On Muddy Temple Roads, Signs of Neglect
The temples are nestled in the Dangrek Mountains, and one look at the road between them tells the story of their neglect. (29 September
If one wants to visit two of the oldest Khmer temples in Cambodia,Ta Kraby and Ta Moan, in Bantey Ampil district, Oddar Meanchey province, onewill not find it easy, especially in the rainy season. The temples stand in the DangrekMountains, and one look at the roadbetween them tells the story of recent neglect, prior to their emergence as a secondpoint of contention in an ongoing territorial dispute between Cambodia and Thailand. Access difficulties to Ta Moan and Ta Krabey haveleft them abandoned by local tourists and, until recently, troops. The temples, surrounded by thick, natural jungle, have beenoccupied by Thai troops and are a potential flashpointin the military standoff that started at Preah Vihear temple, more than 100kilometers to the east, in July. From Anlong Veng, one must travel at least five hours bymotorcycle over 130 kilometers of muddy road, to a crossroad that separates TaMoan and Ta Krabey. The road is cut off by muddy streams in at least fiveplaces. To overcome these obstacles, entrepreneurs with four-wheeled tractors or hand-held walking tractors assist travelers, for a fee. In one submerged stretch of road, a giant boulder protrudes.The engine driver takes 50 baht, or $1.25, to be a ferryman, and the tractors,which pull vehicles by chain, cost 100 baht, or $2.50. “As long as it floods, we’ll earn more,” said Rean Reup, who operates a walking tractor. “But a few days ago, two walking tractors fell into very deep water,and each [driver] spent 3,000 baht to have them repaired.” Until the town of OddarMeanchey, villagers have constructed many woodenbridges, asking a toll of 1,000 riel, or $0.25, per moto, or 5,000 riel percar. Teuk Pov, a taxi driver from Bantey Meanchey province, on arecent day last week had an engine problem. He stopped on the side of the roadto repair it. “I must pay at least 400 baht for a long route from BanteyMeanchey to Oddar Meanchey,” he said. “Because many roads have been cut off bywater. And then I change the road that I’m used to, from Thmor Puok, BanteyMeanchey, by using the road from Kralanh district, in Siem Reap province.” At least four places have been flooded from Kralanh toSamrong district, Oddar Meanchey, he said. Another four places are flooded fromSamrong to Anlong Veng. Twenty minutes from the crossroads toward Oddar Meancheytown, the road was completed flooded. Here, motorcycles had to be carried byfour men, who wore only pants and waded into the stream above their waists—for10,000 riel. Passengers are obliged to wade through the stream themselves. Oddar Meanchey Governor Pich Sokhen recognized thedifficulties for reaching the temples, saying that infrastructure work wasplanned for the dry season. “The situation is not too crucial,” he said. “After thereconstruction of the roads, hopefully local tourists will try to visit there.”