Travelfish correspondent Abigail Gilbert

Dragged up in the drizzly north of England, Abigail prefers sunnier climes these days. She’s been stoned by villagers in India, become an honorary Kenyan tribeswoman, sweet talked border guards and had close encounters with black mambas. After spending time in Africa, India, Nepal, Europe and South East Asia, Cambodia is the place that feels like home. Her motto is: “Live to tell the tale.”
Website: http://www.penhandink.com

Posts by Abigail Gilbert:

• Cambodian table manners

  First published: 18 Nov 2012
  

  Travellers often worry about what to eat when they arrive in a new location, but considering how you eat can be just as important. Habits you take for granted could be offensive to those around you. Here’s our introduction to appropriate behaviour in a typical Cambodian eatery, whether it be a Phnom Penh restaurant or a … read the full post

• Review: Restaurant Phsar Kabko

  First published: 13 Nov 2012
  

  Following on from the lowdown on cheap eats, this particular Phnom Penh provider of good value nosh deserved to have its praises sung a little more loudly. Restaurant Phsar Kabko is almost opposite the market it’s named for on Street 9, just off Sihanouk Boulevard east of Independence Monument. In the best tradition of canteen food, it … read the full post

• Phnom Penh road closures

  First published: 11 Nov 2012
  

  In a perfect storm of royal mourning, sewage works and world leaders congregating in Phnom Penh, the usually slightly mad-cap affair that passes for traffic control in the city is being stretched to breaking point. There’s not much you can do except allow extra time to get to your destination, and keep a sense of … read the full post

• Review: Eighty8 Backpackers

  First published: 08 Nov 2012
  

  Dormitory rooms are a relatively new concept in Phnom Penh and the backpacker feel can be hard to find in the big smoke. With a large hang-out area and pool hidden behind a white wall, the three-storey Eighty8 Backpackers fills the gap. Two blocks from Wat Phnom to the north of Phnom Penh, it’s no … read the full post

• Review: Botanic Cafe and Art Gallery

  First published: 03 Nov 2012
  

  Every so often in Phnom Penh, you pass something that makes you look twice. Granted, it’s often an overladen motorbike or a T-shirt with words you are sure the wearer doesn’t understand. But the Botanic Cafe on Street 19 also prompts a double take. When you first spot it, nestled behind a explosively pink bougainvillea, you may think you’ve accidentally ended … read the full post

• Eating for less than $5 a day in Phnom Penh

  First published: 25 Oct 2012
  

  Visitors to Phnom Penh are sometimes surprised at the cost of food, but it’s perfectly possible to eat for $5 — or 20,000 riel — a day if you know where to look. The first trick to cheap meals is to put aside thoughts of familiar nosh and get experimental. A Western breakfast can set you … read the full post

• How does the King Father’s death affect travellers?

  First published: 19 Oct 2012
  

  Following the death of the former King Norodom Sihanouk, an official week of mourning in Cambodia has been declared and will continue until October 23, 2012. Observance will have a minimal effect on most visitors, but if you care to acknowledge the passing of a historically significant figure, the Royal Palace has become a focal point … read the full post

• Mourning King Father Norodom Sihanouk: A photo essay

  First published: 18 Oct 2012
  

  When the news first broke that the former king of Cambodia Norodom Sihanouk had died, many Cambodians were in the countryside provinces marking the Pchum Ben festival. As the word spread, Facebook statuses and profile pictures were updated. Many who had remained in the capital made their way to the Royal Palace to pay their … read the full post

• Cambodia mourns King Father Norodom Sihanouk

  First published: 17 Oct 2012
  

  The death of former King Norodom Sihanouk, aged 89, on October 15 during the Pchum Ben festival is being mourned by Cambodians. Increasingly frail, the King Father’s last visit to Cambodia from his home in China earlier in the year proved to be his last. His death has saddened but not surprised Cambodians, who are paying … read the full post

• Phnom Penh’s Post Office Square

  First published: 14 Oct 2012
  

  Phnom Penh’s Post Office Square was made famous by the film City of Ghosts, recommended viewing for any visitor to Cambodia on a rainy afternoon when sightseeing is off the agenda. A short detour from riverside and Wat Phnom, the area deserves a visit in person, too. The Post Office, built in 1890 and restored … read the full post