Too many tourists now. (Angkor Wat)

Member Name: joncr

Product:	Angkor Wat
Date:	05/08/02 (101 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Wonderful temples

Disadvantages: Too many tourists

When I went back in '99 it was all backpackers. Now theres far too many american and japanese tourists I found on March 2002 visit. It used to be quite a backpackers community. This has really impacted on local people who cant afford the rising land prices and increases the gap between the rich and poor that is very evident in Cambodia.

I dont have a photo without a wide american ar3e in it! Luckily I have some photos from my previous visit and have some advice on missing the crowds.

Your guide (bike driver or taxi driver) price varies on which hotel you are staying at. If your in a 5 star hotel expect to pay $15 a day and up. Your best bet is to walk round the centre of Siam Reap (the town around Angkor) and pick up a driver from there for $4 a day. This might seem like slave labour but the average police officer in Cambodia earns $20 a month so its a good wage.

Your driver will encourage you to do the standard "do Angkor Wat at sun rise and others later on" tour but to avoid the masses go into Angkor Wat at sunrise as the camcorder cattle will spend this time taking snaps of the sunrise over the temple. I got it to myself.

Also, take a big bag of sweets as the local children will try to adopt you for a minitour and ask for a dollar. This doesnt seem to bad but over a few days you could easily spend $70 or more if you gave each kid a dollar.

Stay out of the sun between 12 and 2. Try eating at the local street side places. They are very good and safe to eat there.

I would hope that the Cambodian authorities would limit the number of tourists but I know how it works over there (bribery, corruption) theres too much money coming in and some people will be making alot of money out it. It will get worse so make sure you go as soon as possible before it gets intollerable.

Having said this the Wats are the most impressive things I have seen in Asia.

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