Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for cambodia
Mountain of the Lychees
By Linda Tancs
Phnom Kulen (translated as “mountain of the lychees”) is a popular tourist destination in Cambodia and a spot favored by locals because it is a holy mountain. The birthplace of the ancient Khmer empire, its historical (and environmental) value led to its protection as a national park. Located in Siem Reap Province, it features two waterfalls that form the basis for most tours of the area. It’s also rich in archaeological sites, one of the most popular being the “river of a thousand lingas,” boasting lingas (representations of the Hindu god Shiva) and other stone carvings. The area comprises one of the few remaining tropical forests in northwest Cambodia.
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The Bamboo Bridge
By Linda Tancs
Located three hours from Cambodia’s capital, Kampong Cham is arguably an overlooked city along the Mekong River. A bit understated with some French colonial architecture, one of its greatest charms is its bamboo bridge to Koh Pen. As you might suspect, it needs to be rebuilt after each rainy season, so its appearance is only seasonal. In the past, it did accommodate vehicles (bamboo does, after all, possess tremendous tensile strength), but that ceased when the new concrete and steel bridge was built downstream. Now it’s used by pedestrians and bicyclists. Let’s hope there’s enough foot traffic to keep the quaint bridge going.
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The Jungle’s Temple
By Linda Tancs
Ta Prohm is a temple at Angkor, Siem Reap Province, Cambodia. One of the most visited sites in the region, this former Buddhist monastery is probably best known for the massive tree trunks and roots that have consumed the structure in an eerie natural embrace. Not surprisingly, the site was used in the film Tomb Raider.
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Environmental Effects of Tourism
By Linda Tancs
Sometimes too much interest can be a bad thing. For years now, conservationists have been bemoaning the effects of tourism on a wide range of treasures around the world. Recently, a report indicated that the platforms harboring visitors at some of Cambodia’s ancient monuments are in danger of collapse because of the wear and tear from guests unloading from tour buses from sunrise to sunset. This situation is hardly unique, and other countries have implemented measures to control the effects of tourism on the environment. For instance, Egyptian authorities have long rotated the availability of tombs in the Valley of the Kings to offset the effects of rampant tourism. With some nations realizing a substantial part of their GDP from travelers, a dilemma arises between accommodating those who contribute to the community coffers and preserving an ecosystem that grows ever more fragile by the day through human and industrial actions. Ultimately, these nations must manage their tourism assets like a key player trying to effect change in a system, using goals that are strategic, measurable, agreed, realistic and timely. Then maybe sustainable tourism can be achieved.
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