Day 13

Dear whoever reads this,

At 4:30 am I woke up for sunrise at Angkor Wat with Hong. It was a hot day but early in the morning the mist and fog is so thick with the sounds of cicadas and birds chirping. 

I got to Angkor Wat and had fruit with the monks right before the sun came up and before morning prayer. It was truly magical. So spiritual. They didn't speak any English but they didn't need to. It's like I understood everything without saying a word. It's funny because Gahndi said something once like, if you can't cure silence, don't speak. And the silence solved everything. This adventure has given me so much time to reflect and learn from past mistakes, the paths I've chosen and the people I have associated with. 

I received brackets from the monks and said a prayer before walking back down the staircases to see the sun rise. 

After this, Hong took me all around to all the different temples, feeding baby monkeys on the way and learning about all the different Wats and reliefs. 

Walking through, you hear all sorts of jungle sounds and it was an amazing experience. 

After all this, Hong and I went to a local market and got chickens on a stick and ate near the Kings pool. This was a huge lake built by the second King and was truly remarkable. 

I went back to my hostel, rested for a while then was picked up to start my last night in Cambodia. Hong picked me up where we met another friend Seang and got food and drinks. We went out for a few hours talking about building a school, some NGO work in the area and how I could make a difference in this country. Bottom line is that I'm coming back.

My work isn't finished here. This was the beginning. I met so many amazing people in Thailand and Cambodia. I have made friends, some like family and everyone I met was incredible. I'm truly blessed for this adventure and journey and can't say goodbye because I'm coming back. Goodbyes are forever. I will miss this place but it isn't over. 

I will come back. I will help people. And after reflecting on my whole trip, I have really grown and have changed my balance and mental state. I thank the monks I have met with and prayed with, ECHO for giving me the opportunity to photograph for them and all the friends I made and like-family I made while abroad. 

Tomorrow I leave to New York in the morning and might have to go to a temple on more time for one more morning prayer. But who knows. 

Thanks for reading this and I'll be uploading to my website when I'm back in the states of everything I shot!

I hope this wasn't too boring. 

Over and out.