Jaunted - Tag: Temples

Siem Riep: Would You Be More Likely to Visit Angkor Wat if it was Illuminated At Night?

Victor Ozols — 2009-06-06T13:40:28-05:00

The 12th century temple complex known as Angkor Wat is by far the most popular tourist site in Cambodia, drawing a million travelers a year to walk among its austere columns and soaring spires, many of which are overgrown with tree roots that resemble the tentacles of an octopus. Hoping to wring a few more dollars out of tourists - and enhance the visitor experience, of course - the government recently announced that it is considering installing artificial lighting throughout the ancient city so the temples can be open at night. The AP points out that visitors are typically ushered out of the area at sunset, and the new lighting will enable the park to stay open as late as 8:30 p.m.

Siem Reap: Wats Up: There and Away

ced138 — 2008-10-24T13:04:32-05:00

This week, we're all about Angkor.

There are plenty of options for traveling to and from Siem Reap. Most visitors arrive from either Bangkok or Phnom Penh. Each city provides hourly buses, daily boats and endless share taxis. Several airlines fly into Angkor's entry point daily, too. But every mode of transportation has its pros and cons.

Siem Reap: Wats Up: Facing the Poor

ced138 — 2008-10-23T11:30:49-05:00

This week, we're all about Angkor.

Be prepared. Visitors to Angkor are confronted with great beauty and terrible ugliness. Indifference toward poverty occurs everywhere, but the contrast is even more stark in a city surrounded by a great world wonder and filled with foreign-owned, five-star resorts.

The ultimate irony of Angkor is that a thousand years ago, poor Khmers built the great temples they were never allowed to enter, and today they are essentially left out of Angkor's lucrative tourism industry.

Siem Reap: Wats Up: Assault Tactics

ced138 — 2008-10-22T12:30:49-05:00

This week, we're all about Angkor.

The strategy for visiting the temples of Angkor comes down to this: Divide and conquer. Paying a thorough visit to each and every temple can take weeks, with dozens of structures within the main complex and dozens of other outliers dotted up to a two-hour drive from Angkor Wat.

Tackle the temples by breaking the area into regions, and hire a tuk tuk to take you to the temples in that area. For those with only one day to visit, after a morning at Angkor Wat, here's a breakdown of the highlights.

Siem Reap: Wats Up: Get Schooled on Angkor

ced138 — 2008-10-21T12:30:49-05:00

This week, we're all about Angkor.

We're the kind of travelers who are loathe to admit we're tourists, but in the end, it's all semantics. When visiting Angkor Wat, Southeast Asia's tourism capital, it's better to embrace the moniker.

After purchasing the obligatory fanny pack, we suggest hiring a guide. No, really: It's impossible to fully understand the history and significance of the area's many ruins without one.

Thailand and Cambodia Talk It Out in China

ced138 — 2008-10-21T10:30:48-05:00

On the list of people we're glad we're not--after Bristol Palin and Guy Ritchie, natch--comes Thai premier Somchai Wongsawat. The masochist voluntarily agreed to lead Thailand amid unprecedented government protests.

If the burning streets of Bangkok aren't enough to worry about, now the guy has to deal with a potential war with neighboring Cambodia. Last week, fighting erupted along the countries' border over this UNESCO World Heritage temple that both claim to own.

Now, Somchai will again sit down with Hun Sen, Cambodia's 20-plus-year strongman prime minister, for another attempt at a truce. Both men headed to Beijing today for the talks. Looks like hosting bilateral talks is China's way of reminding the world its post-Olympics city still exists.

Related Stories:
· Somchai and Hun Sen Meet in China [Bangkok Post]
· What Are Thailand and Cambodia Fighting About? [Jaunted]

[Photo: daylife.com]

Siem Reap: Wats Up: Intro to Angkor

ced138 — 2008-10-20T14:30:48-05:00

This summer, Cambodia enthusiast Tim Patterson shared his favorite spots in the country--but skipped Angkor Wat. The ancient temples overshadow Cambodia's many other assets, he argued.

True enough, but Angkor is world-renowned because it's pretty freaking incredible. Khmers have good reason to be proud of this heritage, and this week, we're laying out a guide to help you navigate the impressive and overwhelming network of temple ruins.