Yes, we know it’s 20-odd degrees Celsius and there’s not a drop of snow to be had, unless you count the interior of my neglected freezer. And we know that the odds of finding a fat man in an enormous red suit that hasn’t collapsed from heat stroke are somewhere around the snowflake in hell … 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

“O would some power the gift to give us To see ourselves as others see us!” – Robbie Burns, To A Louse We are sometimes the worst judges of how we and our actions are perceived or experienced by others, and never more so than when we’re in a strange environment where we do not … 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

If you’ve always dreamt of spending the holidays on a deserted tropical island, might I suggest Cambodia’s Koh Rong? Okay, okay it’s not quite deserted. Four small fishing villages inhabit the 78 square kilometre island, and a handful of resorts with between four and 15 bungalows each. But compared to Thailand’s islands, it’s positively rustic. … read the full post

They say you should breakfast like a king, and they also say you should start the day as you mean to carry on. So a right royal brekkie is clearly the only way to go or people will think you’re depressed. More to the point, temple hopping around Angkor and its surrounds is hard work, … read the full post

One of Cambodia’s premier photographers, whose work has appeared in numerous publications around the world, Mak Remissa moves between the worlds of impressionistic fine art photography and the more direct style of documentary photojournalism. His second series of fine art photographs, Water is Life, is now on show in the Arts Lounge at the Hotel … 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

It’s not often that Siem Reap gets visiting bands, though the Dengue Fever gig at the Hotel de la Paix in November was a huge success. So we do get a little bit excited when we hear about new ones coming to town. And this Friday will see the Siem Reap premier of a Phnom … read the full post

Phnom Penh boasts some of Southeast Asia’s most interesting modern architecture — though it’s often forgotten about with the focus tending to be on much older Angkor Wat instead. Take a tour to see what’s left of Cambodia’s glorious 1930s to 60s-era pieces, or just wander around yourself. A good place to start is at … read the full post