Off-limits

This is Prasat Thom, the pyramid temple at the complex of Koh Ker, a couple of hour's drive from Siem Reap. It doesn't look like this anymore as it's been cleaned up - this photo was taken in November 2001 when only serious adventure tourists were visiting the site. However, as I reported a while back, the pyramid is now off-limits to tourists after one of the larger blocks at the top of the 36-metre high structure fell onto the ladder, making it unsafe for visitors. The site is known for its giant lingas and Prasat Thom is believed to have housed the largest of them all at its summit, though the search is on to find fragments of it. As visitors to Angkor Wat will already be aware, the top of that monument is also off-limits at the moment too. It's not clear when the upper level of Angkor Wat will be re-opened.