So that’s what dawn looks like

Alarm at 4:35 and in the car for 5:00am. Journey through the night to the east entrance to Angkor Wat. Walk through the darkness along paths lit only by candlelight (ok not candlelight – the guides mobile phone). Found the approved location and alone (apart from lets say 100 or so accomplices) we watched the sun rise behind the temple. On the way we caught the monks performing their morning prayers (again a bit thin on numbers). Then we went round and round with a little bit of up and down (43 steps up to the 2nd level) looking at the fabulous structure.

Then walk back in the daylight to the car and then back to the hotel for dare I suggest was a well deserved breakfast.

The plan was then hatched to visit the hero rats at Apopo on the way to having a boat trip around the floating village for an hour or so.

The rats turned out to be a bit of a star turn, very well presented and an interesting hour. Unable to resist purchasing a ‘I’m a hero Rat’ T-shirt, but it’s all in a good cause.

The boat trip was fun – seeing the floating village up close and then having the vast expanse of the lake revealed as we pushed through the final barrier of water hyacinths from the channel from the village.