3 Favourite Sunrises of Mine

Sunrise vs sunset: It is said that those who prefer sunrises are optimists who look forward to the start of a new day, while those who prefer sunsets are pessimists who brood over the events of the past day. I prefer sunsets but I do not consider myself to be a pessimist; instead, I am just a lazy ass who loves to sleep in! :D It is an ordeal to wake up for sunrises – hitting the snooze button numerous times, rubbing my sleepy eyes, burying my face in the pillow, tossing and turning around, before crawling out of bed grudgingly. But, for these 3 sunrises, it was definitely well worth my effort :)

1.  Mount Merapi, Jogjakarta

In a previous post, I shared about my hiking experience up Mount Merapi. To summarise, the mountain kicked my butt but it certainly also taught me the lesson: No pain, no gain. Without the pain (gruelling climb), I will not have gained (phenomenal sunrise view). This incredible sunrise is, in my opinion, the epitome of sunrises with its intense blood orange glow. Standing at 2,930m high atop Mount Merapi and watching the sun peek out of the horizon, with its rays gradually illuminating the sky and the neighbouring majestic mountains – it’s a sight that will always remain in my memories!

2.  Lake Tekapo, South Island of New Zealand

Why do I like this sunrise? The lake was only a 5 minutes walk from the hostel, which meant I did not have to wake up that early :) Jokes aside, New Zealand is famed for its scenic beauty and this gorgeous fiery red sunrise accentuated the view of the pristine lake and mountains. Once again, I am surprised that the Kiwi scenery keeps getting better and better!

3.  Angkor Wat, Siem Reap

Being the monsoon season, the skies were cloudy and there was no burning red ball of fire. Nonetheless, I still love this sunrise as its bluish hues – in combination with the crumbling temple ruins of the Angkor Wat – is mystically alluring. Plus, the frenzied bicycle ride from town to the temple complex at 4am in the morning greatly added to the experience :)

So do you prefer sunsets or sunrises? Share your preferences and favourite sunrise/sunset experiences in the comments below! PS: Do also check out my 3 (actually make that 4) favourite sunsets.