820 Photos later!

Just re-read the last entry from Siem Reap and it was very vague so I thought I would flesh it out a little...
So I did have a hamburger at KL airport, and it was revolting, think I might try sticking to Khmer food for a while, don't think it will last long though, unless I magically begin enjoying cooking for one.
Anyway, temples day 3.
I was on the road in a trusty Tuk Tuk by around 8:10, headed for Preah Khan, a huge, and comparatively less visited complexes in the Angkor group, and the best thing about getting there so early was that there were no crowds, and you could wander the temples and not see people around every corner, it was wonderful. Like Ta Prohm, Preah Khan is overgrown and in various stages of decay, but that gives the place so much character, and there were so many little halls and walkways to get lost in, I was there wandering for nearly 2 hours.
From Preah Kahn, my Tuk tuk driver took me to Preah Neak Pean, an unusual little temple as it was an island temple, surrounded by a moat and then 4 more pools attached to the moat via spouts, it was pretty cool, but probably would have looked better if there was some water in the ponds.
From Neak Prean, the next stop was Ta Som. Bizarrely, I don't really remember anything about this temple, but I do have pictures to prove I was there, it is another Buddhist temple built in during the reign of King Jayavarman VII and according to my trusty Angkor book, it is a miniature version of Ta Prohm, possibly why I don't remember as it just blends in with the others. From there it was onward to East Mebon and Pre Rup, these were two older temples built in the 9th and 10th centuries, and bizarrely made from clay fired bricks rather than the basalt of the later temples. At Pre Rup, I was given my own personal tour from one of the security guards in the temple, which was pretty cool, he mentioned some of the history of the temples and pointed out some interesting carvings in the stone work, so that was really great.
From there it was off to a little local restaurant, not too far from where Marg, Bill and I ate the day before, and it was here that I had my last Khmer lunch, so of course I had an Amok, steamed in a banana leave, it was sensational! Although like the day before the restaurant was operating on Cambodia time and it took over an hour to have a light lunch!
Anyway it was good to have the rest as I had he most exciting temple to come that afternoon and I needed my rest.
So off we headed to Ta Prohm, this was my second visit to this temple, and just getting there was a bit of a challenge, unlike the other day when we were dropped off at the East Gate, we went directly to the West Gate, but had to pass by some men chopping down a tree first, the road was blocked off and there was a rope stretching from high in the tree, around 2 other trees acting as pullies, and then tied to the back of a truck, after 2 tries of the truck trying to pull down the tree, they let the traffic through, about 10 minutes later I heard an almighty thud, as the tree fell to the ground.
Anyway, Ta Prohm for the second time was I think more beautiful than the first visit, it was undoubtedly more peaceful as in the heat of the day, most of the big tour groups return to Siem Reap for lunch and siesta, so the ruins were pretty much my to wander as I pleased, and it was brilliant. I slowly wandered the remote and secluded corners of the site, finding some beautiful areas to just sit and contemplate the world.
I think by the time I was done with contemplating, my Tuk Tuk driver was ready for a rest, so we headed back to the hotel, where I arrived around 3pm. After a bit of a rest I walked into town to the old markets by the river for a bit of last minute shopping, and soaking up the Cambodian spirit before heading home.
I dined again with Marg and Bill on our last night in Siem Reap, and we ate at a different little local restaurant, which like all the places we had been previously was really good and the food was fantastic, and SO cheap, $2.50 for a main meal, how awesome is that!!
Anyway I decided to do something different for my last night, so I caught a moto back to the hotel. It was a little scary, especially weaving in among the traffic with no helmet on, but I was very good and didn't panic! And I made it back to the hotel safe and sound, so there you go.
Thursday I managed to lie in till about 9am, amazing!! Had a leisurely breakfast and went and packed my bags to go to the airport at 11am. It was interesting to find out, when I got to the airport that my flight to KL, that I was lead to believe was direct, actually went via Phnom Pehn! Oh well, I got to make a quick visit, and I am so glad that I did, on the take off from Phnom Pehn airport, I am sure I saw our houses that we were building, and I believe that I even managed to snap them in a pic, so that is super exciting. Anyway now it is time for bed so I shall say goodnight.