Glossier Balm Dotcom in Birthday, Rose, and Coconut
Welcome back friends!
This Tuesday I wanted to share my absolute fave lip balm with you, Glossier’s Balm Dotcom. This was the first product I ever bought from Glossier, and immediately I was sold. I have a couple other fave lip balms that I may share a post on that work just as well as these, but these ones really are my favourite.
First of all, since purchasing these my lips have almost never been chapped since. Even when they’re completely dry, they feel smooth. On the rare occasion my lips do get chapped, this fixes it up 100% within a few hours. No more fighting chapped, painful lips for days. Seriously, these lip balms have your back.
Second of all, the tube makes them super easy to apply. While I do love solid lip chaps that come in a lipstick tube, I kind of struggle with ones than come in a pot as I always have acrylics on that make it hard to remove the product. But something about the somewhat-liquid form of this product makes it work soooooo much better than other lip balms I try, plus you can apply as much or as little as you want.
Even better, although this may be kind of “meant” for lips, it does work anywhere on your skin. I’m often prone to getting small, super-dry patches on my upper arms, elbows and knees, but this stuff helps moisturize these areas as well.
AND, on top of everything else, they have 7 flavours/tints to pick from! I personally generally like to stick to neutral colours for lip balms, but if tinted is more your vibe, they have you covered. Plus if you order three, they’re discounted!
Anyways, enough ranting from me. You get it. These lip balms are amazing. It’s probably dramatic to say they were life-changing, but they kind of were. If this sounds like something you’re looking for, you can buy them on Glossier here!
That’s it from me for now! Hope y’all are having a great Tuesday.
So for today’s travel diary I’m gonna be covering the remainder of my time in Siem Reap. I only spent a couple of days in Cambodia, but honestly I wish I could have stayed for more. Not only was it a beautiful and unique country, but the weather was amazing and the food was to DIE for (seriously, Amok is officially my favourite South East Asian food now).
Apart from the temples, which I already covered more in depth in my post Spend A Day With Me In Angkor Wat, there was plenty of other things to see and do which lead to a pretty jam-packed two days–not that I’m complaining as it was all amazing. Keep reading to hear all about my favourite things to do and see in Siem Reap!
Visit Some Temples!
Angkor Wat
Alright, so I know I pretty much covered this all in my Angkor Wat entry, but this really was a must see so I figured no harm in mentioning it twice! If you’re planning on seeing multiple temples (which I would highly recommend) be prepared for a long day. Don’t let that deter you, however, these temples are amazing and so unlike many of the other temples in South East Asia. While Angkor Wat is certainly the largest and best known, we also visited Banteay Kdei, Ka Prohm, Ka Teo, and Angkor Thom’s Bayon and Bapheon Temples. Each of these temples were all unique and beautiful in their own way and really added to our temple tour.
See The Falls!
Phnom Kulen Falls
If you’ve been following my travel blogs long enough you’ll know I love a good waterfall! Phnom Kulen Falls was so different from any other waterfall we’ve visited on this trip. Not only was there both a small and large waterfall, the large one was HUGE and beautiful and you could swim in both. You could even bring a picnic, climb the rocks and explore the nearby area as well. Ultimately, 10/10, stunning, and would highly recommend.
Go To A Dinner Show!
Dance Performance At Dinner Show
This was not something we planned on at all, but our lovely Tuk Tuk driver suggested we go and I’m so glad he did. This dinner featured an extensive and delicious buffet, with all sorts of South East Asian cuisine as well as some Western options. Seriously — it was huge and had everything you could have ever wanted. After you’d had some time to get settled and grab some food, the show began — a musical and dance introduction to Cambodian culture. Each dance told its own stories and the costumes were so elaborate and stunning. The music, the dancing, all of was incredible. I’d definitely consider checking this one out if you ever have to opportunity to visit Siem Reap.
Hit Up The Night Market!
Items For Sale At The Night Market, Siem Reap
Alright, I know, another thing you’ve probably felt you’ve heard alllllll about in my other entries. But hear me out. I’ve discussed before how you can receive a surprising amount of culture just from Night Markets alone, and Siem Reap is certainly no exception. The Night Markets here are HUGE, and set up in a huge maze of permanent stalls. They offer SO many things, especially carvings, artwork, jewelry, and clothes such as pashmina scarves and !!!!!. Not only was the Night Market in Siem Reap massive and the variety of items seemingly unlimited, but the options were so distinct from Thailand, Laos or Vietnam. Cambodia really is a distinctly different culture from its neighbouring countries, which is apparent all over the place — even in their Night Markets.
So that’s all for Siem Reap, Cambodia! I have to say, I had no idea what to expect from this stop of our trip but I was so pleasantly surprised. Not only was a beautiful country, it was so different from other places I’ve visited — and all the local people were beyond friendly. This place is an absolute must-see if you ever get the chance to explore South East Asia.
But that’s all for Cambodia for now! Be sure to check out the next stop on my South East Asian adventure — Koh Phi Phi and Phuket!
Welcome to the next instalment of my travel series: Angkor Wat, Cambodia! I’m so excited to share this next part of my journey with you guys, I honestly wasn’t too sure what to expect from Cambodia before I arrived, but it was honestly one of my favourite places and incredibly distinct from all the other countries we’ve visited along our journey.
The most interesting part of Cambodia was all the temples, and how they different from Laotian and Thai temples. The temples in Cambodia, rather than intricate paintings and mosaics, had carvings into the rocks that had meanings and stories carved into them.
Ta Keo
Cambodia has huge amounts of temples, both big and small, and in relative stages of so while some are nearly perfectly preserved some are quite interestingly growing back into the surrounding nature. Unlike many of the temples you’ll find in and nearby towns in other South East Asian countries, and the temples that visitors travel to most in Cambodia are out in the jungle. You can choose to go to as many or as few as you’d like, with the most well-known and largest one being of course, Angkor Wat.
I figured this entry would be a good place to share some tips I have for temples (both in Cambodia and elsewhere in South East Asia), as well as what to expect before I go on to cover the day we had exploring these temples!
What You’ll Need
Angkor Wat
All you absolutely need for a day exploring temples is the right supplies, appropriate attire and a good guide.
In terms of the guide, if you ever visit Siem Reap, message me and I’ll have you covered. My friend recommended us the most amazing Tuk Tuk driver named Sorn, who was friendly, knowledgeable, spoke great English and just generally made our whole stay in Siem Reap so much better. He had great recommendations and all kinds of knowledge that made our lives so much easier. So, if you ever get the chance to visit Cambodia, shoot me an email or comment on this post and I can put you in contact with him! 10/10 really made our stay sooooo much better.
Next up: appropriate attire. So, as I’m sure I’ve mentioned before, when you’re visiting temples you have to show respect with appropriate attire. It’s not optional, but all you have to do is be sure to cover your shoulders and knees and not wear a hat or shoes inside marked areas and you’ll be okay. Some countries have more strict rules about what you can and can’t wear, so this wasn’t bad at all to follow. If you’re planning on walking a lot, running or hiking shoes are also a good idea.
Baphuon
For clothes, while simply wearing leggings and a short sleeve top will be enough to have you covered (literally), there is a reason that every nearby stall sells the classic touristy elephant pants and related temple clothes. These clothes are so beyond comfortable and lightweight, and will help keep you from overheating in the hot weather. I personally opted for a t-shirt and a skirt I bought locally, they both kept me covered and cool, even in the peak heat of the day. Something else to note though is to be careful and look into what’s allowed before you purchase it, however, as Nylah bought a sarong and didn’t realize until we had reached the sacred temple in Angkor Wat that while it covered her knees, it was not appropriate attire.
A Tree Growing Out Of Banteay Kdei
The last thing you’ll need are the right supplies! Based on my own experiences, the absolute necessities are water, snacks, sunscreen, cash, sunglasses, and hair ties. However, hydration salts, cameras, hats, and a change of clothes certainly never hurt. If you have space to bring more stuff, it never hurts to be over prepared!
What To Expect
Well, first and foremost I’d say expect a very long day. Angkor Wat alone takes at least an hour and a half to explore completely at the bare minimum. Not only that, but you have to budget time for any other temples you wish to see, as well as travel time. Realistically, you should dedicate a whole day to temples.
Bapheon
Another thing to prepare for is a lot of walking, but nothing insane. So many people I know who have visited Angkor Wat before have made it seem as is it’s a gruelling and nearly impossible hike, which is far from the truth. Yes, there is a lot of walking — and occasional climbing involved if you want to go up to higher levels of the temples. However, it’s nothing that I feel like isn’t suitable for beginners. It is of course, incredibly hot, and likely pretty crowded during peak tourism seasons, so it’ll be a tiring day no matter what your level of fitness. But no matter what, I promise it is 100% worth it!
My Experience!
Banteay Kdei, First Temple
The best part about going to Angkor Wat and the nearby temples in the summer months is that it is not a popular time for tourists, meaning many of these sites were near-empty. In total, we toured 5 different temples along a route Sorn, our Tuk Tuk driver prepared for us. Before I get into it, I’m going to put a little disclaimer on this: While I tried to keep track of which temples we visited, I’m not 100% sure I have the right list. I’ve been researching to make sure I have it all correct, but if I’ve mixed one up please message me and let me know!
We started with two smaller temples, Banteay Kdei and Ta Prohm, with a quick stop in at the Ta Keo Temple, before carrying on to two larger temples in Angkor Thom, the Bayon Temple and the Baphuon Temple. Finally, after all of this, we headed to Angkor Wat.
Example of Deterioration, Ta Prohm
The first two temples were small and practically empty, which made them incredible to explore. Both of them appeared to not have had any restoration completed such as the others were undergoing, and were slowly deteriorating and becoming part of the jungle surrounding them. At the first temple, Banteay Kdei, Nylah and I were guided in prayer by a local at the temple, who gifted us with good luck bracelets while we explored.
Ta Prohm, Second Temple
The second temple we visited, Ta Prohm, was small and well-known for its unique look that inspired the temples in the Tomb Raider franchise. It was a little larger and more crowded than the first temple, but still relatively small and empty compared to the others and incredibly beautiful. Seeing how this temple had literally grown into the forest was breath-taking and having it be as empty as it was made for a less touristy-feeling experience.
Ta Keo, Third Temple
After that, we stopped in quickly at Ta Keo, which was also quite empty and quite tall, which made for a crazy cool view. I opted to not go all the way to the top as I was under the impression that Angkor Wat was going to be more challenging than it was, but Nylah said the view was spectacular and even from the lower levels it was a nice, quiet overlook over the nearby jungle.
Buddha Head Carving At Bayon, Fourth Temple
From there, we headed over to Angkor Thom. The Bayon Temple was certainly the most busy of the temples we visited, as well as the most tiring. However, it was also one of the most large and interesting, sporting three levels, courtyards, maze-like hallways and of course, the Buddha heads carved into the pillars on the top level of the temple. I’d certainly suggest to pay attention to the signs telling you which direction to head in to make sure you see the whole temple in a timely matter and without getting lost.
After that, we headed to Baphuon. This temple was larger AND empty, allowing us to walk up to the empty higher levels and enjoy the views in peace, with absolutely no one else around.
Bapheon, Fifth Temple
After that, as I’m sure you’ve all been waiting for, we headed off to Angkor Wat. Before we even got to the entrance, you could see how absolutely vast it was. Angkor Wat is the largest religious monument in the world, and it certainly was massive. It took a while to cross the grounds over the sacred temple, but apart from that and the set of stairs leading up to the temple it wasn’t physically challenging at all. The temple itself was beautiful, and almost empty compared to the massive crowds Angkor Wat draws in peak tourist season. It was so beautiful and just serene.
Carvings At Angkor Wat
After we toured the main temple, we took some time to walk down the hallways, covered in intricate carvings, as well as smaller temples that lined the sides of the walkways. After that, we wandered the grounds and took in the views around us.
Overall, it was an amazing experience and I’d highly recommend it to anyone who has the chance. The temples of Cambodia are so distinct from other South East Asian temples, and getting to go when it wasn’t peak tourist season made for a much more relaxing, spiritual and enjoyable experience than if it were packed with tourists.
Angkor Wat
And that’s all for Angkor Wat! Stay tuned to hear all about my favourite things to do in Siem Reap later this week! Hope you all are having a fantastic Thursday!
Xo,
Meredith
PS: BONUS CONTENT! Check out these other photos I snapped on my trip! Hope you enjoy them (and the other photos as well!)
Hope you’re having a lovely Tuesday! This week I figured I’d share one of my new favourite products, the Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Deep Sea Collagen Super Serum! I know I promised a post on all my skincare soon but I had to share, because MAN do I love this stuff.
I had spent a while wondering how to include a collagen-based product into my skincare routine for a while when I stumbled across this product at a Tarte online sale. I got a tester bottle on a whim, but the instant I tried it I wished I had bought the full-size product. First of all, collagen is amazing for your skin. This product boasts that it improves the skin’s plumpness, brightness and firmness and it really does live up to the hype.
Not only that, but my skin feels immediately smoother and incredibly soft directly after application. I love to use this product in the morning as it absorbs super quickly, leaving my face feeling refreshed — and it doesn’t interfere with my makeup application after! I’ve read online that collagen is most effective when ingested (ie. supplements) which I’d love to try, but the effect of this product is clear as day on your face as well.
If this product speaks to you, be sure to check it out here!
So, today I’m going to be covering my trip to Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon! I absolutely love this city and wish I could have stayed longer, especially since unfortunately it did rain two of the days that we were here. Not that we let that stop us — my time in Vancouver has reaaally gotten me used to the rain.
I think one of the most interesting things about Ho Chi Minh City is how it compares to Hanoi. While Hanoi has been the capital of Vietnam ever since the Vietnam war, Ho Chi Minh City is the largest city in Vietnam, nearly twice the size of Hanoi.
The two cities are vastly different in interesting ways. Hanoi’s buildings and infrastructure are a lot older, giving it small, winding streets and more historic buildings. Ho Chi Minh City, on the other hand, looks a lot more modern in comparison; it also had larger streets and sidewalks. This causes it to appear much less hectic, even though it’s population is much larger.
If you visit Vietnam, I’d highly suggest going to both! They were both beautiful and so interesting individually and in comparison to one another. Honestly, I’m not sure I could pick a favourite if I had to!
Pamper Yourself!
Banh Mi 362
Okay, so I’ll admit I totally forgot to take a photo of this for y’all so I guess you’re just gonna have to take my word on how great it was. Otherwise, I guess you’ll just have to enjoy this “before” photo of my nails with this (incredibly amazing) Banh Mi I had right before. Anyways, obviously when you’re about 3 weeks deep in a trip with gel nails you’re going to have to go for a fill eventually. Ori Nail Salon really had everything you could ask for and more — it was very clean, with friendly nail techs and more options (both plain and designed) for your nails than you could even fathom. If you’re looking for a little spa day in Ho Chi Minh City, check this place out for sure!
Explore The Vietnam War Tunnels!
Nylah And I Visiting The Viet Cong Tunnels
Our second day in Ho Chi Minh City was spent exploring the Viet Cong tunnels just outside the city borders. Due to the 2-hour drive to the tunnels, the minimum trip is a half-day, with full day options also available. While you go on the tour, you get an overview of the history of the Vietnam war, an explanation of how the tunnels worked, the chance to enter the tunnels yourself, and more. You could even test out historical firearms used in the Vietnam War at a shooting range (which I decided to pass on). Overall, it was incredibly cool and educational. However, if you go on the tour, be sure to bring lots of water and snacks as none are provided for the entirety of the tour.
Go Shopping!
Nighttime, Ho Chi Minh City
So I’ll preface this with the fact that since both Nylah and I packed all of our stuff into a backpack each, we don’t have much space for shopping and haven’t bought much yet. Since we don’t want to have to carry more around than need be, we’ve decided to save the bulk of our shopping for Phuket and Bangkok, save for the occasional item here and there. So while Ho Chi Minh was more of a window shopping experience, the stores in this city were SO cool. There’s so many more options than you’d ever have in Canada, and I’m pretty sure absolutely anything you could ever imagine exists somewhere within this city. It’s literally known as a shopping Mecca, so you know. I think that says it all.
Check Out The Night Food Market!
Night Food Market, Ho Chi Minh City
Okay, I decided to save the best for last on this one. The Ho Chi Minh Night Food Market was hands down the best night market I’ve been to this whole trip. It had so, so many booths to choose from, giving you the option to try absolutely any South East Asian cuisine you’d like — or other foods for those keen on something else! The atmosphere was fantastic and the food was out of this world (I personally opted for dim sum and fresh juice). I swear, if I lived in Ho Chi Minh City I would eat here every day.
Soooooo, that’s it for Ho Chi Minh! This is (sadly) our last stop in Vietnam before we head out to Siem Reap, Cambodia. As excited as I am for the next stages of our trip, I’m really sad to see Vietnam go. If you ever get there chance to go, I’d recommend it 100%. There’s so many amazing things to do and see, and so many cities and towns that offer all kinds of experiences. No matter what, there’s always something for everyone — and it doesn’t hurt that it’s one of the most beautiful countries in the world too.
Sincerely, Meredith 