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:

• Getting laundry done in Phnom Penh

  First published: 03 Sep 2012
  

  Arriving in a city with bright electric lights and chic residents can bring the realisation that your attempts at handwashing have not been doing your grandma proud. Fortunately, Phnom Penh has a glut of laundries just waiting to take your crumpled bundle and turn it into a fresh smelling, beautifully pressed stack. Almost all guesthouses … read the full post

• Phsar Chas (Old Market)

  First published: 28 Aug 2012
  

  The quickest way to be immersed in Cambodian life is to dive into a market that is not aimed at tourists. Before you take the plunge, though, ask if you are ready for a taste of unadulturated daily activity, with the sights, sounds and smells of a traditional market. Phnom Penh‘s Phsar Chas (Old Market) is … read the full post

• Review: Lucky Pho, Phnom Penh

  First published: 24 Aug 2012
  

  Two minutes from Phnom Penh‘s riverside, just around the corner from perennial tourist favourite the FCC, you’ll find the small but perfectly formed Lucky Pho. If you’ve crossed from Vietnam and have a hankering for soup, you won’t be disappointed here. The price may be higher than on a Hanoi street, but then again, so are … read the full post

• Walking in Phnom Penh

  First published: 21 Aug 2012
  

  It’s the reply no tuk tuk driver wants to hear: “I’m walking, thanks.” Often, the most sensible thing would be to sit in his comfy carriage, be transported around the streets and let him worry about the traffic. But for getting-lost-exploring in Phnom Penh and answering the question, “I wonder what’s down there?”, you can’t … read the full post

• Review: The Spirit House, Phnom Penh

  First published: 18 Aug 2012
  

  Confucius said, “All good things are difficult to achieve.” I don’t wish to contradict the wisdom of the ancients, but let’s just say that fortunately, The Spirit House isn’t excessively difficult to find, even though it is a darn good thing if you love a sunset. Because, while there are bars aplenty on the western … read the full post

• Where are they now? Phnom Penh’s Lakeside businesses

  First published: 14 Aug 2012
  

  Mention the word ‘lakeside’ to any traveller who visited Phnom Penh before 2009, and they’re likely to get a faraway look in their eyes, accompanied by a smile or a shudder. Famed as a backpacker ghetto, Boeung Kak (Green Lake) is the stuff of myth and legend. There were $2 rooms, suspicious herbs in bowls … read the full post

• Review: Sundance Inn & Saloon, Phnom Penh

  First published: 03 Aug 2012
  

  Sadly lacking in Robert Redford lookalikes, at least Sundance Inn won’t break the bank like the Kid and Butch Cassidy did. In business for a year, Sundance brings a touch of good value originality to the Phnom Penh guesthouse scene. On the up-and-coming Street 172, Sundance is two blocks back from the riverside and a … read the full post

• Departing from Phnom Penh Airport

  First published: 25 Jul 2012
  

  Unless you are one of the blessed few, the time will come when you have to leave Cambodia. Chances are, you’ll be departing from Phnom Penh International Airport. As a connoisseur of departure lounges (memories of Nairobi still leave me in a cold sweat, only to be relieved by thoughts of heavenly Singapore), I’ve cast … read the full post

• National Library, Phnom Penh

  First published: 20 Jul 2012
  

  On oh-so-elegant Street 92, planted between Raffles Hotel Le Royal and the impressive Ministry of Economics and Finance, the National Library is off the radar for most visitors to Phnom Penh. Set in lush gardens, the number of cars and motos may lead you to believe Khmers have a passion for reading, but actually it’s a … read the full post

• Review: Yong Hout Guesthouse, Phnom Penh

  First published: 18 Jul 2012
  

  A few hundred metres from Phnom Penh‘s Central Market, Yong Hout‘s location makes for an interesting alternative to riverside or around Independence Monument. The unapologetically green guesthouse occupies a corner plot on Street 136 halfway between the must-see market and Norodom Boulevard. The street is lined with fashion boutiques and fruit shake stalls, and also … read the full post