(I'm just going to start posting stories and stuff in whatever order I get around to writing them down).

Angkor Wat was amazing, and Cambodia is strange and beautiful, but the climate did not really agree with me -- I don't do too well in hot and humid, especially if I'm spending 6-7 hours at a stretch climbing around ancient ruins. I was also getting a little stomach sick and wasn't eating much. By the third day of temple viewing, I was fairly wiped out and pretty dehydrated. I was sweating buckets and the bright sun was overwhelming my vision.

On the previous two days, we'd started in the early morning, and gone until midafternoon, but our plan on the 11th was to start at around 2:00 and catch sunset at Pre Rup, which is very tall and has great views. By the time we hit East Mebon, which is also tall with good views, I was running out of energy, and getting to the top really took it out of me. Pre Rup though, we basically headed straight for the top. When I got there, I was done for. I sat down with my vision going white and then basically passed out (and had weird dreams). I'm not sure how long I was out (E was exploring out of sight) but when I came to, I was still sitting there. We rested a while, I took some pictures, and we climbed down slowly.

The drive back in the air-conditioned car was restful, but back at the hotel I was definitely not okay. Standing up from going to the bathroom, I blacked out and hit the floor. E stayed up with me all night making me drink water (while I bitched at her because I didn't want to make the effort, and sitting up to drink hurt my now-bruised ribs). The nice people where we were staying made me some roasted bark tea, and I managed a little food in the morning. By the time we needed to head to the airport, I was feeling tired and weak (and bruised), but okay. I've been hydrating maximally ever since, under E's watchful eye. (my ribs still hurt like hell, especially not that I've acquired a cough).

The amazing thing to me is that I somehow managed to get up that thing and take pictures, in the state I was in. and that I didn't fall off it when I passed out. E and I are not what you would call adventure travelers, and this would be plenty of excitement for us (at least, until I get to the story about us showing up in Da Nang in the middle of a typhoon).

here's a brief email I just sent my parents with some highlights of the trip so far...

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