My trip is now coming to an end. Here I sit at Bangkok Airport awaiting for my flight home. I've been told it is completely booked out and unfortunately my request for an upgrade has not been successful. Oh well, hopefully still get some sleep.

Had a wonderful last day exploring yesterday. Sim picked me up at 6am so I could return to Ta Prohm (Tomb Raider temple) at dawn without the hundreds of other tourists. Best decision ever!! When I arrived, there were about 5 of us wandering around and it was so peaceful. You could hear the birds in the trees (which I don't think I've heard before at any of the temples), the roosters crowing and there was no one around begging you to buy something.

Spent about an hour or more wandering around and just taking it all in. Able to get up close to some of the tree systems that have taken over the walls and got some great photos. If I had more time or if I came back again, I would head out early each morning and do the bigger temples at this time.

As I left, the first big group of tourists were walking down the path and as we left in the tuk tuk, they were swarming in. The road was full of incoming traffic. Timed it perfectly. Returned to the hotel to have brekky and then Sim picked me up again at 9.30am and took me out to a silk farm so I could see the process of making silk. Was amazing to see. Never really though about it all but they show the whole process of the caterpillars in their different stages, the cocoon and how they get the raw silk and then the fine silk from the cocoon. I think he said they get 400m of thread from one cocoon.

To get the raw silk, they boil the cocoon in water for about 3mins and then they basically use a stick to lift the thread and put it on the machine which then continues to roll it. Once the raw silk it taken, it is moved onto the next section for the fine silk to be extracted. Was very interesting and can now understand why silk is so expensive.

Back into town and there was a Handicrafts Fair on this week. It was in a park by the river and it was very hot in their tents, no relief from the sun beating down. There were lots of NGO and other organisations showing their goods, with information on how and where their goods are made and by whom - local women, people with a disability, etc. I bought a bag from one vendor and he had his right arm amputated at the elbow. I asked if it occured due to a landmine and he told me when he was 13 he was working in the field with his dad and he saw it but he thought it was an empty shell and picked it up and was playing with it when it exploded. He said up to his wrist was just shattered so the doctor amputated just below the elbow. Brings it home how lucky kids are in Australia (and they don't even realise it).

Went into town for lunch and went to a restaurant called Haven - where helping tastes good. It is similar to KOTO in Vietnam but on a much smaller scale. I read about it on Trip Adviser and turned up in the hope of a seat. They were booked out but the owner asked if I was OK to sit on the couch and I said that would be fine. They take trainees from orphanages once they turn 18 and train them in kitchen or front of house. Only a couple of years old and this year they have 7 trainees plus other hired staff. Was speaking with the owner and he said they had 30 restaurants wanting their staff last year (only had 5 trainees). I had a local dish called Amok curry with Chicken. The difference is the sauce is almost like a custard consistency. Was my best meal in Siem Reap and the staff were very friendly. Finished off with a not so local desert...Oreo Cheesecake...yummy.

Sim returned me back to the hotel and we arranged for him to collect me again at 3pm so I could visit Jimmy's school. That gave me time for a swim and some reading time before getting ready to head out again (so much for having 6 nights here so I could fit in lots of relaxation). Sim returned my laundry to me...it cost a whole $1 for 1kg. When I told Sim that the hotel charged $1 for one pair of underpants he was flabergasted.

Sim took me to a shop so I could buy some stuff for the school. Got some exercise books, pencils, colouring in stuff, some small sports balls, etc and we stopped by the school. The kids don't actually start till 5pm and they go to 8pm. This is in addition to the normal school they go to during the day. Jimmy was telling me that when kids go to school they have to pay 200R each day (4000R = $1). Jimmy's school is free and it is to help them with their learning as the schooling system isn't the best. He has so many kids that want to come he has to split them into 3 different sessions each evening. The school is literally in the front of his house in a little courtyard and it is all run by donations. Since it is a side street just off one of the busy streets of town, lots of people walk by and will often stop and see what is going on.

Arranged to come back at 5pm so wandered around town and decided to spend my time well by having a foot scrub and get rid of all the dirt from the last month before heading back to the school. The kids were so welcoming and wanted to ask lots of questions. Their love of learning is incredible. To think they come here voluntarily. There were two other aussies there volunteering for a week, they had raised $1000 to bring over and had just bought some rice (50kg bag was $29) and also art supplies (paper and paint) and also some musical instruments. They were buying things that were needed. The kids were so excited to be able to draw and paint. Some talented young artists. Gave one of the kids my little camera and showed him how to take photos and off he went, had a great time taking photos of his friends.

Loved the couple of hours I was able to spend there. Good place to visit if anyone is in Siem Reap and they should stop by first and see what they need before buying stuff to make sure they get things they need.

Spent the rest of the evening wandering around town doing last minute shoppping and taking it all in, enjoying my last night. Wasn't too hungry so dinner was a Banana and Chocolate Pancake from a street vendor. They also put condensed milk on it. It was so good I had to have two and then I finished it off with an icecream.

Arranged to meet Sim at 10.30pm and he returned me to the hotel. Asked if I wanted to do anything in the morning but I said as much as I would love to go out to one of the temples, I need a decent sleep and I need to pack. We arranged for him to pick me up at 10.30am this morning so I could meet his family.

Of course, I didn't sleep in, wide awake at 6.30am :( Packed all my stuff and it all fit although there seemed to be a lot of it. Lucky I have a 40kg limit for checked in baggage. All into the tuk tuk and off we went to meet the family. Sim's two older boys ran out with so much joy when we arrived and were very keen to look in a bag I had on me (some extra stuff I was leaving behind). I had a book and some crayons and 2 clip on koalas left over which they were very excited about. Also met Sim's wife and 2 month old bub. What a lovely, gracious family. Wish we could have stayed longer but I had to get to the airport.

Sim dropped me off at the airport and I gave him some money as a thank you. He didn't want to accept it but I told him to buy something for his family. Not alot for me but probably about a week's wage for him. I really appreciated having him as a driver, he was safe and always where he said he would be. I would happily recommend him to anyone and I would say to anyone who is thinking about booking a tour....don't, much cheaper to do it yourself and you can also hire a guide if you want for the temples as the drivers aren't allowed to accompany you.

Checked in to Bangkok Airways and they had a lounge for all guests which was a surprise. Cold water and juice, tea and coffee and snacks available including fresh popped hot popcorn. What a treat. It is also the first time I have known a plane to take off early. We were scheduled for departure for 1.25pm but we were taking off at 1.20pm and we landed at 2pm but they still managed to feed us and supply a drink. Great airline.

So here I am. Awaiting my flight home. The last month has been incredible and I'm so glad I chose to come. I would return in a heartbeat but too many other countries still to explore. I wish I had longer, I'm so used to travelling for months at a time, one month seems rather short but I packed a lot in. I can highly recommend Vietnam and Siem Reap to anyone that is thinking of a holiday. Very sad to leave and return to work but I have some great memories that will last a lifetime!!!