Now that the road to Otres Beach has been paved and a feverish-for-Sihanoukville building spree has been going on, the 2012-2013 Sihanoukville high season is likely to make it the most popular beach in town. If you’ve been there before and loved it for its funky, laidback atmosphere, don’t panic. Thanks to low-rise zoning restrictions … read the full post

Most Sihanoukville beaches have distinct personalities. Wherever you stay on Otres Beach, for example, it will have a laidback “Otres Beach” feel to it. Victory Beach is different. More of a pastiche of identities than a single entity, there’s something for everyone on Victory Beach, from backpackers wandering down from Victory Hill to families in … read the full post

Unless you’re an expat looking for some furniture, building supplies or a new fridge, downtown Sihanoukville may not be your first pick of fun places to visit in Sihanoukville. The busiest section of Ekareach Street, between CT Road and Makara Street, is largely lined with shops that cater to locals and at first glance doesn’t … read the full post

If a walk along relatively quiet Independence Beach away from the hordes of Occheuteal appeals to you, go there sooner rather than later. The nearly finished Holiday Palace Casino & Resort is just the first sign of what’s to come; a green fence marks an area that, if the billboard on the road is anything … read the full post

When there’s a break in the rain during the monsoon, we drop everything and head for the beach; such was the case one recent Sunday afternoon, when we decided to head to Ochheuteal beach for dinner. Now while not everyone agrees with me that Serendipity is not a beach, since the old restaurants and bars … read the full post

How much does it cost to stay in Sihanoukville and its surrounds? That used to be an easy question to answer in a single phrase: “Not much.” These days, however, you’ll find a much larger spread — read below to see just how very large — so the answer’s become, “As much or little as … read the full post

Ochheuteal is a beach. Despite persistent rumours to the contrary, Serendipity is not. Yes, innumerable visitors to Sihanoukville talk about having visited Serendipity Beach, but there really isn’t a beach at Serendipity Beach. So why do they call it a beach? Let’s go searching for Serendipity Beach. Maybe we’ll find the answer. Officially, the road … read the full post

Cambodia has big plans for Sihanoukville. By 2040, if all goes according to plan, a million and a half people will call Sihanoukville home and the vacant land that stretches for several kilometres directly behind Otres and Ochheuteal beaches will be a sea of highrises and residential areas. That’s a few years away yet, but … read the full post

Going to the beach during rainy season may seem like an odd recommendation, but Otres Beach is a favourite getaway from Phnom Penh that deserves a visit any month of the year. And if you’re looking for sandy solitude, you’re more likely to get lucky when there’s some rainclouds in the sky. Otres is the shy … read the full post

If you’re looking for a new way to see Sihanoukville and get some exercise, the second weekend in March has a lot to offer in the way of a half marathon and bicycle race. Sihanoukville Bike Race and Ride On March 10 at 06:00, join cycling enthusiasts and adventure junkies on a ride down Cambodia’s … read the full post