Sunday, Feb. 12, 2006
Asia's two most famous temple sites—Cambodia's Angkor Wat and Burma's Bagan—each have their partisans. Some say that Angkor's location amid dense foliage lends its ruins a heightened sense of mystery and romance. Others argue that the dry plain of Bagan provides a superior experience because there is no jungle to obstruct the view of its thousands of temples and pagodas. Given that operators at both places offer views from hot-air balloons, the debate can also be conducted in the air. The Angkor balloon is tethered 1 km away from the actual landmark, because Angkor's status as a World Heritage Site means that flights cannot pass over it. However, the Bagan balloon, pictured here, flies freely over the spires and stupas (
balloonsoverbagan.com). It is able to do so because Bagan has been refused World Heritage status as a result of ham-fisted attempts made to restore some of its ancient structures with modern materials. Other developments, including an unsightly viewing tower and a nearby golf course, have also been controversial. Perhaps it's just as well that their impact is diminished when seen from the sky. Bagan's beauty is undeniable during these spectacular, 45-minute flights.
- Liam Fitzpatrick
- Float by balloon over two of Asia's most important cultural sites
