I cannot say enough how great it was to bike through these ruins, rather than be brought by tuk tuk or taxi. It is only by taking the slow mode that I was able to get a sense of the scale of the Angkor empire. We were also able to interact more with the locals who generally ride bicycles. Our real adventure on the bicycles, though, happened at the end of our second day when we were just completing the "big circuit." Having seen practically every temple in the area, we began to hear the rumbling of thunder and dark storm clouds moving quickly toward us. As we cycled on toward Siem Reap, the thunder seemed to be laughing at us, mocking our vulnerability. Prefering to ride it out, we continued onward as the rain began to pour down. It was great fun, and we were soon totally soaked, but also exhilerated--a great finish to another breathtaking day.