Angkorland (by Laura)

The famous temple site at Angkor, north west Cambodia (see above), boasts impressive stats. It stretches over a huge area of 120 square miles (323 sq km), is home to nearly one thousand temples and at one time housed a population of close to one million. In Cambodia's burgeoning tourist industry, Angkor is the main draw.

We decided to arrive at Angkor for dawn (along with an overwhelming number of other eager tourists) and since our chosen transport to see the temples was bicycles, this involved negotiating our way through Siem Reap's streets blind and in pitch black. Not a problem, since all consciousness of health and safety abandoned us a long time ago, about when we first set foot in Old Delhi.

The temples at Angkor are without doubt magnificent and beautiful- not just the size and detail but their construction from huge slabs of stone - an awe-inspiring feat without any of today's modern machinery. You could spend several days finding your favourite spot and many people do.

However, with just a day to explore, losing the crowds can be tricky; but since there seems to be such an established route around Angkor for the tour groups, all it requires is a little imagination, a bit of quick pedalling and you can find a few peaceful moments.

Even though the number of tourists there seems at times to engulf you, this may be just the beginning, as more and more people flock to Cambodia as an accepted package tour destination.

Angkor Wat is said to be the largest religious building in the world; ironically, even it may soon not be big enough to hold its own devoted congregation.

Laura