Siem Reap: Tour the temples by bicycle

Posted on April 7, 2017 by Steven Halcrow

Time is a funny thing. Six weeks ago, waking up at 4 a.m. to cycle around the Angkor Wat temple complex seemed like such a good idea. Now, at 4 a.m. on the day of the tour, I am significantly less enamored by the idea. It’s still dark out on the way to the pickup, and on Sok San Road we passed last night’s stragglers who are refusing to admit that it’s morning. Exactly what you need to see before going on a 5 a.m. bicycle tour.

Grasshopper Adventures temple tour

Cycle your way through the temples.

Grasshopper Adventures is one of the biggest bike tour companies in Asia and has a great reputation and glowing reviews so I signed up for the Angkor Sunrise Discovery Tour. We were picked up by our guide, Som, and a nameless driver who laughed uncontrollably every time I said anything in Khmer. First stop was the ticket booth to buy our $37 temple passes, not included in the $85 tour price.

This may seem expensive, but you are fully catered for with bike and helmet, breakfast, lunch, snacks, pickup and drop-off, as well as a qualified Angkor temple guide to show you around. The Angkor Sunrise Discovery Tour is one of their more expensive day tours, others are significantly less. Continue reading →

Abortions in Cambodia…what you need to know

Posted on April 3, 2017 by Lina Goldberg

Information about abortion can be difficult to come by in Cambodia, especially for expats. Here’s what you need to know. Abortions are legal in Cambodia up to 12 weeks of pregnancy. After that, abortions are allowed if the pregnancy is developing abnormally, if there is risk to the mother’s life, or in case of rape. However, many of the hospitals and clinics that deal with foreigners (i.e., the ones with English-speaking staff who have trained abroad) will not terminate pregnancies — or even perform a D&C after a miscarriage — and the Khmer clinics may shy away or even refuse to treat foreign women.

Even in situations where abortion is legal in Cambodia, it is frowned upon. Unmarried women are expected to remain abstinent until marriage, and if they do get pregnant, they are expected to marry the father rather than terminate the pregnancy. For married women, abortions are more acceptable, but the husband must give his permission for the procedure if it is done in a government clinic or hospital.

Finding information on abortion in Cambodia can be difficult, and many providers may be hesitant to talk about it; some are unaware that it is now legal. Clinics may tell you over email or the phone that they do not offer the procedure when they actually do, so it’s worth going to talk to the clinics in person. Continue reading →

Things to do in Mondulkiri (elephants, elephants, elephants)

Posted on March 28, 2017 by Jen Green

No mention of Mondulkiri would be complete without its star attraction, the Asian elephant. In Cambodia, the second largest land mammal’s numbers have dwindled significantly in the last 20 years, and recent estimates put the current population between 250 and 600 in the wild. But only around 48 elephants are domesticated, meaning that all revenue-generating elephant activities — from elephant rides and treks to moving logs — are concentrated in a very small, aging population spread out between quite a few villages, camps, and sanctuaries. If you’re hoping to see these majestic beasts in Cambodia, Mondulkiri is the place to go.

Mondulkiri elephants

Hoping to set eyes on an Asian elephant? Head to Mondulkiri.

Elephants naturally need very little sleep, and instead spend as much as 18 hours a day eating in order to get sufficient calories. Time spent doing multiple tours and treks for tourists can be very taxing, and over time lead the elephants to be tired, prone to injury, undernourished, and dehydrated. Add to that mix fierce the competition for tourist dollars and you can imagine that the elephant tourism industry in Mondulkiri is competitive, and at times, controversial. We’re here to help you make sure that your money is going to local people and to good treatment of the elephants through responsible elephant tourism. Continue reading →

Eating vegetarian and vegan on Koh Rong

Posted on March 21, 2017 by Jessica Murdoch

Vegetarian and travelling to the Sihanoukville Islands? You are in luck — Koh Rong has many choices for you! There is a large backpacker community on the island, so Western food is pretty good and communication issues are rare. In addition to standard vegetarian standbys such as stir-fried vegetables and fried rice (more on that in our ‘How to eat vegan and vegetarian in Cambodia‘ blog post) there are several restaurants on Koh Rong that specifically cater to vegan and vegetarian diets.

Koh Rong vegan and vegetarian

Koh Rong is not just a tropical paradise, it’s a vegan and vegetarian paradise, too!

Vegetarians will find the widest variety of choice if staying in Koh Rong’s main village, Koh Toch, or on Longset Beach. Other locations on the island may also have at least the most basic vegetarian options, although you will likely be restricted to the menu of your guesthouse. Here’s a roundup of the best vegetarian and vegan-friendly restaurants in Koh Rong. The island is growing in popularity and there are new businesses opening all the time so it is likely you will find more options than I have listed here. Feel free to comment below with your favorite veg spot, and I’ll add it to the list! Continue reading →

Review: Thai Fire restaurant, Kampot

Posted on March 17, 2017 by Kat Koepnick

After living in Kampot for almost a year, I’ve learned the trick to winning the hearts of Kampot’s many colorful residents begins and ends with great food. It’s no surprise, then, that Thai Fire, a new restaurant that opened at the start of this year, is already a success.

Thai Fire Kampot

Whole fried fish, Thai-style, in spicy, sweet chili sauce with cashews, lemongrass & fresh herbs.

Nalee, more gastro-magician than chef, draws on her Laotian roots and Thai culinary experiences, both of which are reflected in Thai Fire’s menu. Rhett, her husband, handles front of house, and is also responsible for the restaurant’s uniquely hilarious Facebook updates. Continue reading →

Things to do in Mondulkiri (waterfalls and trekking edition)

Posted on March 9, 2017 by Jen Green

Sen Monorom, the capital of Mondulkiri province in the north east of Cambodia, is the perfect off-the-beaten-track destination. Sen Monorom has something for everyone: families, tourists looking for an outdoors experience, animal lovers, adventure types, and hobbyists interested in gemstones and traditional textiles. Oh, and did we mention the waterfalls?

Elephants are clearly the must-see attraction, but Mondulkiri’s beautiful rolling hills with dry and wet sub-tropical forests, and plethora of gushing waterfalls are also worth a visit. Here’s some things you can do and see, using Sen Monorom as a base for exploring Mondulkiri:

Mondulkiri waterfalls

Chasing waterfalls in Mondulkiri.

Continue reading →

Phnom Penh’s best vegetarian and vegan-friendly restaurants

Posted on February 22, 2017 by Alyssa Casey

I often get asked if it’s easy to be vegetarian in Cambodia. In Phnom Penh, the answer is yes! The city feels like a foodie paradise as so many different restaurants and cuisines have popped up in recent years. Here’s a roundup of the best vegetarian and vegan-friendly restaurants in Phnom Penh. This list is by no means comprehensive, and I’m always discovering new favorites. So feel free to comment below with your favorite veg spot, and I’ll add it to the list!

I’ve organized the list by neighborhood: BKK area; Riverside; and Russian Market (Read more about how to eat vegetarian and vegan in Cambodia).

Phnom Penh vegetarian

Don’t worry, there are a plethora of vegetarian and vegan options in Phnom Penh

Continue reading →

The low-down on Bangkok to Siem Reap flights

Posted on February 20, 2017 by Lina Goldberg

Gone is the longstanding Bangkok Airways monopoly, and today there are four airlines that fly from Bangkok to Siem Reap: AirAsia, Thai Smile, Cambodia Angkor Air, and Bangkok Airways. We give you all of details so you can decide which Bangkok to Siem Reap flights suits you best.

Bangkok Airways Bangkok to Siem Reap

Long the dominant player on the Bangkok to Siem Reap route, Bangkok Airways has recently dropped their prices.

Bangkok Airways used to have a monopoly on this route, and consequently their Bangkok to Siem Reap flights were ridiculously expensive considering the distance. I suspect the execs at Bangkok Airways cry themselves to sleep at night thinking of the Bangkok to Siem Reap route, because today one-way tickets start at $88 and round-trip tickets start at $168. Tickets are more expensive on Tuesdays and Thursdays (when Thai Smile often don’t fly). Bangkok Airways has codeshare and interline agreements with many other airlines, so don’t be worried if this is the last leg of a longer journey as long as all of your flights are on the same ticket. They offer a 20kg baggage allowance for economy class flights, but be aware that they fly ATR72 propeller planes so there are smaller overhead luggage compartments. Continue reading →