4.40am wake up, gave myself an extra 10mins sleep before meeting Sim at 5am who drove me to Angkor Wat along with hundreds of other people for sunrise. Arrived about 5.15am and got a pretty good spot, first row along the pond edge. Knowing sun rise wasn't till about 6.40am, took a seat in the dirt and waited. Crowds slowly built up and you could see flash after flash go off as people tried to take photos (the flash wasn't going to help from that distance). Had a couple of guys next to me with tripods that got some awesome photos before the sun rose. This was the only time I wish I had bought a tripod with me. However, it was great to be there as the sun rose and watch the colours change. Surprising how many people leave as soon as the sun first appears…they can now check it off their check list of things to be seen and done.

I waited a while for the sun to be up past the temples and then I headed inside for a look around in the cooler and quieter part of the day. Went up to the temples and knowing you couldn't go up until 7.45am I stood in line so I could be the first up and get a couple of minutes peace and quiet. It was funny though, because all these people just stood at the base of the stairs even though there was obviously a roped off section for a queue and when the staff came to open it and told them they had to get in the queue or otherwise they couldn't get up, some were pissed and were saying "You're an arse". I could just imagine the chaos of just letting people free reign trying to get up those stairs. Tourists can be d*** sometimes!!

Anyway, up I went and I went around to one of the courtyards on the other side knowing that most people would stop and look at the first and second courtyards for a few minutes. It was lovely just having that corner of the temple to myself just for a few moments and take it all in. As peaceful as Angkor Wat was ever going to be.

I had breakfast in a local restaurant near the temple instead of going all the way back to the hotel and then Sim drove me back to Angkor Thom because I wanted to see the Temple of Elephants properly (our guide on Monday only showed us one small portion). We drove through the South Gate where there was a traffic jam (reminded me of Africa when a leopard has been spotted). I'm glad I went back because I could explore on my own and not be constrained by the fact the guide wanted to move us on. I also checked out the Terrace of the Leper King. The carvings here have been kept well intact because they were covered up when an outer terrace was built, so well preserved.

Wandered over to ruins of another temple near the carpark and some young entrepreneurs were there to start chatting to you about the temple and give you information (for a donation of course). My young guide wanted me to sign something for his school and write down my donation but I said no and just gave him a $1. He asked for $2.

Found Sim amongst all the tuk tuks around and we did what is known as the Small Circuit visiting the smaller and less crowded temples. I really enjoyed this because you weren't surrounded by the big tour groups and because I was on my own I could take my time and look at what I wanted. Sim would just wait for me outside and when I came out, we would head to the next one.

Preah Kahn was first stop and I think this was one of my favourites. As I walked through the gates, there was this young girl drawing in the dirt. I didn't think anything of it at first, I thought she was just drawing lines but as I got closer she had drawn a fairytale Princess, straight out of a Disney movie. She was amazing to watch. She knew exactly what she was doing, would stand up, look at it, add a few more lines and then she moved onto the prince. She had quite a crowd watching by now and when she finished she just stood there in the middle and looked at us. She already had some money in her pocket and people gave her more. I'm sure she is quite the little money maker for her family. One can only hope her talent doesn't go to waste.

The temple itself was quite a long building and in the middle the corridors branched off in all four directions. Some restoration work has occurred but still in a little disarray. This also had an entry way hugged by a big tree. In the middle, there was a statue that looked like a candle and a local policeman was keen to point out that if I stood in a particular spot and took a photo, it looked like the candle was burning due to a well place hole in the roof that let the light in (wouldn't surprise me if they made the hole themselves). He was then keen to take my photo so it looked like I was holding the light and he wouldn't take no for an answer but then of course he wanted something for his help. I had no $1 left so gave him about 500 in local currency which is probably about 10c. I don't think he was impressed…oh well.

From here to Preah Neak Poan which is not a temple you can go trampling around. You walk down a long boardwalk across a reserviour. The building itself is roped off. It consists of one big pool, surrounded by 4 smaller ones and in the middle of it all is a small island with the temple. Was hard to see the detail due to the sun glare.

Continued on to Prasat Ta Som. Starting to feel the heat at this stage but Sim had an esky with cold water for me which was lovely. Think I drank about 3ltrs. The 'back door' to this temple is completely overwhelmed by a huge tree and due to the lack of tourists it was easy to get close up and have a really good look, without getting in people's photos.

Continued onto Eastern Mebon and Sim asked if it was OK to pick up these two guys who were walking and give them a lift (I think he had spoken with someone back at the last stop) and I said no problems. He dropped me off at the temple and took them to where they were headed, about 5mins away. At the entrance here, the guard who you have to show your ticket to appeared worried I had been dropped off with no way of leaving. Tried to explain Sim would be back for me, not sure if he understood. East Mebon had the first steps of the day for me to climb. On each corner of the temple there were some well preserved stone carved elephants.

Needed a break from the heat, so Sim took me to a local restaurant for lunch where I had the choice of sitting under fans or in an air-conditioned room. Although the air conditioning sounded great, I figured the heat would be worse when I left. After a local lunch, we made one last temple stop at Prasat Kravan which looked very unworthy from the outside, being built of brick and not sandstone. However, once you looked on the other side and inside the towers, there were some beautiful brick carvings as well as sand script that has survived all this time.

Had been thinking about doing another sunset but time in the pool was too hard to refuse by this stage so had Sim take me back to the hotel. I asked him how much for the day and he said for the small circuit it was $15 but since we also did sunrise it was $20, was that OK. I gave him $25. He was with me from 5am to 4pm, waiting patiently. He asked what time I was going into town and he arranged to come back and pick me up.

Enjoyed my dip in the pool, felt the dust and sweat disappear and then I had a cocktail by the pool and did some reading before getting ready to head into town. Wandered around the shops but it is pretty much all "Same Same". Had another BBQ dinner, but this time picked somewhere where they cooked it for you. Had a chicken wing, king prawn, beef kebab and baked potato and drink for about $6. Had about 30mins before it was time to meet Sim to take me back so had 30min Foot Reflexology done, whole $3. Going to miss this when I get home. Found Sim and he took me back to the hotel.