Here comes the rain...AGAIN!

After the first day at Angkor Wat seeing the temples with a guide and taxi, we decided to go a more rugged route. Yesterday, we rented bicycles and had a great time riding around the temples at our own speed. Our cab driver the first day laughed and discouraged us (I wonder why) from riding bikes because of the heat, but we were prepared to sweat through it for the experience. It was such fun. Then, our butts started the throb, and by noon we decided to to head back to our hotel; about 10 kilometers away. About a third of the way back, the rain came, and it poured and poured and poured. The rain here gives no warning and it just comes down hard and in sheets. The roads flood instantly, leaving everything muddy and dirty.

Being on bikes, we took shelter at first in little huts where locals were selling paintings and curios. We would ride for maybe 3 minutes, and then it would come down hard again. It just didnt seem like the rain was letting up any time soon. So, we wrapped our new camera, our passports, and cash in plastic bags that the people there gave us, and just rode back through the thick downpour. Glad we did, because we might've been stuck out there. The roads were like lakes!

Funny, because if this had happened back at home, I would've been so uncomfortable and complaining. You kind of become numb to these discomforts after a while. Same with the heat and just feeling sweaty and gross all the time. I normally hate the heat and humidity, but again, you just get used to it here. I guess you have no choice, right?

We're flying out tonight (July 15th) at about 7 pm for Hanoi, Vietnam. We wish there had been an earlier flight from Siem Reap, because aside from Angkor Wat, there's not too much to do here. Oh well, not doing anything might be kinda nice.

Kate