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AUGUST 7, 2000 VOL. 156 NO. 5

  TRAVEL WATCH
Pleasant Perth is Just a Kangaroo Hop Away
From an Asian perspective, Perth can hardly be considered remote--or uninviting

Hot Deals
Virgin skies over Delhi bring down the prices

Detour
Temples around the Cambodian town of Siem Reap awe visitors with their architectural genius and old, gray grandeur

Travel Watch Archive: Browse hundreds of Asian travel tips

Detour
By WENDY KAN

Temples around the Cambodian town of Siem Reap awe visitors with their architectural genius and old, gray grandeur. The sheer size and exquisite detail of the country's most famous temple complex, Angkor Wat, and the nearby Ta Phrom, never fail to impress. But another masterpiece, the temple of Banteay Srei, until recently drew fewer crowds. Less well protected than the other temples, it lies deep in a forest frequented for years by Khmer Rouge guerrillas. Even after the Khmer Rouge disappeared, bandits roamed the area, and tourists were warned against visiting the site except in a group with armed guards.

Only in the last couple of years have security concerns eased somewhat. Now tourists are starting to brave the 30-km journey from Siem Reap to Banteay Srei, usually by hiring a car or motorbike. Finding a driver is not easy, though, because the bumpy dirt road is hell on a car's suspension, not to mention passengers' bottoms.

But the trip is well worth the discomfort. While the temples around Angkor Wat are secluded, the road to Banteay Srei passes through villages, giving visitors a glimpse of country life. The temple itself features pink sandstone shrines, carved with the fine detail and grand ambition normally reserved for bigger monuments. Dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, the temple was built in A.D. 967, and its walls are thick with fine images of other gods and goddesses.

The entry ticket for Angkor Wat ($20) can now also be used for Banteay Srei. As always, it's best to check out the current security situation with local authorities before paying a visit to the once-forbidden temple.

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