Temples Outside Angkor
Oct 25, 2009 | 7:54 pm
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: body: A stone's throw from SFO, mind: SE Asia
Programs: Some of this 'n some of that
Posts: 17,265
I was disappointed with Beng Melea at first. They have mostly sanitized the experience. Our guide told us that wooden walkway was added just last year and many of the trees and roots have been cleared. He showed us some of the spots where you had to go before the walkway was constructed. You had to pull yourself up a little opening to then walk over rubble. At another spot, you would have had to climb up a wooden ladder to get to some more rubble. The thing that saved the temple for me was that there was still an area where you could walk over the rubble. I got somewhat of the adventure feeling when we walked on the broken stones.
As for tourists, I remember only seeing two other couples at Koh Ker. Beng Melea was packed with tons of local people as it was a Sunday.
Oct 25, 2009 | 10:15 pm
#18
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Southeast USA
Programs: various
Posts: 6,710
<snip>
I was disappointed with Beng Melea at first. They have mostly sanitized the experience. Our guide told us that wooden walkway was added just last year and many of the trees and roots have been cleared. He showed us some of the spots where you had to go before the walkway was constructed. You had to pull yourself up a little opening to then walk over rubble. At another spot, you would have had to climb up a wooden ladder to get to some more rubble. The thing that saved the temple for me was that there was still an area where you could walk over the rubble. I got somewhat of the adventure feeling when we walked on the broken stones.
As for tourists, I remember only seeing two other couples at Koh Ker. Beng Melea was packed with tons of local people as it was a Sunday.
I was disappointed with Beng Melea at first. They have mostly sanitized the experience. Our guide told us that wooden walkway was added just last year and many of the trees and roots have been cleared. He showed us some of the spots where you had to go before the walkway was constructed. You had to pull yourself up a little opening to then walk over rubble. At another spot, you would have had to climb up a wooden ladder to get to some more rubble. The thing that saved the temple for me was that there was still an area where you could walk over the rubble. I got somewhat of the adventure feeling when we walked on the broken stones.
As for tourists, I remember only seeing two other couples at Koh Ker. Beng Melea was packed with tons of local people as it was a Sunday.
Some people think the walkway and some of the clearing detracts too much frm the "adventure" experience, but really, what were the other options? Besides:
(1) Do nothing and have the inevitable serious injuries from falls and misteps, as more people visit Beng Melea and especially foreigners who over-estimate their physical abilities; (2) In the interests of public safety, restrict the site from mass tourism altogether--but this is SE Asia, so fat chance!
Bottom line, Beng Melea is still a very interesting place to visit for those travelling to Siem Reap. Koh Ker is less so for the average tourist.
Oct 29, 2009 | 10:21 pm
#19
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: UA, AA Gold, Delta, HHonors Diamond, Marriott, Starwood
Posts: 214
Watch out for snakes at Beng Melea. My moto driver warned me about snakes there after the fact. As we were leaving he asks me "Did you see any leaves rustling? You need to be careful of the snakes there."
Aug 30, 2019 | 8:46 am
#22
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Berkeley, CA USA
Programs: Kam Leng; Two Dragons GH
Posts: 1,615
Aug 31, 2019 | 9:25 pm
#23
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Berkeley, CA USA
Programs: Kam Leng; Two Dragons GH
Posts: 1,615
Has anyone been up the western wooden stairs at Preah Vihear? Wondering if it's in the shade. (Link may be paywalled.)