Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Acleda Bank
( 7.30am-2pm Mon-Fri, 7.30am-noon Sat)
The only bank in town; has a Visa-only
ATM.
Getting There & Around
Rith Mony
(NH67)
and
Liang US Express
( 092-905026; NH67)
have buses to Phnom Penh
(US$10, seven hours).
Share taxis to Siem Reap (20,000r, 1½ hours) and Sra Em (20,000r, two hours) are most
frequent in the morning.
A
moto
circuit to the Thai border and back, via Ta Mok's house and grave, costs about
US$8.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Prasat Preah Vihear
This 800m-long
temple
(suggested donation US$2-5)
- not to be confused with Preah Vihear
City (Tbeng Meanchey) some 110km southeast - is the most dramatically situated of all
the Angkorian monuments. It sits high atop the Dangkrek escarpment on the Thai border,
with stupendous views of Cambodia's northern plains.
Prasat Preah Vihear consists of a series of four cruciform
gopura
(sanctuaries) decor-
ated with exquisite carvings, including some striking lintels. Starting at the
Monumental
Stairway
, a walk south takes you to
Gopura IV
, with its early rendition of the Churning of
the Ocean of Milk, and finally, perched at the edge of the cliff,
Gopura I
, the Central Sanc-
tuary.
Driving in from Sra Em, your first stop should be the
information centre
( 7am-5.30pm)
in the village of Kor Muy. This is where you pay your donation, secure an English-speak-
ing guide if you want one (US$15), and arrange transport via
moto
(US$5 return) or 4WD
(US$25 return, maximum six passengers) up the 6.5km temple access road, the final
1.5km of which is extremely steep. Another option is to ascend the hill on foot via the
Eastern Staircase
.
Budget lodging is plentiful in the burgeoning town of Sra Em, 23km south of the in-
formation centre - try neighbouring
Sok San Guesthouse
( 097 715 3839; s/d with fan US$10/
11, air-con from US$14/15;
)
or
Raksmey Guesthouse
( 077 516255; r with fan/air-con from
)
1km west of Sra Em's central roundabout. Eat at
Limy Restaurant
(mains
US$12/16;
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