It’s a Temple Run in real life.
The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Angkor Wat, a Hindu-Buddhist temple in Siem Reap, Cambodia, has received an influx of tourists who are said to be disrespecting their religious structure by replicating a very popular Temple Run mobile game experience in 2011.
The game app created by Imagini Studios follows an explorer with an ancient relic as they escape from the creatures that are chasing them. Due to the similarity of the structure with the game, tourists have sparked a new challenge by copying the experience of the app on the camera.
Some tourists have posted content online revealing how they are walking through the ancient temple similar to Guy Dangerous, one of the main characters in the video game. The viral trend, called #templeruunchallenge has garnered millions of views.
In a 30-second clip posted by tourist Chiara Contino, she is seen running through temples and jumping over obstacles while music from the game plays behind her.
She recalled the experience as a “real-life Temple Run,” on TikTok.
Another adventure lover, Roy, who goes by @theroyb on TikTok, shared how he emulated the video game in real life. He took huge leaps across the unstable terrain inside the temple and even included a somersault to collect points, but his conquest was short-lived when the audio signaled that he bumped into something, ending the game.
He captioned the viral clip, posted on August 1 with over 1.2 million views, “[I] was actually chased by monkeys.”
As TikTokers enjoy their expedition through the 900-year-old Cambodian temple complex built by Khmer King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century, it has some conservationists and historians concerned about the safety and preservation of the religious temple.
“People often forget that Angkor Wat and other Angkorian temple sites are living cultural heritage sites for the Cambodian people,” Alison Carter, a University of Oregon archeology professor specializing in Southeast Asia, told Business Insider. “If someone wouldn’t do something in a church or a mosque, they shouldn’t do it in an Angkorian temple.”
Historians want to ensure that the temple is not damaged by careless tourists, but also that it does not diminish its spiritual and cultural value.
“I can’t believe the temple authorities didn’t stop it immediately,” Brouwer told Business Insider, “Letting brain-dead idiots run around the temple, jumping up and down, is a combination accident and disaster waiting to happen to happen.
However, local Cambodians online are more relaxed about tourists’ engagement with the ancient temple.
“Thanks for this trending temple of our beautiful temple and for visiting our beautiful country,” one person commented under Roy’s viral video.
Meanwhile, under Contino’s TikTok clip, she received a big engagement from locals who thanked her for visiting their country.
“Thank you for promoting Cambodia. Welcome to Cambodia,” wrote one observer.
“Wow, thank you so much for supporting the Angkor Wat temple in Cambodia. I admired a TikToker.
“We appreciate your visit,” declared another. “I love you.”
The viral trend has encouraged other travelers to visit the place and check out the Temple Run experience.
“Wow, this is true,” wrote one shocked viewer. “Oh god.”
“A very beautiful country I would like to go to Cambodia,” one person commented.
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Image Source : nypost.com