I was doing some personal research recently and came across a subject that is dear to my heart, especially after a visit from a friend of mine not so long ago. I was thrilled to see her of course; she’s a wonderful human being: smart, funny, kind and drop dead gorgeous. Come to think of … read the full post

When a friend suffered a nasty fall recently whilst crossing a street in a flash flood I realised that knowing how to find a good doctor fast in Siem Reap could come in useful. Said friend is quite tough which meant he managed to wait until the following day before giving in to the pain … read the full post

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

The problem with scams is we all think we’re too clever to fall for one, until we do. Tourists in Phnom Penh have recently been discovering that a friendly interaction can escalate into having their bank account lightened by US$4,000. As will all good scams, the set up is innocuous. A smiling non-threatening member of … read the full post

It’s an impossible challenge to spend any time in Phnom Penh‘s tourist areas without being approached by hawkers, beggars or tuk tuk drivers. Street commerce is a fact of life here, but for some visitors the constant “Wanna buy book?” and “OK, tuk tuk” get a bit wearing. So how can you deal with the … read the full post

You’ll learn a lot of weird and wonderful things in Southeast Asia, some of it even quite useful. For example, I now know that no matter how loud I scream, the spider still won’t go away (or my husband come to the rescue anymore). I can enter, use and leave the tiniest bathroom without touching … read the full post

I was going to write about the best spots for sinking a beer while watching the day slip down over the horizon, but something has come up so you’ll have to wait for that little ray of sunshine. Instead, it has come to our attention that at least five female expats have had their bags … read the full post

Cambodia is firmly in the grip of the hot season and Phnom Penh can feel hotter than a bowl of chillies on a barbecue. With daytime temperatures reaching 40 degress Celsius, plus 70 percent humidity, even the locals are melting. It can be a killer, so here’s some tips to stay healthy in the heat. … read the full post

It appears that the time that expats in Cambodia refer to as “robbery season” is already upon us. Every year the weeks leading up to Khmer New Year see an unofficial upswing in petty crime in Phnom Penh, presumably as some of those who need to return to the provinces for the holiday flush with … read the full post

Travelling around Cambodia can be… well, an adventure. Traffic laws are lax, drivers are brash (and by brash I mean reckless) and roads are poor. In 2011 there were 41 bus accidents in the country, and it’s looking like 2012 may beat that. In the past few weeks alone, several high-profile bus accidents have left … read the full post