If you’re planning on being in Phnom Penh across Christmas (rather than say escaping to beautiful Koh Rong), there are more than a few ways to spend an enjoyable afternoon. The locals, who are mostly Buddhist, don’t celebrate the holiday so restaurants and bars are still open for business. That doesn’t mean there’s a lack … read the full post

“O would some power the gift to give us To see ourselves as others see us!” – Robbie Burns, To A Louse We are sometimes the worst judges of how we and our actions are perceived or experienced by others, and never more so than when we’re in a strange environment where we do not … read the full post

If you’ve ever wanted to know more about North Korea, Phnom Penh offers a glimpse into the highly secretive hermit kingdom and its cuisine. Two restaurants in town not only serve North Korean fare but also feature a musical floor show performed by Pyongyang’s finest; yes, a complete cultural package. The show, which takes place … read the full post

If you’ve always dreamt of spending the holidays on a deserted tropical island, might I suggest Cambodia’s Koh Rong? Okay, okay it’s not quite deserted. Four small fishing villages inhabit the 78 square kilometre island, and a handful of resorts with between four and 15 bungalows each. But compared to Thailand’s islands, it’s positively rustic. … read the full post

They say you should breakfast like a king, and they also say you should start the day as you mean to carry on. So a right royal brekkie is clearly the only way to go or people will think you’re depressed. More to the point, temple hopping around Angkor and its surrounds is hard work, … read the full post

One of Cambodia’s premier photographers, whose work has appeared in numerous publications around the world, Mak Remissa moves between the worlds of impressionistic fine art photography and the more direct style of documentary photojournalism. His second series of fine art photographs, Water is Life, is now on show in the Arts Lounge at the Hotel … read the full post

There’s a woman who comes through my neighbourhood every afternoon, shouting in a high-pitched grating tone “NOOOOOM PLAAAAAAAAAAE AAAAAIIIIIII”. Until recently, I had never seen her face, but I could hear her coming from blocks away, and after she passed my house, I could still hear “nooom plaaai aiii” in the distance. The woman is … read the full post