This week’s WPC challenge is On Top.
Many tourists in Angkor Wat have the frightful experience when they found that they have to climb down the steep staircase after visiting the temples.
An example of the deep steps is shown on the photo.
All visitors stayed on the left hand side where blocks are placed to form half steps and a thin rope on the side are provided.
No one really dared to descend just on the steps as the risers of the steps are too high and the tread widths are very narrow, deteriorated and irregular.
One just wonders why they have provided steps like this when the temples were first constructed. Were they intentionally constructed like this so as to deter people from accessing the temple at the top??
There were other steep flights of steps in Angkor Wat. Rumor has it that one Australian female visitor has fallen down the steps and got killed. Their family, out of grief, donated a chain like hand rail to facilitate the decent of visitors.
On descending that flight of steps, my tatics was to reverse my body so my face was facing the steps ( instead of facing out, creating a feel of height), using both my hands to grip onto the upper treads as I descended cautiously. That worked well and my wife followed suite – while other visitors trembled!
retireediary 
Your tactics for coming down were very wise. Amazing photo from that perspective.
Thanks for the kind words – I couldn’t think of another way!
Great picture, dear Michael!
Descending the way you did was this ways the right thing to do, it makes it so much easier! 🙂
I believe so, especially with a back pack. This way, you can hang on to the step above with both hands as if it is rung of a ladder. Regards, Michael
Wow! Do I remember that climb. I couldn’t make it more than 1/4 the way up before I quit.
Hi, climbing up is easier than climbing down. It was wise of you not to climb up as there wasn’t a lot to see from the top.
bare feet??? Oh, my!
I guess they are local people who are used to bare feet – maybe better grip on the ground!
They should put a slide from the top. That would be fun.
That would be useful. I have also seen visitors on high heels – would like to see how she descends!
Or a zip line. 🙂
Good thinking 🙂
I think I would probably ease down on my bottom step by step! : ))
Haha, that’s another method! Regards, Michael
Those steps look very steep and there only seems to be a small rope at the side to hold onto.
Leslie
The rope is so thin I guess it is not good or rigid enough actually to give people a firm and safe grip!
One must be very careful going down. Much easier to ascend.
Leslie
The same with hiking!
So true.
Leslie
🙂
Reblogged this on ugiridharaprasad.
Thanks for reblogging this on!
I think you had the right approach – those steps are crazy!
That was the approach I used when descent a submarine to a boat – not facing the sea!
As I get older, I find that I can no longer stand heights. I probably won’t dare climb this.
I am not sure whether I can make the descent now without any fear!
I love Angkor Wat!
Glad that you like it!
The Mayan temple at Chichen Itzen is the same way. It’s so easy to climb up but terrifying to try to climb down. There are no steps and ropes there. I tried walking back down by just staring at my feet and not looking past them. My wife sat down and slid down on her backside, one step at a time.
Both of you have been cautious – as should anybody else when travelling! Regards, Michael
Amazing angle of the shot! Wow, the descent is definitely more scary than the ascent, eh? 😉
The ascent was OK when you faced towards the steps, I just applied the same principle for the descent!
Michael, when did you go there? When I was there, these steep stairways were chained . No one was allowed to climb up or down. I also heard about the story of the tourist’s death .
We were there some 7 years ago. It is a good decision not to allow climbing up or down. Regards, Michael
Amazing pic 🙂
Thank you 🙂
Nice perspective, Michael. It really gives a feel of how steep these steps are 🙂
Glad that you like it. It also shows how visitors descend with great caution and some difficulty 🙂
Wow! I feel dizzy just looking at your picture! Great post!
This picture was taken after climbing down – when I realize how difficulty it was to do that 🙂
the half steps were clever and so was your tactic in getting down.
Thanks for your kind words, Sam 🙂
Terrifying experience but great photo… Sounds like you had a smart strategy for dealing with it though.
As a child, I visited a US submarine. After the visit, we were to climb back down from the curved submarine body onto a boat. I was frightened to do so as the ladder has rungs which are very wide apart – as a child I had short legs too – not to say I would be looking out to the choppy sea. I did the same tactics – the same I adopted here!
I’ve seen Cambodian women go up and down those steps in high heel shoes ! I was giddy just looking at the photo !
I spotted some female tourist had high heel shoes too but not sure whether they climbed up / down !
Those steep steps scared the life out of me! http://backpackerlee.wordpress.com/2014/04/22/angkor-wat-the-theatre-of-dreams/
I won’t climb down those steps any more!
Fantastic entry. Just perfect for the challenge!
Thank you Amanda for the kind words!
Wow.. so steep.. what a beautiful place though..
I would like to show more photos of Angkor Wat in due course, please stay tuned!
Very cool!!
Thank you 🙂
Your reply to Debra explains what I was wondering. It appears that you took the photo from the middle of the stairway, which would have meant having nothing to hold, and both hands on the camera. Presumably, you used a zoom lens after you got down, but still — you were on those dangerous stairs!
Hi Tom, I have just reached solid ground and was happy that I did not fall down the steps and immediately thought of taking a picture!
I am sure it is worth it to go all the way to the top on those special steps. 🙂
At least, you can see the bird’s eyes view of Angkor Wat!
great pic! I would be scared coming down those steps!!!
We were scared too!
Wonders! Was this real or imagined, make up by the power of ITech? How could it be, as I believe those pictures are of real humans up there! I wouldn’t dare it! But what do we take from this – I mean sort of spiritual application?
I can assure you this is real. Spiritual application – don’t get frightened, there are always ways out of any situation!
Nicely done my friend. Great angle.
Many thanks for the continued support!
Really clever, the way you climbed down!
Nobody, except my wife followed suit!
It takes time for novelty to gain public acceptance!
🙂
ive been up there and i find it scary! its amazing that there are plenty of travellers who go up and not worrying about falling. my knees were shaking and I swear i was gripping the rails to so tight that my knuckles were turning white. do you reckon its worth the climb to the top?
Actually, there is not a lot to see up there, but tourists are tourists – they won’t want to miss a chance to see what’s up there – not knowing that the climb down could be difficult / scary! Regards, Michael
Wow, you had some fantastic entries for this week’s challenge and I couldn’t remember that I had anything that was suitable, then yesterday I came across some photos that would have been very suitable.
Look forward to seeing your posts!