Unlike most other places in Southeast Asia, you cannot freely rent a motorcycle or scooter here in Siem Reap. Considering you can rent bikes elsewhere in Cambodia, this may seem incongruous and indeed it is, but there is no real clarity on why it’s the case. A number of reasons have been suggested, however. These … read the full post

Despite the fact that Cambodia is bursting at the seams with beautiful islands, sometimes it’s nice to hit the open road and head to one of Vietnam’s tropical islands — which, as it turns out, is just as close as Koh Rong is. There’s not a lot of information out there on how to best … read the full post

Since the days of Jayavarman VII, the warrior king who reigned from 1181 to 1220, Buddhism has dominated Cambodian religious life. Jayavarman VII was the first king to make the transition and though one of his successors tried to reinstate Hinduism, the cult of Siva to whom so many of the Angkorian temples are dedicated, … read the full post

If you’ve had your fill of Khmer food (and Japanese and Vietnamese) maybe it’s time to grab a pizza. As luck would have it, Phnom Penh has quite a few decent pies on offer. When I first travelled around Asia, I’ll admit that I vowed to not be one of those backpackers that can always … read the full post

With its incredible colours, sepia-toned dawns and evening light, fascinating daily scenes and easy smiles of the people, Cambodia is a photographer’s dream, and the mystical Angkorian complex especially has drawn artists of all kinds since its rediscovery in the 19th century. For amateur photographers too, Cambodia provides rich opportunities for capturing images that have … read the full post

For the last 30 years, Sambo the elephant has been entertaining tourists at Wat Phnom in Phnom Penh. At 51 years of age Sambo is the only living elephant in Phnom Penh. She works seven days a week and now, the Elephant Asia Rescue and Survival Foundation (EARS) say that it’s time for her retirement. … read the full post

A one-stop shop for some of Cambodia’s most exciting contemporary and traditional handicrafts producers, the fourth Angkor Handicraft Fair will take place from January 11 to 15 in Siem Reap. In the river garden lawns in front of the Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor, the organisers promise an impressive showcase of Cambodian crafts and a packed … read the full post