Angkor and travelling latest news

"Bus ban in Angkor Thom"
Busses with 12 seats or more are banned from entering Angkor Thom starting Aug. 1st, 2010. (Phnom Penh Post, 22/07/10) -

Thai-Cambodian border conflict

Trouble at the Thai-Cambodian border has calmed down.
Preah Vihear cannot be visited from Thailand. There are no problems for visitors from Cambodia. During my last visit in January 2009, a commander's black Lexus was parked 50 meters from the temple - a symbol of peace and safety whatever you read in the newspapers.
Same situation at the Ta Muen temples , some 35 km northeast of Banteay Chhmar.

The market north of Preah Vihear temple was burned down. Here and at Kor Muy, the village at the foot of the hill, changes are starting. The villagers are removed, a 'tourist area' will be erected. In the moment the guesthouses and restaurants are still working.

Angkor Wat

Bayon

The southern fire shrine is being restored. There is a big scaffold. All reliefs at the outer gallery are accessible and visible.

Baphuon

Restoration works are going on. Now there are two stands: One is at the East on the level of the lower tier of the pyramid, giving view to the second tier. The other is in the West of the temple, giving view to the piled up relief of the reclining Buddha. Both stands close at 3 pm.

Koh Ker

At the moment visitors cannot climb up the pyramid.

Banteay Chhmar

A five-years conservation program has started. The ruins can be visited as normal.

Bokor Mountain

The former French high altitude resort is now transformed to a hotel. The road is closed to visitors.

Tonlé Sap lake express boats

"Tourists Commandeer Sinking Passenger Ferry
. foreign tourists . from Siem Reap . to Phnom Penh aboard a sinking passenger boat felt compelled to seize control over the vessel. . the crew did not want to dock .after water filling the cabin . The six-hour ordeal ended when the captain agreed to bring the boat to the nearest shore." (The Cambodia Daily, December 05, 2007)

Trouble also happens along the boat route from Siem Reap to Battambang.

Domestic flights

No news till today, 28 July, 2010.

The European Commission has banned Siem Reap Airways at Nov 14, 2008 because of safety concerns. All flights were stopped - or maybe not.

At June 07, 2007, an airplane of PMT Air crashed on the route from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville. By a Korean source we know about the last radio communication:

(Pilot:) We are flying at an altitude of 2000 feet.
(Tower:) You are flying too low. Given your current location you should go to an altitude of 4000 feet.
(Pilot:) It's no problem; I am familiar with this area.

Crew and passengers died, 22 people.

The results of the investigation are still under cover. PMT has not paid any compensation. The PMT director 'does not remember the name of the insurance company'.

References:
The Camdodia Daily; The Phnom Penh Post.