On March 30, we started the morning early at 4:30am in order to watch the sun rise over Angkor Wat. In the dark, we rode the tuktuks to the entrance of the temple and selected spots to enjoy the view. We sat peacefully as the sun slowly rose over the temple, lighting up the dark sky with hues of pink, red, and orange. We were all moved by the profound beauty of the sun peeking out from behind the towers of the temple, casting rays of light onto our surroundings. After a quick breakfast, we walked into the temple and were given the chance to explore. Many of us chose to climb the steep stairs up to the top of the three towers. The view from these towers was breathtaking, and we were able to look down at the temple grounds and out towards the dense jungle in which Siem Reap is located.
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Exiting the temple, we stopped by Starbucks to refresh ourselves with cold drinks and air conditioning. On our way to the tuktuks, we saw many monkeys and baby monkeys that were so cute! One of the monkeys stole a tourist's water bottle and was able to open it and drink the water. After, we took the tuktuks back to the meditation center and relaxed until lunch. The highlight of our lunch was the delicious mango that the center provided.
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After lunch, we took the tuktuks to a school in Siem Reap called PEPY. At PEPY, they strive to empower older, high school to university age students and give them tools such as computer skills and leadership opportunities to allow them to pursue their dream careers. We saw this in the classrooms, as the students learned how to use Excel Spreadsheets and present in English. We also got the chance to meet many of the students who told us about the mission of PEPY. We formed small groups with the students and got to know them by asking each other questions. After, we participated in fun dances where the students taught us some Khmer dance moves and performed for us. Overall, the experience at PEPY let us interact with people around the world and see how even though we come from vastly different backgrounds, we have many similarities and are able to connect in a meaningful way.
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On our way back to the Meditation Center, we stopped at a local supermarket where we bought many delicious snacks and fruits. Back at the center, we rested before leaving for dinner. After our dinner, we returned to the Meditation Center to quickly pack before settling into our new hotel in Siem Reap. We were all very relieved to sleep in a cool place, and went to bed with big smiles. We look forward to our last full day in Cambodia tomorrow!
