Chilling in Chhlong: A weekend in Kratie Province

Posted on February 11, 2020 by Susan Haythorpe

When friends from home visit and we remember that not everyone is quite so enamored with the sustained bustle of Phnom Penh life quite as much as we do, we like to plan a few days of respite outside of the city. We’ve visited Kampot, Kep, and Koh Dach; Otres, sadly, is no longer an attractive option, and travel to the islands takes too long for a short stay. This time, we headed to the lesser known destination of Chhlong, located in Kratie province, often referred to as the Cambodian home to the Irrawaddy dolphins.

Le Relais de Chhlong hotel Kratie

Le Relais de Chhlong, a newly restored grand hotel that was built in 1916.

Where to stay

When deciding where to go, our criteria was a hint of luxury without the associated price tag, and a degree of ‘wow’ that doesn’t involve arriving via zip-line (with all due respect to Shinta Mani Wild). Searching for a destination for an early New Year getaway, I settled on a review of Le Relais de Chhlong, a rather grand-looking colonial retreat by the Mekong between Kampong Cham and Kratie that promised comfort, quiet, and cooling river breezes. Continue reading →

How to get from Siem Reap to Battambang (and vice-versa)

Posted on February 5, 2020 by Lina Goldberg

Battambang and Siem Reap are two of the nicest spots that Northwestern Cambodia has to offer, and each is worth visiting. Battambang and Siem Reap are only 48 miles (77 km) apart, but the trip can take as long as four hours due to the fact that there’s no direct road–all of the buses route through Sisophon — and up to eight hours by boat. Here we cover how to get from Siem Reap to Battambang (and vice-versa) in 2020, including boat, taxi, and bus.

Heading to Battambang? Check out our expat guide to Battambang with hotels, activities, transport and more. 

things to do in Battambang

Seen Siem Reap? Now it’s time for Battambang.

Continue reading →

Review: Krousar Khmer’s Home Guesthouse, Siem Reap

Posted on February 1, 2020 by Steven Halcrow

Krousar Khmer’s Home is definitely one of Siem Reap’s budget accommodation gems. Tucked away down a red dirt road in the quiet Phum Triang neighborhood on the north side of town, this unassuming guesthouse offers travelers very reasonable rates: $10 to $12 per night or, if you’re planning to stay longer, the monthly rate starts at $150.

Krousar Khmer's Home Siem Reap garden

Get out of the tourist center and relax in a local Cambodian neighborhood.

The quiet location is ideal if you want a respite from the noise and tourists in the town center, and offers the opportunity to relax in a homey environment in a laid back Cambodian neighborhood. There are friendly faces everywhere, plus laundry service and a convenience store right across the road that sells, among other things, drinks and phone top-ups. It’s also incredibly convenient to the temples, and is just a few kilometers to the Angkor Archaeological Park. Continue reading →

Medical care in Siem Reap

Posted on January 23, 2020 by Zanny Merullo

Good healthcare can be hard to come by in Siem Reap. Many doctors don’t speak English and you can’t always be sure if they’ve had proper medical education or whether clinics have safe hygienic practices. That’s why it’s important to have a list of recommended clinics. The following includes Siem Reap’s medical clinics and doctors that are favored by local expats.

Royal Angkor International Hospital Siem Reap

Arguably the best care you’ll get in Siem Reap, but you’ll pay for it.

Hospitals, Clinics, and Doctors in Siem Reap

The Royal Angkor International Hospital offers the highest quality care in town, although the prices are on par with what you’d find back home (depending on where home is, of course. Bottom line: it’s expensive). Doctors here generally speak excellent English and have access to a wide variety of equipment. This is the most popular hospital in town with tourists, but if you live in Cambodia and can prove it with either a work permit or a long-stay visa, they do offer discounts. A standard appointment costs $35 for expats. Continue reading →

Cambodia bus review: Mekong Express, Siem Reap to Phnom Penh

Posted on January 13, 2020 by Lina Goldberg

Mekong Express is one of the most long-running and popular bus services in Cambodia, and they have routes all over the country. In this post, I’ll review the newish Mekong Express buses on their Phnom Penh to Siem Reap route, and give a full rundown of what you can expect in 2020.

Mekong Express bus in Cambodia

Mekong Express have all new buses. But how do they stack up to the competition in Cambodia?

Mekong Express bus review in a nutshell

  • Time Siem Reap to Phnom Penh (and vice-versa): 5 to 6 hours
  • Cost: $12
  • Pros: Newish buses, commitment to safety
  • Cons: Stops to pick up additional passengers
  • Booking: Online, with seat reservations

When I moved to Cambodia many years ago, Mekong Express was *the* bus company that all tourists and expats preferred. But then Giant Ibis arrived, with their services aimed squarely at foreigners, and Mekong Express, with their increasingly dilapidated fleet, struggled to compete. So when I saw a brand new Mekong Express bus drive through Siem Reap the other day, I was shocked. What was this gleaming white chariot? Could this really be Mekong Express? Determined to learn more, I booked a couple of tickets and hit the road to Phnom Penh. Continue reading →

Play spaces in Siem Reap for young kids

Posted on January 10, 2020 by Ruth Lolo

Despite Siem Reap not having much in the way of public parks with playgrounds, there are some great spots for young kids to run off energy and have fun. Here is a list of some of the best play spaces and activities for younger kids in Siem Reap:

Kids Park Heritage Mall Siem Reap

Is Kids Park the best play space in Siem Reap? Let your kids make the call.

Kids Park at Heritage Mall has our vote for the best soft-play space in the city. It’s the largest one in town and offers great climbing opportunities, multiple trampolines (including one with a foam pit), spinning swings, foam ball cannons, small monkey bars, large foam blocks to build your own castles, several slides, and numerous other engaging play options. It’s kept clean and is well air conditioned. And although they sell soft drinks and a few snacks (chips and candy), you are also permitted to bring your own snacks. With Starbucks and Tous les Jours in the same building, it’s easy to enjoy a coffee while the kids run wild! Entry is $3 weekdays, $4 Saturday and Sunday for ages 2 to 12. Open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Bring socks or you’ll be required to purchase a pair. Continue reading →

The lowdown on Cambodia international schools

Posted on January 2, 2020 by Jazmyn Himel

I grew up going to international schools all over Southeast Asia. Like most “international kids” I moved around quite a bit, from Cambodia to Laos to Thailand, before going to university in Canada. Moving back to Cambodia after graduating university and seeing how developed the international school scene has grown is startling. I attended ISPP when its campus was still separated by Norodom Boulevard (and is now a Chip Mong building). I still get asked about my experience in international schools (although it’s mostly from worried parents). As a freshly unemployed college graduate and a certified third culture kid, I’ve had the time to compile a master list of international school need-to-knows.

Students in Cambodia receive a truly international education. Photo at Invictus International School.

The cost of education

The first is the most obvious: the price. International schools are far from cheap; I still find it astonishing that my parents spent more money on my high school education than they did on my undergrad. Below is a table of yearly tuition fees I’ve compiled from four notable international schools in Phnom Penh.

Continue reading →

Review: North Korea’s Angkor Panorama Museum, Siem Reap

Posted on December 27, 2019 by Tessa

Update: As of December, 2019, the Angkor Panorama Museum is closed, reportedly due to UN sanctions on North Korea that required member states to send North Korean workers home in mid-December. 

When we crossed the vast, empty parking lot in front of Siem Reap’s new Angkor Panorama Museum and stepped up to the front door, a young museum employee rushed to meet us. “May I help you?” she asked warily, as if we’d accidentally wandered into a restricted area. Her greeting, at once polite and slightly sinister, proved emblematic of the entire Panorama Museum experience.

North Korean Museum Siem Reap

The new North Korean Angkor Panorama Museum is hardly a teeming hive of activity.

Built and maintained by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea at a reported cost of $24 million, the place is less a museum than a showcase for one gigantic artwork: a panoramic painting 120 meters (nearly 400 feet) in diameter and 13 meters (42 feet) high, equivalent in size to three basketball courts. Continue reading →