Light creates romance, saturating the curves and shadows of Angkor Wat’s beautifully ornate carvings in a dewy glow.

Temple visitors are smitten by an overwhelming awe of Angkor’s jagged, heavenly architecture.

Fewer tourists explore the temples later in the day than in the morning, worn out by their early arrival (to see the sunrise over the main Angkor Wat temple) and probably not realizing their tuk tuk driver/guide will stay later despite protesting otherwise.

While a temple sunrise isn’t to be missed, a sunset exploration comes in at a close second; especially to witness the palate of greys and yellows brush over the temple’s ancient artisanry in the day’s waning light.