If you’re at a loose end of an evening during your visit to Phnom Penh, you may want to consider taking in some live music. Many venues in town feature live bands that are locally-based or visiting from abroad, such as El Dealbreakers, Durian, Cambodian Space Project, Dub Addiction and Holliday in Cambodia. The best way to find … 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

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

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

If you’re looking to get to a taste of the Emerald Isle, Phnom Penh has a few Irish pubs in town to sate you. Other major Asian cities such as Bangkok may be teaming with Irish drinking establishments, but Phnom Penh only has a handful of Irish pubs. None of them serve Guinness draught, although … read the full post

One of the most popular breakfasts you’ll find in Cambodia is kuy teav (another, of course, is my much-loved bai sach chrouk). Kuy teav is a simple noodle soup that most urban Cambodians prefer to buy on the street rather than preparing at home. (If you want to make it at home, see Narin Seng … read the full post

It’s not hard to have a Happy Merry Christmas in Phnom Penh. There are lots of things to do in town during the holiday week, or of course, the possibility of an island getaway. If it’s a traditional or not-so-traditional Christmas dinner you’re after, you’ve got lots of choices, from low-budget to posh. Here are … read the full post

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

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

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