What’s that sound? Cambodia’s Golden Age music still rocks the Kingdom

Posted on October 9, 2022 by Susan Haythorpe

For many people Cambodia’s history is synonymous with Angkor Wat and the Khmer Rouge, but the Kingdom of Wonder has another, upbeat story to tell (albeit with a tragic ending). The era known as Cambodia’s Golden Age of Music is still very much a part of the country’s popular culture.

Two Sin Sisamouth and Ros Sereysothea record covers

Rock royalty: Surviving records by Sin Sisamouth and Ros Sereysothea. Image courtesy CVMA.

In the 1960s Phnom Penh was one groovy city. The city was a cultural hotspot with its own, distinctive style of modernist architecture; an international playground for an affluent, arty crowd who flocked to its many cinemas and danced at fashionable nightclubs to music from the country’s top recording artists like Sin Sisamouth, Ros Sereysothea, and Pan Ron.   Continue reading →

Where to buy toys in Phnom Penh

Posted on September 9, 2022 by Monika Nowaczyk

The number and quality of toy stores in Phnom Penh has improved over the years. It’s become easier to find genuine global brands, in part due to the influx of new shopping malls and the demand from the growing middle class for high-quality toys. From brick-and-mortar shops carrying recognizable brands, to local handmade toys and online stores, here is our list of the best toy stores in Phnom Penh. Whether you are looking for a birthday gift, a development toy for your little one or a souvenir to bring back home with you, we’ve got you covered.

Cambodia Knits, a fair trade toy store in Phnom Penh.

Cambodia Knits is a local toy manufacturer carrying their own line of handmade children’s toys such as their popular Apsara and Hanuman dolls, as well as local animals such as sun bears, moon bears, and elephants. They also carry the full range of Beebee+Bongo toys that include multi-use educational and Montessori-inspired toys. CK is a provisional member of the World Fair Trade Organization, meaning all the products are made under fair working conditions and with environmental protection in mind. Their toys are also safety tested to international standards. [Cambodia Knits and Beebee+Bongo are the author’s businesses.]

If you’re looking for Montessori items, check out Forbie Montessori. You can reach them on their Facebook page and easily arrange delivery. They carry a lovely wooden stacking rainbow, wooden puzzles, and cards all with the Montessori method in mind. They also can make Montessori shelves and Piklar Triangle sets to order at reasonable prices and host a very informative and helpful Facebook group. Continue reading →

How to get from Bangkok to Siem Reap

Posted on September 1, 2022 by Lina Goldberg

If you’re coming from Bangkok to Siem Reap it’s worth doing your homework. There are several ways to travel from Bangkok to Siem Reap in 2022, and most fall into one of two categories: “fast and expensive” or “cheap and annoying.” Flying is fast and expensive and going overland is cheap and time-consuming (but offers considerable fodder for amusement). In this post, I’ll cover the best ways to get from Bangkok to Siem Reap as well as what you need to know about visas and the border.

At a glance…Bangkok to Siem Reap

Get from Bangkok to Siem Reap on the Giant Ibis direct bus.

Continue reading →

How to get from Siem Reap to Bangkok

Posted on September 1, 2022 by Lina Goldberg

There are lots of ways to get from Cambodia to Thailand, and it all depends on how much time, money, and patience you have. In this post, I’ll cover the best ways to get from Siem Reap to Bangkok in 2022 whether you travel by plane, direct bus, mini-bus, or taxi. Flying is always the most convenient, but going overland is less expensive and more of an adventure!
If you’re heading the other direction, how to get from Bangkok to Siem Reap.

At a glance…Siem Reap to Bangkok

The Giant Ibis direct bus from Bangkok to Siem Reap (and vice versa)

Continue reading →

WIG: Connecting women in Phnom Penh

Posted on August 29, 2022 by Susan Haythorpe

So you’ve moved to Cambodia, you want to meet other women and make some friends, and maybe find a way of giving something back to your new home. Perhaps you’re starting up a business and hope to learn from the experience of other business owners. If this sounds like you, there’s a group of people in Phnom Penh you need to meet — and you can do so every Wednesday morning over coffee!

With good company, good causes – and good coffee! Photo courtesy of WIG.

The Women’s International Group, aka WIG, was set up in 1994 as a social and charitable circle for the capital’s female expats who wanted to connect with other, like-minded individuals, and to make a difference in Cambodia. Since then the group has evolved to reflect the interests and aspirations of its diverse and fluctuating membership — that increasingly includes Cambodian women — many of whom have careers, families, and juggle busy lives. As well as a means of enjoying good company and supporting good causes country-wide, it provides a valuable networking opportunity for women in business. Happily, the three frequently work hand in hand, especially as many of the small businesses owned by members are social enterprises. Continue reading →

Cambodia drops all Covid-19 entry requirements

Posted on July 22, 2022 by Lina Goldberg

As of July, 2022, Cambodia has dropped Covid-19 vaccination and quarantine requirements for travelers (with one caveat). There are still quarantine requirements for unvaccinated travelers who test positive on arrival, although they have been relaxed from previous quarantine requirements. Most land borders have now been re-opened.

Vaccinated travelers

Those who are fully vaccinated (two doses of a vaccine, or one dose of a single-dose vaccine) do not need to take a Covid-19 test on arrival. You will need to present proof of Covid vaccination, in the form of a card of certificate on arrival. Continue reading →

New Phnom Penh hotspots for live music

Posted on July 19, 2022 by Susan Haythorpe

There’s live music every night of the week in the capital when you know where to look (and most of it’s still free)

Phnom Penh’s music scene has experienced quite a shake up since I last wrote on the subject. Pandemic-induced restrictions saw venues closing their doors or no longer able to justify the cost of putting bands on, so it’s good to see that the capital’s many accomplished music makers are back in action with a roster of new places to play and audiences eager for some great gigs.

Geography of the Moon go acoustic at The Vine.

A new destination to know is the vibrant enclave of bars and eateries taking shape in the Wat Botum neighborhood not far from the Royal Palace, with regular live music as a big part of the draw. Popular cocktail and burger joint (and hairdresser!) The Vine has moved from the less salubrious Street 172 to cool new premises on Street 244 next door to Villa Grange. This friendly hangout hosts regular gigs in the bar on Wednesdays and early evening acoustic Sunday Sessions in the small courtyard out front. Continue reading →

The old Kep is dead. Long live new Kep?

Posted on May 28, 2022 by Pete Ford

Sleepy Kep. Kep Sur Mer. The quiet little town on Cambodia’s coast famous for its crab market, accessible national park, and the graffitied shells of luxury 1960s villas destroyed by the Khmer Rouge. Kep, the coastal alternative to nearby Kampot, with fewer restaurants but better-value accommodation set among trees and colorful bougainvillea. The Kep of breath-taking sunsets at The Sailing Club, with the sea breeze and lapping waves a constant reminder that one isn’t in Phnom Penh anymore.

Luxury at Kep’s Villa Des Palmes is just like the old days.

That Kep is now largely gone and is being rapidly replaced by a new Kep; less tailored to expats and Western visitors and more accessible to local tourists, a Kep that in time might be just as charming as the previous iteration.

Everywhere changes, and change can often be good, offering improvements in standing of living and employment, and may even improve environmental conditions such as clean water or waste management. However, rapid change can be scary, and the lack of transparency in Kep about plans, intentions, and environmental impact doesn’t inspire confidence.

And the speed at which Kep is changing is truly breakneck. Continue reading →