Fancy a night of joy, madness, music, dance and ginormous puppetry (no, that is not a euphemism)? Then keep an eye out for The Giant Puppet Parade, the culmination of the Giant Puppet Project and one the biggest nights of the year in Siem Reap. It’s an occasion to let the kids from the many … read the full post

February is another busy month here in Siem Reap, the absolute highlight of which is the Giant Puppet Parade on Saturday February 25. Exhibitions *Emotional, a unique collection of clothes by Eric Raisina, will be on exhibition at the Hotel de la Paix from Saturday February 11. The Siem Reap-based designer’s electrifying designs have been … read the full post

I’m one of those people who claims to be non-techie and unswayed by market caprice, but somehow always contrives to have something that’s nearly up-to-date, but insufficiently à la mode that I can lay claim to an air of above-it-all superiority. I think the technical term for it is hypocrite. I don’t have a Mac, … read the full post

Cambodia may be a Johnny-come-lately on the Southeast Asia tourist trail, but there’s one area where they’ve already caught up with, even exceeded, their neighbours. The restaurants here (in both Siem Reap and Phnom Penh) are fantastic. The Cambodian culinary scene has developed in less than ten years, yet has managed to set high standards … read the full post

I know some prefer it cool, smooth and slow, but I have to confess I’m a major fan of hot and steamy. Of course, this does usually result in short lived affairs, but I don’t know anyone who could handle that much intensity for longer anyway. Especially with the Italians, God do the Italians really … read the full post

It will surprise many of Siem Reap’s visitors to know that, despite the enormous amount of money spent by all two million of you each year, Siem Reap province remains the third poorest of Cambodia’s 23 provinces. This is a devastating statistic, and indicates that very little of the money that you spend here is … read the full post

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

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

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

It’s not easy to get hold of information about ongoing events in Siem Reap. If you’re lucky your hotel will hold a copy of AsiaLIFE magazine, an excellent guide to what’s hot in Cambodia other than the weather, and they also carry events guides for Phnom Penh and Siem Reap each month. Taking their cue, … read the full post