Angkor Wat-bashing seems to have become the pastime du jour for many of the more sniffy travel writers, largely due to the ever-increasing volume of visitors at the justifiably popular temple sites. Of course we would all prefer to enjoy our very own private view rather than share our Angkorian sunrise with thousands of the … read the full post

If the word circus conjures up images of top-hatted ringmasters, fearless lion-tamers and sinister-looking clowns, then a night at Phare, the Cambodian Circus will quickly erase those distant childhood memories. With performances seven nights a week, the circus of the world-renowned Battambang Art School – full name Phare Ponleu Selpak — is now wowing audiences … read the full post

With the recent closure of Siem Reap’s only dedicated sports bar on Alley West, the task of finding somewhere to catch the football, the rugby, the baseball or the tennis has suddenly become a bit more of a challenge. But fear not, all ye die-hard sports aficionados, there are plenty of joints in town where … read the full post

At certain times of year life in Siem Reap without a pool verges on the tortuous. Many expats make a point of leaving Siem Reap as soon as April arrives and the elements unleash the most ferocious heat and energy-sapping humidity of the year. But with a bit of forward-planning it can be an excellent … read the full post

The Cambodian cooking classes advertised by Sojourn Boutique Villas and tour operator Beyond Unique Escapes both come highly recommended — so highly that I’ve managed to use my inability to choose between the two as an excuse to do neither for quite some time. So, when a visiting friend booked us onto a half-day course, … read the full post

Close to Siem Reap, with its own unique appeal and much quieter than your average Angkorian ruin, Banteay Kdei offers the perfect antidote the crowds at Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom and Ta Prohm. It is also conveniently close to the Big Three so you can easily add it to your one-day itinerary, enjoy a little … read the full post

A 15-minute stroll north from the Old Market, along the shady west bank of the Siem Reap River, with its ornate stone streetlamps and hotch-potch of animal and religious sculptures, leads you to The Royal Gardens, the Siem Reap city centre’s only open public green space. It is an area that provides visitors with a … read the full post

Preah Khan has lived long in the shadow of its older sister, Ta Prohm. But as the hordes pore over the broken paths and scaffolding of the older temple, the very fact that Preah Khan is so often overlooked has become an integral part of its attraction. You are freer to explore here, without rubbing … read the full post

UPDATE: Here’s the Phnom Penh Post report. I am slightly claustrophobic  – demanding to be let off a Boeing 777 three hours into a flight from London to LA was a particularly memorable episode in the history of my phobia – so a flight in a hot air balloon has never appealed. However, many people … read the full post

Once you’ve clambered over swarms of tourists in pursuit of that one photo of Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom or Ta Prohm that doesn’t feature a crowd of total strangers, you may be tempted to call it a day with the temples after, well, a day. However, there are a number of smaller temples not far … read the full post