I met with a chap called Khemara.He’s been advertising a lot on facebook recently, and I admired some of his ideas. He turned out to be a really nice man, with loads of ideas to help the tourist get the best out of their trip to Angkor. The particular idea … Read More →
Now what I’m about to suggest won’t be to everyone’s cup of tea. But on the other hand, it’s just to give you an idea. Maybe you’re only going to be in Siem Reap a short time – two or three days – and in that case, this definitely won’t … Read More →
The day before it had been pouring with rain. I’d called and postponed the trip. Now this morning, at 7.15, it still looked like rain, but was temporarily dry. That’s a perk of the wet season here. I called my motorbike taxi friend Rothnak, “We go now OK?”. He came … Read More →
Be very afraid!!! With Halloween coming up, and Pchum Ben just finished, October is a month for ghosts. Phare, The Cambodian Circus has unveiled its new show “Chills” which is all about that. A group of young Cambodian students explore their terror of ghosts in a thrilling and unusual show … Read More →
We are delighted to offer you this piece from our friend Steve Grace. Many thanks to him. If you know of an interesting place and want to write about it, please contact us. “I enjoy searching out local art and artists wherever I travel and have found Cambodia to be … Read More →
The Angkor Photo Festival is a major event in Siem Reap. It starts each year on the first Saturday after the water festival, so this year it is from the 23rd to 30th November. I met with Jessica and Regina, two of the team of organisers, who told me about … Read More →
We’ve written about monks and their lives before. We interviewed Sokhun and told his story. We’ve even told you about a scheme to become a monk for a week. However that is possibly too extreme for almost all of you. So how can you find out a little more about … Read More →
OK, OK, it’s not called the New Adventure, but compared to the show I saw before it’s a new show. The story is basically the same: a young lad, abused at home, runs away to Phnom Penh. He’s set upon by some unsavoury characters and ends up being rescued by … Read More →
Following a post on “10 Great Places to eat for a cause” in the S.E.A. Backpacker (http://www.southeastasiabackpacker.com/10-great-places-to-eat-for-a-cause-in-south-east-asia), we decided to copy their idea. Here are twelve places in Siem Reap, granted not all restaurants, that “have a heart” and do more than the average for the community. They have all … Read More →
Have you ever thought about taking photos with an iPhone, iPad or similar? Maybe you’re coming to Siem Reap for a holiday and relying on using one of those to capture the memories. Well … these pictures are going to be important to you. Aides-mémoire to last you a lifetime. The … Read More →
Phare introduced two cards yesterday for the benefit of long term residents in Siem Reap. These are really good deals and if you love the circus, don’t miss out. The community card has extra bonuses too …. Circus Lover’s Card: Enjoy more than 10 different shows yearly and support a social … Read More →
Just across the river from Pub Street – turn half right at the roundabout on the other side of the bridge, you will find Wat Damnak. Formerly this was a Royal Palace. Hence the name – Dam Nak means palace. It’s a lovely place. It has all the standard features … Read More →
Highway 6 goes right past the Royal Palace and crosses the river at this point. On the Palace side of the river are two shrines. One is in the middle of Highway 6 itself, and we will come to that soon. The one on the North side of the road, … Read More →
Opened in 2001, the Angkor Muscle Gym is the largest Gym in Siem Reap. Let’s as usual start with their location. Take the road out of Siem Reap, South, along the river bank towards Tonle Sap Lake. It’s less than 1km down there to the crocodile farm. You can’t miss … Read More →
Some time ago we wrote Tip’s story – remember the lad who has aspirations to become Prime Minister (click here for the story). Tip lives in the Kro Bei Riel Commune, about 8km from Siem Reap. In that story we briefly mentioned the S.H.C.C. However we didn’t do the S.H.C.C. … Read More →
It’s day two on our three day chronological tour of Angkor. We’ve got a lot to cover. We’re still pre 900 CE. Let’s get going! So we’re refreshed, and looking for more! In 893, King Yasovarman (889-910) moved the capital as we said above. He built the temple on the … Read More →
OK, we’ve resisted long enough. We’ve always said we’d never do a review of Angkor Wat, or Angkor Thom or the other major temples. We’ve got close. We reviewed Angkor Wat from the outside and Angkor Thom without tourists, but we’ve resisted going to the main tourist drags. We did … Read More →
I read about the coffee museum, and read that it was at “Charming City”. That started a whole new set of discussions, since none of us had ever heard of Charming City. I asked all my favourite tuk tuk and motodop drivers, but they didn’t know. I emailed the newspaper … Read More →
Walk to the river from Pub Street, and turn left. Walk along the riverside and very soon you see an imposing red wall with gold “lotus petals” at the base of it. This is Preah Prohm Rath – Siem Reap’s town centre Pagoda. It’s not the biggest Pagoda in the … Read More →
So what do you do if you’re three students at University and want to earn some extra cash? Get a job or start a small business of your own. And what should that that business be? Well – three enterprising youngsters – (l – r in photo) Ratana, Dary and … Read More →
I’ve had a few people say to me “It’s all very well having all these ideas, but it’s too confusing to make an itinerary from them.” This indeed may be a problem. Siem Reap Post . com offers so much, it’s hard choosing what to do. There is also the … Read More →
About 30 minutes outside town, about 25 km, on the road to Banteay Srei, is a wonder of nature that is a “must” for anyone who likes pretty things. The Banteay Srei Butterfly Centre (formerly known as the Angkor Butterfly Centre) is one of those little-known gems that just should … Read More →
One of the sad facts of life in Cambodia is the presence of landmines. Over the last 40 years, more than 10 million have been placed by all sides in all sorts of troubles. Aki Ra, the founder of the museum, has spent much of his life removing this perpetual … Read More →
Wat Thmey (or Wat Thmei) is located about 3 km from the centre of Siem Reap along the exit road from Angkor. If you go past the back of the Jayavaraman VII hospital heading out of town, it’s on the left. Most tuk tuk drivers and tour guides know it. … Read More →
More an fixture than anything else, Rosy’s is an incredible attraction on the Bar (and guesthouse) scene in Siem Reap. It’s on the East bank of the river. If you cross the river using the Highway 6 bridge (which you can’t do in a tuk tuk or bike as it’s … Read More →
We all know sunsets are great times to take photos. In the Angkor area, there are about 5,000 (my guess) tourists, each day who go to Phnom Bakheng to photo the sunset. In this past high season, there were so many, that the authority was closing the hill to late … Read More →
Fancy getting your hands dirty? No, I mean really dirty, in a clean sort-of holistic way? Ever thought of yourself as a potter? Well, in Siem Reap you can become one. Where? The usual way I start an article. Go along Charles de Gaulle (that’s the road to Angkor). Pass … Read More →
We’ve covered Tonle Sap Lake before (See our article on Prek Toal). But here’s a way to “do it yourself”. You do run the risk of falling fowl of some of the more ingenious ways of tugging at heartstrings, but this will be up to you. We carry the notes … Read More →
I wouldn’t say this place is hidden away.There are enough signs to make sure you can’t miss it, more I’d say it was tucked away – out of the way. And that’s just how Thierry Diwo likes it. Away from the hustle and bustle. But it is open and it’s … Read More →
The Kingdom of Cambodia is 95% Buddhist. To be a little more precise they are mainly Theravada Buddhists. The regime is strict. I have already talked to Sokhun when I underwent the blessing ceremony at the Angkor Bodhi Tree Retreat – (click here for that story). He told of his … Read More →