, the tuktuks passing us a few times and offering cheape fares with every step we walked. Finally a nice Cambodian guy took us to the next hostel and offered us a guided visit in Angkor next day.

8 a.m. next morning "King Kong" was really standing in front of our hostel and took us to Angkor Vats entry. We payed the approx. 30$ and arranged to see at least 5 different temples that day. "King Kong" was waiting in his hammock, while we were visiting and provided us with water and snacks for the rides. It was a really nice experience to learn, that the guys behind the tourist ripp-off mafia, are actually really nice, friendly totally trustworthy and ambassadors for their people.

First in the morning we visited Angkor Wat. Not too many tourist yet but monkeys who were jumping around and picking Mangos from the trees. First time for me to see monkeys in "real" nature. But opposite to Thailand, they were not fed by tourists and eating rubbish, but played around the temples for their joy. We enjoyed our time here and spend at least 1,5 hours. Our next stop was Angkor Thom with the beatiful Bayon and the terraces of lepra, enough details to discover and keep you here for another hour. Preah Khan was our next stopver, a rather remote and quite temple which we had for our own.  Really liked it here, jungle remoteness was perfect here.

Last visit was at Ta Prohm. The famous Tomb Raider temple covered with Mangroves. It started raining heavily which increased the mystical atmosphere and made place for some nice pictures.Totally soaked from the Monsoon, we came back to Siem Reap and still enjoyed a big portion of tasty Amokh. We will come back sometime because this place is defnitely worth its status of one of the 7 new world wonders. Another 12 days of Thailand followed after this amazing side trip.