Guest lvdkeyes Posted July 18, 2008 Posted July 18, 2008 I received this from US Embassy. Warden Message - Tensions on the Thai-Cambodian Border - July 18, 2008 American citizens resident and traveling in Thailand should be aware of tensions along the Thai-Cambodian border in the area of the Khao Phra Wihan temple, also called Preah Vihear. This temple is located on the border region between Sisaket Province in Thailand and Preah Vihear Province in Cambodia. A land dispute between Thailand and Cambodia over a 4.6 kilometer area adjacent to the temple has led to the closing of the temple to visitors and the arrest by the Cambodian military of three Thais who crossed over into this area. We understand from media reports that the temple is closed to visitors at this time and the road has been blocked eight kilometers from the entrance on the Thai side. At least one Thai soldier has been injured by a land mine and there have been clashes between Thai demonstrators and the local population. We recommend American citizens defer travel to this area until the situation has been resolved. For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs' web site <http://travel.staet.gov/> at http://travel.state.gov, where the current Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, and the current Worldwide Caution can be found. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or callers in other areas may call a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). The U.S. Embassy in Bangkok can be reached at 02-205-4000; the fax number is 02-205-4103. The U.S. Consulate General in Chiang Mai can be reached at 053-252-629. The Embassy's web site, which includes consular information and the most recent messages to the American community in Thailand, is http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/. Quote
Guest jtrack33 Posted July 19, 2008 Posted July 19, 2008 From this warning and other reports on activities and proposed visitor numbers after UNESCO have upgraded the site, you could have the impression that this site is a key tourist attraction. I have built a house in Ubon just a few kilometers from the Emerald Triangle (meeting point of Thailand, Laos and Cambodia) and 60 kilometers from the temple in question. As such, I have recently visited the temple site several times with friends and family and always enjoy its remarkable location and unkempt (yet quite complete) state. It is certainly well worth visiting. Yet whenever I have been, I have seen only about 10 Thai tourists and never any foreigners. You have to park your car at the border and walk a couple of kilometers and endless steps to the temple. But the view from the top overlooking Cambodia is worth the walk as are the temple buildings. On some visits, we have not been allowed across the border by the Cambodian/Thai military because of political problems, but these hinderances have always been temporary. The Emerald Triangle has been closed for a year now and you can only get within 2 kilometers of it. But this place is just a small shed built in a very small jungle clearing with three signs. At weekends, some Laos villagers would come and sell cigarettes to Thais. But I never saw more than 2 cars at a time at the place when it was open. It's such an insignificant-looking spot, I took my GPS the 2nd time just to confirm with Google Earth, it actualy was the Emerald Triangle. All I'm saying is, it seems to me the area, while very interesting for locals in the region, it's hardly worth the trek from Bangkok....but maybe UNESCO will work miracles there like they did at Boroboudor in Java. For me, I still believe Sukothai and the other temples in that region are far superior and better preserved than Ayuttyah and other touristy sites. Quote
