Vacation For Life

Tips for Watching and Photographing the Angkor Wat Sunrise

Angkor Wat Sunrise Tips Siem Reap Cambodia

I am not a morning person. In fact, I can probably count on one hand the number of sunrises I have witnessed. I’m actually struggling to think of more than two, and one of them, sunrise in Monument Valley, Utah, was only because I was able to photograph it from our hotel room balcony in my pajamas. However, seeing the sun rise over Angkor Wat is supposed to be one of those bucket list not-to-be-missed experiences so, with the helpful enthusiasm of Romeo, without which I would have stayed in bed, we woke up before the crack of dawn to photograph Angkor Wat at sunrise. Here are our Angkor Wat sunrise tips.

The Best Arrival Time to Watch and Photograph the Angkor Wat Sunrise

Angkor Wat Sunrise 5:35 a.m. Angkor Wat Sunrise Tips Siem Reap Cambodia

Angkor Wat around 5:35 a.m. from the south reflecting pool (but not the best spot for watching the sunrise).

The key to successfully photographing the sunrise at Angkor Wat is to find the best spot. The only way to find the best spot for photographing the Angkor Wat sunrise is to arrive early. I mean really early. Our Viking River Cruises tour guide suggested leaving the hotel at 5:00, as did the hotel concierge. However, while that time works for watching the sunrise, it’s actually a little late for getting the best spot to photograph the sunrise. Angkor Wat opens at 5:00 a.m., so we suggest getting there at or before 5:00 a.m. and leaving your hotel by 4:40 a.m. at the latest.

The Best Way to Get to Angkor Wat for Sunrise

The most common and, in our opinion, best way to get to Angkor Wat for sunrise is by tuk tuk. It was really easy. All we had to do was go to our hotel’s concierge the afternoon before and ask them to set up a tuk tuk for us at 5:00 a.m. (but ask for it earlier as mentioned above). When we came downstairs in the morning our tuk tuk was waiting and whisked us off to Angkor Wat.

The first thing our tuk tuk driver did before we drove away from the hotel was ask us if we had our temple passes. We did, but we were grateful he asked because it could have been very easy to forget them in the rush to get ready, and how sad that would have been.

South Reflecting Pool Angkor Wat Sunrise Tips Siem Reap Cambodia

If you do get to Angkor Wat late, the view is still pretty from the south reflecting pool, the sun just won't come up over the temple.

When we arrived at Angkor Wat, I went to pay our tuk tuk driver and then learned that he would actually wait for us and return us back to the hotel, at which time we would pay him. The total cost for this was $10. We returned to the parking lot around 7:00 a.m., which by that time had become a sea of tuk tuks, but our driver had told us where he would be parked and he was waiting for us and waving when we returned. Just to be sure, take note (or a photo) of your driver’s tuk tuk name and number. Our driver’s tuk tuk was marked Mr. Lorn No. 1.

Another option for getting to Angkor Wat for sunrise is renting a bicycle. We passed a few bicyclists on our way. However, we wouldn’t recommend it. Imagine how early you’d have to wake up to bike to Angkor Wat!

The Best Place to Photograph Angkor Wat at Sunrise

6:45 a.m. Angkor Wat Sunrise Tips Siem Reap Cambodia

Just before the sun appeared over the top. Surprisingly, many had already left.

Once you arrive at Angkor Wat, it’s important to get to the best place to photograph the sunrise, and to do so quickly. You won’t have the luxury of taking your time to find the best spot to watch the Angkor Wat sunrise or to move around. Romeo was surprised by how many tuk tuks and bicycles were on the road so early in the morning, all heading to Angkor Wat for sunrise.

Upon arrival, you will walk along the Sandstone Cause Way across the Angkor Wat moat and enter through the Angkor Wat Gateway. You’ll then continue along the walkway until you pass the North Library and South Library on either side. There will then be two reflecting pools, one on each side of the walkway. We found the best place to photograph the Angkor Wat sunrise to be at the northwest corner of the north reflecting pool facing Angkor Wat.

There are two reasons why you should visit Angkor Wat a day or two before you plan on visiting for sunrise. First, you need to have already purchased your temple pass to enter, which is $40 for three days. Second, you need to have scoped out the area so you can make your way as quickly as possible to your desired spot in the pitch black without breaking an ankle or falling into the water.

Since we arrived a little later than was best, I was extremely fortunate to find a spot in my anticipated perfect spot, as most people first headed for the center spots along the reflecting pool. There was already a family of three there and just enough space for me at the water’s edge. When I asked where I could put my tripod so I wouldn’t be in their way, they were kind enough to let me squeeze in with them and I ended up placing my tripod below the cement step on which we stood straight into the muddy bank of the pond. A few people joked about my tripod in the mud, but it was stable, out of everyone’s way, and helped me get the best sunrise shots while taking up as little room as possible.

Camera Setup Angkor Wat Sunrise Tips Siem Reap Cambodia

Tripod in the Mud Angkor Wat Sunrise Tips Siem Reap Cambodia

Be prepared to stand firm to keep your spot. Late-comers may try to push through and stand in front of you. You woke up early for your spot, so don’t let them! We actually didn’t have this problem, thankfully. One person early on tried to squeeze by me and the daughter of the family I stood with, but we just stood still. Otherwise, a few people asked to squeeze through just for one photo once the sun had mostly risen and people had started to leave, which we allowed and they very politely took their photo and then moved back again. However, I have heard tales of people piling rocks in the water so they could stand on the pile or wearing rubber boots so they could wade into the reflecting pool. I have also heard of people throwing rocks into the pool during sunrise, causing ripples to ruin people’s reflection photos.

The Best Way to Photograph the Angkor Wat Sunrise

North Reflecting Pool Angkor Wat Sunrise Tips Siem Reap Cambodia

To view sunrise at Angkor Wat, all you need is a pair of eyes to see and a pair of legs to stand on. If you want a few snapshots of the sunrise once the sun has lit the sky or just as it peaks above the Angkor Wat towers, a cell phone or point-and-shoot camera will work. However, if you want really good pictures of sunrise from start to finish, a phone or point-and-shoot aren’t quite enough.

I was able to get pretty good pictures with my iPhone starting after 6:00 a.m. when the sun hadn’t quite made an appearance but was lighting up the sky enough for a handheld photo. But I had already been taking photos with my mirrorless Sony A7ii for half an hour. Just note that if you will be photographing the Angkor Wat sunrise with a cell phone or point-and-shoot camera, you will be standing around for quite a while with a very pretty view, but one that you will not be able to capture in a photo.

6:09 iPhone photo Angkor Wat Sunrise Tips Siem Reap Cambodia

Angkor Wat sunrise at 6:09 a.m. on the iPhone.

6:41 a.m. iPhone photo Angkor Wat Sunrise Tips Siem Reap Cambodia

Angkor Wat sunrise at 6:41 a.m. on the iPhone.

If you do want to use your DSLR or mirrorless camera, your best bet is to bring a tripod. Interestingly, even when I was able to take photos with my iPhone, I overheard people nearby me with DSLR cameras complaining that they still weren’t able to get a decent shot. They were all trying to do so with the camera held by hand.

For the photos included in my time-lapse of the Angkor Wat sunrise, I started just after 5:30 a.m. with the following camera settings: ISO 100, f/4.0, and a 30-second exposure. As the light in the sky increased, I knocked down the exposure time (eight seconds at 5:45 a.m., 3.2 seconds at 5:50 a.m., and so on). When the sun was close to appearing over the top of Angkor Wat, I changed the f-stop to 22 as I wanted to get clearly defined sunrays. At all times my camera was on a tripod and my lens was focused to infinity. I had worried that I should have brought my wide-angle lens. However, I was glad I did not, as I ended up using a 35-millimeter focal length in order to crop out the people along the north edge of the reflecting pool, as I was positioned at the very corner.

If you are going to attempt an Angkor Wat sunrise time-lapse, use an app or a remote that opens the shutter at set intervals. Not only does that make it a lot easier, it also reduces the amount of movement there will be in the photo from pushing the shutter button. I did not bring my remote, so I was constantly pushing the button at irregular intervals, and my tripod’s position in the mud means there was some movement between shots. (I used a two-second timer to eliminate shake in the actual photos.) Luckily, Photoshop can layer the photos and auto align them quite successfully. It only takes running the program overnight and a lot of patience….

Is Watching the Sunrise Over Angkor Wat Worth It

Starburst Angkor Wat Sunrise Tips Siem Reap Cambodia

If hundreds, if not over a thousand or more, people are waking up at an ungodly hour every morning to watch the sunrise over Angkor Wat, it must be worth it, right? Some might think it an awfully touristy thing to do. I wouldn’t have put up a fight if Romeo hadn’t been into it, as sleep is precious to me. However, as soon as tiny bits of light started to appear, revealing the dark outline of Angkor Wat, my heart started to beat a little faster and I was so glad we had made the effort. So yes, if you are a fan of beauty and seeing something you just cannot see every day, watching the Angkor Wat sunrise is absolutely worth it.

However, sometimes conditions can make seeing the Angkor Wat sunrise not as epic on some days as on others. We were extremely fortunate that, even though it was cloudy, the clouds were just high enough to see the actual sunrise above Angkor Wat, even though it only made an appearance for four minutes before disappearing behind the clouds. If the sky is completely covered in low clouds and haze, the Angkor Wat sunrise may not be quite so spectacular.

Be sure to stick around for the sun to actually appear above the temple if it is clear enough. I was very surprised by the number of people that had cleared out before that even happened.

Crowds Angkor Wat Sunrise Tips Siem Reap Cambodia

Who says watching the sunrise with hundreds of others isn't romantic?

Bottom line, if you’re thinking of watching or photographing the Angkor Wat sunrise, the early morning wake up, slightly chilly tuk tuk ride, mass march through pitch black, and view of one very romantic sunrise accompanied by a couple thousand strangers is well worth it. Hopefully, our Angkor Wat sunrise tips will make it as painless as possible.

Thank you to Viking River Cruises for hosting us on their Magnificent Mekong tour through Vietnam and Cambodia and making this post possible. As always, all opinions are our own. This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase through them, it costs you nothing extra and we earn a small commission which goes towards funding this website and our travels so we can bring you more travel stories.

Travel the World: Angkor Wat sunrise tips including what time to go, how to get there,the best spot, and tips for taking photos.

10 Things To Eat and Drink at European Christmas Markets

What to Eat and Drink at European Christmas Markets

The holidays are meant for eating, aren’t they? When we visited the European Christmas markets of the Danube River we kept our eyes open for special European Christmas market foods. From sausages to glühwein, we’ve got you covered for finding some of the best European Christmas market eats.

Lángos

One of the first food items I spotted at a European Christmas market was lángos at one of the Budapest Christmas markets. Lángos is a Hungarian food specialty consisting of deep fried bread topped with sour cream, grated cheese, and lots of garlic. It kind of looks like a personal-size pizza. Lángos is a street and fair food, so it is perfect Christmas market fare. While lángos is Hungarian, we also found it at some of the German Christmas markets.

Chimney Cake

Chimney cake, or kürtőskalács, is another Hungarian specialty, though it also can be found at Christmas markets in other European countries. Chimney cake gets its name from its shape, which is achieved by winding sweet bread dough around a spit and roasting it over an open fire.

Sengzelten

Sengzelten is another delightful European Christmas market snack we found at the Passau Christmas Market. This individual-sized treat is baked in a wood-burning pizza oven. A thin cracker crust is topped with your choice of toppings including sour cream and chives; leek, onion, and cheese; ham, onion, and cheese; or smoked meat, leek, onion, and cheese.

Gingerbread

When at the Nuremberg Christmas market, it is essential to sample the elisenlebkuchen. Lebkuchen is traditional German gingerbread, and elisenlebkuchen is specific to Nuremberg. This gingerbread was originally a honey cake and is still usually sweetened with honey. There are many spices and very little flour in the gingerbread, and elisenlebkuchen is full of nuts.

Half-Meter Sausage

A popular Christmas market treat in Germany is the half-meter sausage. The name explains what it is, a really long sausage on a bun which looks pretty funny.

Nuremberg Sausage

Nuremberg has another specialty food for which they are known, this time of the savory variety. The Nuremberg sausage must be no longer than nine centimeters and no heavier than 25 grams. Nuremberg sausages are enjoyed in a set of three served on a bun with mustard.

Glühwein

The quintessential European Christmas market beverage is glühwein. Glühwein is mulled wine, wine that is warm and spiced with cinnamon and cloves and sweetened with some sugar. In Hungary, it is called forralt bor, but the concept is the same. A mug of glühwein at a Christmas market is made even more fun by the cute mugs in which it is served. You’ll need to pay a deposit, but you’ll get it back when you return your mug, unless you decide to take home that mug for a cute souvenir.

Punsch

Another beverage which will keep you warm while visiting European Christmas markets is punsch. We found punsch in both Germany and Austria, but we found the greatest variety at the Christmas and New Year’s Market at Schönbrunn Palace. The enticing aroma of warm punsch filled the air, with flavors like apfelstrudel.

Glühbier

Warm, alcoholic, Christmas market beverages don’t stop at glühwein and punsch. We also discovered glühbier, which follows the same concept as glühwein, except the base is beer instead of wine. We found our glühbier at the Christmas market at the Spitalgarten in Regensburg.

Thank you to Viking River Cruises for hosting our Romantic Danube cruise and making this post possible. As always, all opinions are our own.

9 Thai Customs to Know Before Traveling to Thailand

Thai Monk Thai Customs and Traditions to Know Before Traveling to Thailand

When traveling to a foreign country, it is always a good idea to read up on the country’s customs, culture, and traditions ahead of time in order to avoid doing anything that would be viewed as disrespectful. When we were doing our research before traveling to Thailand, we found there were a number of Thai customs we needed to remember. Since nine is a lucky number in Thailand, hopefully knowledge of these nine customs you should know before traveling to Thailand will keep you out of any uncomfortable situations.

Avoid Public Displays of Affection

While you may see couples holding hands, it is best for traveling couples to avoid holding hands, and especially kissing or hugging in public. Public displays of affection are not the norm in Thailand.

Don’t Touch Someone’s Head

The head is the most valued part of the body. It is offensive to touch someone’s head. What we did witness, however, was adults patting children on the head. However, travelers should not take such liberties.

Keep Your Feet to Yourself

While the head is the most valued part of the body, the feet are the lowest, least revered part of the body. Whatever you do, don’t point your feet towards statues of Buddha. When entering a temple, be sure to kneel with your feet pointing backward away from the Buddha. In fact, don’t point your feet at anything.

Respect the Royal Family

Thai Money Thai Customs and Traditions to Know Before Traveling to Thailand

Thailand’s King recently passed away. He and the rest of the royal family are highly revered in Thailand. It is important to never, ever say anything against the royal family. Do not step on money, as the recently deceased King’s image is found on money. For instance, if you drop a coin and it starts rolling or spinning, do not step on it to make it stop.

Take Your Shoes Off

Outside of Buddhist temples, you will usually see many pairs of shoes. This is because you must take your shoes off before entering a temple. Therefore, it’s a good idea to wear shoes that are easy to take on and off. You may also be required to take off your shoes before entering a home or a house museum. You may want to carry socks with you if you are wearing flip-flops or sandals.

Related: Bangkok's Wat Saket (The Golden Mount) and Jim Thompson House

Avoid Buddha Selfies

Buddha Selfie Thai Customs and Traditions to Know Before Traveling to Thailand

The image of Buddha is a very sacred thing. Therefore, it is to be respected greatly. Some places prohibit taking a picture with a statue of Buddha. However, some of the more touristy temples will allow it. When in doubt don’t take selfies with the Buddha. However, if your guide offers to take a picture of you with the Buddha in the background, it must be okay.

Related: A Day Trip from Bangkok to Bang Pa-In Summer Palace and Ayutthaya

Dress Temple Appropriate

Most Buddhist temples in Thailand adhere to a strict dress code. This means no short skirts, no shorts, and no sleeveless tops. These rules are sometimes more relaxed in extremely touristy places, like Phuket, but are adhered to in places like Bangkok. Some places will provide a sarong, like the Grand Palace. However, others will not. It can get very hot and humid in Thailand so, if you must wear shorts or tank tops, carry a sarong with you for visiting temples.

Related: A Day in Historic Bangkok, Thailand

Don’t Touch a Monk

This Thai custom only applies to females. Females must not touch monks or pass items directly to monks. Once, while following a path where a monk was coming from the other direction, our guide suggested I move off the path to let the monk pass. It is okay for females to greet monks.

Keep Calm

It is very bad manners to lose your cool or have loud outbursts in Thailand. An important part of Thai culture is the concept of face. Losing face is to be avoided at all costs. One way to lose face is to be loud in public or lose your temper.

Travel the World: 9 Thai customs and traditions all travelers should know before they travel to Thailand.

Cruising the European Christmas Markets of the Danube River

Viennese Christmas Market European Christmas Markets Danube River

A dream we had for years was to visit some of the Christmas markets of Europe. While cruising may not be everyone’s top travel choice, a European river cruise along the Danube River is the perfect way to see many of Europe’s Christmas markets without having to fly or drive long distances and stay at multiple hotels. During our European Christmas market cruise with Viking River Cruises, we were able to visit the Christmas markets of Budapest (Hungary), Vienna (Austria), and Passau, Regensburg, and Nuremberg (Germany).

Related: Review: What It’s Like to Cruise with Viking River Cruises

Budapest Christmas Markets

Budapest Christmas Market Vorosmarty Square European Christmas Markets Danube River

During our Viking river cruise we spent one night in Budapest, so we were able to get off the boat at night and visit three of Budapest’s Christmas markets, both within easy walking distance from where our ship was docked.

Malac Cipoban Budapest European Christmas Markets Danube River

Budapest’s oldest Christmas market is located on Vörösmarty Square. When we first walked into the Christmas market we were greeted by a crispy roasted pig. It looked so delicious that when we came back, it is what we had for dinner. (Sadly, this is also where Rome lost his camera equipment. Read his tale of woe here.) This most delectable sandwich was filled with caramelized onions, sweet pickled cabbage, tender pulled pork (called malac cipóban), gravy, and peppers. It reminded me a little bit of the muffaletta in New Orleans.

The Budapest Christmas market was full of other delicious looking foods and I was just sad I couldn’t eat it all. There was the puffy Hungarian fry bread called langos, which is topped with garlic, sour cream, and cheese. There was also chimney cake, a type of pastry wrapped around a stick and cooked while rotating over a fire.

Forralt Bor Budapest European Christmas Markets Danube River

No visit to a European Christmas market is complete without having a mug of glühwein, and we enjoyed our first in Budapest. However, in Hungary, glühwein is called forralt bor, which translates to boiled wine. Forralt bor is made with wine, cinnamon, sugar, and cloves. Forralt bor is usually made with red wine, but we also found it made with white wine. (To make your own, check out our traditional European Christmas market glühwein recipe.)

Budapest St. Stephen's Square Christmas Market European Christmas Markets Danube River

Another Christmas market we visited in Budapest is a short distance away on St. Stephen’s Square in front of the towering St. Stephen’s Basilica. In addition to the many wooden market stalls is an ice skating rink and a huge Christmas tree.

We found one more Christmas market in Budapest. This one is in Erzsébet Square near the Sziget Eye, Budapest’s Ferris wheel.

Related: What to Do in Budapest in One Day

Vienna Christmas Markets

Christmas Market on Stephansplatz European Christmas Markets Danube River

While some of the towns and cities along the Danube River may have one or just a handful of Christmas markets, Vienna has over 20 official Advent Markets. We couldn’t visit them all, but we were able to visit quite a few, again thanks to the fact that it was easy to leave our Viking River Cruises ship and head into the city while we were docked overnight.

Christmas Market on Stephansplatz Stall European Christmas Markets Danube River

Our first Viennese Christmas market was the Christmas Market on Stephansplatz, overlooked by the towering St. Stephen’s Cathedral with its colorful tiled roof. The Christmas Market on Stephensplatz is one of the best markets for souvenirs. There were many beautifully-made Christmas ornaments as well as other great traditional and high-quality products.

Gluhwein European Christmas Markets Danube River

This was our first introduction to the many shapes of the European Christmas markets’ glühwein mugs. While the forralt bor in Budapest was served in plastic cups, most European Christmas markets serve glühwein in special mugs, many specific to that particular Christmas market. When you purchase a mug of glühwein, you pay not only for the glühwein, but also a deposit for the mug. If you return the mug, you get your deposit back. If you don’t, you get to take home a fun souvenir. You can bet the cute little red boot mugs painted with a Christmas scene of St. Stephen’s Cathedral were not returned by us.

Schonbrunn Palace Christmas Market European Christmas Markets Danube River

One of Vienna’s other great Christmas markets is the Christmas and New Year’s Market at Schönbrunn Palace. The Christmas market, backdropped by the majestic yellow Schönbrunn Palace is so festive with live Christmas music and the smell of Christmas with the multitude of flavored hot punches and glühwein.

Christmas Village Maria-Theresien Platz European Christmas Markets Danube River

Other Viennese Christmas markets include the Viennese Christmas Market in front of City Hall, the Christmas Village Belvedere Palace, and the Christmas Village Maria-Theresien Platz in front of the Museum of Natural History and the Museum of Art.

Graben Christmas Market European Christmas Markets Danube River

Vienna is also full of festively lit streets, like Graben, where there are also Christmas market stalls.

Passau Christmas Market

Passau is a small city of Germany where the Danube splits to also create the Inn River. The Passau Christmas Market is held every year in the Old Town in front of St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Domplatz.

Regensburg Christmas Markets

Regensburger Christkindlmarkt European Christmas Markets Danube River

Passau Christmas Market Gluwhein European Christmas Markets Danube River

Regensburg’s old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has four Christmas markets from which to choose. In Neupfarrplatz is Regensburg’s traditional Christmas Market, Regensburger Christkindlmarkt, in front of Neupfarrkirche and a few blocks away from Regensburg Cathedral. Here you can indulge in a half-meter sausage, a mini-sausage sandwich, and, of course, glühwein.

Thurn and Taxis Palace Christmas Market European Christmas Markets Danube River

Kids Playing Thurn and Taxis European Christmas Markets Danube River

One of the most atmospheric Christmas markets is Regensburg’s Christmas market in the courtyard of the Thurn and Taxis palace. There’s a reason it’s called the romantic market. There is nothing more romantic than sipping a hot mug of glühwein while standing in front of a fire, surrounded by a regal palace topped with crowns and wooden market stalls decorated in evergreen.

Spitalgarten Christmas Market European Christmas Markets Danube River

An unusual Christmas market we were excited to visit is the Christmas market at the Spitalgarten. This was an opportunity to visit a biergarten and Christmas market all in one. The Spital Brewery’s biergarten turned Christmas market is in the garden of St. Catherine’s hospital. Here, instead of glühwein, the proper thing to have is glühbier, also a hot, mulled beverage, but this time made with beer instead of wine. In addition to the unusual setting and unusual drink, the Spitalgarten Christmas market has high-quality products for purchase and a manually operated carousel.

Nuremberg Christmas Market

Last, but not least, is Germany’s most famous Christmas market, the Nuremberg Christmas market. Nuremberg's Christmas market is huge. The main part of the market is in the square in front of Frauenkirche, but it is so big, the stalls continue up the street leading out of the square. An elevated view reveals a sea of candy-stripe covered stalls. The Nuremberg Christmas market is famous for many things including Nuremberg sausages, lebkuchen (gingerbread), and prune men.

Nuremberg Christmas Market Gluwhein European Christmas Markets Danube River

Thanks to Viking River Cruises we fulfilled two dreams, taking a European river cruise and visiting some of Europe’s best Christmas markets. The European Christmas markets were everything we had hoped for and more. Visiting them was an experience we will not soon forget. If you love Christmas, make sure to visit some of the Christmas markets of Europe at least once in your life.