AsiaLIFE Cambodia August 2014

082014 ISSUE92

www.asialifemagazine.com

www.asialifemagazine.com

For Sales Enquiries: Chantha Sorn | 012 576 878 | chantha@asialife.asia

note from the editor AsiaLIFE Group

Ellie Dyer When I first moved to Cambodia, the White Building was a stone’s throw away from my house. I passed it every day while walking to work, saw it from my office window, and often wondered why such an interesting piece of architecture had been left to fall into ruin.

It seems that I was not alone, these days The Building’s distinctive open staircases have been immortalised in film, captured by numerous photographers and can be found decorating everything from tea towels to posters at the Russian Market.

Personally, despite its dilapidated state, I’ve always seen the structure as symbolic of Cambodia’s resilience.

Built and designed under the optimistic ‘Golden Years’ of King Father Norodom Sihanouk’s rule, it has managed to weather years of unrest and change.

Though some people might see it as an eyesore, the structure today is still full of life and creativity, even providing a home to a thriving arts community despite its worn walls and tumbledown appearance.

This month, AsiaLIFE’s cover feature has been dreamed up by some young members of that very community – the White Building Collective. In recent months, this group of young artists have attracted press attention for their photographic project documenting the lives of ordinary Cambodians, called Humans of Phnom Penh.

This time, in a special project for our magazine, they are sharing fascinating insights into their world, demonstrating just how young people are adapting to the rapidly changing Cambodia of today.

Elsewhere, we’ve delved into other aspects of local life. Marissa Carruthers has enjoyed the natural wonders of Kampot province while gliding through the mangroves on a stand-up paddleboard, and has also taken time to learn about the heritage of shadow puppetry at Wat Bo in Siem Reap. We’ve also sought out some of the best buys at Cambodia’s ever popular 2,500-riel shops and talked over the trials and tribulations of a man who attempted to cycle to Bali. And if you’re a foodie who’s unfamiliar with local cuisine, I’d recommend turning to Rebecca Luria-Phillips' handy guide to Asian mushrooms in our monthly In The Kitchen column and also our resurrected Street Smart feature, which picks out some roadside culinary hot spots on Street 19.

www.asialifemagazine.com

6 AsiaLIFE Cambodia

FOR SALES ENQUIRIES: Chantha Sorn Tel: 012 576 878 chantha@asialife.asia

Group Editor-in-Chief / Director Cambodia: Mark Bibby Jackson mark@asialife.asia

Group Director Sales & Marketing / Director Vietnam: Jonny Edbrooke jonny@asialife.asia

Managing Editor Cambodia: Ellie Dyer ellie@asialife.asia

Director Thailand: Nattamon Limthanachai (Oh) oh@asialife.asia

Associate Editor: Marissa Carruthers

Art Director Cambodia: Joe Slater

Editorial Assistant: Joanna Mayhew

Photographers: Charles Fox & Rudi Towiro

Siem Reap: Caroline Major

Sales Manager Cambodia: Sorn Chantha chantha@asialife.asia sornchantha@yahoo.com

Distribution: Sorn Chandara 096 9999 351 Printing: Sok Heng Printing House

Sales Officer: Ven Kakada 087 622 269 Accountant: Seang Seiha 012 581 455

For advertising enquiries call Chantha on 012 576 878 ) English/Khmer) and Kakada on 093 364 576 (Khmer).

Special thanks to: Darren Gall, Mai Lynn Miller Nguyen, Paul Dodd, Gemma Mullen, SOS International, Rebecca LuriaPhillips, David Preece, Ryan Drewe Taylor and Cambodian Living Arts – for their contribution to this issue.

On the Cover Art Direction: Joe Slater Photography: Rudi Towiro AsiaLIFE is a registered trademark.

No content may be reproduced in any form without prior authorisation of the owners. © 360º Media.

Next time you're in Vietnam, check out the latest issue of AsiaLIFE or download it from www.asialifemagazine.com

082014 ISSUE92

front

12 Picks of the Month 14 Openings

getaway

44 Wild Mekong

food

46 Go Raw

18 Dispatches 20 Street Smart 24 Phnom Penh Calendar 26 Photo Essay

49 Coriander

30 Q&A: Untac Nem

on the cover

32 Our World

storyboard

38 Darting Shadow 40 Bargain Hunt

style & design

50 Behind the Design

back

57 Listings

42 Paddle Fever

20 8 AsiaLIFE Cambodia

48 The Lobster Bay

52 We Are Young

88 Phnom Penh Map 96 Pub Quiz

30 38

42

July 2014

News & Events Memorial for Tuol Sleng Victims

A memorial to pay tribute to the 12,000 victims of the Khmer Rouge torture centre, Tuol Sleng, will be built at the S-21 Genocide Museum. The UN-backed Khmer Rouge tribunal and the Ministry of Culture agreed to create a memorial Buddhist stupa as a form of reparation for the atrocities that took place at the former school. The $80,000 memorial is expected to be about 10-metressquare and stand at one-metre tall. It will take nine months to build. Discussions are still in place over whether victims’ names should be carved into the stupa.

10 AsiaLIFE Cambodia

Beach Safety Warning

Beach-goers are being warned to stay aware after a spike in violent attacks in Sihanoukville. The US Embassy has issued a security message urging expats and tourists to remain alert and be cautious, especially at night, after several Americans were attacked and injured in the Ochheuteal Beach area of the town. During one attack, a victim suffered serious knife wounds. In a statement, it advised avoiding beach bars in the evening, where there is the potential for gang activity, drugs and violence against foreigners. The

embassy recommends handing over belongings if being robbed and carrying photocopies of passports, driving licences and other important documents.

Glamazon Returns

Phnom Penh’s much-anticipated annual fashion extravaganza is back for a third year, with Glamazon – Abyss set to grace CodeRed nightclub on Aug. 15.

Known for its avant guard outfits and gobsmacking makeovers, this year’s show, created by the Dollshouse and produced by Innov8 events, is set to be better than ever.

The main event, featuring a transformative runway show

by Ambre and a performance

by Nikki Nikki, is invite only.

But members of the public can head to the after-party from

10.30pm to see the team’s jawdropping creations, with music from the Kimchi collective.

Children’s Hospital Receives Support

British Ambassador Bill Longhurst presented $6,100 to Dr Beat Richner of Kantha Bopha Children’s Hospitals to mark the birthday of Queen Elizabeth II last month.

The donation resulted from contributions from corporate sponsors and the invitees of a celebration held in honour of the monarch’s birthday.

Ambassador Bill Longhurst said: “Knowing the funding shortfalls of the hospitals, I am delighted to present this donation which will go towards the work of Kantha Bopha Children’s Hospital, and help to support its work in providing free medical care and treatment to children in Cambodia.”

Luxury Tent Living Scoops Award

A cluster of luxury tents nestled in temple ruins has scooped a top award for helping to conserve Cambodian culture.

Khiri Travel has won the 2014 PATA Grand Award for Heritage and Culture for its Banteay Chhmar Tented Camp initiative, which offers guests glamping facilities in the heart of a forest, three-and-a-half hours away from Angkor Wat. As part of the experience, visitors live alongside the community, experiencing rural life first-hand.

“The villagers benefit by income and skills-training from the project,” says Willem Niemeijer, Khiri Travel CEO. “It’s one of the first viable tourism activities in their remote rural area.” The tents sit about 100 metres from temple ruins and once they are dismantled, the area is cleared. For more information on trips to the Banteay Chhmar tented camp, visit khiri.com.

Cambodia-shot TV Series Set To Shine

An action-packed drama, shot in Siem Reap, Phnom Penh and Singapore hits the small screen this month. The Jade Elephant is set to throw the spotlight on Cambodia when it is broadcast across Asia in a five-part miniseries. The epic adventure story of love and ambition is being billed as the biggest telemovie of 2014 and marks the Kingdom’s first international TV co-production between CTN Cambodia, Khmer Mekong Films and MediaCorp Singapore. The much-anticipated series sees Singaporean star Elvin Ng take on the role of successful but troubled Singaporean architect Sam Lee. Lee comes to Siem Reap to oversee the construction of a luxury hotel only to discover a priceless, jade elephant with magical powers buried below the site. The leading lady and Lee’s love interest is played

by Khmer TV actress Lida Duch. The Jade Elephant runs daily in Khmer from Aug. 18 to 22 on CTN at 7pm. There will be a full movie repeat shown on Aug. 24 at 8am.

Annual Wedding Fair

Brides-to-be alert: Sofitel Phnom Penh's 2014 wedding fair is taking place at the hotel’s Grand Ballroom from 10am to 8pm on Aug. 30 and 31. Exhibits include bridal wear, menswear, jewellery, table decorations, flowers, photography, videography, and music. Guests will be able to enjoy a fashion show featuring wedding dresses from local and western fashion houses, and can participate in a lucky draw.

AsiaLIFE Cambodia 11

July 2014

SR News & Events Angkor’s First Full Marathon

With Angkor’s annual December half-marathon growing in popularity, Aug. 17 will see the first Angkor Empire Full Marathon take place. Attracting endurance athletes from Cambodia and abroad, the racecourse is set in the heart of the Angkor Archaeological Park. For those who have not been in training, the August event will also include a half-marathon, a 10km run and family fun run of 3km. Combining sightseeing with sport, the full marathon takes in the ‘grand circuit’ temple tour, while the half marathon covers the ‘small

12 AsiaLIFE Cambodia

circuit.’ All running routes start and end outside iconic Angkor Wat.

Mahob Opens

Meaning ‘food’ in Khmer, new Cambodian-owned restaurant Mahob has opened in Siem Reap and is serving up Khmer cuisine with a weekly degustation set menu. The à la carte menu includes dishes prepared on a hot stone and a barbeque. Set within a traditional Khmer home off Charles de Gaulle Avenue, the venue has kept classical elements such as its wooden upstairs, blending them with contemporary design and a

ground floor that includes a bar and air-conditioned room. Mahob is one of the latest in a recent line of restaurants, such as Palate and Por Cuisine, that have opened to cater to a more discerning market with high-end ambience.

Waiter’s Race

There were wobbling trays aplenty at the first edition of the Waiter’s Race in Siem Reap, initiated by the Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra

Golf & Spa Resort hotel to celebrate French National Day on Jul. 14.

The ‘course de garçons de café’ gathered together 80 eager participants from Siem Reap’s hotels and restaurants to race a 3km course, all while balancing three full glasses of water. All completed the track, though penalties were made for each millimeter of water lost. Those who had adopted a slow and steady approach – taking longer but losing less water - were the ones who made it the podium. Sofitel anticipates running the fun and inclusive event again in 2015.

AsiaLIFE Cambodia 13

PICKS OF THE MONTH Attend: Le Café Polyglotte

Watch: Broadchurch

If you are studying a foreign language but have no one to talk with, Le Bistrot Café at the capital’s French Institute can help to hone your skills.

Visitors can practice French or any other language of their choice at the Street 184 venue on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. The next friendly and inclusive linguistics evening will be held from 6.30pm on Aug. 6, with another session set for Aug. 20.

This televised murder mystery set in Southern England is worthy of Agatha Christie. A young boy goes missing and is found dead on the beach. As shockwaves spread and police get on the case, it turns out that secrets are rife in the tiny rural community and everyone has something to hide. Look out for the award-winning performance by Olivia Coleman as detective sergeant Ellie Miller, with co-star David Tennant as detective inspector Alec Hardy.

Attend: The Amatak Festival Get a taste of traditional arts at the free Amatak festival at the Royal University of Fine Arts and National Museum in Phnom Penh from Aug. 15 to 17. The event, hosted by Cambodian Living Arts, will see young artists raise awareness of traditional art forms and includes a performance of Sounds of Angkor, which recreates the history of Cambodian music on reconstructed instruments.

After the invitation-only opening ceremony on the first night, the next two days will be packed with workshops, performances and discussions. Some activities require registration. Follow the Amatak Facebook page for more information.

Download: Chatomuk Traffic Beat the capital’s rush-hour traffic jams by downloading the Chatomuk Traffic app for both Android and iOS. As the first user-generated traffic jam app launched in Cambodia, the free programme allows users to both report jams and search for real-time information on congested roads on their mobile phones before leaving the house. It’s a musthave app for anyone prone to road rage.

Go: Bowling Ten-pin bowling is back in Phnom Penh thanks to the giant Aeon mall on Sothearos Boulevard. So don your soft-soled shoes and knock down some skittles at the Blu-O Cambodia alley. The bowling centre is located near the Major Cineplex cinema and features atmospheric blue lighting. For more information and pictures of happy bowlers clutching cuddly skittles, visit the Blu-O Facebook page.

14 AsiaLIFE Cambodia

Airport Security Uncharged mobile phones and gadgets banned from some international flights over bomb fears.

Greece Record-breaking tourism boom in debt-strapped nation.

Malls Aeon is talk of the town as the Japanese mega mall opens in Cambodia.

Germany After an intense competition, Germany reigns victorious at the football World Cup. Siem Reap Cambodia’s temple town named fourth best city for world travellers by Travel + Leisure magazine readers.

GOING UP GOING DOWN Cyclos Drivers struggle to make ends meet as low seasons hits, say press reports.

Rolf Harris Iconic Australian children’s entertainer and artist jailed over a series of sexual assaults.

Pepper Long dry season in Kampot leaves pepper plants small, with tonnes failing to meet size requirements, according to local reports.

Alzheimer’s Hope for patients as scientists create test to identify the onset of dementia.

Rain Rain deluges the capital causing flooding chaos.

Perhaps it’s time to invest in some Wellington boots.

AsiaLIFE Cambodia 15

OPENINGS MUSIC MEMORABILIA

HARD ROCK CAFÉ ANGKOR

The world-famous Hard Rock Café brand – which started life as a single American-style diner in 1970s London before going global – has made its first foray into Cambodia, with the Siem Reap venue opening in an impressive colonial-style building near the King’s Road Angkor complex.

With 160 seats across two floors, and an additional 80 seats on its riverside terrace, the café, which is also billed as a music museum, offers classic bites including burgers, sandwiches and sides. The related Rock Shop offers collectibles and fashion and music-related merchandise.

King’s Road Angkor, Street 27, Wat Bo Village, Siem Reap.

Shop open from 9.30am to midnight, café open from 11am to late.

TICKLED PINK

CUPCAKE RUSH A sweet taste of heaven packaged in the form of cute cupcakes is proving popular since Cupcake Rush opened its doors in Phnom Penh.

Painted in pink, the dainty take-away store in BKK1 has a small garden to the front with fake grass surrounding a cluster of trees. Inside, a counter shows off a selection of 12 flavoured cupcakes (starting from $1.80), including chocolate, cookies and cream, tiramisu and passion fruit with a bubbly meringue on top. From day one, the venture has proved to be a roaring success with the shop shifting between 500 to 1,000 cupcakes each day. The store also delivers and can cater for large orders for parties.

23A Street 57/ 306, Phnom Penh. Tel: 087 696 988.

Open daily from 8am to 8pm.

CREATING A BUZZ Behind frosted windows in rapidly developing Bassac Lane, off Street 308, lies specialist wine and gin bar Cicada. A sister development to nearby Meat & Drink and Seibur, the chic spot features mellow lighting and a subdued colour-scheme, and is perfect for a secluded drink.

Watch out for clever design touches, including a statement light and the crosshatched white walls. The menu offers classic gin and tonics ($4 to $12, depending on the brand), alongside a range of infused gins and a choice of wines, beers and classic cocktails.

Bassac Lane, Phnom Penh. Tel: 099 378 151.

Open Tuesday to Sunday, 5pm to 11pm.

16 AsiaLIFE Cambodia

CICADA

TRANQUIL PARADISE

IROHA GARDEN HOTEL AND RESORT

The grounds of iRoHa Garden Hotel and Resort are a million miles away from the hustle and bustle of capital life outside. Wanting to create a serene and intimate retreat for fellow globe-trotters, Susumu Kuroda and Hanae Tsurusaki scoured about 40 countries trying to find the perfect place to create their paradise. After spending one day in Phnom Penh, they felt at home and set about building the resort on a 3,500-squarefoot former residence of a politician. Surrounding the hotel are spacious gardens, filled with colourful flowers and tropical trees and fauna. A large swimming pool and sunbeds sit in front of the French colonial-style villa that houses 27 rooms ($50 to $140). With seven different styles, each of the suites follows a theme, such as the warm oranges of the Sunset Deluxe and the cool blues of the Mekong Deluxe.

8 Street 73, Phnom Penh. Tel: 023 966 330. irohagarden.com

STYLISH SNIPPING

TONI & GUY Globally renowned salon Toni & Guy is hoping to be a cut above the rest after opening in Aeon Mall. Boasting a top team of three stylists, two colour specialists and an artistic director, experts have been shipped in from Japan and England to share their stylish snipping. General manager Lincoln Wood says that the salon brings with it the same standards as seen internationally, with fashionable and funky being at the top of the slick salon’s agenda. “We bring the service of Japan with emphasis on a fashionable edge when it comes to cut and colour.” A woman’s wash, cut and blow-dry starts at $20, with men’s from $18. Highlights cost $75. During August, the salon is running 50 percent off colour and perms and 20 percent off cuts.

Aeon Mall, Sothearos Blvd, Phnom Penh. Tel: 023 901 190.

Open daily from 10am to 9pm.

FUSION FARE

MIAM MIAM

Taste the melting pot that is Miam Miam’s fusion of French and Japanese cuisine. Inspired by the charm of Japanese tearooms, the contemporary restaurant combines the fresh flavours and ingredients of Japan with French artisanal cuisine. The pasta is handmade, the soufflés created on the spot, and the pancakes prepared individually. The menu includes squid ink rice with seafood ($17.80) – a mix of black rice, king prawns, squid and omu egg – and Miam Miam spaghetti ($8.90) with frankfurter sausages, bacon tossed with butter, a secret broth and shoyu. The dessert menu has a range of appetising eats, with the soufflé pancakes being irresistibly thick, light and fluffy. The cookies and cream parfait ($3.90) provides a rich fix for those with a sweet tooth.

Aeon Mall, Phnom Penh. Tel: 093 302 222.

Open daily from 10am to 9pm.

AsiaLIFE Cambodia 17

COZY OFFICES

BOTANICO WORKSPACE Entrepreneurs and freelancers can get creative in the comfort of their own working hub. The former Botanico Gastrobar is now operating as Botanico Workspace. The cozy wooden huts that once housed drinkers and diners have been transformed into private, serviced offices (from $250 to 300 per month). Owner Antonio Lopez de Haro made the move after finding himself with nowhere to work. “I shut myself in one of the huts and switched on the air-con,” he says. “I got the most work done in three hours than I have in my whole time in Cambodia.” Each of the offices, which are rented monthly, comes complete with a desk and chair and other office essentials. The central garden area is a communal social area where drinks – including bulletproof coffee ($4) – can be bought.

9b Street 29, Phnom Penh. Tel: 017 873 101.

24-hour access with security, coffee shop open from 9am to 5pm.

HIP DINING Phnom Penh is the place to be for Japanese food, with a new restaurant opening almost every week. Yuzu Japanese Bar is one of the latest and stands out from the crowd by focusing on offering a fine-dining experience in hip surroundings. Specialising in ramen, tempura and makisushi, the upmarket building is almost unrecognisable as its former incarnation, The Village. To the front is a manicured lawn with potted plants and a large decked seating area, which is romantically lit at night. The interior is tastefully decorated with modern Japanese art and ceramics. Mirroring the contemporary feel, the menu takes in a range of traditional dishes, all given a fresh twist. The restaurant’s signature sashimi set ($19.84) includes octopus, squid, scallops, tuna and salmon.

1 Street 360, Phnom Penh. Tel: 095 600 400.

Open daily from 11am to 10pm.

18 AsiaLIFE Cambodia

YUZU JAPANESE BAR

STREET SMART STREET 19

Stretching from the flame trees of Hun Sen Park, past the long yellow walls of the Royal Place and onto Wat Phnom, this major artery of central Phnom Penh is alive with street food, contemporary fashion and scenes from daily life. In AsiaLIFE’s new series on Cambodian street life, Monyneath Reth highlights the best that bustling Street 19 has to offer. Photography

by Rudi Towiro.

20 AsiaLIFE Cambodia

P DRIED BUFFALO MEAT Junction of Street 240

If you dare to try out some of Cambodia’s famous street food, why not snack on dried buffalo? During the day, rows of meat are dried on a bamboo baskets placed by the side of the road, with several family-run restaurants serving up the popular treat nearby.​​After at least six hours baking under the sun, the slivers of meat – tougher than dried beef and akin to jerky – are grilled on the open stove for two minutes and served up with pickled morning glory and sour palm juice.

Each plate (10g) costs $2.75 and the meat can also be served with rice. Restaurants open at 9am, with happy hours from 5pm to 9pm.

P EGGS AND SKEWERS Stalls near junction with Street 178

Great tastes can be found on every corner of the city, but especially on Street 19 where diners can sit at long tables while eating an array of bites from 2pm until 9pm. At a stall set by the wall of the colonial building housing the Latin Quarter, delicacies such as meatballs ($0.25 per skewer), grilled chicken wings ($0.50 per skewer), roasted scramble eggs ($0.25 a bowl), fried frogs ($1), and boiled shells ($1.25 per plate) are served with fresh carrots, cucumber and herbs. Arrive with an open mind and you will be hooked in no time. Try a pot of roasted scramble egg, served with pepper, salt and garlic sauce, or the fried balut (embryonic egg, $0.50).

AsiaLIFE Cambodia 21

P HUMMINGBIRD Between Street 172 and 154

Step into this newly opened shop, run by D’s Books owner John McFarlane and his wife, to find all kinds of clothing and accessories.

Wares include short and long dresses, shorts, blouses, bikinis, and all kinds of jewellery, imported from Thailand and the United Kingdom.

With four wooden closets against the wall each side, the shop is spacious. Wooden tables full of Made in Cambodia products such as massage oil, coconut oil, soap, shampoo, coffee and tea, fill the middle section. Prices range from $5 to $20, with opening hours from 9am until 9pm.

Submitted by DID

P FRESH JUICE Stalls behind the Royal Palace and near Street 130

P DINE IN THE DARK Near junction of Street 172

Eating in complete darkness can be a surreal experience. Deprived of a key sense, tastes and perceptions change while textures take on new significance. Street 19 is home to one of Cambodia’s most unique restaurants: Dine in the Dark or DID, where guests eat from mystery menus in pitch-black darkness, guided through the experience by visually impaired guides. The eatery provides a fascinating insight into the world of the blind. To reserve a table and experience its unique offerings call 077 589 458.

A bottle of cold juice is an essential refreshment after a whole morning under the burning sun. Juiced pomelo – a slightly sweet and sour fruit, similar to grapefruit – can be found packed in 330ml bottles ($1 each) on the mobile stall behind the Royal Palace. Further down Street 19, near the junction of Street 130, piles of green oranges hailing from Pursat province can be bought fresh per kilogram, or juiced for $2 a bottle.

P MERCI Between Street 172 and 154

Street 19 is packedwith local clothes shop targeting teenagers and adults. Though it’s hard to pick individual stores out, we recommend Merci, which offers cool menswear styles. Having operated for almost two years, Marci never disappoints. Shirts, jeans, trousers, colourful shorts, Bruno Mars-style hats, sneakers, leather bags and belts are all there, and mostly imported from Thailand. Prices range from $6 to $32. Online purchases are also available through Instagram, Line and Facebook. Opening hours from 9am to 9pm.

22 AsiaLIFE Cambodia

Have an event coming up?

Send information and dates to ellie@asialife.asia

CALENDAR AUG

Get down to Showbox, Street 330, for its monthly Unboxed Poetry Slam – a feast of lyrical self-expression. The event starts at 7pm and features local and international poets and is hosted by spoken word poet Kosal Khiev.

AUG

Massage workshop at Essence of Health in Tuol Kork, Phnom Penh, from 8.30am to 12am.

For more information visit facebook.com/essenceofhealth.asia.

01 02

Bacano play Latin rock music from 8pm at Equinox, Street 278, Phnom Penh.

&

Visitors can practice French or a language of their choice with each other at Le Bistrot café on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. The venue on Street 184 is hosting free linguistics sessions in a friendly atmosphere from 6.30pm.

AUG

Brush up on your Khmer with a lesson on advanced numbers, food and drink at Phnom Penh Community Centre, now located at 73 Street 115, Phnom Penh, from 6.15pm to 8.15pm.

AUG

Help compile Cambodia’s hottest songs at Showbox’s Cambodian Hottest 100 - Ultimate Playlist event. The day aims to put together the country’s most epic playlist and includes top tunes, a Khmer barbecue and free beer. Starts at 2pm.

AUG

Kronenbourg Night at QBA bar at the Cambodiana Hotel, Sisowath Quay, Phnom Penh. Special nights with Le Blanc Kronenbourg and live band 17 Crush.

07 09 07 10 AUG

15 17

The Amatak festival is being at the Royal of Fine Arts and the National Museum in Phnom Penh. The event, hosted by Cambodian Living Arts, will see young artists raise awareness for traditional art forms. The festival aims at providing a platform for professional emerging talents by facilitating encounters with local booking agents and event promoters, through a panel of shows and workshops.

24 AsiaLIFE Cambodia

AUG

Indian Cinema Week at the Bophana Centre on Street 200. The festival is being held in partnership with the Indian Embassy and the Cambodia Film Commission

AUG

Fashion extravaganza Glamazon is back for a third year, this time lighting up a catwalk at CodeRED in Phnom Penh. The Glamazon Abyss is a non-profit event that aims to surpass guest expectations and raise money for Wildlife Alliance. The main event – featuring a runway show and avant garde section – is invite only, but an after-party is open to the public from 10.30pm.

15 20 15

Kingdom of Sound II at the Riverhouse Lounge, 157 Sisowath Quay, Phnom Penh, from 8pm until late. Featuring international and local acts, DJ Lefty & DJ Star will give you nothing but the best in electro sounds.

AUG

The French Institute will host a screening of the play The Anarchist, based on the novel by author Soth Polin, at 6.30pm. The show will be followed by Q&A with Jean-Baptiste Phou, the director and actor who adapted the novel to the stage.

AUG

The Time to Think exhibition opens at Romeet Gallery on Street 178. The show creates a space for reflection through a diverse array of provocations from participating artists, including Sao Sreymao, Kchao Touch and Oeur Sokuntevy.

AUG

The Return of Velvet Nights at Riverhouse Bistro, 157 Sisowath Quay, Phnom Penh. Live music from 8.30pm, featuring Phil and Lewis Pragasam. Velvet signature cocktails and tapas samplers offered. For VIP table booking, call 023 212 302 or 015 868 101.

16 19 23

Fatal Assistance, a documentary directed by Raoul Peck, screens at the Bophana Centre on Street 200 at 5pm as part of its Cine Saturday programme. The film looks at post-earthquake Haiti.

AUG

US Open special happy hour every day at Lobby Bar at the Cambodiana hotel, from 5pm to 7pm.

AUG

The third annual Wedding Fair will be held the Phokeethra Grand Ballroom at Sofitel hotel, Phnom Penh.

Whether you’re a bride to be, a wedding planner or just looking for fun, you’ll find luxurious services and products, professional consultants and activities throughout the free weekend.

26 30 31

EVERY MONDAY

Mad Monday at The Empire, 6pm • Yoga at Yoga Phnom Penh.

Classes at 6am, 8am, 12.15pm, 5.45pm and 6.30pm. See yogaphnompenh.com • Beginners level 2 salsa class ($8 dropin) at The Groove with a party from 9pm • Margarita Mondays at Riverhouse Lounge from 7pm until late • Thai chef takes over La Coupole at Sofitel Phnom Penh from 6pm ($30 per adult)

EVERY TUESDAY

Swing dancing at Doors with lindy-hop specialist Janice Wilson from 7pm. Classes are $3 or $25 for 10 lessons • Latino Time at Cabaret on Street 154 at 6.30pm • Two for 2-sday at Riverhouse.

EVERY WEDNESDAY

SIN at CodeRED hosted by Kanha Paula & Angie • Trivia in the garden at The Willow, $2 entry and 7.30pm start • Acoustic music at Kep’s Sailing Club from 6pm to 9pm

EVERY THURSDAY

Art House Sessions at 8.30pm at The Flicks Community Movie House.

Enjoy the secret treasures of the big screen for $3.50 • Steak Night at The Empire • Movie nights on the beach at Kep’s Sailing Club from 7pm • All About Jazz at Cabaret from 7pm, wine and beer happy hour from 5.30pm to 7.30pm • Ladies night at CodeRED (group of 5 ladies recieve one free bottle of Stoli vodka) • High Heels party at Riverhouse with DJ Tam and male models • Yoga Phnom Penh: classes include 8am ashtanga, 12.15pm slow flo and 6.30pm fly fit yoga • Italian night at the Willow Boutique Hotel from 6pm. A choice of veggie or meat-based pastas, pizza breads and desserts and a carafe of wine. All $3.50.

EVERY FRIDAY

Seafood Haven at Korean Grill restaurant, NagaWorld, from 5.30pm to 10pm. $20 per person excluding beer, $30 per person including free flow draft beer. Tel: 023 22 88 22, www.nagaworld.com • Rhythm sessions at Doors from 9.30pm • Meditation techniques and postures at Yoga Phnom Penh at 5.45pm.

EVERY SATURDAY

Cine Saturday at the Bophana Center, 64 Street 200, at 4pm • Art classes for children and adults at Romeet Gallery on Street 178, costing $8.50 per session or $65 for 10. Register interest with Sreymao at romeetgallery@gmail.com or by calling 077 55 07 59 • Mysore Ashtanga at 7am, Vinyasa Flow at 10am at Yoga Phnom Penh.

EVERY SUNDAY

Escape at the InterContinental Hotel’s Regency Café from 11.30am to 3pm. Free-flow wine at $36 plus taxes per person • Morning meditation with Beth Goldring, a zen Buddhist nun teacher, all religions welcome. yogaphnompenh.com • Phnom Penh Hash House Harriers’ run. Meet at 2.15pm at the railway station • Sunday night chapel at CodeRED with cabaret dancers, shows, DJs and more.

EVERY DAY

Daily four-hour photography tours with Michael Klinkhamer. Starts at FCC, 363 Sisowath Quay, at 1.30pm. $35 per person (for groups of less than four people add $10pp). Call 060 873 847 or visit klinkphoto.com.

www.asialifemagazine.com

EVERY MONDAY TO SATURDAY

Market fresh dinner buffet at NagaWorld from 5.30pm to 9.30pm, adults $28 or $38 with free flow beers, house wines and juices.

EVERY WEEKEND

Fishing trips on the Tonle Sap river from 3.30pm to 6.30pm, email fishingboattrip@yahoo.com • Kids Sessions at 2pm at The Flicks Community Movie House. $3.50 for adults, $2 for under 18 • Weekend brunch at Public House on Street 240½, from 10.30am to 2pm. $25 per person including bellinis or bloody Marys, $15 per person if you’re on the wagon. Book in advance: 017 770 754.

For Sales Enquiries: Chantha Sorn | 012 576 878 | chantha@asialife.asia

AsiaLIFE Cambodia 25

PHOTO ESSAY NO JEW LEFT BEHIND: CAMBODIA There are only about 100 Jews living in Cambodia, and the majority of them live in Phnom Penh. For the Butman family, it is both a personal and divine goal to provide these Jews a place to convene to eat, pray, discuss, study, sing, and celebrate according to Jewish law and tradition. Hence their motto, “No Jew Left Behind.� The Chabad Lubavitch is the largest Jewish organisation in the world, and adheres to Orthodox Jewish practices. The Chabad Shluchim are Chabad Rabbis and their families, sent out across all corners of the world to offer services to Jews. Rabbi Bentzion Butman, his wife Mashie and their five children represent the Chabad Shluchim in Cambodia. In many cities (including Phnom Penh) they are the only organised form of Jewish religion available to practicing Jews. Here is a glimpse into their life, which constantly encompasses both tradition and innovation.

This is the beginning of a long-term project by photographer Anna Clare Spelman that will span communities in India and Singapore, and possibly China, Thailand and Burma. www.annaclarespelman.com www.annaclarespelman.wordpress.com

26 26 AsiaLIFE AsiaLIFE Cambodia Cambodia

AsiaLIFE AsiaLIFE Cambodia Cambodia 27 27

PHOTO ESSAY NO JEW LEFT BEHIND: CAMBODIA

28 AsiaLIFE Cambodia

AsiaLIFE Cambodia 29

Untac Nem You have an unusual name.

Where does it come from?

The name comes from the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia. The year I was born was the same year the UN came. It’s the name my grandma gave me. People just keep calling [me that], and it stuck.

My family name is Nem, which means spring roll, both fried and fresh. So it’s a funny name.

When I introduce myself, after the first time everyone knows me just because it’s so weird and different.

What inspired such an ambitious cycling trip?

My dad really liked sports.

[When I was 10], he bought me a bike. It wasn’t a great bike, but it was the best bike in my village.

After that I [was] just crazy about biking, going everywhere I possibly can. People can walk, I will bike – that was my philosophy.

[The Bali trip] was a very personal ride. Just me and my bike. I wanted to encourage Cambodians to do these kinds of crazy things. It took me 44 days to cover 4,000 kilometres.

[Before leaving,] I asked many people if they had heard of anyone doing this trip before.

They said, no, if you do it you’re going to be the first – the first Cambodian, and the first friend they know. It was exciting.

30 AsiaLIFE Cambodia

What was the biggest challenge?

I had to fly from George Town [in Malaysia] to Medan [in Indonesia]. It was very expensive, and I knew straight away I was going to run out of money. From there I started to pay only for food, not accommodation. Even then I didn’t manage to eat. I went from three meals a day to two, then from two meals to one, and then no food.

When I got to Jakarta, it was a bad situation. I took the bus to Bali. Every stop the bus made, I didn’t [eat] because I didn’t have anything. People kept noticing. One guy bought a pack of cookies and one water bottle and said, please enjoy. I started crying, just kept crying. It was really terrible. I expected my trip to be challenging, but I didn’t think it would be that much of a struggle. The climate and the roads were much harder than I expected. But now that I’m back I feel great.

What was the best part?

I made a lot of friends along the way. If you have money, you have everything – food, accommodation – but you don’t make friends. You can do a lot of things, but it’s going to feel lonely. When you don’t have money, that’s when you make connections. If you need help,

At the age of 23, Battambang native Untac Nem has already studied nuclear engineering at university, become the country’s top coffee barista and designed bike tours. Writer Joanna Mayhew talks to the cycling enthusiast about his recent attempt to ride from Bangkok to Bali. Photography

by Charles Fox. people in the countryside are going to come and talk to you more. I know so many people now. I always told them that this is a really big deal to me. If you give me this meal, it’s going to stay in my mind forever. And when I come through again, we’ll go for a big dinner.

How did it change you?

It changed me physically and mentally. Physically I got a long moustache, and I lost three kilos.

Mentally, I think I’ve become tougher. Sillier. Crazier. If I start something I want to finish it. I didn’t do it completely. I had about another 800 kilometres to go, but I’m happy that I finished and got back safely.

Before the trip, I didn’t like Phnom Penh, and now I like it a lot. I used to think it’s really busy, smoky. But after Jakarta, this is wonderful. I love my people, I love my country, I love my city. When I was in Malaysia and Indonesia, I really missed my family. When I was by myself, going through hard times, I realised how important the people around me are.

You were crowned the country’s best barista in 2012.

How did you get interested in coffee?

I got a job [at Kinyei café in Battambang] in 2010. Before that, I had no passion for coffee.

I knew Khmer coffee, but I didn’t know what cappuccinos and stuff were. I started to be more and more interested.

We had trainers coming from different countries, and I never missed one of those. I applied myself. Whatever I do I want to challenge myself. I wanted to get to the top, and then I did.

What was your winning drink?

The “street latte” with sugar cane juice, orange juice and orange peel. Because it was a national barista competition, I wanted to bring something from the place I grew up.

Battambang has the best oranges in the country. I thought I could balance the orange and the coffee quite well, and I personally like a sweet drink.

I didn’t want to use sugar, so I said, hey, everywhere in Cambodia has sugarcane. I played around with that, and it worked well.

What’s next for you?

I’m going join the national [cycling] race in October, and if I get what I want, champion, it’s going to be great. If not, I will probably throw my bike away. We’ll see. I’m still trying to explore. I don’t really have a main goal, main destination yet. Right now I’m interested in starting a business. It could be a café. It’s a secret.

AsiaLIFE Cambodia 31

32 AsiaLIFE Cambodia

Members of Cambodia's White Building Collective give AsiaLIFE an insight into their lives.

AsiaLIFE Cambodia 33

THE WHITE BUILDING Originally known as the Municipal Apartments and inaugurated in 1963, the iconic lines of Phnom Penh’s White Building were designed by Cambodian architect Lu Ban Hap and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Bodiansky. Part of the Bassac River Front complex, overseen by famed urban planner Vann Molyvann, the modernist structure was built during the stability of King Father Norodom Sihanouk’s Sangkum Reastr Niyum period and contained 468 apartments aimed at lower and middle-class Cambodians.

In today’s Phnom Penh, the White Building is a shell of its former glory. Hints at its distinctive style survive – the stacking box apartments and iconic open staircases, for instance – but the structure is dilapidated beyond repair. Its walls are mottled with mould and the building has been associated with poverty, drugs and crime.

Yet new life is rising from the past. Despite the odds, the community is becoming a haven for artists. Along with the well-established experimental art space Sa Sa Art Projects, the forward-thinking White Building Collective – a group of enthusiastic young Cambodians aged between 20 and 26 – make the corridors of the diverse community their base.

Over the last five months, the collective’s Humans of Phnom Penh project – a homage to a similar venture in New York – has gained nationwide attention by documenting the ordinary lives of the capital’s residents, from students to security guards and cyclo drivers, through photos and interviews.

This month, in a special project for AsiaLIFE magazine, the artists have turned their cameras on their own lives, showing our readers the world in which they call home.

“Aware that our country is changing fast, our work aims at engaging Cambodian citizens in a dialogue to respect the past, share the present and better build our future,” they write. “This collective work offers a glimpse into our everyday life.”

For more information on the collective’s short films and activities, visit whitebuilding.org or the Humans of Phnom Penh (HOPP) Facebook page.

Banking graduate San Ra, 26, also helped with the project.

Portrait photography by Rudi Towiro.

34 AsiaLIFE Cambodia

TROUBLES Sok Chanrado, 20, finished high school last year and now works full time at the NGO Raw Impact.

“I try to deal with troubles in life in the same way that I play chess.

You have to be well aware of the situation and where your pawns are, look straight at what is facing you to see in which direction it’s better to move. Sometimes, you also need to accept losing one pawn, and take a step back to gain perspective. To get out of a bad situation or to take good decisions, you have to respect different phases: observation, patience, and resilience. Only then you can set up a strategy, make a move and hope for things to turn well.”

THE FUTURE Vourng Chansim, 20, is studying at the Royal University Of Law and Economics and works as a computer teacher at Aziza School for Empowering Youth In Cambodia.

“Cambodia is changing very fast. In the last few years, I have noticed that high buildings are growing like mushrooms around the city. Sometimes, when I see myself at the bottom of a high construction site, I am puzzled, admiring how we, humans, are always trying to get closer to the sky. I feel vertigo when my eyes disconnect from the ground to focus on the top of the building and the clouds surrounding them.”

“There is a light and dark side to everything, but if you don’t dare to explore, you will never know”

NIGHTLIFE Kourn Lyna, 23, is a social worker at Empowering Youth In Cambodia.

“The night is dark but not in the city, because the light is everywhere. Most people in Phnom Penh enjoy going out at night to dine on the street or have drinks. Some people like to dance in the clubs and some people enjoy going to Koh Pich Island to get some fresh air.

But at the White Building, nighttime is a working time. Some sell food or drinks, some are moto-taxi drivers, and others are sex workers. There are people who are scared of going into the White Building at night because of the sex workers, drug users and robbers living

there. But volunteering there for the last few years, I have not seen anything dangerous. I always see smiles when I walk in. There is a light and dark side to everything, but if you don’t dare to explore, you will never know. I started experiencing nightlife through the White Building community, volunteering for Aziza School and Sa Sa Art Project. We worked hard, then celebrated. I started to meet people who work at night and got to know their life and living conditions. It is like education without studying at school. Being out at night is not something bad – it is a wonderful lesson to meet people and to learn how to take care of oneself.”

AsiaLIFE AsiaLIFE Cambodia Cambodia 35 35

FAVOURITE PLACES Daneth Eng Rith, 21, is majoring in design at Setec university in Phnom Penh “I would like to show some of my favourite places in Phnom Penh and the different reasons that push me to enjoy going to each of these places.

First is Koh Pich. It has a lot to offer: theatre, exhibitions, weddings and even a playground for kids. I like to go there in the evening to relax and have a picnic with my friends. Second is the Peace Water Park – the perfect spot to disconnect from the city very quickly.

When I go there, I feel like I am going to my homeland. Things slow down

36 AsiaLIFE Cambodia

and it’s easier to share more with my family and friends. It’s also lots of fun to play the water games there. Third, is the Royal Palace. It’s a sacred place for Cambodian people and it’s also an important touristic spot. I like going for a walk along the riverside to feel the fresh air and then sitting on the grass in front of the Royal Palace. It’s like a cinema; the world is passing in front of your eyes. At Botum Vattay park, I recommend you to just sit on a bench and observe people around you.

You will see many of them exercising: doing aerobics, running, dancing. I like the energy of that place, it has a very special atmosphere.”

EDUCATION THROUGH SPORT Chev Doeurn, 25, is studying at Build Bright University and majoring in banking and finance.

“A huge part of my education comes from what I have learnt doing sport and especially playing football. This photo-essay is a tribute to the people who make this special environment for me. I coach the EYC football team. It’s easy to notice that these young players are very happy to be together. We don’t often talk about the life lessons and skills we learn from football, but we all know it’s a wonderful tool to promote

understanding, tolerance and peace among a group. I have so many vibrant memories of matches when I was not playing, but the other supporters and I tried to be the +1 in the team, to push our friends so they give their best during the game. Thanks to football there is a lot of knowledge transmission between different generations and remarkable respect between them.

I have also managed to capture the intimacy of a football player’s bedroom.

It shows how much football takes an important place in every aspect of our everyday life.”

FRIENDSHIP Seng Simouy, 20, is majoring in sociology at the Royal University of Phnom Penh and has a part-time job at a music and arts school.

“For me, friendship is like two people riding a tandem bicycle. We need to trust to each other, help each other, and respect each other’s decisions. If your friend wants to turn right, you need to turn right too because if you don’t trust, help and respect their decision, both of you will fall down. A best friend is someone who I can hang out with, share my personal stories and rely on.

He or she doesn’t need to be perfect or doesn’t need to have something in common with me. The thing is we are different, but we can understand one another. A best friend is somebody you can have fun with, but also somebody you can fight with and it will make your relationship even stronger in the end. “

“If you don’t trust, help and respect their decision, both of you will fall down”

LIVING IN THE COUNTRYSIDE AND IN THE CITY Chhum Phanith, 23, is a computer science teacher at Aziza School in the White Building.

“Whether to live in the countryside or in the city has been a big discussion between my parents and I, since they prefer living in the countryside and I prefer the city. My parents often tell me about living closer to nature in a peaceful and quiet environment where they have more time for each other.

In the case of any problem, they can always count on neighbours or friends to help. They eat healthier and better food that they grow by themselves, and which also provides extra income for the family. But me, I prefer to live

in the city. People here have better access to education and jobs. In my hometown there is no high school and people my age have to work in the field. Most of them don’t continue their education because the high school is too far away. If I wanted to go to high school there, I would have to drive a moto for two hours. So I moved to the city because I wanted to be able to go to better schools and be taught by professional teachers, and to get better opportunities for a job that could pay the cost of my education. In the city, I also have access to a lot of technologies that can improve my life and knowledge. And even though I am now separated from my parents I still go to visit them whenever I can.”

AsiaLIFE Cambodia 37

Darting Shadows

The ancient art of shadow puppetry, or sbaek in Khmer, has been performed in Cambodia for thousands of years.

Marissa Carruthers goes behind the scenes with a troupe of artists at Wat Bo in Siem Reap. Photo by Anders Jiras.

Giant shadows dart across a screen as a battle between the white and black monkeys begins. Intricately carved puppets, standing at more than one metre tall, gracefully glide from one side to the other, brought to life by the blazing fire of coconut husks burning fiercely behind the performers.

During the next hour, a troupe of highly trained artists will take on more than 80 roles, swapping puppets with speed to depict a silhouetted scene from the age-old tale of Reamker – the Cambodian version of the Indian epic, Ramayana.

Following in the steps of their 38 38 AsiaLIFE AsiaLIFE Cambodia Cambodia

ancestors, the Wat Bo troupe of shadow puppeteers are keeping a tradition that dates back to pre-Angkorian times alive. And it is mainly thanks to one man that sbaek shows continue to be performed in Cambodia today.

After surviving the Khmer Rouge reign of 1975-79, the Venerable Pin Sem made it his mission to revive Cambodia’s once vibrant art scene.

As an artist who had practised drawing, sculpture and music before the turmoil, the monk felt it was his duty to reconnect his country to its rich artistic heritage and set about the task while living in a refugee

camp on the Thai border.

Recalling the shadow puppet shows that entranced him as a youngster living in Siem Reap, Pin, a member of the Board of Buddhist Chiefs in Cambodia, invited 25 monks to join him in carefully crafting a set of carvings in 1988. Sharing what he knew with his peers, the troupe started putting on shows and in 1993 relocated to Wat Bo in Siem Reap, where Pin and the troupe are still based today.

Two years later, trained performer Vann Sopheavuth joined as group leader and since then has led the troupe in its quest to keep the traditional theatre form alive. “It is very important for Cambodian culture that shadow puppetry continues. It has been part of our heritage for thousands of years and is very special,” he says.

Sbaek is a performance that

is unique to Cambodia, with bas-reliefs from the 7th-century temple complex of Sambor Prei Kuk in Kampong Thom featuring female puppeteers using figurines in a ceremony.

The art form is believed to have originated in Siem Reap, where performances mainly took place in paddy fields or pagodas as part of rituals, ceremonies or birthdays for monks or other important members of the community.

The classical show is a sacred form of theatre with each performance seen to be an act of worship. This belief is so entrenched that special measures have to be taken when carefully hand-carving three of the tale’s characters from large pieces of cow hide – a meticulous process that takes up to 20 days. While cutting these characters, artists must wear

white, abstain from alcohol and lead a sin-free life. The cow hide must also come from an animal that has died of natural causes rather than being killed.

“We have to show respect for the tale and the three important characters,” Vann says, citing the Reamker’s Hermit, the Master and Preah Ream as those who commands such behaviour. “This is a story with a very moral message and we must be pure when delivering it.”

Sharing the legacy of sbaek with Cambodia’s young is also a task that the troupe takes seriously. “Children need to learn about the history of shadow puppetry,” says Sa Ang Tip, who joined the troupe in 2003 after becoming enthralled while watching rehearsals during his first few days as a monk at Wat Bo. The monk devoted the next

three months to learning the art, which sees performers hold the hide carvings on two sticks as they stealthily duck and dive behind the large screen to recreate the epic tale. “It’s part of who we are and we want everyone to know about this rich Cambodian culture,” he says.

Telling the complete tale is

Living Arts in 2000, shadow puppetry has been shared with thousands of youngsters across the country, as well as with the world. The performers have travelled across the globe to deliver spell-binding performances to countries such as Malaysia and the United States.

“It really is a privilege and an

"It has been part of our heritage for thousands of years and is very special" saved for formal ceremonies, with it taking four hours a day over one week to perform. The condensed version, reserved for schools, tourists and international shows, focuses on one scene and usually lasts about an hour.

Since the troupe joined forces with the NGO Cambodian

honour to be part of keeping Cambodia’s culture alive,” Sa Ang adds with a smile.

Performances can be seen at Wat Bo, Samdech Tep Vong Street, Siem Reap, from 8pm between Friday and Sunday. Tickets cost $15 and must be booked in advance through Cambodian Living Arts by visiting cambodianlivingarts.org

The Reamker is a story of good overcoming evil and tells the story of Preah Ream.

With the help of his brother and the monkey Hanuman, he tries to rescue his wife Neang Seda from a demon.

The 12 years it takes him to free her from the island of Langka are embroiled with battles between supporters of the demon and Preah Ream, including a battle between pure white monkeys and evil black ones. When they are reunited, Preah Ream orders his wife to be killed after doubting her love for him. But his brother lets her escape into the forest, where she has a son. In exile she meets the hermit Eisei. Years later, the son is reunited with his father, who attempts to win back Neang Seda’s heart.

AsiaLIFE AsiaLIFE Cambodia Cambodia 39 39

BARGAIN HUNT From weird and wacky fashion items to essentials like footwear and toiletries, Cambodia’s 2,500-riel shops have exploded onto the shopping scene in the last two years.

Echoing the success of dollar stores in the United States and the United Kingdom’s pound shops, the cheap and cheerful venues attract legions of canny shoppers seeking out a bargain.

Yet rifling through rails of novelty phone covers and glittery trucker hats wasn’t always so easy in Phnom Penh. The shops are a relatively new addition to the 40 AsiaLIFE Cambodia

city’s consumer culture.

“I got the idea from countries abroad such as Thailand.

There are many shops selling cheap products at only 10 Baht ($0.31) per item,” explains Ouch Sambath, the owner of what is touted to be the capital’s first 2,500-riel shop, near Independence Monument.

Despite having already seen a business selling its products for $1 fold in the city, the entrepreneur opened his first store in July 2012, later expanding to Tuol Kork district in May 2013.

“Even a student in primary school could buy my prod-

ucts,” he adds, explaining that most goods are imported from China, Thailand and other neighbouring countries.

What began as a smattering of stores soon became a flood, with the budget shops – where prices can in fact range both above and below 2,500 riel – now popping up all over the capital.

Increasing competition has led to price cuts, with signs touting 1,000-riel shops seen on the streets. Even the new Aeon mall boasts two discount stores, selling hard-to-source items like wrapping paper,

where prices are set below $2.

“Yes, there are many 2,500 riel shops in Phnom Penh, even next to my shops,” says Ouch, who hopes that every one of his patrons will buy at least one item per visit. “We need to please the customers and also challenge with others, otherwise we will lose our customers.”

Interview by Monyneath Reth, words by Ellie Dyer and Marissa Carruthers, photography by Rudi Towiro. Items sourced by the AsiaLIFE team from a variety of 2,500-riel stores across the capital.

Feather Earrings

Inject a dose of glamour into your outfit with a pair of turquoise feather earrings. Fabulously fashionable at 1,000 riel a pair, the bargain buy comes in a rainbow of colours.

Phone Covers

With too many phone covers to choose from, one little fellow stood out from the crowd. The khaki robot cover might add a bit of bulk to your pocket but it’s worth it for the phone fun factor alone. Or try injecting a dose of fruity humour in your life by encasing a phone in a half-eaten apple core cover.

Bendy Pen

The days of hunting in your bag for a pen are over thanks to colourful and nifty bendy pens. If being able to fold them up and put them in your pocket wasn’t enough to sell the idea, they also double up as key rings.

Trucker Hats

In Cambodia’s baking sun, a statement trucker cap can shelter you from the scorching rays. Though coming in at slightly more than 2,500 riel, the glittery ‘hip hop’ letters add street cred worth their weight in gold.

Insect Chalk

Ants and other insects are a common issue, but thanks to a stick of chalk they might be a problem of the past. When ants travel, they leave a pheromone trail for others to follow.

This chalk breaks that path, and the ants lose the scent of their colony and move on to new areas.

Fun Hairbands

Hair accessories abound at 2,500-riel shops, with colourful hair clips and even wigs sourced in Phnom Penh stores.

We liked this red glittery bow, perfect for unleashing your inner Minnie Mouse.

Flip-flops

American flags, iPhone and Apple logos are among the images emblazoned on the soles of flip-flops today. Even if you’re only spending 2,500 riel, you’ll feel a million bucks in the sandals that we found decorated with crisp $100 bills.

PaddleFever

Stand-up paddle-boarding is one of the world’s fastest growing sports and is proving to be a popular way to explore the Kingdom's untouched countryside. Writer Marissa Carruthers gets as close as possible to walking on water. Photos by Anne Pizey.

The call to prayer from a mosque at a small Cham fishing village faintly rings out in the distance, as a chorus of birds sing from the thick, tropical mangroves lining the spider’s web of small tributaries off the Kampot River.

Other than that, the silence of the slender winding waterways is only broken by the soothing swish of the single oar used to manoeuvre the paddle-boards that we’re traversing the river on. As we steadily glide past untouched countryside, it’s easy to forget civilisation is just four kilometres away in Kampot town.

It was during a one-week break in Kampot in 2010, which soon turned into three, that Anne Pizey discovered the rural town’s potential for the water sport. The former radio journalist from Colorado and a group of fellow enthusiasts had been relaxing after spending 23 days paddle-boarding 430 kilometres down the Mekong from the Laotian border, above Stung Treng, to Phnom Penh.

“We’d planned to rest, lie in a hammock and chill out like backpackers,” Pizey recalls.

“Instead, we discovered we’d come down with a terrible case of paddle fever.”

Desperate to get back on their boards, each day they caught a tuk-tuk upstream and paddled back to their guesthouse. “At night, we’d even 42 AsiaLIFE Cambodia

paddle to town for a drink or to drop off our laundry,” she says with a smile. “We explored the river each day. We went into the mangroves, out to sea and back to town. We saw fireflies and phosphorescence.

I fell in love with Kampot.”

Within a couple of months, Pizey was living her dream as the founder of SUPAsia, a company that offers stand-up paddle-boarding (SUP) tours on Kampot River, alongside tailor-made trips out to the ocean, including visiting Rabbit Island off Kep, where Pizey has paddled alongside dolphins.

The sport – believed to have originated in Hawaii as an off-shoot of surfing, before gaining traction globally in 2005 after trending in California – is proving popular here. Tourists, expats and Cambodians, including superstar Preap Sovath, are using it as a way to explore mangrove forests, visit islands and discover floating villages in the area.

“Paddle-boarding is cathartic,” Pizey says. “It’s the act of standing on water, along with the deep relaxation that comes when you connect with your balance that’s mesmorising. That’s why I believe it’s one of the fastest-growing sports in the world today. We get to do something we never dreamt of; we get to walk on water. There’s an incredible freedom that comes with that.”

Despite not being the best at balancing, I find the board, which stands at more than nine feet long and resembles a giant surfboard, surprisingly stable. Even the process of wading knee-deep into the water before climbing on the board and rising to standing position from kneeling is an easy task.

Once standing, gliding gracefully – unless dodging the stray branches that can hang precariously in your path – across the water and steering is carried out using a single oar.

For those who fail to keep on top of their fitness, like me, the oar can take its strain on the arms, but the tranquil scenery and novelty of the experience alleviates any beginning-to-nag pain.

Pizey first came across the sport during a rafting trip through the Grand Canyon in May 2010 and was instantly hooked. “It felt like a cross between my two favourite sports, skiing and kayaking,” she explains. That night she dreamt she was paddling down the Mekong and less than six months later her and seven pals were on their way to Cambodia to start their adventure.

Now she thrives off sharing her passion with people, offering two-and-half-hour lessons and tours, with the mornings best for bird watching and the afternoons serving up stunning sunsets.

Last year, she also introduced paddle-boarding yoga lessons.

“We get to do something we never dreamt of; we get to walk on water.”

But it’s working with the community that Pizey enjoys the most, regularly teaming up with local schools and groups to help to improve young people’s confidence around water. A recent project saw SUPAsia take women from Banteay Srey Project, a vocational training centre, swimming for their first time.

“It’s not uncommon for Cambodians to have trauma or fear related to water,” Pizey says.

“I have one friend who witnessed her sister drowning and another who was beaten as a child if he went near the water. We work with that.

Both of these friends now love to play in the water.”

SUPAsia also hosts groups of international university students as part of its outdoor education programme, which focuses on the delicate mangrove eco-system. “When we paddle we are part of the scenery, there’s no motor, and the reflections on the water when you are standing up are magical,” Pizey says, adding she has taken children as young as five and adults aged in their 80s out on the water.

And as our tranquil trip comes to an end and we pull in to dock, having surprisingly not lost my balance once, it’s easy to see why this is fast becoming such a popular sport.

Lessons and tours start from $25.

For more information, visit www. supasia.org AsiaLIFE Cambodia 43

Wild Mekong Taking dusty backroads and tiny ferries, Brett Davis experiences the people, wildlife and landscape of the Mekong Delta up close from the seat of a classic Vespa.

Photos by Brett Davis and Ruben Luong.

It's not yet 9am but the sun is beating down and it's already fiercely hot as we wait for the first of several ferry crossings we will make over the next two days. The small wooden vessel chugs up to the dock and disgorges its cargo of people, motorbikes, produce and livestock. Then it is our turn and we maneuver the old Vespas that are our transport onto the increasingly cramped deck.

Only an hour or so before, we had ridden out through Vietnam's Nha Be district and into Long An province as part of Vietnam Vespa Adventure's two-day tour in the Mekong Delta. I had spent some time in the Delta at a friends' family 44 AsiaLIFE Cambodia

home, but had always shied away from tours because of what I had heard about the standard fare. Tales of being loaded onto buses and paraded through a series of handicraft workshops and coconut candy factories did not do a lot for me.

The Mekong Delta covers some 39,000 square kilometres, and its northeastern point begins on Ho Chi Minh City's doorstep. From the city's western fringes it stretches across to An Giang province on the Cambodian border and then to Ca Mau province at the southernmost tip of the country, forming a great triangle of incredible biodiversity and unique landscapes.

The promise of heading off the beaten path with the Vespa tour was much more appealing, and judging by the tiny village our little vessel was heading towards on the other side of a wide swath of river, that was certainly going to be the case.

After man-handling the bikes up the gangplank we set off through open country dotted with shrimp ponds and salt pans, arriving a little while, and a few dirt roads, later at Vam Sat ecological reserve.

The reserve lies in the lower reaches of the Dong Nai River system and contains a wealth of wildlife. Climbing an observation tower above the tree line of the mangrove forest we could observe countless bird species.

While riding along the path through the forest we encountered a troop of monkeys, including mothers with infants clutched in their arms. On a slow boat ride through the narrow waterways we also came across a colony of fruit bats.

There is also a large lagoon in the park where you can get up close to the legendary Mekong crocodile. Casting off on a small boat with a high wire mesh guard rail, we are soon surrounded by half a dozen of the ominous-looking creatures, their cold reptilian eyes staring back from only a few feet away. There is the chance to feed the crocs with meat tied on a line that is attached to a long stick. The animals leap out of the water and snatch the food with a terrifying whump.

Cruising away from the park there are other stops to talk to people working on shrimp farms and making incense. It is these moments of interaction with the people who call the Mekong Delta their home that are some of the most satisfying of the two days.

Another ferry crossing brings us to the rural district of Can Giuoc, where we pull up dusty and sweaty at a restaurant on the river bank. The cold beer tastes exceptionally good after a long day. Then we are off to the hotel to freshen up before returning to the same venue for the evening's main activity.

This was a cooking class where the guests prepared several dishes under the tutelage of a local instructor. It was a lot of fun to make bok choy and pepper shrimp, as well as fried rice in a pineapple boat, among other things.

The next morning commenced amid the bustle and noise of Can Giuoc's wet market. The group had a breakfast nearby of some of the best bun thit nuong (a local staple of pork, spring rolls and noodles) I'd ever had, washed down with rich, sweet iced coffee.

With the sun still slanting low across the horizon, we set off out of town and were immediately on back country roads, riding on the high berms between rice fields. The tracks were precarious in parts, but with experienced local riders in control of the Vespas, the only thing for us guests to do was settle back in the pillion seat and take in the majesty of the countryside.

As we moved into Tien Giang province, the landscape became a postcard vision of Vietnam: verdant green rice fields, coconut palms, stands of bananas and farmers tilling the fields. Along the way there were numerous stops that gave us a chance to experience a slice of local life. Early on was a small farm that was a model of sustainability. Here, farmers grow pigs and rice, and the manure from the pigs is used to fire the stills that turned the rice into rice wine.

The leftover mash is then used as feed for pigs.

Further along the road was a magnificent 130-year-old house, which was a little bit of Hue in the Delta. The intricate carvings and many Chinese motifs of the 100-pillar house were explained to us by the very accommodating current owners, who are the fourth generation of custodians in this special place.

We finally arrived at Tan Thanh, on the coast of Tien Giang province, near where some of the many tributaries of the Mekong empty into the sea. The group had lunch in the most extraordinary of places, a series of wooden pavilions built on stilts over the ocean and connected by narrow walkways.

It seemed remarkable that the whole rambling structure had not fallen into the ocean, but instead remains perched above the largest natural clam bed in the country and looks over the East Sea. With a gentle breeze cooling our sweaty brows, it was the perfect place to end a great adventure.

For more information visit Vietnamvespaadventures.com.

AsiaLIFE Cambodia 45

GoRaw The raw food movement has reached Cambodia. Ellie Dyer gets into the kitchen to explore the diet, with photography by Rudi Towiro.

46 AsiaLIFE Cambodia

As soon as the crank begins to turn, pretty spaghetti-like strings of courgette twirl out of the Artillery café’s spiraliser. Minutes later, a sweet potato and a carrot have been milled in the machine, transformed from chunky vegetables into colourful threads that will help form a vegan, gluten-free pad thai.

Soon café owner Brittany Sims blitzes up soaked organic cashew nuts with water, straining the liquid through a mesh to produce a creamy milk. In another corner of the compact kitchen sits a dehydrator, used to dry vegetables at low temperatures.

“The raw food diet is all whole, natural foods,” the American expat explains, demonstrating just some of the techniques that the café uses to prepare dishes for its regular five-day raw food cleanse.

“For example to sweeten a dessert we will use dried fruits like dates. To bring out flavours in salads we’ll use fresh herbs instead of heavy-based oils,” she adds, quickly whipping up a tasty dish of crunchy zucchini ‘noodles’ tossed in a homemade pesto and topped with dehydrated tomato.

Crunchy and light, the dish embodies the creative thinking being demonstrated by proponents of raw food in Cambodia.

Despite the fact that the diet, based on the concept that food can lose nutrients if exposed to temperatures of more than 40 degrees Celsius, remains a largely alien concept in the Kingdom, a small number of foreign chefs and business owners are offering tailored raw options to the public.

According to chef and nutritionist Emma Fountain, who runs retreats and raw food workshops at The Vine Retreat hotel in Kep, the benefits of eating an 80 percent raw diet can include increased energy, stabilised blood sugars, improved digestion, clearer skin and increased mental clarity.

“Eating ‘living’ foods and increasing the amount of fermented and pro-biotic foods into your diet helps strengthen and fortify the immune systems and protect the guts and intestine, which is especially important living somewhere like Cambodia,” she says.

But eating raw in Southeast Asia can have its challenges. Far from subsiding on salad leaves and carrot sticks alone, those in the know emphasise the importance of having a balanced and nutritious raw diet. That means including essential food groups like protein, contained in sources including nuts.

“One of the biggest challenges is sourcing certified organic [goods], especially the fruits and vegetables you are eating raw,” adds Fountain,

Raw Menu

Think raw food is restrictive?

Then surprise your taste buds with the following dishes, or try cooking up some of your own:

ARTILLERY CAFÉ

Try the raw pad thai with spirals of sweet potato and carrot covered in a fragrant curry sauce. Follow it with the excellent key lime pie, with a crunchy base topped off with creamy avocado and lime.

THE VINE RETREAT

For a main course, dig into a raw sweetcorn taco. Nut cheese, salsa and homemade sprouts make it a popular dish. For a sweet treat, sample the raw banoffee pie with coconut cream and dehydrated cinnamon bananas.

explaining that finding organic oils and ‘superfoods’ in Cambodia can also be difficult and expensive, although outlets like Natural Garden on the capital’s Street 63 are now selling niche health-foods such as chia seeds and maca powder.

For those aiming to go raw, there is help at hand. The Vine Retreat runs a raw detox programme (one day of prior notice is needed), along with gluten-free and vegan cuisine and retreats.

Artillery, which has outlets on both Street 240 1/2 and Street 278, is adding more raw food to its regular menu and offers both a five-day raw cleanse ($175, with seven items delivered per day), beginning with a breakfast of fruit or vegetable juices, and a shorter raw reboot ($25 a day) option.

“The programme is designed for people who are just getting started, who maybe don’t know about raw foods or haven’t really dived in yet, because it’s a different texture and taste,” says Sims.

Most importantly, both venues are proving that going raw in the Kingdom doesn’t mean skimping on taste. Dehydrators can be used to create items like crackers, while nut milk can add a creamy texture to meals.

“Our raw sweetcorn taco with nut cheese, salsa and homemade sprouts is one of our most popular dishes with yoga retreat goers,” says Fountain, who also serves up a raw banoffee pie.

And for Sims, it seems the proof is in the pudding. Artillery’s raw key lime pie, with zingy lime and avocado nestled inside an almond, raisin and coconut oil base, is a decadent dessert and a must-try for any Cambodia-based foodie, whether they aim to go raw or not.

For more information, visit artillerycafe.com or thevineretreat.com

AsiaLIFE Cambodia 47

The Lobster Bay I always find myself in a bit of a quandary when tackling one of my favourite foods. As a lover of crustaceans and a hater of getting my hands dirty, I’m often forced to decline eating any form of sea creature that comes complete with a shell that needs cracking.

Thankfully, The Lobster Bay at Aeon Mall provides the perfect solution to scoffing scrumptious lobster, crab and prawns. Here, all fears of messy hands, clothes and tables are wiped out in a pincer move, as diners eat with disposable plastic gloves and bibs. Dishes are even served up in translucent plastic bags, instead of plates and bowls.

“Our motto is ‘enjoy with your hands’. That’s what we want people to do in a relaxed and fun environment,” says general manager Prohm 48 AsiaLIFE Cambodia

Marissa Carruthers and Monyneath Reth don plastic gloves and bibs at Aeon Mall, with photography by Rudi Towiro.

“Our motto is ‘enjoy with your hands’. That’s what we want people to do in a relaxed and fun environment” Davin, explaining that raw oysters and rice are the only items eaten with spoons.

“Another great thing that has come out of it,” he adds, with a smile, “is that families have no choice to sit down and eat together without getting out their phones or iPads.”

Embracing all things nautical, the restaurant is decked out with life buoys, fishing nets, a flashing lighthouse and two life-sized pirate statues, both made in Cambodia, for diners to be photographed next to.

The menu also follows the sea-faring theme, offering a range of seafood, including blue crab ($1.80/100g), raw

oyster ($2.50/100g), lobster (depending on the season, $3/100g), scallops ($2.50/100g), clams ($1.25/100g), sweet snails ($2.90/100g) and squid rings ($2.50/100g). The shell option ($6.80/100g) comes complete with prawns, crab and lobster.

Dishes come cooked in a choice of salty and spicy American style – consisting of an imported mix of butter, garlic, vegetable oil, chilli and salt – or a secret herb-infused Cambodian version, with various levels of spiciness to choose from. Also packed inside the plastic bag of shellfish and other seafood is corn on the cob, chillies and peppers.

The idea came to the owner during a trip to America, where he stumbled across a similar concept on the San Francisco coast. “The uniqueness of the idea is what has made this very popular,” Prohm adds. “No other restaurants in Cambodia offer an eating experience like this.”

Infatuated with recreating the environment while serving up easy-to-eat seafood, he adapted the idea for Cambodians and opened the country’s first Lobster Bay on Koh Pich in January. The roaring success led to the restaurant securing itself a second spot in the newly opened Aeon Mall, where the eatery is regularly full of plastic glove and bib-wearing diners tucking into their grub, regardless of the mess.

Aeon Mall, Phnom Penh. Tel: 099 920 930. Open daily from 10.30am to 10pm .

Ellie Dyer, Monyneath Reth and photographer Rudi Towiro try out some Indian dishes at one of the capital’s vegetarian restaurants.

Coriander Going vegetarian in Cambodia can be tricky, with meaty broths, fish-based sauces and snippets of dried shrimp sometimes sneaking into the most-innocent sounding veggie dishes.

But despite the enduring dominance of the Kingdom’s meat and fish lovers, there are a growing number of restaurants in the capital offering up purely vegetarian fare. One such eatery is Coriander Vegetarian Restaurant, set on a quiet, leafy street in BKK1, just one road away from bustling Monivong Boulevard.

Coriander’s simple yet welcoming interior features wooden tables, a green tiled floor and pink-tinged walls.

Outside, a small garden area contains a couple of extra tables, thankfully sheltered

by a canopy that kept out a fierce tropical downpour on our lunchtime visit.

Faced with the restaurant’s large selection of offerings – vegetarian pizzas and burgers sit alongside Asianoriented options, all of which are proudly MSG free – we plumped for the appealing Indian choices. Given that country’s rich history of vegetarianism, with between 20 to 40 percent of its resident’s non meat-eaters, it turned out to be a canny choice.

First came two large cannon ball shaped samosas ($2.50), packed with peas and potato, accompanied by two dipping sauces – one with a sour piquant flavour, the other milder. Despite cumin seeds being clearly evident inside, the generously proportioned

parcels were relatively plain in spice terms, but proved a satisfying snack.

Next arrived a selection of curries, recommended to us by the friendly waiting staff.

Each dish was served in a silver bowl, with many sprinkled with the restaurant’s namesake herb.

The eggplant masala ($4) was a creamy triumph, with generous chunks of roasted aubergine adding a new dimension to the well-spiced sauce.

We were told that the kadai paneer ($4) would be spicy, but to my taste buds it had more of a sweet and sour feel. Finely sliced onions and capsicum peppers formed the curry’s base, with lashings of paneer (Indian cheese curd) sprinkled throughout. The pleasingly tangy curry was especially good when eaten

with Coriander’s warm, rounded chapati breads ($0.50 for one), but the restaurant also offers a diverse range of paratha breads, including a tomato and pickle version.

The palak paneer ($4), made with puréed spinach and cheese curd, was the blandest dish. Though perhaps a tad watery for my taste, it still came packed with paneer and was a nice contrast to the richer dishes on the table.

What set Coriander’s curries apart was their lightness – as opposed to many restaurants they were not swimming in ghee. The dishes packed a punch, but without the post-curry food coma. In short, I’ll be back.

21E Street 71, Phnom Penh.

Tel: 088 996 9651. Open from 10am to 10pm.

AsiaLIFE Cambodia 49

BehindtheDesign Having a friend who is willing to let you hang out day and night at their penthouse suite is a rare luxury. Until now, that is, because Tama Hotel is offering a taste of the high life through its unique hotel, bar and restaurant on the 22nd floor of the Phnom Penh Tower.

Wanting to offer guests a unique experience, designers at award-winning Japanese interior decoration firm Fhams were recruited to create the space. To help them achieve their goal, they created a character called ‘Mr X’ – a middle-aged world traveller who has opened up his stunning abode to friends.

Inside the hotel, contemporary collides with the old world, with items collected during the adventures of ‘Mr X’ artistically placed throughout his ‘home’. From model sailing boats to a stack of well-worn suitcases, bicycles, antique cameras, more than 150 books and an extensive art collection, the hotel, bar and restaurant have all been decorated to suit the character’s taste.

“It’s a really unusual idea that the designers came up with and one that works so well,” says Nanae Yamamoto, senior manager of TamaHome’s operations department. “The idea is that the house, as usual, is bustling with friends who were invited to his party. As you walk in, you are welcomed by his concierge and the delicious smell from the kitchen. His extensive collection of liquors at the bar adds spice to the night, and at the back of the bar, there are rooms for his guests to rest in when the night comes to a close.”

Undoubtedly, the concept works and The D22 (the open-plan dining, bar and lounge area) plus The H22 (the 21-room hotel section) offer a special experience.

The dining area, with its giant slick bar, dark wood tables and chairs and bold artwork, extends to another spacious zone where comfy couches wait to seat those wanting to sip on their host’s extensive and sophisticated spirit selection. The majority of the heavy wooden furniture has been made in Cambodia, with antiques carefully sourced from Kyoto in Japan.

Adding to the concept is the accommodation, which lies hidden to one end of the venue. A row of 12 cozy wooden chalets housing a bunk bed, sofa, foldable desk and chair and TV sit indoors. A further seven superior and two deluxe rooms offer more roomy accommodation with floor to ceiling windows that showcase breath-taking views of Phnom Penh.

“I absolutely love the idea behind the hotel because everything has a meaning, and I just love ‘Mr X’,” Yamamoto says. “He seems to me to be such a Gatsby character; this is definitely somewhere Gatsby would live.”

22nd floor Phnom Penh Tower, Monivong Blvd, Phnom Penh. Tel: 023 964 020. Words by Marissa Carruthers, photography Charles Fox. 50 AsiaLIFE Cambodia

TAMA HOTEL

AsiaLIFE Cambodia 51

52 AsiaLIFE Cambodia

WE ARE YOUNG Photography: Jeremie Montessuis-Film Noir Studio Art Direction/Styling: Brandon at The Dollhouse Hair and makeup: The Dollhouse Models: Chharny So and Izabelle Gagnon Location: The Common Tiger Chharny wears: Singlet and necklace Paperboy Shorts A.N.D Shoes Model's own Izabelle wears: Playsuit and jacket Paperdolls Floral crown Poise Mena florist

AsiaLIFE Cambodia 53

Izabelle: Jacket and blouse Daisy Boutique; Denim shorts and necktie Paperdolls Chharny: Shorts and shirt Kool as U; Suspenders and hat Paperboy

Izabelle: Jacket and necklace Kelly and Skelley; Dress Paperdolls Chharny: Polka dot shirt and pants Don Protasio at The Showroom; Hat and denim vest Paperboy

Izabelle: Top and jacket Paperdolls; Cassette necklace, The Showroom Chharny: Grey shirt Don Protasio at The Showroom; Sunglasses,floral shorts and polka dot singlet Paperboy Leather bag Kool as U

56 AsiaLIFE Cambodia

LISTINGS

hotel & travel Airlines & Agencies

Silk Air Regency Complex C, Suite 2-4 Samdach, Monireth Blvd, S.k.

Tomnoubteouk, Khan Chamkarmorn Tel: 023 988 629

Asiana Airlines Room A16 at Phnom Penh International Airport.

Tel: 023 890 441

Thai Airways 294 Mao Tse Toung Blvd., Phnom Penh. Tel: 023 214 359

Air Asia Domestic Terminal Arrival Office NºA17, Phnom Penh International Airport Tel: 023 890 035

Bangkok Airways 61A, Street 214, Phnom Penh Tel: 023 722 545

Tiger Airways No. 296, Mao Tse Toung (St. 245), Intercontinental Hotel, Suit 16B, 12306 Phnom Penh. Tel: 023 5515 888

Cambodia Angkor Air Branch Office in Phnom Penh #206A Preah Norodom Blvd.

Tel: 023 6666 788

Vietnam Airlines #41, Street 214, Phnom Penh Tel: 023 215 998

Cebu Pacific Air No. 333B, Preah Monivong Blvd, Sangkat Orussey 4, Khan 7 Makara, 12257 Phnom Penh Tel: 023 219 161

Cafe Eden Located along the River Tel: 053 731 525www. cafeedencambodia.com Eclectic cafe with incredible food that overlooks the river. EspressoWifi- A.C.-Local Art. Non-Profit that focuses on training Cambodian People. Boutique with handmade local crafts. Happy hour 3pm-7pm. Open Wednesday - Monday 7:30am-9pm

China Airlines 32, Preah Norodom Blvd, Phnom Penh Tel: 023 222 056 China Eastern No. 68, st. 606, Sangkat Beung Kak 2, Khan Toul Kork, Phnom Penh Tel: 016 985 668 304, Steung Thmey Village, Siem Reap. Tel: 063 965 229 China Southern Room F-G-H-I,Ground floor Nº53, Phnom Penh Hotel, Monivong Blvd.

Tel: 023 424 588 DragonAir 168 Monireth Boulevard, Phnom Penh Tel: 023 424 300 Eva Air Suite 11-14B, Street 205, Phnom Penh Tel: 023 219 911 Jet Star Asia #333B, Monivong Blvd., Phnom Penh Tel: 023 220 909 Korean Air #254, R03, Monivong Blvd., Phnom Penh. Tel: 023 2240 47-49 Lao Airlines 58B, Preah Sihanouk Blvd.

Phnom Penh Tel: 023 222 956 Malaysia Airlines #35-37, Street 214, Phnom Penh Tel: 023 218 923-924 Myanmar Airways International No. 90-94Eo, Charles de Gaulle (St. 217), 12257 Phnom Penh Tel: 023 866 404 Qatar Airways Ground floor, Intercontinental Hotel, Phnom Penh. www.qatarairways.com Skywing Asia Airlines IOC buld, Monivong Blvd, Beoung Riang, Doun Penh. Tel: 023 217130

Battambang

Bambu Hotel Phum Romchek 5 Tel: 053 953900 / 053 953 905 bookings@bambuhotel.com www.bambuhotel.com 16 rooms arranged in four traditionally inspired buildings with swimming pool, bar and restaurant.

Battambang Resort Wat Ko Village, Battambang Tel: 012 510 100/053 666 7001 info@battambangresort.com www.battambangresort.com Jaan Bai restaurant Road 2 near Psar Nat Market Tel: 097 398 7815 Jaan Bai is a home for folks who share a love of gatherings around the table, a passion for food and an interest in supporting Cambodian youth. Using seasonal organic produce sourced from own kitchen garden, local farmers and neighboring markets. Open Tuesday – Sunday 11am – 9pm.

Ratanak Commune Tel: 097 764 0017 www.sangkervilla.com Sangker Villa has 7 rooms and 1 Balcony Suite. It is located 10 minutes walk from the city center. The hotel combines the charm of the countryside with the advantages of the city. Swiss management, speaking English, French, German, Italian and Spanish.

Kampot

Blissful Guest House Tel: 012 848 390 www.blissfulguesthouse.com Small guest house, with 18 rooms, set in guest house street with downstairs garden bar and restaurant and bar, Sunday roast, home-baked bread.

Bokor Mountain Lodge Riverfront Tel: 033 932 314/ 017 712 062 www.bokorlodge.com Beautiful French colonial building situated on riverfront with well-fitted air-conditioned rooms. Has a good restaurant and bar.

Epic Arts Café Old Market Street Employing deaf staff, this café next to the old market has a good range of bagels, shakes, brownies and coffee.

Is also the centre for the community arts programme.

Open from 7am - 6pm.

Les Manguiers 2km north of Kampot. Tel: 092 330 050 Small resort with bungalows and rooms set in beautiful gardens overlooking the river with a restaurant which has daily changing, freshly prepared food.

Mea Culpa 44 Sovansokar Tel: 012 504 769 meaculpakampot@gmail.com Accommodation established by the former manager of Bokor Mountain Lodge set in the French Quarter. Six rooms have air con, hot water, DVD and TV. The large garden has a patio pizzeria and bar.

Rikitikitavi Riverfront Tel: 012 274 820/012 235 102 www.rikitikitavi-kampot.com Western food served in large portions in this river-facing restaurant, bar and three-room guesthouse. A more upmarket venue for Kampot, the upstairs seating affords great sunset views. Restaurant and bar open 7 days a week.

Rusty Keyhole This British pub is the place for expats to chew the fat over a pint. Friendly British owner has recreated the atmosphere of a rural pub in outer Kampot, or at least as close as it gets.

The ribs remain as good as ever.

Open 8.30am until midnight.

Kep

Breezes Route 33. Tel: 097 675 9072 Situated on the main coast road about halfway between Kep Beach and the ferry to Rabbit Island, this stylish restaurant and lounge is located right by the sea in a green, wooded area. The food is a fusion of Asian and western with a focus on small dishes with plenty of seafood. Free pick-up and return to Kep hotels.

Kep Lodge Tel: 092 435 330. www.keplodge.com Nestled just below the calm Kep National Park, this boutique resort offers only 10 standard and luxury bungalows, all with private balcony, hot water and sea view. The comfortable restaurant pampers you with local and Swiss specialties and the lively bar.

The beautiful infinity salt water pool has one of the best views in Kep and is the perfect place for a sunset.

Knai Bang Chatt Resort Tel: 078888 557 www.knaibangchatt.com An exclusive resort offering personal service in private grounds housing a collection of remodelled 1960’s style colonial villas. Offering 18 rooms, infinity pool, spa and media centre.

Kinyei cafe Street 1 and 1/2, Phum 20 Osaphea Tel: 017 292 119, www.kinyei.org Social enterprise, best coffee in town, serving snacks, lunch, breakfast and other drinks, friendly staff, free space for small open workshop. Won the National Barista Championship two years in a row 2012 and 2013. Open 7am-7pm, 7 days.

La Villa 185 Pom Romchek 5 Tel: 017 411 880 / 053 730 151, lavilla.battambang@gmail.com, www.lavilla-battambang.com Beautifully restored 1930s colonial house with six rooms is the premium hotel in the country’s second city and with an excellent kitchen and bar.

Sangker Villa Hotel Pool Restaurant 200 Street, Romchek4 Village,

AsiaLIFE Cambodia 57

All rooms refurbished to international standards. Choice of two dining options – upscale The Strand or the adjoining Sailing Club.

kitchen, swimming pool, large terrace, garden and household staff. Maximum capacity of 12 guests.

Le Bout du Monde Tel: 011 964 181 www.leboutdumondekep.com Individual and separate bungalows in traditional Khmer architecture located on a hill-top with good views and nice gardens. Serves French and Khmer cuisine. Rooms have hot water, minibar, fan and safe.

Mayura Hill Resort (Mondulkiri 4 star Boutique Resort) Phnom Penh Office: 225 Sisowath Quay Tel: 017 711 177 / 017 811 188 www.mayurahillresort.com Mayura Hill Hotel & Resort located in Mondulkiri Province has 14 exclusive private Bungalow villas embodying the north eastern lifestyle. The first eco-tourism resort in Sen Monorom city located just 1 Km from downtown, surrounded by wonderful views of the highlands.

The Vine Retreat Tel: 036 633 3383 / 097 461 0711 www.thevineretreat.com Eco guesthouse and organic food.

Get away from the chaos of the city to peaceful, homely comfort surrounded by nature. Please note that the Vine Retreat now accepts Visa. The nearest ATM is 35 km distant.

Spring Valley Resort/Mr. Mab Kep City, Cambodia, Tel: 036 666 6673 www.mr.mab.com, www.springvalley-resort.com Spring Valley Resort, at the base of Kep National Park, is just a short walk to the beach. The rooms are scattered throughout vibrant green gardens, connected by walkways that wind through vines, trees and flowering plants. Their new restaurant, Mr. Mab... very delicious, takes a fresh look at traditional Khmer street food.

Villa S’aat Tel 017 38 31 85. www.villa-kep.com Your holiday home in Kep! Elegant and spacious villa for rent in Kep during holidays and weekends. Located around 2 km from the crab market, with spacious rooms, fully equipped

58 AsiaLIFE Cambodia

Mondulkiri

Phnom Penh – Deluxe

Arthur & Paul Mâles SpaBoutique-Hotel 27 Street 71, BKK1 Tel. 023 212 814 or 077 892 256 www.arthurandpaul.com The first gay (100% men-only) SpaBoutique-Hotel-Restaurant-Bar in Phnom Penh. 10 rooms.

Bellevue Serviced Apartments 68 Tonle Sap Street.

Tel: 023 432 999 www.bellevueservicedapartments.com www.facebook.com/ bellevueservicedapartments Located in a deluxe hotel complex on the riverbank of the Tonle Sap, Bellevue offers spacious, contemporary accommodation 10 minutes away from the city.

Cambodiana 313 Sisowath Quay.

Tel: 023 426 288 www.hotelcambodiana.com Great riverside location with spectacular sweeping views of the confluence of

three rivers. Large rooms with air-con, in-room safes and good bathrooms. Live band plays nightly (except Mondays) from 8.15pm until late.

Himawari 313 Sisowath Quay.

Tel: 023 214 555 www.himawarihotel.com The 115 beautifully-designed suites have air-con, cable TV, IDD, Internet, inroom safes and large bathrooms. Nice swimming pool and good gym facilities as well as two good tennis courts.

InterContinental 296 Mao Tse Tung.

Tel: 023 424 888 www.ihg.com One of Phnom Penh’s most luxurious 5-star hotels, the 346 air-con rooms have all the expected facilities including in-room safes and king size beds. Also has a large swimming pool, a fitness centre and a spa.

Patio Hotel & Urban Resort 134z Street 51 www.patio-hotel.com Close to Independence Monument, the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda, the National Museum and the river front, Patio has 45 luxurious rooms. Modern amenities include a rooftop swimming pool, a restaurant and a bar on the 7th floor. Restaurant open daily from 6am – 11pm.

Raffles Hotel Le Royal Street 92 Tel: 023 981 888 www.phnompenh.raffles.com Emanates the same class as its more famous namesake in Singapore. The Elephant Bar is a popular expat haunt during the 4pm to 8pm happy hour.

Season Residence Apartments 109-133, Street 144 Tel: 023 990 628 / 012 457 408 www.seasonresidence.com Season Residence is self-catered accommodation located only 9 km from the airport. Featuring spacious apartments with free Wi-Fi access.

Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra 26 Old August Site, Sothearos Blvd.

Tel: 023 999 200.www.sofitel.com Set riverside amongst landscaped gardens this 12-storey colonial style hotel is close to key attractions, embassies and the central business district.

Phnom Penh – Mid

Asia Club 456 Monivong Blvd. Tel: 023 721 766 An oasis of water and green in the city, the five bungalows and four rooms with air-con and bath, large safe and flatscreen tv. The beautiful swimming pool is tucked around the back of Man Han Lou Restaurant.

Homefeel CS Hotel 23AB, Street 278. Tel: 023 214 571 www.homefeelcs-hotel.com Located in the heart of the tourist area in the center of Phnom Penh, Homefeel CS Hotel welcomes you warmly and guarantees you will get this feeling.

Pandan Boutique Hotel 15A Street 282. Tel: 012 373 78 www.pandanboutiquehotel.com Ideally located in the heart of Phnom Penh, at walking distance from the shopping and business district, 5mn walk from Independence Monumnent. 26 rooms with unqiue and classy design.

Rambutan Resort 29 Street 71, BKK1. Tel: 017 99 22 40 www.rambutanresort.com

is an oasis of calm and luxury in Sihanoukville. The full delights of the resort, spa and private beach are ready for you to enjoy. Three fully equipped meeting and conference rooms are also available.

Mick & Craig’s Restaurant Serendipity Beach, Sihanoukville Tel: 034 934 845 www.mickandcraigs.com A small friendly restaurant serving comfort food from around the world since 1997. Open daily from 7am-11pm.

Urban modern oasis located in a quiet residential area only 5 minutes from all major sights in Phnom Penh. Deluxe pool view and garden rooms with outdoor bathtubs. Salt water pool and private spa room for some unwinding treatments.

The 252 Boutique Hotel 19 Street 252, Tel: 023 998 252 www.the-252.com Conveniently located close to major attractions, the small boutique hotel offers a quiet and peaceful retreat from the bustling city. Spacious and stylishly decorated rooms with all amenities, swimming pool surrounded by a leafy tropical garden, outdoor restaurant and bar.

The Artist Guesthouse (Mid-Range) 69 street 178, Tel: 023 213 930 www.the-artist-guesthouse.com Located across from the National Museum, The Artist is your place.

The 11-bedroom guesthouse has a modern feel.

The Little Garden 8 Street 398.

Tel: 078 217 871 Stylish boutique hotel with a swimming pool. A quiet retreat from the city’s chaos. Rooms feature attractive Cambodian furniture and gorgeous colonial tiles.

The Plantation Urban Resort and Spa 28 Street 184.

Tel: 023 215 151 theplantatation.asia 70 rooms – including a penthouse suite, two swimming pools, a restaurant, two bars, a gym, a spa and a meeting room. Centrally situated close to most of Phnom Penh’s main attractions.

The Quay Sisowath Quay.

Tel: 023 224 894 http://thequayhotel.com Five-storey, 16-room riverside boutique hotel has beautiful contemporary rooms designed by Gary Fell. The stand-out features are the roof-top jacuzzi and the very contemporary ground-floor bar and Chow Restaurant with WiFi. Queen Boutique Hotel 49A Street 214.

Tel: 023 211 683 om@queenboutique.asia Boutique hotel located conveniently close to all the major attractions including the Royal Palace and National Museum.

TEAV Boutique Hotel 14 Street 310, Phnom Penh, Tel: 023 981 818 / 017 989 191 www.teavboutiquehotel.com, stay@ teavgroup.com Located in a quiet,

peaceful setting in the prestigious central heart of Phnom Penh near the Independence Monument, the uniquely designed art deco style TEAV Boutique Hotel provides single travellers, couples, families, leisure and business with a relaxing and highly personalised stay in Cambodia’s capital.

Villa Borann 235A Street 19.

Tel 023 211 518 www.villa-borann-boutique-hotel.com Business boutique hotel in the historical centre of Phnom Penh with 14 rooms, swimming pool, bar and restaurant.

Nicely furnished rooms. Colonial style.

Villa SALT 4 Street 294. Tel: 012 815 066 villasalt@sentosasilk.com Whether you are touring Phnom Penh or planning a long vacation, Villa SALT along with SentosaSilk, create an atmosphere that makes you feel at home. Explore 14 artistically decorated rooms, each created to give you that authentic sense of uniqueness.

Reef Resort Road to Serendipity Beach Tel: 012 315 338 www.reefresort.com.kh Guesthouse set around a beautiful pool with well apportioned air-con rooms, in-room safe and cable TV, family rooms also available. Has a welcoming bar with excellent TV screen, slate pool table and excellent Mexican cuisine.

Scuba Nation Lane off road to Serendipity Beach Tel: 012 604 680 / 012 715 785 www.divecambodia.com Five-star PADI centre offering daily trips to the area’s many islands and reefs including the decent dive sites at Koh Rung Samloem and Koh Kon, also runs a range of PADI-certified courses, and has an office in Phnom Penh.

The Secret Garden Otres Beach.

Tel: 0976 495 131 www.secretgardenotres.com Modern beachside air-con bungalows with hot water, jungle showers or baths, TV, WiFi and Otres Beach’s only swimming pool. Restaurant run by professional Australian chef.

Zoco Independence Hotel Road to Serendipity Beach Two fashion boutiques – one on the way to Serendipity Beach, the other in Independence Hotel – run by the Spanishborn Nuria, sells dresses, skirts, bags and accessories.

Travel

Cambodia Uncovered 11B Street 370. Tel: 012 507 097 www.cambodiauncovered.com Offers village and cultural tours in Phnom Penh and surrounds including road trips, Mekong cruises, accommodation, cooking classes and other activities.

Exotissimo Travel No. 66, Norodom Blvd. Tel: 023 218 948 www.exotissimo.com Excellent Frenchowned agency specialising in adventure tourism, flight bookings, package holidays and a range of tours of Southeast Asia.

Helicopters Cambodia 10 Street 310. Tel: 012 814 500 www.helicopterscambodia.com Over 12 years experience operating in the Kingdom offers scenic flights around the Temples of Angkor and beyond. Is a wholly owned subsidiary of Helicopters New Zealand Group.

Intrepid Travel 468 Sivutha Blvd. Tel: 063 966 655 For travellers with a yearning to get off the beaten track, Intrepid opens up a whole new world of adventure travel. With a huge variety of tours available.

Travel Indochina 43-44EO Street 108. Tel: 023 991 978 www.travelindochina.com.au Australian-owned travel company specialising in small group journeys around Asia that can tailor trips for individuals.

Villa Samnang Street 302, BKK1.

Tel : 023 221 644 www.villa-samnang.com Boutique hotel with 14 rooms, swimming pool, bar and restaurant.

Villa Srey 16 Street 306. Tel: 023 213 219 www.villasrey.com Charming hotel, six rooms with terrace and swimming pool.

Very quiet in the heart of Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh - Budget

California 2 79 Sisowath Quay. Tel: 077 503 144 www.cafecaliforniaphnompenh.com New guest house and bar on the river front with well-priced rooms.Downstairs bar has great Tex-Mex food and pool table.

L’Imprevu Highway 1, 7km past Monivong Bridge Tel: 024 390 405 Complex with twentyfour bungalows just outside of Phnom Penh. Tennis courts and excellent swimming pool make this a good break from the city.

Le Rit’s 71 Street 240.

Tel: 023-213-160 Small & charming 6-room guesthouse with spacious rooms is managed by NYEMO NGO, part of its hospitality training.

Rooms equipped with queen sized bed, cable TV, private bathroom.

Sihanoukville

Independence Hotel, Resort & Spa Tel: 034 934 300, Fax: 034 933 660 www.independencehotel.net Independence Hotel, Resort & Spa

AsiaLIFE Cambodia 59

LISTINGS

Siem Reap - Galleries

siem reap

Happy Cambodia Gallery 2 Hospital Street, between Psar Chaas and Pub Street Tel: 063 963 114 www.happypainting.net

Siem Reap - Bars

AHA The Passage. Tel: 063 965 501 Sophisticated and beautifully designed wine bar selling a wide range of wines from around the world and tapas, as well as great cheese and Lavazza coffee.

Open 10.30am to 10.30pm.

Angkor What?

Pub Street. Tel: 012 181 4001 “Promoting irresponsible drinking since 1998,” this graffiti-laden bar is the mainstay of Pub Street. A healthy mix of loud rock, punk and grunge, buckets of vodka and red bull for $6.

Laundry Bar Old Market Extremely chilled music bar just off Pub Street with great mellow decor and extremely cool t-shirts. Free drink during the 6pm to 9pm washing hours.

Open 6pm until late.

Linga Bar Alley behind Pub Street Tel: 012 246 912. www.lingabar.com Laid back, gay-friendly bar with extremely chilled Buddha Bar tunes and some amazing light boxes that serves a great range of cocktails.

Free WiFi. Open 5pm until late.

Mezze 13a (1st floor) Street 11 Tel: 097 7667343 mezze.siemreap@gmail.com www.mezzesiemreap.com Escape the heat and dust to be warmly welcomed by attentive staff at one of Siem Reap’s unique venues. Enjoy signature cocktails, original cuban cigars, fine champagnes, luxury shisha and fusion tapas. Open every day from 6pm-1am.

Miss Wong Lane off Pub Street. Tel: 092 428 332 Imagine yourself in China at the turn of the last century and you won’t go much wrong in Miss Wong with excellent and original cocktails and dim sum. Open late.

Nest Sivutha Blvd. Tel: 063 966 381 A step up for Siem Reap, Nest is high level drinking and dining, serving light Mediterranean and Asian food in a unique, highly stylised setting, with loungers and table settings.

Diwo Galleries One at Vat Svay, Tonle Sap Road and another between Monument Books and Ta Prohm Hotel on the riverside Features a selection of refined Khmer statues and Buddhas. The larger Vat Svay location features a gallery exhibition of Thierry Diwo’s photography, as well as sells home decor and books. Drinks are available in the garden and on the terrace.

McDermott Gallery I & II FCC Complex Pokambor Avenue, Alley behind Pub Street. Tel: 092 668 181 www.mcdermottgallery.com Two galleries devoted to photographic works. with permanent exhibition of photographs taken by John McDermott.

Open 10am to 10pm.

Siem Reap - Hotels

Golden Banana Boutique Resort Phum Wat Damnak, Kum Sala Komreuk, Krom 10, Siem Reap Tel: 012 654 638 / 063 766 655 goldenbanana2@gmail.com, www. goldenbanana.info Deluxe suites & villas in modern Asian style build around a salt-water pool.

Private balcony or terrace with outdoor bathtub/splash shower. Gay-friendly.

3mn walk to Old Market.

Golden Orange Off East River Road Tel: 063 965 389 reservations@goldenorangehotel.com www.goldenorangehotel.com Mini-hotel with good sized air-con rooms that tends to have customers when others are empty. Nice outside bar makes for a good place to sit and have a few beers.

Raffles Grand Hotel D’Angkor 1 Charles de Gaulle Tel: 063 963 888 www.raffles.com Elegant hotel with opulent gardens and a spectacular swimming pool in its grounds.

Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort Vithei Charles de Gaulle Tel: 063 964 600/ 610 www.sofitel.com Ultimate in comfort and refinement, combining the traditional architecture of Cambodia with elegant French colonial style. 5-star accommodation, 5 bars and restaurants, swimming pool, spa and international standard18-hole 72-par golf course, 16km outside Siem Reap.

Siem Reap - Leisure

Angkor Silk Farm Puok District (20min from Siem Reap downtown) Open daily from 8am to 5pm Tel: 063 5555 768 www.artisansdangkor.com Learn about the meticulous process of silk-making and traditional silk weaving.

A free shuttle bus departing from Artisans Angkor’s shop in Siem Reap center to the Angkor Silk Farm is available daily at 9.30am and 1.30pm.

Picasso Alley West A very cosy wine and tapas bar, with artful décor and a curved bar making conversation easy and fun. Good selection of wines and delicious tapas make this a regular haunt for expats.

Open 5pm until midnight.

Body Tune 293-290 Pokambor Av. (next to the old market along Riverside) Tel: 063 764 141 www.bodytune.co.th When you need to re-balance and rejuvenate your body in between daily routines, BODY TUNE is the perfect place to regain your energy. Open daily 10am - 10.30pm.

The Warehouse Old Market Tel: 012 530 227 Popular expat bar plays great music with good Asian-Western fusion cuisine. Best stocked bar in town and homemade infused vodkas. Open 10am to 3am.

Helicopters Cambodia 658 Hup Quan Street. Tel: 063 963 316 Professionally run company that has flights over the temples and beyond in modern, safe helicopters.

www.asialifemagazine.com

For Sales Enquiries: Chantha Sorn | 012 576 878 | chantha@asialife.asia

Maharajah Indian Restaurant Next to Pub Street, btwn CAB bank & provincial hospital. Old Market Area Tel: 063-966221 / 092-506622 Authentic Indian vegetarian and nonvegetarian food. Maharajah believes that exclusivity with a touch of simplicity is important in the creation of every dish.

Open daily 11am – 10pm.

Phokeethra Country Club Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Vithei Charles de Gaulle Tel: 056 396 4600 reservation.angkor@phokeethragolf.com International standard 18-hole, 72-par golf course 16km outside of Siem Reap.

Clubhouse facilities: pro shop, rental equipment, restaurant.

Marum 8A-B Phum Slokram, Siem Reap (Between Wat Polanka & Catholic Church).

Tel: 017 363 284 Featuring a winning mix of creative local cuisine, Marum customers will enjoy a fantastic dining experience that helps build a new life for the students in training there.

Open daily from 11am -10.30pm (Kitchen closes at 9.30pm).

Sam Veasna Centre Wat Bo Area. Tel: 063 96 37 10 Wild Asia Responsible Tourism Award winner. Some of the rarest birds in Asia can be seen at Prek Toal and Ang Trapang Thmor, a day-trip from Siem Reap, or combine bird watching with temple trips to Koh Ker and Beng Melea.

Siem Reap - Medical

Royal Angkor International Hospital National Route #6 Phum Kasekam, Khum Sra Ngea.

Tel: 063-761-888. Fax: 063-761-739 www.royalangkorhospital.com Royal Angkor International Hospital is part of the well known Bangkok Hospital Network. We offer high quality care for all eventualities from routine care to emergency treatment 24 hours a day.

Siem Reap - Pharmacies

U-Care Pharmacies Old market in front of Pub Street. Tel: 063 965 396; Inside Lucky Mall. Tel: 063 966 68; Siem Reap Airport. Tel: 063 766049; Sivatha Street. Tel: 063 763 399 www.ucarepharma.com Provide international cosmetic brands, leading imported health & beauty products, only certified medication. Professional advice and convenient and strategic location.

Open daily from 8am to 10pm.

Siem Reap - Restaurants

Chanrey Tree Pokombo Ave. Tel: (855) 63 76 79 97 www.chanreytree.com Traditional Khmer food in a beautiful contemporary setting. Alongside the river, 50m brfore Preah Phrum Rath Pagoda. Open daily. Lunch 11am2.30pm, dinner 6pm-10.30pm.

FCC Angkor FCC Complex, Pokambor Avenue Tel: 063 760 280 Elegant bar and restaurant serves a mix of Asian and international cuisine. The complex includes shops, the McDermott Gallery, Visaya Spa and boutique hotel.

Hard Rock Café 7 Makara, Achar Sva Street, Watbo Village. Tel: 093 565 655, info@ hrcangkor.com Situated in a colonial-style building, Hard Rock Cafe Angkor fits perfectly with the surrounding businesses and buildings in the historic city centre. With 160 seats across two floors, and an additional 80 seats on the riverside terrace, the cafe is a great place to grab a bite. Open daily from 11am to late night.

King’s Road Angkor 7 Makara Road, Achar Sva Street (opposite Old Market bridge along the river) Siem Reap. Tel: 093 811 800, kingsroadangkor.com A unique dining and shopping village in Siem Reap, comprising of 15 restaurants and cafes and a dozen boutiques. it provides entertainment in elegant surroundings and is an ideal location to unwind from visiting the temples.

62 AsiaLIFE Cambodia

Palate Angkor Acha Sva Road, Wat Bo Village www.palateangkor.com Tel: 063 965 252 Palate Angkor Restaurant & Bar, the newest addition to the Siem Reap culinary scene. Serving delectable Pan Asian cuisine, Palate Angkor is centrally located in the leafy French Quarter between The Royal Gardens and the Riverside. Open daily from 11.30am-11pm.

Siem Reap - Shops

Artisans Angkor Boutique and Workshops Stung Thmey Street (2min from the Old Market) Open daily from 7.30am to 6.30pm Tel: 063 963 330 www.artisansdangkor.com Boutique offering a large collection of handmade souvenirs such as high-quality silk scarves, clothing and accessories, wooden and stone sculptures. Also offers free guided tours of the handicraft workshops to see some of the secrets of traditional Khmer craftsmanship.

Eric Raisina 75-81 (Level 4), Charles de Gaulle Avenue, Borei Prem Prey Tel: 063 963 207, ericraisina.com Open daily from 9am to 7pm Accessories, decor, textiles and clothing created by Madagascan-born and French-trained designer. Phone in advance for an appointment.

Hard Rock Shop 7 Makara, Achar Sva Street, Watbo Village.

Tel: 093 565 655, info@hrcangkor.com The unique rock shop of Cambodia has some exceptional collectibles, fashion and music related merchandise. Open daily from 9.30am to midnight.

Jasmine Boutique FCC Angkor, Pokambor Avenue Tel: 063 760 610 Same sophisticated, stylish boutique as on Street 240 in Phnom Penh.

Smateria The Alley West Tel: 063 964 343 www.smateria.com Boutique specialising in accessories made from recycled materials including a range of bags and wallets made from old cartons, plastic bags and mosquito nets.

Siem Reap - Spas

Sokkhak Spa Sok San Street, next to Haven Restaurant, Old Market Area Tel: +63 763 797, www.sokkhakspa.com In Khmer, Sokkhak means ‘tranquility’.

A nature-inspired décor with a soft, warm and tranquil atmosphere in which to relax, refresh and indulge and using carefully chosen natural botanical and marine-based products. Open daily 11am - 10pm.

siem reap Anna Bella Betts www.annabellabetts.com

Phare, The Cambodian Circus Behind Angkor National Museum on Komay Road. Tel: 015 499 480. www.facebook.com/PhareCambodianCircus A unique professional Cambodian theatrical circus show mixing traditional and modern artistic skills. Emotion guaranteed every night for only $15.

7.30pm daily.

Senhoa Caroline Major Stylish statement jewellery from the high-end label Senhoa drapes round the neck of model Coco Rocha, while delicate items sparkling with Swarovski crystals are seen featured in international fashion magazines such as Vogue and Marie Claire.

Many of the brand’s stunning jewellery designs look like they have been lifted from the catwalk. In fact, they’ve been propelled there from Siem Reap, made in Cambodia by artisans under the wing of the Senhoa Foundation, a US-based non-profit founded in 2010.

One of the foundation’s three social programmes is its jewellery scheme, designed to support at-risk women by providing new skills with the goal of creating a sustainable income. It currently employs 13 artisans who handcraft the glamorous designs.

Sylvia Dang, general manager of the Senhoa Social Enterprise, notes that jewellery making was chosen as it’s an “easily acquired skill and it’s therapeutic” and doesn’t pose a barrier to those with limited literacy.

Senhoa has historically only sold its pieces online in the US. “We didn’t think to sell in Cambodia due to the price point,” Dang explains.

All pieces, bar the brand’s couture collection, are made in Cambodia and items range in price from $50 to $995.

“We don’t want to mass produce, and of course we can’t with everything being handmade,” Dang remarks.

But Senhoa’s popularity is growing much closer home. “We partnered with the Shinta Mani Foundation in March 2013 and started selling in their store, Anakut, in November 2013,” says Dang.

Items from Senhoa’s Our Own Hands Collection – designed and made by the artisans – are also sold at Siem Reap’s Well Made In Cambodia market.

For the first time Senhoa is launching its own boutique, opening a retail outlet in the 1961 Coworking Art Space in Siem Reap before the debut of its next collection on Sep. 22. “We see potential for the market not just in the US but in Asia,” Dang enthuses.

With a 100 percent increase in sales from the previous year, Senhoa is preparing to scale up with its own store, developing more retail partnerships to carry the products and increasing custom orders to ship from Cambodia. It is also considering a store in the US. In January, Senhoa transitioned into a social enterprise, as opposed to NGO, to self-fund rather than rely on donations.

“We can keep on investing in the programme and will be able to grow as a business,” Dang remarks.

With two collections typically out a year, Senhoa’s popularity is made clear by the fact that all previous lines have sold out back in the US. Building the brand is important but, as Dang highlights, “the girls are the most important – their safe, secure employment.”

LISTINGS

food & drink Arabic

Beirut Resto-Café 117 Sisowath Quay, (after night market) Tel: 023 720 011/ 092 483 759 The only authentic Lebanese halal cuisine and Sisha Lounge in the town. Offering middle east flavours including mezze tapas – hummus, shish kebab, baba ganouj, falafel, vegetarian and non-vegetarian kebab wraps. Delivery, takeaway, catering.

Open daily 10am until late.

Harem 157 Sisowath Quay.

Tel: 015 868 104 Let us transport you to a world of opulence that inspires relaxation in the authentic and lavish setting of our Shisha lounge. Harem is the perfect place to find yourself again.

Operation from 2pm to 3am.

Petra 8 Street 288 (between St 51 & St 57) Tel: 023 666 3222 / 089 990 150 Authentic Arabic cuisine, ambiance and chef with rooftop shisha lounge.

Located in the heart of BKK1.

Special dining experiences with great costumes.

Open daily from 10am – 11pm.

Cambodian

Khmer Surin 9 Street 57.

Tel 012 887 320 Elegant restaurant featuring wood and silk décor with a tropical garden that serves Cambodian and Thai favourites. Dishes are well prepsred and large enough to share.

K’NYAY The Terrace on 95, 43 Street 95 (corner of Street 348) Tel: 093 665 225. www.knyay.com Modern Khmer restaurant tucked away off Monivong Blvd, with a menu including a selection of freshly prepared vegan dishes, along with traditional Cambodian specialities.

Offers a selection of cakes, ice creams and sorbets, using all vegan ingredients. Open 12-9pm (Tue to Fri), 7am-9pm (Sat & Sun), closed Monday.

midday sun too much. The cuisine is modern Khmer, with no MSG. Open 6am - 10pm.

Restaurant Le Royal Raffles Hotel Le Royal Tel: 023 981 888 (see also restaurants, French) Romdeng 74 Street 174, Phnom Penh Tel: 092 219 565 Romdeng serves Cambodian food that ranges from almost forgotten recipes from the provinces to contemporary creative Cambodian cuisine. It is set in a beautiful colonial building featuring wooden carvings, tables, chairs and unique lights all hand-made in Cambodia.

All of this plus a pool, free WIFI, a family area and a gift shop means a visit is a must. Open daily from 11am-10:30pm (kitchen closes at 9.30pm).

Chinese

Emperors of China 19 Street 163 Tel: 097 929 2699 Up-market Chinese restaurant, popular with the capital’s large Chinese community, private dinning rooms, specializes in Peking duck and dim sum.

Fortune Palace NagaWorld, Hun Sen Park Chinese restaurant with authentic Greater Chinese cuisine and all-youcan-eat Dim Sum buffet on Sundays.

Open from 11am - 3pm, 5pm - 10pm.

Fu Lu Zu Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra 26 Old August Site, Sothearos Blvd.

Tel: 023 999 200 x 6613 Elegant Chinese restaurant specialising in contemporary Cantonese delicacies and dim sum with private rooms for intimate ambience.

Open from 11.30am - 2.30pm, 6.30pm - 10.30pm. Dim Sum weekend from 8am - 2.30pm.

Hua Nam 753 Monivong Bvd. Tel: 023 364 005 Large Chinese restaurant that specialises in seafood and duck and has a good selection of wines, with VIP rooms.

Open 11am - 2pm, 5pm - 10pm.

La Table Khmère 11E Street 278.

Tel: 012 238 068 Taste the flavour of traditional Khmer specialities and fusion cuisine in a stylish ambience and atmosphere on Street 278. Also serving Western dishes. Open daily 11am to 11pm. www.la-table-khmere.com

Man Han Lou Restaurant 456 Monivong Blvd.

Tel: 023 721 966 Micro-brewery with four types of German-style beer. Has extensive Chinese, Thai, Khmer and Vietnamese menus, as well as dim sum breakfast.

Open from 6am - 10am.

Malis 136 Norodom Bvd. Tel: 023 221 022 www.malis-restaurant.com Beautiful modern Khmer restaurant with a courtyard set around narrow water channels and decorated with terracotta floor tiles. Has air-con rooms inside for those who find the

Sam Doo 56-58 Kampuchea Krom Tel: 023 218 773 The place for dim sum in Phnom Penh, baskets of steamed prawn dumplings, pork buns and more go for a pittance. The wonton soup and other tasty meals are a steal.

Open 7am - 2am.

AsiaLIFE Cambodia 63

Xiang Palace InterContinental Phnom Penh 2/F, 296 Mao Tse Toung Blvd.

Tel: 023 424 888 x 3562 Xiang Palace is locally acclaimed for its authentic Cantonese cuisine and delicious dim sum, all prepared with the finest ingredients.

Open daily for lunch and dinner.

Yi Sang Chinese Restaurant 128F Sothearos Blvd.

Tel: 023 220 922 www.almondhotel.com.kh Set on the ground floor of the Almond Hotel, this stylish restaurant specialises in Cantonese food and dim sum that fuses the traditional with the contemporary, including excellent dim sum.

Open from 6.30am - 10am, 11.30am - 2pm and 5.30pm - 10pm – Dim Sum not served in the evening.

French

Armand’s 33 Street 108. Tel: 015 548 966 A true bistro experience in a cosy wood-panelled space, despite the informal and relaxed ambience it has the menu to even satisfy high-rollers.

Open 5pm until late. Closed Mondays.

Brasserie du Port 49E Sisowath Quay, cnr Street 84 Tel: 066 821 224 Bistro featuring eclectic menu of haute cuisine mixed with pasta and ish specials. French classics including flambéed duck, pork filet mignon and home-made fois gras available at reasonable prices. Open daily for lunch and dinner, Brasserie’s long wooden bar is the perfect spot for enjoying a breeze and the restaurant’s comprehensive wine list.

Open daily, 8am – 10pm.

Comme à la Maison 13 Street 57. Tel: 012 951 869 www.commealamaisondelicatessen.com Sophisticated French restaurant with a beautiful outdoor terrace area at the front, yet secluded from the street. One of the best French kitchens in town. Small delicatessen at the back of the restaurant.

Open daily from 6am - 10.30pm.

K West 1 Street 154, cnr. Sisowath Quay Tel: 023 214 747 Stylish aircon bar and restaurant below the Amanjaya with an excelllent steak menu and good value happy hour from 6pm to 8pm Fridays. Now has a brasserie menu with daily specials. Also has free WiFi. Open 6.30am until midnight.

La Creperie 12C Street 308. Tel: 023 640 7600 www.lacreperie.com.cn Serving Brittany-style crepes since 2007.

La Marmite Cnr Streets 108 & 51. Tel: 012 391 746 This small, reasonably priced French bistro has two adjoining rooms (one non-smoking) creating a relaxed, cosy atmosphere. Serves excellent fish, steaks and offal as well as daily specials, for a taste of real home-cooked French cuisine.

Open 11am-2.30pm, 6pm-10.30pm.

La Residence Restaurant 22/24 Street 214.

Tel: 023 224 582 Fine dining on an international scale in this sophisticated restaurant, where

64 AsiaLIFE Cambodia

French classics meet gourmet, modern cuisine. Open from 11.30am-2pm, 6.30pm-10.30pm.

Le Bistrot 218, Street 184. Tel: 012 495 841, email information@institutfrançais-cambodge. com.Nestled inside the entirely renovated spaces of the Institut français, Le Bistrot will now be open for who wants to enjoy a coffee break or a convivial lunch and dinner. Le Bistrot is between the media library, cinema, exhibition gallery and garden of the Institut français. Open from Monday to Saturday from 8am-10pm.

Le Gourmet NagaWorld Hotel and Casino, Hun Sen Park.

Tel: 023 228 822.

Quality ingredients come together in beautiful presentation on the plate, with the luxury of the surroundings complemented by professional and attentive service. Open daily from 12pm-3pm and 6pm-10pm.

Le Jardin 16 Street 360.

Tel: 011 723 399 Beautiful shaded restaurant with large garden and spacious outdoor play area for kids with excellent ice cream.

Open 8am - 10pm (closed Mondays).

Le Vôtre caterer 9A, Street 178.

Tel: 092 638 683/092 24 88 16 levotrecambodia@gmail.com Caterer specialising in fine French cuisine preparing both fresh and frozen meals for wholesale, private events and walk-in customers.

Products include foie gras, terrines, salmon gravlax, French cheeses and deli goods. Open daily 7am - 7pm.

Sunday 7am - 12pm.

Restaurant Le Royal Raffles Hotel Le Royal Tel: 023 981 888 www.raffles.com/phnompenh dining. phompenh@raffles.com Treat yourself to the finest French & Khmer cuisine in one of Indochina’s most elegant restaurants. The Chef’s Degustation menu allows you to try a myriad of dishes in a single meal in a refined atmosphere. Private rooms are available on request.

Open from 6.30pm-10.30pm.

The Wine Restaurant 219 Street 19.

Tel: 023 223 527 Excellent fine dining restaurant in the same grounds as Open Wine deli. The fresh food and extensive selection of wines make this one of the exclusive places to dine in town.

Topaz 182 Norodom Blvd.

Tel: 012 346 555/ 023 221 622 Sophisticated, air-con restaurant with outside dining, upstairs bar, wine shop, cigar room and private rooms. One of Phnom Penh’s finest restaurants. Has a popular piano bar, night club upstairs.

Open 11am-2pm, 6pm-11pm.

Van’s Restaurant 5 Street 102.

Tel: 023 722 067 French fine-dining in a grand setting awaits at Van’s, located on the second floor of a well preserved colonial era building near the city’s Post Office. Open daily 11.30am-2.30pm, 5pm-10.30pm.

Indian Sub-Continent

Dosa Corner 15 Street 51. Tel: 012 673 276 This small south Indian restaurant opened in January. True to its name it has a wide range of very good value dosa as well as thali and biryani dishes. Air-conditioned.

Open 7am-10pm.

East India 9 Street 114. Tel: 023 992 007 South Indian cuisine predominates in this pristine restaurant with excellent breads including nine types of dosa.

Open 11am-2pm, 5.30pm-10.30pm.

Flavours of India 158 Street 63. Tel: 012 886 374, Relaxing Indian and Nepalese restaurant with friendly staff and a good range of dishes including good value vegetarian and meat thalis.

Open 10am - 11pm.

Indian Delight 115Eo Sisowath Quay.

Tel: 023 724 885 / 098 776 543 Delicious North Indian tastes served at a modest yet clean and bright on riverside. Opposite Titanic restaurant.

Open everyday 11am – 1pm.

Shiva Shakti Street 63, between Mao Tse Tung Blvd. and Street 466 Tel: 012 813 817 / 023 213 062 Decidedly upmarket and sophisticated Indian restaurant in a beautiful setting with prices to match.

Good place for an Indian treat.

Open from 11am - 2pm, 6pm 10.30pm. Closed Mondays.

Indochine

Indochine NagaWorld, Hun Sen Park With a focus on Southeast Asian cuisine, Indochine offers tradition dishes from Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand in a sophisticated space.

Open 11am - 11pm.

Irrawaddi 24 Street 334. Tel: 012 979 510 Authentic Myanmar food at very reasonable prices in a clean setting with paintings of the Burmese countryside decorating the walls.

Open 10am - 10pm, closed - Mondays.

Lemongrass 14 Street 130.

Tel: 023 222 705

66 AsiaLIFE Cambodia

A boutique Asian-themed restaurant with an intimate, casual ambiance featuring classical Thai and Khmer cuisine with affordable price. Known for authentic flavours and attractive presentation, only the best local produce and choice seafood and meats are prepared fresh daily. Open daily 10am - 10pm.

Ngon 60 Sihanouk Blvd. Tel: 023 987 151 www.ngonpnh.com Open air restaurant that features a vast range of Vietnamese food in a garden environment. Meaning delicious, although the food does not live up to its name, the ambience makes up for it.

Pangea Fusion Restaurant NagaWorld Hotel and Casino, Hun Sen Park. Tel: 023 228 822 Pan-Asian fusion restaurant with a western flair that specialises in allyou-can-eat dinner buffets.

Open daily 6am - 10.30pm.

International

Aussie XL Café 205A Street 51. Tel: 023 301 301 Aussie style bistro food with quick lunch menu and a good selection of house wines and retail wines.

Open 7am - 11pm.

Botanico Gastro Bar 9B Street 29, Tel: 017 862 992 Botanico is located in its own habitat surrounded by over 2,000 plants and offers a provocative menu of tapas, salads, burgers & sandwich, and straightforward food.

Open on Tue – Sun all day menu from 10.30am-8.30pm Brooklyn Pizza + Bistro 20 Street 123. Tel: 089 925 926 A slice of Brooklyn right here in Phnom Penh. In addition to authentic pizza, Brooklyn serves pastas, burgers, ribs, chicken wings and more.

Byrd Cafe & Restaurant 23 Street 288.

Tel: 023 997 255 Japanese run restaurant in BKK1 where comfort meets a good atmosphere. Guests can enjoy dishes including appetizers, salads, grill, side menus and drinks.

Open daily 11am-midnight.

CABARET 159 Street 154, near Central Market Tel: 092 650 980 info@cabaret-restaurant.com

Restaurant and lounge bar with live music.

Enjoy trendy food, tapas, cocktails and wine in a modern setting encompassing two elegant areas, bar and patio. Fine and casual dining available. Live music four to five times a week, sumptuous variety of wine and cigars.

Cafe Monivong Raffles Hotel Le Royal Tel: 023 981 888 Wicker armchairs and marble tables covered with crisp white tablecloths create the perfect place to relax and linger over a delightful alfresco breakfast, lunch or dinner. Western and Asian cuisines are available buffet-style or a la carte. Private rooms are available on request. Buffet from 6am - 10am, 12pm - 2.30pm, 6pm - 10pm, A la carte from 11am - 11pm.

Doors Restaurant 18, Street 47 & 84.

Tel : 023 998 114 www.doorspp.com New tapas restaurant, with live music. Open 11am until late Equinox 3a Street 278.

Tel: 023 676 7593 www.equinox-cambodia.com marco@equinox-cambodia.com anthony@equinox-cambodia.com French-run bar and restaurant.

International menu, pool tables, splitlevel bar. Art exhibitions each month and live music gigs most Saturdays.

Bachata class on Tuesdays, Salsa class on Wednesday and swing nights on Thursdays. Open daily 11am – late.

FCC Phnom Penh 363 Sisowath Quay.

Tel: 023 724 014 The first stop for newcomers and it’s easy to see why. Set in a beautiful colonial house with sumptuous views across the river on one side and the National Museum to the other, it’s best to come at sunset when the streets below are most crowded, the cocktails are half price and draft beer goes for $1. Open daily from 7am to midnight.

Fish Sisowath Quay, cnr of Street 108, Tel: 023 222 685 www.fishphnompenh.com Contemporary, modern restaurant specialising in all things oceanic.

Menu includes everything from lobster through sushi to gourmet fish and chips for upmarket, but reasonable prices.

Open 7am-late.

Flavours Corner St 51 and St 282 Tel: 017 765 896 Relaxing restaurant and popular bar run

by Quebecois with comfortable chairs that fall out onto the street. The mix of Asian and western cuisine has proved so popular that they have a copycat restaurant opposite. Open 7am - late .

FOX Wine Bistro 104 Sothearos Blvd & St. 266.

Tel.: 098 78 99 61 Casual wine-dining. For passionate food and wine lovers who want an unforgettable dining experience or even just a place to hang-out that’s unlike elsewhere in Phnom Penh.

Serving simple yet thoughtful dishes and drinks in a comfortable, hip and trendy atmosphere.

Friends the Restaurant 215 Street 13, Phnom Penh Tel: 012 802 072 Friends the Restaurant is a training restaurant run by Mith Samlanh, which has worked to build the futures of former street children and marginalised young people in Phnom Penh since 1994. Located near the National Museum, it is famous for its legendary frozen shakes and daiquiris and its delicious blend of Asian and Westernstyle tapas. Free WiFi available and a dog-friendly restaurant. Open daily from 11am – 10.30pm (kitchen closes at 9.30pm).

Gasolina 56/58 Street 57. Tel: 012 373 009 The largest garden bar in town has an extensive menu. Crèche facilities make this a popular choice with families at weekends. Has regular events with live music and DJs, even fashion shows.

Open from 8am - 12am.

Irina Russian Restaurant 22 Street 29 Tel: 012 833 524/092 833 524 www.irinacambodia.com Russian restaurant of iconic Phnom Penh status. If you can walk out of the restaurant after hitting the vodkas then you are doing well. Open daily from 11am until the vodka runs out.

Java Cafe & Gallery 56 Sihanouk Blvd. Tel: 023 987 420 www.javaarts.org Great coffees, salads, mix-and-match sandwiches and juices served in an elegant setting. The upstairs terrace, overlooking the Independence Monument, is a good place to watch the chaos below, while the downstairs

space is a great place for coffee and catching up on your emails. Has exhibitions both upstairs and down.

Open 7am - 10pm.

Jay’s Diner 69 Street 178, Tel: 023 213 930 www.the-artist-guesthouse.com Jay’s diner is offering some of New York’s best food. The decor is a twist of a classic American diner and a bistro.

Monday to Saturday 7 am - 10pm.

Sunday 7am - 4pm. Closed Sunday evening.

La Coupole Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra 26 Old August Site, Sothearos Blvd.

Tel: 023 999 200. www.sofitel.com Casual and authentic Indochinese and French cuisine with live cooking by chefs in an open kitchen concept.

Offers breakfast, lunch, dinner and the Sunday brunch, all set in a stunning restaurant with high ceilings and natural light.

La Croisette 241 Sisowath Quay. Tel: 023 220 554 Riverfront restaurant with an ample outside dining area screened off by trees that serves good, reasonablypriced food, also has a cool, air-con restaurant inside. Often arranges special events. Open 7am until late.

La Plaza Spanish Tapas Bar 22b Street 278, nr cnr Street 57 Tel: 012 825 443 Recreates to perfection the best known and most delicious Spanish tapas, making of seafood Paella its signature dish. Tapas are the result of hundreds of years of Spanish culinary history and evolution. Simple, tasty and healthy dishes have become a standard to be enjoyed with friends while drinking large amounts of sangría.

Open 11am - 2pm,5pm - 10pm. All day on the weekend.

LA ROSE Restaurant 164b Norodom Blvd.Tel: 023 211 130 / 080 900 900 www.larose. com.kh Revive your strength and restore your health with La Rose Restaurant’s healthy option menu.

Cozy ground floor restaurant with experienced chefs serving both Asian and Western cuisine.

Latin Quarter Cnr Street 178 and Street 19 Tel: 093 319 081.

Latin restaurant and bar that serves excellent tapas and mains with extra salsa. Beautiful courtyard often hosts live music and salsa dancing while the air-con restaurant is available for private hire. Open from breakfast until the music stops.

Lime Restaurant + Bar 79F Street 128 Tel: 023 998 608/ 610 info@lebizhotel.com, www.lebizhotel.com Located in Lebiz Hotel Lime serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, offering a stylish mix of Asian and western favourites with a focus on fresh, healthy and local ingredients, with regular changes to the menu.

Lotus Blanc 152 Street 51. Tel: 017 602 251 Run by local NGO Pour un Sourire d’Enfant, this centrally located training restaurant has a monthly changing lunch menu as well as a la carte

Khmer dishes. Serves both Asian and continental breakfast.

Open Monday – Saturday, 7am - 10 pm.

Meat & Drink Street 308 alleyway.

Bar and grill. A casual setting for drinks and a bite to eat. No reservations. Open Tuesday Sunday, 5pm - 11pm.

Metro Café Cnr. Sisowath Quay & Street 148 Tel: 023 222 275 Cool east-meets-west decor and a chic menu offering tapas, starters and mains, comprehensive cocktail menu, favourite among which is the Espresso Martini, Metro also offers a range of classic breakfasts and an elegant lunch spot with free wifi in an air-con and smoke-free (until 10pm) atmosphere.

Open daily 9:30am - 1am.

Mike’s Burger House Russian Blvd, inside Sokimex Petrol Station. Tel: 012 633 971 Hugely popular burger bar that serves food with plastic knives and forks and equally plastic French fries with cheese sauce. Ideal for those who believe that American culture starts with a Mc. New York Steakhouse 264 Street 63 cnr Mao Tse Tung Blvd.

Tel: 023 987 500, www.steakhouse.com.kh Indulge in a seductive dining experience in the famed Phnom Penh Steak restaurant. The innovative menu features New-York Steakhouse signature prime cuts of beef charred to perfection accompanied by decadent sides and desserts.

Open Daily from 11am-2pm and 13pm-midnight.

Ocean 11 Street 288. Tel: 017 766 690 European managed Mediterranean restaurant that dishes up some of the best fish and seafood in town.

Try the red snapper or the squid with rocket. Often has exhibitions around the understated walls.

One More Pub 16E Street 294.

Tel: 017 327 378 (see bars) Paddy Rice 213-217 Sisowath Quay.

Tel: 023990321. www.paddyrice.net (see bars) Public House Street 2401/2.

Tel: 017 770 754 Offering fresh, simple and delicious cuisine set in a modern take on a pub. Open seven days, 11.30am until late (open from 10.30am for Sat and Sun brunch).

Regency Cafe InterContinental Phnom Penh 296 Mao Tse Toung Blvd.

Tel: 023 424 888 ext. 3603 Regency Cafe features sumptuous international and Asian buffets as well as a la carte dining for the most discerning palates. Open daily 6am-10.30pm

Cafe Yejj Opposite The Russian Market

Restaurant Tell 13 Street 90.

Tel: 023 430 650 Up-market eatery that re-creates the genuine feel of an Alpine chalet, has a spacious indoor restaurant and outdoor terrace with rotisserie and

AsiaLIFE Cambodia 67

bar. European menu with imported steaks, fondue, raclette and an extensive wine list.

Open 11.30am - 2pm, 5pm - 11pm.

Rising Sun 20 Street 178.

Tel: 012 970 718 (see bars) Riverside Bistro Cnr. Sisowath Quay & Street 148 Tel: 012 277 882/ 023 213 898 Popular restaurant with expats and tourists alike mainly due to its large outdoor terrace area to view the river.

Serves a mixture of Asian and western food with an emphasis on German cuisine. Has rock music videos and a pool table in the music bar at the back. Open from 7am - 2am.

Riverhouse Asian Bistro 157 Sisowath Quay, Tel: 023 212 302 www.riverhousecambodia.com Well known as one of the oldest French colonial buildings on the riverfront with breezy views along the Tonle Sap & Mekong River. The elegant restaurant and bar offers a special beverage menu, featuring delectable cocktails, quality wines, single malts and freshly squeezed juices. Open daily from 10am - 2am Samba Brazilian Steakhouse 64 Sihanouk Blvd.

(Nr Independence Monument).

Tel: 023 222 599 Experience the unique Brazilian Churrasco way of cookingwith a large variety of meats skewered and roasted to perfection and served piping hot direct from the skewers to your plate! Open daily 11am - 3pm, 5pm - 10:30pm.

Stella Restaurant 55 Street 75 Tel: 099 574 188 / 012 735 002 A cosy restaurant located near Wat Phnom, Stella serves pizzas, grilled food and Asian cuisine in a peaceful garden atmosphere.

Steve’s Steakhouse 8 Street 240. Tel: 023 987 320 Longstanding restaurant specialising in local grain-fed beef as well as a large variety of imported steaks, hamburgers, ribs and Greek cuisine.

Has a terraced lounge with pool tables upstairs as well as a sports bar with large screen TV and happy hour from 12pm to 7pm.

Open daily 11am - 10.30pm.

Stonegrill 649 Sisovath Quay.

Tel: 023 999 950 www.stonegrill.com.kh Stonegrill offers a unique interactive dining experience where diners meals are served cooking at the table on a natural volcanic stones heated to 400C (752F).

Open daily 11am - midnight.

T-Bone Steak House 392 Monivong Boulevard & Street 360 Tel: 012 900 138 Contemporary restaurant serving a premium selection of both imported and Cambodian beef, in a sophisticated air-conditioned setting – a carnivore’s delight.

Open 10am to 10pm

68 AsiaLIFE Cambodia

Tepui Restaurant Lounge Chinese House, 45 Sisowath Quay Tel: 023 991 514/092 553 300 Located on the second floor of Chinese House, Tepui offers a mix of Mediterranean and South American small plates with Asian accents.The skilled Venezuelan chef is considered one of the city’s best culinary talents.

Open Mon to Sat, from 5pm until late.

The Exchange / The Vault 28 Street 47.

Tel: 078 886 889 Large colonial mansion contains The Vault, Phnom Penh’s first private member’s club for thoses who have $1000 to burn. Underneath, the Exchange has elegany exposed brickwork and low lighting as well as an impressive fusion menu.

Open daily, 10am - midnight.

The Quay 277 Sisowath Quay.

Tel: 023 224 894 Rooftop deck with spectacular views of the river is a great place to enjoy a drink during half price 4pm-8pm happy hour. Food is a mix of tapas and more substantial offerings, including an excellent duck confit.

Open daily 7am – 11pm.

The Lost Room 43 Street 21 Tel: 078 700 001 A hidden gem, with eclectic food in an urbane environment. This small restaurant and bar owned by the former owners of Talkin To A Stranger offers small plates of food for sharing. Using imported and local foods, the menu encompasses global foods and unique cocktail and wine listings at reasonable prices. Caring and experienced staff makes for a pleasant evening. Come find The Lost Room and ring for directions. Open from 5pm Monday to Saturday. Kitchen closes at 10pm.

Closed Sundays.

Lunch by appointment only.

The Shop 102 1B Street 102 (Inside Central Mansion) Tel.: 077 666 115 The Shop restaurant proposes a large range of fresh bread, pastries, chocolates, Western and Asian food. At night time, the atmosphere become cozier and offers a selection of fines wines and cocktails to accompany the dinner menu.

Customers have access to the nearby swimming pool, making it the perfect place for families.

The Taste Khmer Dessert & Café The Taste Khmer Desert & Café collection which appeals to your eyes and mouth you will be charmed by lovely Khmer Dessert. 9 Street 310, Phnom Penh, Tel: 023219498 / 012476012, axchoeun@yahoo.com Open daily from 7am – 9:30pm. vKirirom Pine View Kitchen Tel: 078 777 284, www.vkirirom.com The restaurant is surrounded by pine trees, located in Kirirom National Park.

Our chef’s will serve you special Khmer and western dishes, overlooking this beautiful nature. Open daily from 7am to 10pm.

Zino Wine Bar and Restaurant 12 Street 294.

Tel: 023998 519 FB: www.facebook.com/zinowinebar Zino offers a comprehensive wine list by the glass and bottle, professionally made cocktails and a constantly evolving Mediterranean and Asian menu. Open for lunch and dinner 7 days a week. Kitchen closes at 11pm.

Italian

APERITIVO Sothearos Boulevard, opposite Wat Botum (used to be Dolce Vita) Giampaolo Chiarion gchiarion@gmail.com, aperitivo.italin1@ gmail.com Aria D’Italia 41EO Street 310.

Tel: 012 840 705

Cute little Italian pizzeria tucked away between Street 57 and Street 63. Well-priced lunch set menu and homemade ravioli. Home delivery available.

Open 10.30am-2pm, 5.30pm-10pm.

Bistro Romano NagaWorld Hotel and Casino, Hun Sen Park.

Tel: 023 228 822 Best known for its sumptuous Sunday Prosecco Brunch, this stylised Italian restaurant in the NagaWorld complex specialises in Italian cuisine.

Open daily 11am - 11pm.

Cafe Monivong Raffles Hotel Le Royal. Tel: 023 981 888 Indulge in home made antipasti, fresh prepared pasta and risotto as

well as oven-baked, crispy pizzas and pair it all with the finest selection of Italian wines, every Saturday night 6pm - 10pm.

traditional way and baked in a blazing wood-fired oven.

Open daily 11:30am- 2:30pm, 6pm- 10:30pm

Caravan Restaurant and Fine Dining 68 Sihanouk Blvd., Tel: 023 966 600 Indulge in fine dining and fresh Italian food, from home-made pasta and tiramasu to American-imported lobster and prime kobe steak. A range of wines, whiskeys and cigars are also on offer.

Open daily, from 10am to 11pm.

Luna 6C Street 29. Tel 023 220 895 Stunning garden courtyard with day beds and couches as well as outdoor tables and chairs or air-conditioned interior. Excellent homemade pasta, woodfired pizza and contemporary Italian cuisine. Great selection of wine from climate controlled cellar. Now also offering brunch on weekends.

Open 11am-11pm Mon-Fri and 9am–11pm Sat & Sun.

Da Sandro 162 Street 63, near Sihanouk Blvd Tel: 010644987. www.sandropanini.com contacts@sandropanini.com Daily homemade authentic Italian sandwiches in the heart of Phnom Penh. Delicious cold cuts and cheeses directly imported from Italy and fresh baked bread. Open 7 days, 11am - 9pm.

Do Forni Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra 26 Sothearos Blvd. Tel: 023 999 200 Sophisticated Italian diner set in the grounds of the Sofitel hotel, dishes up much more than your basic pizza and pasta. Excellent range of wines, dimmed lighting and plush surroundings make this an excellent romantic meal for two option.

Open daily 6.30pm - 10pm.

Genova Italian Restaurant 19Eo Street 154.

Tel: 012 390 039 This small restaurant has the feel of an Italian trattoria with food just like mamma made. The spaghetti al pesto Genovese is its signature dish.

Good range of meat and fish dishes as well as some Khmer dishes.

Open daily 10am - midnight.

La Volpaia 20–22 Street 13.

Tel: 023 992 739 Part of a global pizzeria chain that includes Florence, Tokyo, Seoul and Phnom Penh, the cuisine is excellent with pizza and pasta cooked fresh in front of your eyes.

Limoncallo 81E0 Sisowath Quay Tel: 081 800 210 / 081 800 240 Authentic Italian cuisine with pasta, risotto and pizzas prepared in the

Pasta & Vino 45 Street 288. Tel: 086 314 400 Cosy Italian spaghetteria that specialises in well-priced authentic Italian pasta and wines in a smokeless air-con environment.

Open daily 12pm - 2pm, 6pm - 10pm.

Pop Café da Giorgio 371 Sisowath Quay. Tel: 012 562 892 Sophisticated, small Italian restaurant located next to the FCC that serves light, contemporary Italian cuisine including fresh pasta and pizzas. Delivery service now available at yourphnompenh. com last orders at 9.30pm. Open daily 11.30am - 2.30pm, 6pm - 10pm.

Terrazza 1c Street 282. Tel: 023 214 660 www.terrazza.asia Experience Italy in Phnom Penh. Fine Italinan restaurant and Deli shop. Open daily 12pm-10pm, Deli shop: 9am-9pm

Japanese & Korean

Fusion Sushi Cnr. Streets 47 & 84 Tel: 023 986 114 Located inside Cara Hotel this beautifully decorated restaurant dishes up excellent Japanese and Korean food.

Hachi Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra, 26 Sothearos Blvd. Tel: 023 999 200 ext.: 6612 A taste of Japan in a Zen atmosphere with tatami rooms and sushi bar. Open daily, 11.30am 2.30pm, 6.30pm - 10.30pm.

Kan Ji Japanese Restaurant 128f Sothearos Blvd.

Tel: 016 318 383 / 016 312 828.

AsiaLIFE Cambodia 69

imbibe Risen from the Graves Darren Gall

Graves is the region that established Bordeaux, after the Romans planted cultivated grape vines in its famous gravel soil. Graves’ wines were exported to England as early as the 12th century and Château Pape Clément, founded at the turn of the 14th century by the future Pope Clement V, was the first named chateaux in all of Bordeaux. On Apr. 10, 1633, Samuel Pepys recorded in his now famous diary drinking Haut Brion – still the region’s most famous red wine.

Today Bordeaux’s most famous wines come from the Medoc and in particular the sub-regions of Pauillac, Margaux, Saint Estephe and Saint Julien, whilst Graves is slowly being engulfed by the suburban sprawl of the city of Bordeaux itself. However, in the scheme of things this is all quite new. For much of Bordeaux’s history, Graves sat alone as the producer of great, full-bodied Bordeaux red wines, carving a reputation which others would eventually follow.

By the early 1700s, small vineyard plantings had popped up in on Bordeaux’s right bank at Saint Emillion and Pommerol.

Over ensuing decades the Dutch drained the swamp-land that is now the Medoc, and vine cultivation in the region could begin. By the time of the 1855 Classification of Bordeaux Chateaux, it was the Medoc

that dominated with four of the five first growth classifications for red wine. Graves had only one, Chateau Haut Brion.

The name Graves is derived from the area’s intensely gravelly soils. The soil is the result of Ice Age glaciers, which also left white quartz deposits that can still be found in the soils of the top winemaking estates.

Where the wines of the Medoc contain mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with small additions of the other noble red varieties of the region (Merlot, Cabernet Franc, occasionally Petit Verdot and more infrequently Malbec), the wines of Graves are typically a blend of even amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with small additions of some of the other noble varieties (usually Cabernet Franc and occasionally some Petit Verdot).

In 1987, the part of Graves containing most of the producers on the best soils, situated closest to the city Bordeaux itself, created a separate AOC under the name Pessac-Léognan. The region’s best wines are rich and powerful with a core of ripe and complex fruit showing great depth and layers. The tannins are firm and long and the wine is laced with subtle nuances of tobacco, leather, spice and earthy notes. They are typically long lived wines that need time and patience to be truly enjoyed at their best.

Darren Gall has spent a quarter of a century involved in virtually every aspect of the wine industry and the passionate pursuit of the next great bottle continues. gall.darren@yahoo.com

70 AsiaLIFE Cambodia

Kan Ji is three floors of Japanese culinary delight in a bright and modern setting. Open for lunch and dinner, it features a stylish mix of ancient and modern creative cuisine. Open daily, 11.30am – 2.30pm, 5.30pm – 10.30pm.

Le Seoul 62 Monivong Blvd. Tel: 012 971 516 Popular up-market South Korean restaurant specialising in BBQ, each table is equipped with its own charcoal burner, with all beef imported from the U.S. Open daily, 11am - 2.30pm, 5pm - 10pm.

Mr. Lee Garden Restaurant 44 Street 172, opposite Pontoon Club.

Tel: 017 384 772/010 254 162 Email: 1559835@naver.com Set around bustling street 172, Mr. Lee Garden restaurant serves international cuisine, especially Korean food, cooked

by Chef Mr. Lee. You can find various foods with affordable prices before or after the dance floor. Open daily from 7am – 11pm.

Ninja Dining & Bar 14B Street 278. Tel: 088 861 623 Traditional Japanese cuisine including sushi, ramen, BentoBox. Japanese chefs prepare authentic dishes amid a great atmosphere.

Open daily 11:30am-2:00pm, 5pm12am.

Origami 88 Sothearos Bvd. Tel: 012 968 095 Up-market, contemporary Japanese restaurant with a spacious air-con area downstairs and four private rooms upstairs. Specialises in sushi and tempura, and has Asahi, Kirin and Sapporo beers. Open daily 11.30am - 2pm, 5.30pm - 9.30pm.

Rahu 159 Sisowath Quay. Tel 023 215 179 Stunning, upscale atmosphere with a mix of modern Chinese décor, high ceilings, muted colors and rich woods.

Japanese food takes the main stage but there is also Khmer and Western fusion cooking. A good place to go late night for sushi or a bowl of congee. Open daily 5pm-2am.

Shangri-La 477 Sisowath Quay opposite Cambodiana Hotel Tel: 077 773 022, www.facebook. com/ramen.shangrila Japanese noodle bar serves the best Ramen from Hokkaido, Japan.

You can taste Japanese special soup and noodle collaboration like eating in Japan with affordable price. Open daily from 11:00am-15:00pm.

Shiro-Fukurou 37 Street 310, Tel: 077 773 022 www.facebook.com/shirofukurou Shiro-Fukurou is the special Japanese soup restaurant!

The soup made by Japanese chef, cannot be taste in any other restaurant.

Open daily from 11:00am-11:00pm.

Udon Café Green Bowl 29B Street 288. Tel: 086 426 530 Freshly made Sanuki-style udon noodles offer a real taste of Japan.

Noodles and accompanying soups and sauces from are prepared from scratch using traditional methods and fresh ingredients. Open from 11am-2.30pm and 5.30pm-9pm.

Closed every 2nd Wednesday.

Yuzu 1 Street 360. Tel: 095 600 400.

Open daily from 11am to 10pm Specialising in ramen, tempura and makisushi in chic surroundings.

Mexican & Tex-Mex

Alley Cat Café Off Street 19 (side street behind Royal Art School) Tel: 012 306 845 Small, friendly patio café serving good Mexican food and claiming to have the biggest burgers in town.

Hard to find, Alley Cat is tucked down an alley at the back of the National Museum, the first on the right if you are coming from Street 178.

California II 79 Sisowath Quay.

Tel: 077 503 144 American-style bar with some of the best Mexican food in town, the excellent pool table and great tunes make this a good place to while away a few hours on the riverfront. Open 24/7 with good rooms upstairs.

Cantina 347 Sisowath Quay.

Tel: 023 222 502 A mainstay of the riverside scene, this is a popular meeting place for local expats with a large selection of Mexican beers and tequilas, and sinfully good margaritas. Serves good Mexican fare, and features photographs that capture the changing face of Cambodia.

Kitchen open 3pm - 10:30pm.

Closed Saturdays.

Freebird 69 Street 240. Tel: 023 224 712 Aircon American bar with neon lighting, a variety of memorabilia, comfortable seats and rock music.

International menu with good lunch offers, an excellent range of bottled sauces, excellent International, Mexican food and burgers.

Be prepared for some good solid R&R. Open 7am - midnight.

Taqueria Corona 14E Street 51 (btwn Sihanouk Blvd and Street 242) Tel: 089 281 626 / 012 629 986 Enjoy our mexican specialties, barbacoa, al pastor, texas chile, carnitas, pollo and carne asoda in our festive dining room. Open daily from11.30am - 2pm, 6pm - 10pm (Sunday evenings only).

Vegetarian

K’NYAY (see restaurants Cambodian) The Vegetarian 158 Street 19 Tel: 077 900 210 / 012 905 766 With a lush garden space in the heart of Phnom Penh, The Treez provides a relaxing dining experience.

Whether it be amok, curry or tom yam, The Treez, creates vegetarian versions of popular Cambodian, Indian and Thai dishes.

Open 10:30am - 8:30pm, closed Sundays.

Vego’s 3E0 Street 51 & 21b Street 294 Tel: 012 984 596 Salad bar with an emphasis on greens and a menu of healthy western items. Also offering bagels, salads and wraps with a wide array of super fresh toppings. Choose from ready-made or d.i.y. options.

Also on offer are a vegetarian soup of the day as well as fresh-squeezed juices, yogurt and granola.

Cafés

AlexCAFE 37 Street 123 corner Street 460 Tel: 012 343 994/070 344 353 AlexCAFE provides green environment for guests to sip Cambodian coffee and taste a selection of Khmer dishes. Stay

awake & fresh at AlexCAFE with our promotion noodles and iced coffee for only $2, with free Wi-Fi.

in the kitchen Let’s Talk Fungus!

Rebecca Luria-Phillips My Sicilian heritage has me wired to default to butter, cream and/or red wine when it comes to vegetable preparation. Not that all vegetables need those seasonings to be good, but they’re definitely gateway condiments for introducing new vegetables into your diet.

When I moved to Asia, my mushrooms were no longer swimming in cream sauce.

Rather they were perking up stir fries with umami and adding textural contrast to soups and curries. Plus, none of them looked the same as the button mushrooms that I was accustomed to back home in America. I had some learnin’ to do.

Like the good food hipster I aspire to be, I decided to go foraging for mushrooms. I took my sense of adventure to Psar Thmei – Central Market – where I sought out as many mushrooms as I could find. You can read about my fungal spoils below: 1. Oyster: Grow on the sides of hardwood trees and resemble oyster shells.

They have a very mild taste and pair well with seafood.

I breaded them, fried them and told my kids they were chicken nuggets.

2. Eryngii: Also known as King Trumpet or King Oyster due to their beastly size and long shelf life. Unlike most mushrooms, all the 1

6

flavour is in the thick stem. I roasted them with olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic and dried rosemary and served it as a piece of meat (kids not fooled).

3. Dried Wood Ear: After rehydration, these mushrooms are soft and leathery. They don’t offer much in the way of flavour, mostly just chewy, jelly-like texture. A friend cooked these with mung beans and turned them into a sweet.

4. Shimeji: The white and brown-tipped varieties also go by the name of clamshell mushrooms. They are not to be eaten raw, but when cooked they have a mild nutty flavour.

Sauté a handful in butter, well spaced in the pan, to make a crunchy topping for salads.

5. Dried Shiitake: Available fresh at the supermarket, but dried they will last forever.

With a smoky flavour, the inedible stems are great for making mushroom broth.

I paired the Shiitake tops with the straw mushrooms to make mushroom bourguignon. Sublime.

6. Straw: Grown in the rice straw of paddy fields, these are commonly found in Khmer curries. They do not travel well, have a short shelf life and work well in a braised dish.

7. Enoki: Wiry, mild and fruity, these can be eaten raw. Use them for salad or fresh spring rolls.

2

7

3 4

5

Rebecca Luria-Phillips is writer and editor of the food website realfoodcambodia.com which is about building connection to the foods we eat in Cambodia. Questions and comments can be sent to beccaluria@gmail.com

72 AsiaLIFE Cambodia

Art Café 37 Sothearos Blvd.

Tel: 012 834 517 Elegant bistro in the style of a European coffee house is now transposed to the Meta House with regular classical music performances.

Artease Street 310 (between 51 & 57) Ms. Bo, Manager Tel: 012 886 615 Blue Pumpkin 245 Sisowath Quay and at Monument Books on Norodom Blvd Tel: 023 998 153 Siem Reap’s favourite café also offers multiple locations in Phnom Penh, serving breakfast sets, Asian and Western entrées and an array of ice cream flavours in air-conditioned comfort. Open daily from 6am - 11pm.

Brown Coffee & Bakery 17 Street 214, and other locations throughout they city.

Tel: 023 217 262 Stylish, locally owned café with bakery on the premises serves a variety of coffees and pastries, with the green tea latte a house speciality. Open 7.30am - 8pm.

Café El Mundo 219 Sisowath Quay. Tel: 012 520 775 Affordable and stylish riverside café and restaurant with adjacent apartments for short-term hire. Seating available on the mezzanine lounge, groundfloor restaurant and on the streetside terrace. Open 6.30am - 10.30pm.

Café Le Point Tel: 012 927 643 yococh@mac.com Enjoy the cosy and relaxed atmosphere under a big mango tree.

Located near KFC on Norodom Bvd, next to La Clef de Sol shop. Healthy, natural and delicious. Open Mon Sat, from 7am to 9pm.

Café Yejj 170 Street 450, Tel: 012 543 360 / 092 600 750 Quiet, cosy café serving bistro-style western cuisine, with extensive range of coffees, pasta dishes, pannini and wraps and fabulous cheesecake making this an ideal spot to escape the bustle of the nearby Russian Market.

Open every day from 7am - 9pm.

Coffee Room 385 Street 215. Tel: 098 518 888 The first coffee house in Phnom Penh to have an electronic menu, at the Coffee Room you simply tap in your order and wait for your order to arrive. Serves coffees, juices.

Pastries and breakfast.

Open daily from 7.30am - 6pm.

Cross Town Café 193 Street 29. Tel: 017665204 Japanese-owned restaurant with welcoming wooden interior. which spreads from floor to bar. A recently opened venue serving traditional Japanese cuisine with an added twist, the restaurant aims to add new dishes to its menu every week. Open daily from 11am - 10pm.

www.daughtersofcambodia.org The cafe, called Sugar ‘n Spice, serves light lunches, a few main courses, home baked goods, desserts, coffee and some original smoothies. The cafe is a place for vocational training, where trainees will train and then have the opportunity to graduate into working in top end restaurants and hotels. Value for money. Free Wifi. There’s also a shop selling clothing, accessories and jewellery made on site. Or relax in the spa which offers head, shoulder, face and foot treatments.

Gloria Jean’s Corner of Street 51 & Street 310, Tel : 092 404 365 Sisowath Quay along Phnom Penh Port, Tel: 092 555 973 Canadia Tower Monivong Blvd., Tel: 092 555 937 Popular cafe serving hot and cold drinks and snacks.

Java Café & Gallery 56 Sihanouk Blvd. Tel: 023 987 420 (see restaurants, international) Kiriya Café No.174, St.51 Cnr St.370 Tel: 016 363 730.

This Japanese café chain offers good locally sourced coffee, delicious desserts and a relaxing atmosphere.

Open daily 6am - 2am.

Café Tin Tin Tango A cosy restaurant located in the Toul Kork area Serves Asian and Western food including bakery and apartment services. Open daily from 6:30am – 10:00pm. 38 Street 592, Toul Kork Tel: 023 982 109 / 012 808 816 The Deli 13 Street 178. Tel: 012 851 234 Chic delicatessen, bakery and small restaurant serving excellent bread and pastries, with take-away menu. Open from 7am to 9pm (closed Sundays).

The Shop 39 Street 240, Tel: 092 955 963 / 023 986 964 Stylish café, with a wide range of fresh bread, tempting patisseries and juices, excellent salads and sandwiches.

Crowded at lunchtime, but the small, cool courtyard at the back creates a perfect haven from the sun. Has a Chocolate Shop three doors along, and a second outlet in Tuol Kork. Open 7am to 7pm (Mon. to Sat, 7am to 3pm Sun.)

Bars

Apros Pub 21Eo Street 322 (between 51 & 57) Mr. Sothea Tel: 097 6085 050 Aristocrat Cigar Bar NagaWorld Hotel and Casino, Hun Sen Park. Tel: 023 228 822 Club aimed at attracting wealthy expats and Khmers who like a good cigar and glass of wine. Not as stuffy as you might imagine with cigars from $10. Open daily from noon to midnight.

AQVARIVM Bar 23 Street 55 Corner Street 254, Tel: 077 536 342 Drop by for Happy Hour drinks and nibbles from 5:00-9:00 PM. Available for special occasion and group discounts. AQVARIVM: Drink like a fish!

Cupcake Rush 23A Street 57/ 306. Tel: 087 696 988.Open daily from 8am to 8pm.

Sweet treats galore at this cute, specialist cupcake shop.

Bar.sito Street 2401/2. Tel: 077 960 413 Cocktail bar, serving especially designed cocktails, ice-cold beers, red and white wines, champagnes and spirits. Open seven days, 5pm until late.

Daughters of Cambodia 65E0 Street 178.

Tel: 077 657 678

Cadillac Bar and Grill 219 E0 Sisowath Quay.

Tel: 011 713 567

Riverfront air-con bar and restaurant.

Has good American cuisine as well as a riverfront vantage.

California II 79 Sisowath Quay.

Tel: 077 503 144 (see Mexican & Tex-Mex restaurants) Cantina 347 Sisowath Quay. Tel: 023 222 502 (see Mexican & Tex-Mex restaurants) Chez Rina Cocktail Lounge 6 Street 98, Round the corner of Brown’s Riverside Tel: 017 259 955 Phnom Penh’s coolest lounge in a beautifully restored 1890s space in the historic old French Quarter around the Post Office. The focus is on cocktails and conversation hosted by the lovely Chanrina. Open Monday - Saturday 5pm - 12pm.

Chow 277 Sisowath Quay.

Tel: 023 224 894 Contemporary and sophisticated riverfront restaurant that serves Southeast Asian cuisine, a wide range of cocktails, juices and Illy coffee. The rooftop deck with spectacular views of the river is a great place to have a drink during its half-price 4pm to 8pm happy hour. Open daily from 7am to 11pm.

Elephant Bar Raffles Hotel Le Royal, Street 92 Tel: 023 981 888 Flamboyant carpet, comfortable wicker chairs and hotel pianist provide a sense of a time gone by, you can imagine Jackie Kennedy drinking here. Its many signature cocktails, including the femme fatale make this a popular place with expats especially during the two-for-one happy hours (4pm to 8pm). Open 2pm to midnight from Monday to Friday. Saturday and Sunday from 12pm to midnight.

Elephant Sky Bar 134Z 7th & 8th Floor Patio Hotel Street 51 (on the corner St. 288) Tel: 023 997 900/Ext. 701 www.patio-hotel.com Elephant Sky Bar has set up on the roof top of Patio Hotel with a sky pool where you can see a fabulous view of the town. It is perfect for business talks and relaxation during lunch or after work.

Open daily for breakfast, lunch & dinner from 6.30am – 11pm.

Equinox 3A Street 278, Tel: 012 586 139 / 092 791 958 (see Restaurants, International) FCC 363 Sisowath Quay.

Tel: 023 724 014 (see Restaurants, International) Freebird 69 Street 240.

Tel: 023 224 712 (see Mexican & Tex-Mex restaurants) Howie’s Bar 32 Street 51 Air-conditioned and open until very very late, this is the Heart’s unofficial chill-out bar although the sound system could give its neighbour a run for its money. Tends to be a popular late night hang-out, especially around the ‘mini’ pool table. Open 7pm to 6am.

K West 1 Street 154 (Cnr. Sisowath Quay), Tel: 023 214 747 (see Restaurants, French) Le Bar Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra, 26 Sothearos Blvd.

Tel: 023 999 200

A modern colonial style lobby bar with a fine selection of comfort food, tapas, champagnes, wines, premium spirits and large selection of coffees and teas.

Le Moon Cnr of Sisowath Quay and Street 154 Tel: 023 214 747 Rooftop terrace bar at Amanjaya Hotel has arguably the view of the river of any of the city’s rooftop bars. Full bar and small food menu, while the service is slow enough to afford you sufficient time to soak up the view.

Liquid 3B Street 278.

Tel: 023 720 157 Welcoming open air bar on golden street run by the same owner as Flavours. Has one of the best pool tables in town with happy hour from 5pm to 8pm.

Lobby Lounge 296 Mao Tse Tung Blvd (InterContinental Hotel) Tel: 023 424 888 An elegant lounge situated in the lobby of the Intercontinental Hotel. Reasonable prices and excellent service.

Open daily from 10am – 11:30pm.

Meta House 37 Sothearos Blvd, opposite Phnom Penh Centre Tel: 023 218 987/010 312 333 www.meta-house.com Multi-media arts centre established by German film-maker Nico Mesterham has a very cool bar. Open from 2pm till midnight. Closed Mondays.

Metro Café Cnr. Sisowath Quay & Street 148 Tel: 023 222 275 (see Restaurants International) One More Pub 16E Street 294.

Tel: 017 327 378 English-style bar with comfortable wooden bar stools. No hip hop or techno, only great classic 60s & 70s music. Has terracotta-tiled terrace and 3 guest rooms upstairs.

Open from 5pm to late, happy hour from 5pm to 7pm. Closed Sundays.

Paddy Rice 213-217 Sisowath Quay Tel: 023990321 www.paddyrice.net Irish sports bar on riverside with big screen live sports, serves home cooked western and Asian favourites alongside a fully stocked bar including Guinness and a fine selection Irish whiskeys with daily happy hour from 4pm to 8pm. Often has live music events and a weekly pub quiz. Open 7.30am to late.

Rising Sun 20 Street 178.

Tel: 012 970 718 English-style pub with reliable breakfast, meat pies and hamburgers.

Has a regular following around the bar at night especially on Fridays.

Great posters of British films and TV classics adorn the walls. Ideal for that touch of nostalgia and good fish and chips – though not wrapped in a newspaper. Open daily from 7am till late.

Riverside Bistro Cnr. Sisowath Quay & Street 148, Tel: 012 277 882 / 023 213 898 (see Restaurants International) Seibur Street 308.

Tel: 092 839 440 Aperitif room.

Open seven days, from 5pm to 11pm.

AsiaLIFE Cambodia 73

Sharky Bar 126 Street 130.

Tel: 012 228 045 , www.sharkybar.blogspot.com Countless pool tables and a large balcony to look out over the street. Guaranteed to be lively – a place where anything can happen, especially if you get a bit too close to the local clientele. Serves good Mexican food, and has frequent live music.

Open 4pm to 2am, take away 5pm til late.

The Chinese House 128 Sothearos Blvd.

Tel: 023 356 399 Decadent cocktail bar set in beautiful old Chinese house. Has art exhibitions, film nights and parties down stairs and opulence upstairs. Open from 6pm until late, closed on Tuesdays.

The Tap Room Kingdom Breweries 1748 National Road 5.

Tel: 023 430 180 www.kingdombreweries.com Sate of the art European brewery specialising in premium pilsner.

Tours of the facility are organised on a regular basis, culminating in frothy cold ones at the brewery’s bar overlooking the Tonle Sap. Zeppelin Bar 109C Street 51.

Tel: 012 881 181 Over 1,000 vinyl albums played by stone-faced DJ owner in small bar next to the infamous Walkabout.

Remarkably good food considering the setting, especially late at night. Try the dumplings. Open daily 5pm - 4am.

Wine Bars

Bouchon Wine Bar 3-4 Street 246.

Tel: 077 881 103 Sophisticated wine bar with a very French ambience and a wide range of French wines and bar food. Often has music as well as a mellow jazz sound track. Open noon until midnight.

Open Wine 219 Street 19.

Tel: 023 233 527 Large wine shop and deli with wellpriced wines from around the world.

Has outside dining area.

Open daily 7am - 11pm.

Zino Wine Bar and Restaurant 12 Street 294.

Tel: 023998 519 FB: www.facebook.com/zinowinebar Zino offers a comprehensive wine list by the glass and bottle, professionally made cocktails and a constantly evolving Mediterranean and Asian menu. Open for lunch and dinner 7 days a week. Kitchen closes at 11pm.

Gay-Friendly

Arthur & Paul Males Bar and Spa 27 Street 71, BKKI Tel. 023 212 814/077 892 256, www.arthurandpaul.com The first gay (men-only) Spa-BoutiqueHotel-Restaurant-Bar in Phnom Penhl. For everyone who would like to relax after a harassing day of work or intensive visiting, the steam baths and sensual showers are at your disposal.

Ease muscle tension, chat, have a Jacuzzi or just relax in one of the private rooms. After using our facilities or swimming, you can enjoy a drink in the bar or just relax in the restaurant and lounge or around the pool.

Blue Chilli 36 Street 178.

Tel: 012 566 353 www.bluechillibar.com This welcoming bar run by Thai national Oak is currently the number one gay bar in town. Chic décor makes this one of

74 AsiaLIFE Cambodia

the coolest bars in town, even if you’re straight. The drag shows on Friday and Saturday are an additional draw. Open 5pm until late.

The Rainbow Bar 73 Street 172.

Tel: 097 741 4187 Intimate bar designed to get to know people better has a range of welldesigned cocktails to make the night go with a swing.

Nightclubs

Bouchon Wine Bar (see Wine Bars) Occasional performances by jazz bands.

CodeRED

By Koh Pich Bridge, opposite Naga World.

Tel: 017 800 642 Launched by veterans of PP clubland, CodeRED aims to bring high calibre DJs to Cambodia as well as support the best of local talent.

Darlin Darlin NagaWorld Hotel and Casino, Hun Sen Park.

Tel: 023 228 822 Top-end nightclub with live music popular among the high-flyers of the city. Semi-private booths in a chic environment make for an unrivalled experience. Open daily from 7pm until late.

Heart of Darkness 38 Street 51.

Tel: 023 222 415 One of the most famous of the city’s nightspots with a good-sized dance floor make this the in-place in town.

Has well priced spirits and mixers and is totally packed out on Friday and Saturday nights. Open 8:30pm to 4am.

Memphis 3 Street 118.

Tel: 012 871 263 Only permanent rock venue in town with a house band that plays covers from 10pm til 1:30am, later at weekends.

Also has open mike sessions on Mondays.

Open from 8pm til late, closed Sundays.

2-for-1 cocktails everday from 8pm until 10pm.

Nomads Club 46-48, St 172 Khan Daun Penh (opposite Pontoon) PP Facebook: www.facebook.com/ Nomadclub Nova 19 St 214.

Tel: 097 716 5000 Trendy night club with VIP section and dress code (no flup flops, tank tops or shorts!). Open 9pm-4am.

Pontoon Street 172.

Now no longer the Penh’s floating hotspot, Pontoon still manages to pack in the punters, especially when international DJs are in town.

Riverhouse Lounge 157 Sisowath Quay.

Tel: 012 299 161 The Riverhouse Lounge is a place for party lovers. Live DJ music every night of the week, theme parties and events will fill your calendar’s nightlife.

Operation Time: 4pm - 2am Saint Tropez 31 Street 174 Tel: 077 212 100 / 097 9000 401 Upscale club, complete with fake beach, deck bar, that suggests the French Riviera.

Open daily 6pm - 2am.

LISTINGS

Carnets d’Asie offers a selection of French books.

Java Café & Gallery (see Restaurants, International) Contemporary art gallery with regular exhibitions of Cambodian and international artists. Has second gallery on the ground floor. Website has details about Cambodia’s contemporary art scene.

culture Cinemas

The Flicks 39B Street 95. Tel: 078 809 429, theflicks-cambodia.com Local expat oriented movie houses with revolving schedule of international and art house films, screened in comfy air con movie rooms. Also offers potential for movie parties, with option to hire the movie room for a private session (max 30 people). Minimum two screenings per day. Check the website for the weekly schedule. Cover charge $ 3.50 per day.

The Cineplex 5th Floor Sorya Shopping Centre, Tel: 017 666 210 www.thecineplexs.com International-standard three-screen cineplex featuring the latest Digital 3D technology and the most recent Hollywood and international releases, located in the heart of downtown with ample parking, shopping and eating options. Open 9am - 10:30pm.

Le Cinema French Institute, 218 Street 184 Tel: 023 213 124. 100-seat cinema shows International art house and mainstream movies with occasional films in English. Children’s cinema on Saturday mornings at 10am. Cinema on Saturday mornings at 10am.

Legend Cinema 3rd Floor City Mall, Monireth Blvd.

Tel: 088 954 9857 www.legendcinemas.com International quality cinema showing Hollywood releases in air-conditioned environment including 3D. Screenings:10am - 9pm, box office: 10am - 9pm.

Meta House 37 Sothearos Blvd., (opp. Phnom Penh centre). Tel: 012 607 465 Movie shorts and documentaries from Cambodia and the rest of Asia. Movies normally start at 7pm, closed Mondays.

Galleries

Meta House 37 Sothearos Blvd.

Tel: 012 607 465 Multimedia arts centre on three floors has regular exhibitions, interviews with filmmakers and short films, contains the Art Café. Open Tues – Sun, 2pm - 10pm.

Reyum Institute of Arts & Culture 47 Street 178. Tel: 023 217 149 Gallery with regular exhibitions of Cambodian artists. Part of an NGO established to preserve traditional and contemporary Cambodian arts.

Romeet 34E Street 178. Tel: 092 953 567.

Romeet is a dynamic space for Cambodian contemporary art, presenting exhibitions, talks, workshops, local collaborations and international exchanges. The galllery was founed by Phare Ponleu Selpak in 2011.

Open Tues - Sat, 10am to 12pm and 1pm to 6pm, and 2pm to 6pm on Sundays.

Sa Sa Bassac 18 Sothearos Boulevard, Upstairs.

An expansion of the Sa Sa Art Gallery and a merger with Bassac Art Projects, Sa Sa Bassac is an artist-run gallery for contemporary art. Includes a library, reading and workshop room, and a 60-metre gallery space. Ongoing visual literacy programmes.

Performing Arts

Amrita Performing Arts 128-G9 Sothearos Blvd. Tel: 023 220 424 www.amritaperformingarts.org Performance art company that puts on contemporary & classical music and theatre.

Apsara Arts Association 71 Street 598. Tel: 011 550 302 Organisation that promotes Cambodian arts & culture.

Open from 7.30am - 10.30am Cambodian Living Arts 128-G9 Sothearos Blvd. Tel: 023 986 032. www.cambodianlivingarts.org A non-profit arts organisation devoted to the revival and transmission of traditional Khmer performing arts that puts on performances and provides tours.

Bophana Audiovisual Resource Centre 64 Street 200. Tel: 023 992 174 Preserving much of Cambodia’s audiovisual material, has regular exhibitions. Open 8am-6pm Mon - Fri, 2pm-6pm Sat.

Chaktomuk Conference Hall Sisowath Quay. Tel: 023 725 119 Designed by master Cambodian architect Vann Molyvann, this under-utilised building is worth a visit. Open 7am - 11.30am and 2pm - 5pm (Mon. to Fri.).

Dori Thy Gallery 12R Street 256. Tel: 012 661 552 Features the black and white photographs of German photographer, Doris Boettcher. Open Saturday and Sunday 10am-6pm.

Chenla Theatre Cnr. Mao Tse Tung & Monireth Blvds.

Tel: 023 883 050 www.culturalcenter-cambodia.com One of the capital’s major theatres, it has regular performances of theatre, dance and music.

FCC Phnom Penh (see Restaurants, International) Phnom Penh’s landmark restaurant has a permanent, rotating exhibition devoted to photography.

French Institute 218 Street 184. Tel: 023 213 124 Formerly the Alliance Française, the French Culture Centre (CCF) offers cultural activities including exhibitions, festivals, and film screenings to promote French and Khmer culture. Onsite shop

Epic Arts 1DE0 Sothearos Blvd. Tel: 023 998 474 www.epicarts.org.uk Organisation that uses art to empower people with disabilities.

Sovanna Phum Khmer Art Association 166 Street 99 corner of 484 Tel: 023 987 564 Theatre with performances of shadow puppetry, classical and masked dances every Friday and Saturday at 7.30pm.

LISTINGS

leisure & wellness Amusement

Cambodian Country Club Street 2004, Group 6 Toeuk Thla Tel: 012 231 755 A peaceful heaven providing tennis, swimming, badminton, fitness centre and horse riding, 15 minutes away from the city. Open from 6.30am until late.

Living Arts Experiences 128-G9 Sothearos Blvd.

Tel: 018 998 570 Email: events@cambodianlivingarts.org Visit local dance, theatre and musical rehearsals of the traditional Khmer arts through Cambodian Living Arts’ Observation Tours. Available in Siem Ream, Phnom Penh & Kampong Speu call for times and to book in advance.

Parkway Square 113 Mao Tse Tung Blvd.

Ten-pin bowling alley and dodgem track.

Phnom Penh Water Park 50 Street 110, Tel: 023 881 008 Traditional mix of slides and wave pools is open daily from 9.30am to 5.30pm.

Phnom Tamao Wildlife Park Phnom Tamao, 44 kilometres out of the capital along Highway 2.

Cambodia’s top wildlife centre. All animals are either rescued from traders or bred at the centre. Many of the animals are critically endangered. Open daily 8am - 4pm.

Boat Cruises

The Butterfly Cambodia Tel: 012 602 955 thebutterflycambodia@gmail.com Cambodian river adventures, sunset cruises, birthdays and events to floating villages, Silk Island. Plan your trip, per hour, half-day and full-day rates available.

Classes

At La Table Khmère cooking class 11E Street 278, Tel: 012 238 068 www.phnompenh-cooking-class.com For all those wanting to learn how to prepare traditional Khmer specialties from scratch in a clean and airconditioned setting. Morning classes include a visit to the local market. Open daily, classes start at 9am and 3pm.

Cambodian Cooking Class Frizz Restaurant, 67 Street 240 Tel: 012 524 801 First and only Khmer cooking school for travellers & expats in Phnom Penh, includes transport to the market and a colourful 16-page recipe booklet. Open 10am - 10pm.

Capoeira Home of English, Building D 10B Street 57, Tel: 012 960 076 Capoeira lessons are held every Tuesday & Thursday 6.30-8pm. All levels catered for. Classes are free of charge. For more information visit Facebook page “Capoeira Kampuchea”.

Central School of

Ballet Phnom Penh 10 Street 183 (entrance on Street 406) www.centralschoolofballet.com Cambodia’s first purpose-built ballet school offering classical ballet training for children in the afternoons, contemporary dance, ballet and dance conditioning for adults in the evenings. Spacious dance studio equipped with large, custom-made mirrors, barres and a professional, sprung dance floor.

sos

Equestrian Centre CCC, Street 2004, Group 6 Toeuk Thla Tel: 015 231 755 / 012 704 759 With 31 ponies and horses, an international sized arena and spacious stables, the only horseriding centre in Phnom Penh Tuesdays to Sundays, 9am to 11am and 2pm to 5.30pm.

Global Art 1 Street 181 & Street 475 (nr Chinese Embassy) Tel: 023 222 084/ 087 222 084 World renowned art and creativity program for young children. Franchisee of Global Art Group. Available in 17 countries with more than 400 centres worldwide.

Music Arts School 9A Street 370. Tel: 023 997 290 www.music-arts-school.org New NGO school providing music training for Cambodians and expats - of all ages and levels - at affordable tuition fees. Learn guitar, piano, violin, vocals, and tradtional Khmer instruments. Also has a scholarship fund to provide music education to the less fortunate.

NataRaj Yoga Studio 52 Street 302, Tel: 012 250 817 / 090 311 341 www.yogacambodia.com, Welcome everyone to the peaceful yoga studio.

Wide variety of daily drop-in yoga classes & monthly workshops in many styles with international qualified teachers. Your yoga class contributes to our NGO yoga programs for local kids. Stretch your body while feeling great about reaching out to Cambodian youth.

Photography Tours 126 Street 136. Tel: 092 526 706 www.nathanhortonphotography.com Photography tuition and guided tours to Kampong Chnang and Udong, covering technical and creative considerations in the context of travel photography.

Scuba Nation PADI 5* IDC Diving Centre 18 Sothearos Blvd (near FCC) Tel: 012 715 785 www.divecambodia.com Learn to scuba dive in Phnom Penh. The academic and pool part of the course can be done in Phnom Penh and you finish with 2 days in Sihanoukville on the boat.

We conduct refreshers, try dives and kids’ pool parties as well as the full range of courses. Open 9am-6pm, Sat & Sun 9am-5pm.

Simphony Music School No. 243, Street 51.

Tel: 023 727 345 / 097 888 8787. www. simphony.com.kh Simphony Music School is the first official music school in Cambodia recognized by the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, Royal government of Cambodia. The faculty is composed by experienced and qualified music teachers from overseas, speaking fluent English, Chinese, and French. Our curriculum is based on USA curriculum following Orff and Kodály music teaching methods.

The Tennis Club CCC, Street 2004, Group 6 Toeuk Thla.

Tel: 017 847 802 The two courts are equipped with specially adapted flooring unique in Cambodia, and with quality lightning allowing play past sunset.

Skilled English and Cambodian speaking

Nosebleeds Dr Lucy Haurisa When to see a doctor? If your nosebleed is rather heavy or doesn’t stop by itself within 20 to 30 minutes, you urgently need to see the A&E, your GP or preferably an ENT (ear, nose and throat) specialist if available. It’s the same if the bleed is light but has frequent symptoms (weekly, for instance). In patients who have high blood pressure or are on blood-thinning medications like Aspirin, Warfarin or Heparin, nosebleeds can occur more often and last longer. For your safety it’s important to come with a tuk-tuk or car. The benefit of being in the company of a friend or family member cannot be underestimated, as you may suddenly experience a collapse due to excessive blood loss or due to the psychological impact of the sight of blood.

What causes them? The inside of your nose is full of small blood vessels that can rupture through minor injuries caused by picking or blowing your nose. This happens more easily when the nasal lining has been dry. Cracks in the nasal mucosa lining may be caused by a nose infection, cold/dry weather, the use of air-conditioning and the longterm application of steroid nasal sprays. In very rare cases a nasal/nasopharyngeal tumour can be an underlying factor. Increasing nasal obstruction and smear bleeds are further warning signs.

Nasopharyngeal cancers are particularly prevalent in

Asian populations and always need specialist attention.

Treatment: First aid measures include pinching the nose just above your nostrils for about 10 minutes, and leaning forward and breathing through your mouth so that blood can exit through the mouth. In a clinic, cauterisation can seal the bleeding mucosa area via two techniques performed with local anesthetics. Chemical cauterisation is achieved with a silver nitrate stick held on the bleeding area, while electric cauterisation seals the mucosa by using a low level of heat. If these options fail, the nose will be packed with gauze or a nasal sponge with local anesthetic.Your doctor will advise on the duration of treatment or any further investigations. For instance, if the cause was uncontrolled high blood pressure or an obscure bleeding point which needs a specialist exam.

Prevention: Things you can do to prevent nosebleeds include making sure your nose stays moist. Your doctor may advise how to achieve this with certain saline nasal sprays and moisturising ointments. Avoid injuries to your nose: blow it gently and avoid external injuries, as in contact sports such as boxing, hockey or rugby. Wear head-gear instead. Try not to remove the crust that forms after a bleed, as it will fall off by itself. It serves as natural plaster and will prevent further nosebleeds.

Dr Lucy Haurisa is a certified ENT (ear, nose and throat) practitioner and holds a Master Degree of Public Health. She has practiced in Germany, the UK and Cambodia.

AsiaLIFE Cambodia 75

teachers available for private or group lessons. Open daily.

Yoga for life 126 Street 19. Tel: 077589458 Learn to release stress and tension, find peace and live a healthy life with yoga classes taught by yoga and massage virtuoso, Azmi Samdjaga from Singapore.

Classes every Wednesday from 7:30pm witht more classes starting late June 2012.

Healthy food and Wifi are also available.

Yoga Phnom Penh 39 Street 21 www.yogaphnompenh.com Daily drop-in classes for all levels with experienced, qualified international teachers. Classes include Ashtanga yoga, Vinyasa Flow Yoga, Fly Yoga, Fly Fit and Classical yoga. Regular workshops and Bliss weekend also offered.

Chemists

U-Care Pharmacy 26-28 Sothearos Blvd.

Tel 023 222 499; 39 Sihanouk Blvd.

Tel 023 224 099; 41-43 Norodom Blvd. Tel 023 224 299; 844 Kampuchea krom Blvd. Tel 023 884 004; 207-209 Sisowath Quay. Tel 023 223 499; 194 Tro Sork P’em. Tel 023 224 399. www.ucarepharma.com Provide international cosmetic brands, leading imported health & beauty products, only certified medication.

Professional advice and convenient and strategic locations.

Open daily from 8am to 10pm.

Counselling Services

Alcoholics Anonymous 11 Street 420. Tel: 012 813 731 www.aacambodia.org Meets on Friday, Wednesday & Sunday.

Indigo Psychological Services 28 Street 460. Tel: 023 222 614, indigocambodia@gmail.com Professional counselling services in English, French or Khmer for adults, adolescents, children, couples, and families. Assessment and intervention services for children and adolescents with learning and developmental difficulties.

Narcotics Anonymous 11 Street 420. Tel: 012 813 731 NA meets on Monday, Thursday at 8pm and Saturday at 7pm.

Dental

European Dental Clinic 160A, Norodom Blvd.

Tel: 023 211 363 www.europeandentalclinic-asia.com Total dental care, Implant, Orthodontist Treatment by expat dentists. Open Mon Fri 8am-12pm, 2pm-7pm. Sat, 8am-1pm International Dental Clinic Phnom Penh: 193 Street 208.

Tel 023 212 909 Siem Reap: 545 National Road N6, Banteay Chas, Stor Kram. Tel: 063 767 618 www.imiclinic.com IMI Dental Cosmetic and Restorative Dentistry Centre has been successfully creating beautiful smiles in Phnom Penh and throughout Cambodia. Open Mon– Sat, 8am-7pm, Sun 9am-12pm.

MALIS dental clinic 445 Monivong Blvd.

Tel: 012 513 222 / 023 964 142 info@malis-dental.com Facebook: “MALIS Dental Clinic” A Japanese dentist provides professional and high-quality service.

Shigeta Dental Clinic 25 Street 294 cnr Street21 Tel: 023 223 225 / 010705083

Email: info@shigetadental.com Faebook: shigetadentalclinic www.shigedental.com High-end Japanese Dental Clinic that caters your dental needs. Open from Monday to Sunday, 8am - 8pm.

Gyms

The InterContinental Fitness Center 3/F Mao Tse Toung Boulevard, Tel: 023 424 888 ext. 5000 A sophisticated retreat from the crowds, The InterContinental Fitness Center is the place to attain peak performance and wellbeing. Pump up with a full body workout on state-ofthe-art equipment, benefit from the experience and guidance of qualified trainers, and relax all year round in the open-air swimming pool.

Fitness Centre CCC, Street 2004, Group 6 Toeuk Thla. Tel: 015 704 759 Achieve individual targets whether sports specific or to tone, lose weight, build strength or improve cardiovascular fitness for a healthier and fitter lifestyle.

Open daily 6.30am until late.

Raffles Amrita Spa Raffles Le Royal Hotel. Tel: 023 981 888 Modern gym and pool in Phnom Penh’s most elegant hotel. Use of gym, pool, sauna and Jacuzzi is available to nonguests. Open 6am - 10pm.

Physique Club Hotel Cambodiana, 313 Sisowath Quay.

Tel: 012 810 432 Reasonable selection of equipment in the gym and a pool overlooking the river. Open 6am - 10pm.

The Gym at The Place 90 Sihanouk Blvd. Tel: 023 999 699 Modern establishment featuring a fully equipped gym and weekly classes in dance, yoga and aerobics.

Open 6am - 10pm , Mon – Fri, 8am 10pm Sat/Sun

Hairdressers

De Gran 19 Street 352. Tel: 023 999 707 Classy yet affordable Japanese-run hair salon in beautiful premises with excellent service.

Open 10am – 8pm, closed Tues The Dollhouse 46AE0 Street 322 Tel: 010 329 999 / 016 620 907 www.dollhousecambodia.com Salon offers cutting, colouring and various treatments, including the Brazilian Keratin Treatment with Collagen to replenish the condition of your hair.

Western hairdresser with international experience. Open Tues – Sat 9am- 7pm, Sun 11am-7pm, closed Monday.

76 AsiaLIFE Cambodia

The French Element Himawari Hotel Unit D, 313 Sisowath Quay. Tel: 077 283 332 www.thefrenchelement.com Over-looking the Tonle Sap, wonderful spot to relax and pamper yourself. Offering all hair services such as highlights, colour, cut, Brazilian Keratin Treatment and more.

International hairdresser. Open 10am 8pm, closed Sun. Tokyo Barbershop 22A St 278.

Tel: 012 590 655 / 087 667 778 tokyo_barbershop@yahoo.com Man centric barbershop conveniently located behind Lucky supermarket.

Provides hair-cuts, shampoos, colours, manicures, pedicures, facial massage, oil body massages, back waxing.

Open daily 8am - 7:00pm.

Toni & Guy Aeon Mall first floor, Tel 023 901 190, Facebook toniandguycambodia Toni & Guy Cambodia will bring 50 years of hair fashion heritage to Phnom Penh.

Originally from UK, there are now over 400 salons worldwide. Specialist stylists for cuts and colourists to give the colour you want from the UK and Japan. Uses Label M products. Open every day from 10am until 8pm.

Medical

American Medical Centre Ground Floor Cambodiana Hotel 313 Sisowath Quay. Tel: 023 991 863 Led by American surgeon, team of international and Khmer doctors provide general practice services to clients. Can arrange emergency evacuation. 24/7 service.

International Chiropractic Clinic, 67 Bis Street 240, (100m from Monivong Blvd). Tel: 023 223 101 www.cambodiachiropractic.com First and only Chiropractic clinic licensed in Cambodia. Our chiropractors are US trained and we provide modern Chiropractic care, physiotherapy and custom made medical grade orthotics.

Open Mon - Fri 8.30am-6pm , Sat 8.30am-1pm.

International SOS Medical Clinic 161 Street 51. Tel: 023 216 911 Global provider of medical assistance and international healthcare. Expat and Khmer doctors offer general practice, specialist and emergency medical services.

Appointments 8am - 5:30pm Mon – Fri, 8am - 12pm, Sat. Open 24/7 for emergencies.

Physiotherapy Phnom Penh 45C Street 456. Tel: 023 99 63 44 General physiotherapy practice specialising in manual therapy, sports injuries and acupuncture.

Royal Rattanak Hospital 11 Street 592, Toul Kork Tel. 023 991 000 www.royalrattanakhospital.com A Thai owned and run private hospital with extensive services that strives to provide high standard and quality medical care by professional care team.

Derma-MK Skin Center 183 Street 63, Tel: 023 219 105 Focused on Dermalogica products, this care facility offers facial treatments, including anti-aging and brightening, as well as body treatments such as body scrubs and massage. Open daily from 10:00am – 7:00pm.

Optics

LA ROSE Spa 164b Norodom Blvd.

Tel: 023 211 130 / 080 900 900 www.larose.com.kh Professional, experienced, qualified therapists offer a tailor-made range of remedial, relaxation and nutritional advice. High-end natural products and a wide range of homeopathic remedies, creams, flower essences and signature organic massage oils.

Grand Optics 11 Norodom Bvd / 337 Monivong Blvd / 150 Sihanouk Blvd. Tel: 023 213 585 Modern opticians with the latest equipment including free computerised eye test.

Makes prescription glasses and lenses.

Pools

Asia Club 456 Monivong Bvd. Tel: 023 721 766 Beautiful swimming pool at rear of Man Han Lou Restaurant. Members get a discount at both restaurant and Master Kang Health Care Centre.

Spas

Amara Spa Cnr Sisowath Quay & St.110 Tel: 023 998 730 www.amaraspa.hotelcara.com Day spa providing a wide selection of facials, body massages and treatments, arranged in a four-storey modern facility at riverfront. Open 11am-11pm.

Aura Spa 21 Mao Tse Toung Blvd (near the corner of St. 63). Tel: 023 555 3209/015 991 688, www.auracambodia.com Aura Spa creates its own signature massage therapy with well-trained therapists to enhance a traditional blend of ancient health and beauty practices which have been passed down from generation to generation. Open every day from 9am – 11pm.

Aziadee Spa 16 a/b Street 282. Tel: 023 996 921 aziadee1@yahoo.fr French-run spa offering a good choice of treatments, a range of massages, scrubs, facials, floral baths, manicures, pedicures and waxing in relaxing and tranquil surroundings. Open 9am-9pm.

Bi Nail Salon 213a E0 Stret 310 Tel: 023 6324 524 / 097 798 1122 Bi Nail is a full service nail salon, for women and men. Japanese-trained nail artists have years of experience and provide expert personal care in a quiet and relaxing atmosphere. Full set care (manicure and pedicure), more than 250 nail lacquers, more than 350 nail design samples. Acrylic and gel nails are available. Open daily 8am – 7pm.

Bliss 29 Street 240. Tel: 023 215 754 Health spa at back and upstairs in this beautiful French colonial building.

Open 9am - 9pm, closed Monday.

Master Kang Health Care Centre 456 Monivong Blvd.

Tel: 023 721 765 Health centre next to Man Han Lou Restaurant offers foot massage in public or private rooms, with both Chinese and oil massage. A grand piano is played in the evenings.

Open 10am - 12pm.

Nail Holic Street 592, Tuol Kork (next to Indrak Tevy High School) Tel: 012 357 887/097 4123 337 Nail polish and pedicure services using products from Korea. Comfortable chairs in relaxing surroundings with professional, hospitable and friendly staff speaking Khmer, Korean and English. Open daily from 8am – 6pm.

Raffles Amrita Spa Tel: 023 981 888 Raffles Amrita Spa offers relaxation and rejuvenation through a wide selection of services and facilities including treatment rooms, outdoor lap and fun pool, Jacuzzi, fitness centre, sauna and steam room.

Open daily 6am - 10pm.

The Spa at NagaWorld Hun Sen Park.

Tel: 023 228 822 This luxurious spa promises to bring the ancient Cambodian spa therapy to the world, and claims to be the only all-suite unisex spa in Cambodia.

Therapy rooms with sauna, steam and flower bath are inviting, and the spa uses Tomichik flowers as part of its treatment. Open 10am-3am.

So SPA with L’Occitane Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Tel: 063 964 600 Offers rejuvenating world traditions combined with French cosmetology in the privacy of an intimate setting. Treatments are provided with international and local high-end products.

Open daily: 10am – 10pm

Bodia Spa 26-28 Sothearos Blvd.

Tel: 023 226 199 www.bodia-spa.com Using natural, own-brand products Bodia spa offers body wraps, floral baths, scrubs, facials, aromatherapy, massages and mani-pedies, alongdside Jacuzzi and steam. The peaceful atmosphere is enhanced by scented oils and soft music.

Open daily 9am – 9pm.

Villa Spa 456 Monivong Blvd., (cnr. Street 466) Tel: 023 721 765 / 012 357 561 www.asiagarden.com.kh Aromatherapy massage in private boutique VIP rooms (villa and bungalow style) from professional Chinese and Khmer therapists from Master Kang; women customers only.

Derma-Care Skin Clinic 161B Norodom Tel: 023 720 042 / 012 415 552 Two qualified dermatologists, this professional skin clinic offers a range of beauty treatments using American Derma-Rx products, minor dermatologic surgery, antioxidant boosters, chemical peeling, and lipolysis. Open 9am - 9pm.

Black Star 5A Street 90, Phnom Penh www.blackstarcambodia.com Tel: 070 200 900/078 753 697 Welcome to Black Star Tattoo’s Cambodia’s finest whether you’re just passing through the Penh, or you’re a resident, this is the place to come for the highest quality tattooing.

Open daily from 10am – 10pm.

Tattoos and Piercing

AsiaLIFE Cambodia 77

LISTINGS

family Cafés & Restaurants

Giving Tree Primary Class Preschool and Primary (Grades 1 to 3): Secondary Branch 50, Street 322 Tel: 017 997 112 registrar@thegivingtreeschool. com Our multi-age Primary Class, for students ages 6-9 years, is designed to accommodate each child’s individual learning needs. We follow the International Primary Curriculum, and include tennis, yoga, music, art, computers and swimming.

Java Café 56 Sihanouk Blvd.

Tel: 023 987 420 Kid’s menu includes chicken nuggets and pizza bagels. Colouring pages and crayons to keep the kids amused. Highchair is available on request and babychanging facilities are in the toilet.

Open daily 7am - 10pm Le Jardin 16 Street 360.

Tel: 011 723 399 This garden retreat has a great kids’ area with playhouse and sandbox, specialises in birthday parties, with cake, decorations, toys and drawing materials provided for children of all ages.

Open Tue – Sun, 8am - 8pm.

The Shop Too 38 Street 337 Tel: 012 952 839 Little haven of calm with a wide range of fresh bread, patisseries, chocolates, juices and excellent salads, sandwiches.

All products such as croissants, cakes etc. are baked on the spot…With a big garden in front and nice courtyard at the back, it makes it a perfect place for family as well. Open daily 7am – 9pm.

Entertainment

Cambodian Country Club Street 2004, Group 6 Toeuk Thla, Tel: 012 231 755 Sports centre and a peaceful heaven providing tennis, swimming, badminton, fitness centre and horse riding in an amazing landscape 15 minutes away from the city. Dedicated to leisure, rest and entertainment, CCC is suitable for children.

Open daily 6.30am until late.

Kids City 162A Sihanouk Boulvard. www.kidscityasia.com Indoor entertainment centre with climbing walls, ice skating, laser tag. toddler town and other attractions.

78 AsiaLIFE Cambodia

Monkey Business Paragon Department Store, Second Floor. Tel: 023 319 319 Kids can rejoice now that this indoor children’s play centre offers clean, safe facilities. Available for private parties.

Open daily 9am - 8pm.

Phnom Tamao Wildlife Park Phnom Tamao Cambodia’s best wildlife centre. All the animals are either rescued from traders or bred at the centre. Many of the animals are critically endangered.

Open 8am - 4pm.

International Schools

Canadian International School of Phnom Penh Bassac Garden, Norodom Boulevard Tel: 023 727 788 / 077 503 778 www.cisp.edu.kh Offers a Canadian curriculum in English, certified through the Canadian province of Alberta.

Eton House International School 16 Mao Tse Tung Blvd Tel: 023 22 8818 www.ehis.co Eton House is committed to the pursuit of excellence in education.

Eton House is represented in 10 countries with over 56 pre-schools and schools around the world. In our early years program we offer a play-based, ‘Inquire, Think, Learn” pedagogy. This programme has been inspired by the I.B program and the Reggio Emilia schools of Northern Italy. Ages: 18months 6years. Full and Half Day Programs Footprints School 220 Street 430, Tumnub Teuk, Tel: 077 222084 www.footprintsschool.edu.kh Established in 2007 Footprints School offers nursery (age 2) through grade secondary and has 4 campuses. The curriculum is designed for the dynamic needs and interests of our students and the staff are hired for their experience and love for children.

iCAN British International School 85 Sothearos Blvd.

Tel: 023 222 416 www.ican.edu.kh iCAN offers affordable, high quality education, using the IPC, IMYC and English National curriculum. Learners are encouraged to be thoughtful, creative, think critically, collaborate and achieve their best. iCAN is the learning environment of choice for parents who value the development of their children emotionally and socially, as well as academically.

International Learning Jungle School 14 Street 337, Toul Kork Tel: 095 222 885 / 023 5555 363 www.learningjungle.com International early learning and care provider headquartered in Canada is proud to announce its entry into the Cambodian pre-school market.

International School of Phnom Penh 146 Norodom Blvd.

Tel: 023 213 103 www.ispp.edu.kh Founded in 1989, this non-profit, nonsectarian international school currently has over 600 students from Pre-K to Grade 12. The largest international school with over 70 professional teachers, and a fullyauthorized IB programme.

Lycée Français René Descartes

Street 96. Tel: 023 722 044 French school offering primary and secondary level education, extra-curricula activities include basketball, football, rugby.

Northbridge International School 1km off National Road 4 on the way to the airport.

Tel: 023 886 000. www.nisc.edu.kh Founded in 1997, NISC is a fullyauthorized IB World School with a growing enrollment of 500 students age 3 to Grade 12. Spectacular purpose built campus unlike any in Cambodia.

Raffles Montessori International School of Phnom Penh 18 Street 294 corner of Street 57, Phnom Penh Tel: 023 993 999 / 011 95 97 79 www.rmispp.edu.kh, info@rmispp.edu.kh International standard school from Singapore is inviting you to bring your children to experience the beauty of an independent education.

You will see for yourselves how the Montessori education will transform your child wonderfully guided by a team of Montessori-trained teachers/directresses with so much love and passion for children. We offer Kindergarten and Primary programmes for children of ages 1.8 to 8 years old.

Zaman International School 2843 Street 3.

Tel: 023 214 040 www.zamanisc.org International school that teaches a full curriculum to children from four to 18. Facilities include basketball and volleyball courts, a football field and a science lab.

Pre-Schools

DK Schoolhouse No. 7 St. 466 078 777 466 / 095 777 466 www.dkschoolhouse.com DK Schoolhouse is an early learning preschool/kindergarten for children aged 2-6. Established by long time residents of the Kingdom, DK Schoolhouse aims to minimize the gap between quality and cost in education while providing a safe and stimulating learning environment.

Our staff are native English speaking, qualified early childhood educators.

Open Mon-Fri 8:00-4:00pm Sat 9:0011:00am (by appointment only).

Gecko & Garden Pre-school 3 Street 21. Tel: 092 575 431 www.geckogarden-preschool.org This is a not-for-profit pre-school, established over ten years ago, which emphasises learning through creative play in a supportive environment forchildren aged 18 months to 5 years. Open daily 7:30am - 12pm. An after school program offering a range of fun activities is available 2:30pm - 5pm daily.

Giving Tree Preschool 17 Street 71, Tel: 017 997 112 registrar@thegivingtreeschool.com 50 Street 322, Tel: 017 997 112 registrar@thegivingtreeschool.com 5 Street 325, Tel: 077 993 073 givingtreetk@thegivingtreeschool.com Committed to creating a safe, fun, and supportive learning environment through our play-based curriculum, our international teaching team guides students ages 6 months – 5 years old in exploring their world through interactive learning activities. Available in English & French.

Sambo’s Tots www.sambostots.com Playhouse and playschool provides fun edutainment experience for babies and toddlers from 3 months to 5 years where imagination comes to life.

Tchou Tchou 13 Street 21 Tel: 023 362 899, www.tchou-tchou.com Kindergarten and pre-school for 18 months to 5-year-olds, open from 7.30am to 12pm (Mon to Fri). French is the main language, although English and Khmer is also practised.

Shops

Monument Toys 111 Norodom Bvd. Tel: 023 217 617 To the rear of Monument Books is a well-stocked toy section. It features an excellent range of well-known board games and toys including Barbie dolls, Transformers, Magic 8 balls and more.

It has to be the best place in the city for brand name toys and games.

Open daily 7.30am - 8pm.

Pichoun 25DE0E1 Street 294 Tel: 095 208 352 Children’s clothing shop offering a range of affordable goods, also contains a kid’s play area. Open daily from 9am to 7pm.

Shade 7 Outdoor Living Co Ltd Showroon; Borey Chamkarmon Tel: 077 962 467 david@shade7.com www.shade7.com www. springfreetrampoline.com Supplier of Shade7 premium aluminium umbrellas and exclusive distributor of original Springfree range. World class products now available in Cambodia!

Stock in country for immediate supply.

Toys & Me 159A Mao Tse Toung Blvd.

Tel: 023 212 081 / 016 808 676 www.toysnme.net Established in 2007, Toys & Me is a leading toys shop in Cambodia. A one-stop shop you can trust when it comes to educational needs for your children.

AsiaLIFE Cambodia 79

kids corner

Tooth Troubles Gemma Mullen John Williams’ infamous theme tune to Jaws has haunted nightmares for almost 40 years. But for most parents, a killer great white shark would provide a semblance of relief after dealing with the dreaded teething stage.

Teething can begin as early as three months, although it is unlikely anything will start to protrude for a couple of months after that.

Somewhere around six or seven months is the normal time for a first tooth to show its milky little head. It is an exciting time, but it can also be a troublesome time for little ones. The first gnashers to appear are usually the two lower central incisors (on the bottom, in the middle) and there are a number of signs that could signal the charge of the white brigade.

If shirts are suddenly finding themselves dripping in dribble, or bibs are splashed with spittle, teething may be the cause as it stimulates drooling. At the same time, they may start gnawing on everything in sight, from teddy bears to mummy’s nose, as putting pressure on their sore gums will relieve the pressure of the tooth pushing its way up.

Of course, teething will likely affect your little one’s sleep as well. It is pretty normal for baby to go from a picture

of purring perfection to a raging wailer during this time.

After all, have you ever tried getting a good night’s rest with someone drilling through your gums? If your baby is having restless nights, my advice would be to keep your distance – don’t encourage the restlessness by taking him out of the room to play or for a feed; try to let bubba cry himself back to sleep.

A slightly more offbeat sign that the gums are a-changin’ might be if your little man pulls at his ears – the nerve systems of gums and ears are connected, so there could be some crossover here.

A fairly obvious technique to use if your little one is suffering is distraction. Get ready to do lots of playing, singing and talking, because few things take baby’s mind off of pain more effectively than seeing mama or papa’s face up close and personal.

Other than that, all you can supply are teething rings, teething gels and a great deal of patience and understanding. This is a very difficult and uncomfortable time for some little ones, so just be sure to be the best mummy or daddy you can be and by the time your little tot is celebrating their third birthday, all the teething stages will be over and they should have a full set of 20 gleaming milk teeth.

Gemma Mullen has been working in child care for more than 10 years. She holds an NNEB diploma in nursery nursing and is currently a creative writing teacher at Zaman International School in Phnom Penh.

80 AsiaLIFE Cambodia

services

LISTINGS

business & services Architecture, Interior Design & Construction

Beyond Interiors 14e Street 306 Tel: 023 987 840 / 012 930 332 ww.beyondinteriors.biz Managed by Australian designer Bronwyn Blue, this interior design showroom can provide the ultimate design solution. All products from Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and Cambodia have been treated to withstand any climate. Open 9am - 6pm Bill Grant Landscape Design Tel: 012 932 225 / 012 738 134 The city’s most talented landscape designer.

Green Goal Ltd 10 Street 296. Tel: 023 223 861 Consultancy offers sustainable and creative architectural and construction services to clients taking into account environmental considerations.

Hemisphere Design & Interiors Tel: 012 602 955 william@norbert-munns.com Western managed renovation company specialising in swimming pools and Jacuzzi construction in fibreglass and concrete.

I Ching Decor 85 Sothearos Blvd.

Tel: 023 220 873 / 012 558 000 / 092 660 746, Boutique interior design shop offering advice on architectural work and interior design, as well as providing custommade furniture, home accessories, kitchenware, lighting and bedroom suites. Open 9am - 6pm, closed Sun. The Room Design Studio 9AB Street 288. Tel: 023 992 620 Interior design and architectural company that has 12 years’ experience of designing flats, villas, offices, shops, homes and offices in Asia.

Bikes & Mechanics

Dara Motorbike 43 Street 136. Tel: 012 335 499 Off-road specialist offers repairs, parts and accessories. Tours can be arranged by appointment.

Emerald Garage 11 Street 456 Mechanics specialising in maintenance and repair of vehicles, including oil changing and body painting.

Expat Motorbike Cambodia 38Eo, Street 322, Tel: 089 491 436/089 518 867 Email:emcjapeng@ gmail.com, www.facebook.com/ RentalMotorCambodia We offer motorbike rental services for expats living in Phnom Penh including well-maintained motors, reliable & responsive service. Minimum rental period is one week.

The Bike Shop 31 Street 302. Tel: 012 851 776 Repairs trusty steeds as well as renting them out in the first place. Also provides dirt bike tours.

Western Service Centre 24 Street 420. Tel: 012 477 831 www.wmg-cambodia.com A garage with Western and Khmer staff that emphasises communication and trained, attentive skills. Motto is “We don’t know all, we find out all, then we fix.”

Business Groups

Australian Business Association of Cambodia (ABAC) 20 Street 114 (cnr. Street 67) For information, contact Derek Mayes.

Tel:012 385 157. abacambodia@gmail.com British Business Association of Cambodia (BBAC) 35 Sihanouk Blvd. Tel: 012 803 891 Contact enquiries@bbacambodia.com Chambre de Commerce FrancoCambodgienne Office 2nd floor, 33 Street 178 Tel: 023 221 453. www.ccfcambodge.org Canadian Cooperation Office Cambodia Commissioner Service .

50 Street 334. Tel: 023 215 496 www.cco-cambodia.org Malaysian Business Council of Cambodia Unit G21, Ground Floor, Parkway Square 113, Mao Tse Tung Blvd. mbcc.secretariat@gmail.com

Car Rental

ACC Car Rental Services 43 Street 160z Toul Kork Tel. 012 456 003 / 015 456 003.

Professional, prompt and organised rental service that provides vehicles for rent with or without a driver. ACC also rents a range of buses that seat from 12 to 45 people. All vehicles can be delivered to your door.

Asia Vehicle Rental 27 Street 134. Tel: 078 666 557 www.avrcambodia.com With the motto “leave your driving to us”, the rental service offers sedans, pick-ups, SUVs and minibuses in 2WD or 4WD for self-drive or with driver.

Insurance offered.

Larryta Trading & Travel Co. Ltd. 9 Street 310. Tel: 023 994 748 www.larrytacarrental.com.kh Vehicle rental for all types of cars, vans and mini-buses with flexible packages in Cambodia and neighbouring countries by the day, week or month.

Royal Limousine Services Attwood Business Center, Russian Confederation Blvd. Tel : 023 218 808 www.royallimousine.com.kh Fleet of late model Mercedes that provides transport for hotels, embassies and luxury tour operators as well as foreign delegates.

Commercial Banks

Acleda Bank 61 Monivong Blvd. Tel: 023 998 777 www.acledabank.com.kh Specialises in micro, small and medium loans to people throughout the country.

AsiaLIFE Cambodia 81

services

money matters The Secret Millionaire Paul Dodd How is this for a nice surprise? In December 2011, a lady in Kansas City received a call from the State Treasurer of Missouri. Calls like that generally make one’s heart sink as your mind races to think where you might have made inadvertent errors with your tax returns. This time the news was rather more pleasant – the lady learnt that she was the owner of unclaimed assets worth a staggering $6.1 million.

Hats off to State Treasurer Clint Zwiefifel, the person responsible for tracing the rightful owner of these unclaimed shares, which originally belonged to a distant relative of the lady concerned. The original investment was obviously forgotten about and went unmentioned in the owner’s estate and unnoticed by the executors of his will.

It was only down to Zwiefifel’s diligence that the shares, which had accumulated in value, were reunited with the woman. Zwiefifel has brightened the day of many a Missourian, having reputedly tracked down the owners of unclaimed assets worth a whopping $175 million.

Yet an estimated $800 million of unclaimed assets remain in Missouri alone. For the whole of the US, the figure is thought to total a mind-blowing $58 billion. The situation is similar elsewhere. In the UK, Experian’s Unclaimed Asset Register (UAR) believes that there are £15 billion of assets knocking around unclaimed, while in Australia the figure is $700 million.

Which begs the questions of how and why? Unclaimed assets come from a myriad of sources. The UAR believes that in the UK there are 500,000 unclaimed premium bond prizes worth a total of £31 million, £1 billion in other NS&I products, £400 million of unclaimed life insurance and pension payments and £400 million sitting dormant and forgotten in banks and building societies.

So could you be the next secret millionaire? In the US, if you want to check, your first port of call should be the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA) and UK residents can contact the UAR. Most countries have an equivalent asset tracing service that a quick online search should reveal.

Of course this parable has a moral: keep good records.

For the sake of future generations, it makes sense for you to keep a detailed list of assets to ensure that when you die they are passed on to loved ones and won’t disappear into the great unclaimed. Depending on the complexity of your affairs, getting everything down on paper can be a bit of a trial. However, help is at hand.

Visit the importantdocuments. me site to download a handy checklist. This will not only help you recall all your assets but also provides a form for you to record them on, which can then be lodged with your solicitor or financial adviser. I recommend everyone keep a record of this kind. By doing so you will be doing a huge service to your family.

Paul Dodd is an area manager at Infinity Financial Solutions.

This company provides impartial, tailor-made, personal financial advice to clients in Cambodia and Southeast Asia. Should you wish to contact Paul, please send an email to info@ infinitysolutions.com or visit infinitysolutions.com.

82 AsiaLIFE Cambodia

ANZ Royal Bank Main Branch, 20 Street 114 www.anzroyal.com Cambodia’s major commercial bank has brought international standards of banking to Cambodia, with a large number of ATM machines around Phnom Penh. Can arrange money transfers.

CIMB Bank PLC 20AB Norodom Blvd.

Tel: 023 988 388 www.cimbbank.com.kh Full range of commercial and consumer banking products and services for both Cambodian and foreign businesses and individuals.

The first Japanese bank in Cambodia.

Maruhan Japan Bank 83 Norodom Blvd. Tel: 023 999 010 First Japanese bank in Phnom Penh.

Bikes & Mechanics

Dara Motorbike 43 Street 136, Tel: 012 335 499 Off-road specialist offers repairs, parts and accessories. Tours can be arranged by appointment.

Emerald Garage 11 Street 456 Mechanics specialising in maintenance and repair of vehicles, including oil changing and body painting.

The Bike Shop 31 Street 302. Tel: 012 851 776 Repairs trusty steeds as well as renting them out in the first place.

Also provides dirt bike tours.

Western Service Centre 24 Street 420.

Tel: 012 477 831 www.wmg-cambodia.com A garage with Western and Khmer staff that emphasises communication and trained, attentive skills.

Household Goods

Japan Home Centre 48A Street 294 (btwn St 63 and 51) A place where you can find all of your household needs. Open daily from 10am to 8pm.

IT & Software

Cresittel Co., Ltd. Office 705, KT Tower, 23 Street 112. Tel 098 518 888 Provides software solutions and systems, point of sales systems for bars and restaurants, website designing and telecoms consulting.

Has showroom at 385 Street 215.

Netpro Cambodia 11 Street 422. Tel: 023 215 141 www.netpro-cambodia.com, IT supports company that delivers high quality and reliable services to home and small to medium size organisations in Cambodia.

Ocean Technology T-20 St Topaz, Sovanna Shopping Centre Tel: 023 211 700 / 010 624 001 www.ocean-tech.biz Technology company that offers GPS navigation systems, an online map directory and vehicle tracking system.

Internet Provider

EMAXX 99 Norodom Blvd. Tel: 023 999 818 EMAXX offers fast internet access via WiMAX, Optical Fiber and Satellite.

Insurance

AG Cambodia Hotel Cambodiana, 313 Sovanna Sisowath Quay Tel: 017 360 333. nfo@agcambodia.com Professional insurance agent offering health, home, car, factory, employee and hotel insurance packages.

Forte Insurance 325, Mao Tse Toung Blvd, Phnom Penh, Tel: 023 885 077 www.forteinsurance.com Forte Insurance is dedicated to providing exceptionally comprehensive and efficient insurance services (Corporate Insurance & Personal Insurance) to all our clients.

Infinity Insurance 126 Norodom Blvd. Tel: 023 999 888 Professional insurance company offers motor, property, home, marine cargo, personal accident, healthcare, construction and engineering insurance.

Group policies can be customized.

Legal

BNG Legal 64 Street 111. www.bnglegal.com Tel: 023 212 671 / 023 212 740 BNG Legal is a leading Cambodian law firm providing comprehensive legal services to foreign and local clients.

We differentiate ourselves by coupling a deep understanding of the local business environment with international professionalism and integrity.

DFDL Legal and Tax Advisors 33 Street 294. Tel: 023 210 400 www.dfdlmekong.com Law firm providing international standard legal and tax solutions with local and cross-border experience with offices in neighbouring countries.

Gordon and Associates Asia 21 Street 214. Tel: 023 218 257 US lawyer works with local Cambodian lawyers to provide international quality advice. Specialises in foreign investment, joint ventures and advising entrepreneurs with an in depth knowledge of the telecoms, agriculture, banking and hospitality sectors.

Sciaroni & Associates 24 Street 462. Tel: 023 210 225 Law firm with a good reputation.

Just the ticket if you get into a spot of bother.

Media & Design

Anon Creative Energy Tel: 089 812 123 anoncambodia@gmail.com Internationally trained advertising talent at your service. Strong, strategic ideas.

Available for freelance art and copy writing projects.

Asia Media Lab Tel: 012 818 917. asiamedialab.com Full service video production company specialises in the creation of dynamic visual content to help bring NGO stories to life for fundraising and advocacy.

services Miscellaneous

Sunbird Angkor Co. Ltd. 78 Monireth Blvd.

Tel: 023 98 3333 / 023 99 1010 sunbirdangkor@yahoo.co.kr Worldwide Hotel Reservation, Car Rental Service, Worldwide Medical Service, Convention, Marketing.

Open Mon~Fri 8am ~5:30pm & Sat 8am~1pm Sunbird Global Co., Ltd. 78 St. Monireth Blvd.

Tel: 023 98 3333 / 023 99 1010 sunbirdglobal@yahoo.co.kr Insurance Service, Air Cargo, Worldwide Express, Trading.

Open Mon~Fri 8am ~5:30pm & Sat 8am~1pm

Post Office

Main Post Office Cnr. Streets 102 & 13 The place to go if you want to send something overseas or get a PO Box. Open 6.30am -9pm.

Photography

AsiaMotion Tel: 092 806 117. www.asiamotion.net Photographic agency established in November 2008 as a cooperation between local and international photographers. i3 Studio Tel: 017728895/095666817/092709596 www.facebook.com/i3studio Photography services: event, prewedding, wedding coverage and videography service.

Nathan Horton Photography Tel: 092 526 706 www.nathanhortonphotography.com Full service professional photographer.

Hotels, bars, restaurants, spas and location work. Call for Travel Photography workshops and tours.

Printing

Sok Heng Printing House 1297B Street Luo 5, Stoeung Mean Chey Tel: 011 939 255 / 012 939 255 Modern print house providing a full range of printing services. Graphic design available.

Real Estate and Property Services

240Condo 50B Street 240. Tel: 012 271 636 www.240phnompenh.com 240 is the home of 42 luxury serviced apartments set in the most stylish area of the city with spectacular river and city views. The condominium was designed by leading international architects gfab.

CB Richard Ellis (Cambodia) Co., Ltd. 9th Floor, Hyundai Phnom Penh Tower 445 Monivong Blvd. Tel: 023 964 099 www.cbre.com.kh The world’s largest commercial real estate services company offering premier quality real estate, valutions, consultancy, investment and property services.

Property Care Services (PCS) 2A Road 7. Tel: 017 555 203 Solution for property support services, including waste management, security, pest control and cleaning. Only company to clean high-rise windows with abseilers.

Relocation, Shipping

Crown 115-116 Street 335. Tel: 023 881 004 www.crownrelo.com Global transportation and relocation company with over 150 offices in 50 countries, specialising in expat support and household shipment. Open 8:30am 5:30pm Mon - Fri, 8:30am - 12pm, Sat.

Taxi Services

Choice Taxi Tel: 023 888 023 / 090 882 882 Metered taxi service with rates from US$1 for first 2km.

Giant Ibis Transport Phnom Penh Phnom Penh: 3 Street 106, next to Night Market. Tel: 023 999 333 www.giantibis.com Siem Reap: 64 Street Sivatha, Mondol 1, Svay Dankum.

Travel in “Affordable Luxury” to Siem Reap and other destinations in brand new 2012 buses with comforablt reclining seats, spacious leg room, A/C, Wi-fi, complementary snacks and pickup service.

Mobitel 33 Sihanouk Blvd.Tel: 012 801 801 Largest ISP in the country. Major mobile phone company which issues the 012 SIM card.

Smart 464A Preah Monivong Blvd.

Tel: 010 201 000.www.smart.com.kh www.facebook.com/SmartAxiata One of the most dynamic and fastest growing mobile telecom service in the country, issues the 010, 015, 016, 069, 070, 081, 086, 087, 093, 096, and 098 prefixes.

Telecoms

Emaxx Corner St 214 and Norodom Blvd.

Tel: 023 999 818 We provide a national, high-quality, 4G communications network service for Internet and multimedia services including commerce, entertainment and education for development of Cambodia.

Ezecom 7D Russian Blvd. Tel: 023 888 181 www.ezecom.com.kh Internet service provider that promises boundless internet

Aircon Restaurant Art Exhibitions

expat2cambodia Call Sophie: 066 200 767 www.expat2cambodia.com Your personal consultant offering services from expat to expat in the client’s own language: city orientation, house hunting and utilities, health care, cars/motorbikes, recreation facilities, networking, shopping, administration.

Home Connect Cambodia 86 Street 160. Tel: 023 88 56 85 www.homeconnect.asia Home search company, dedicated to making the home search process easy and specializing in finding rental homes for the expatriate community. Best of all for our clients, our services are FREE.

packages suited to everyone’s needs. Good packages for those looking for unlimited downloads.

Dance Theatre German Classes Film School Musical Events Fixed +855 (0)23 224 140 Mobile +855 (0)10 312 333 Homepage: www.meta-house.com Email: mesterharm@gmx.net

Workshop Space Open-Air-Cinema

AsiaLIFE Cambodia 83

LISTINGS

shopping Art

Estampe 72c street 174 (between St. 63 & St. 51) Tel : 012 826 186, www.facebook.com/ estampe.phnompenh1 A wide collection of vintage items can be found at Estampe. There are originals and reproductions of old photos, books, maps from late 19th and early 20th century. Documents on specific themes or periods for unique tailor-made collections for hotels, restaurants or house decoration can be made. Open Monday - Saturday from 11am to 7pm.

Hanuman Fine Arts 13B Street 334, Phnom Penh Tel: 023 211 916 tradition@hanumanfinearts.com High quality, beautiful antiques and objets d’art from all over the Kingdom.

Furniture, ornaments, silverware, jewellery and more are well displayed in a treasure trove of a store. Very helpful and friendly staff. Open 8am - 5pm.

Happy Painting Gallery 363 Sisowath Quay (nr. FCC) Tel: 023 221 732 www.happypainting.net Established in 1995 this art gallery is dedicated to Stef, a local icon artist with a very personal and positive insight into everyday life in Cambodia.

Open 8am - 10pm

Beauty Products

Angkor Soap 16C Street 374 Tel: 023 223 720 / 015 935 789. www.angkorsoaps.com Specialising in handmade soaps and natural spa products. Open daily 8am - 5pm Raffles Amrita Spa Raffles Hotel Le Royal.

Tel: 023 981 888 www.raffles.com/phnompenh spa.

84 AsiaLIFE Cambodia

phnompenh@raffles.com Distinctive collection of Raffles Amrita spa private label and international spa products are available for purchase. Open 6am - 10pm.

Books & CDS

Carnets d’Asie French Cultural Centre 218 Street 184. Tel: 012 799 959 French-language bookshop has sections on Cambodia and Asia as well as general fiction, with a good range of French magazines and newspapers. Open 8am - 8pm D’s Books 79 Street 240 & 12E Street 178 Tel: 012 726 355 www.facebook. com/ds.books.shops New and used bookshops with over 20,000 original books and some copies, with a great range of best sellers. Coffee, smoothies and more available all day at Street 240.

Open 9am to 9pm.

Le Phnom Shop Raffles Hotel Le Royal.

Tel: 023 981 888 www.raffles.com/phnompenh, Small shop offering books and souvenirs including recipes from the hotel’s pastry chef. Open 7am - 9pm.

Monument Books 111 Norodom Blvd. Tel: 023 217 617 Extensive range of new Englishlanguage books in town including recent releases and sections on Asia, Cambodia, travel, cuisine, design and management. Good children’s section as well as a wide choice of magazines and newspapers.

Open 7am - 8.30pm.

Crafts & Furniture Art des Lignes 42B Mao Tse Toung Blvd.

Tel: 012 211 520

www.artdeslignes.com This new interior design showroom provides branded products of highquality like luxury leather sofas and LED lighting, as well as furniture and metal artworks in contemporary style.

Upstairs, the architecture and interior design office can offer complete solutions for projects, with a resolutely modern spirit and French Touch.

Open 8:30am - 7:00pm .closed Sun.

space with Buddha statues and old wooden boxes. Upstairs are pieces from the French colonial era. Open 10am - 7pm, closed Sun.

Artisans Angkor 12AEo Street 13 (in front of Post Office) Open daily from 9am to 6pm Tel: 023 992 409 www.artisansdangkor.com Boutique with a wide range of traditional and contemporary handmade pieces produced at Artisans Angkor’s workshops in Siem Reap province: silk scarves, clothing and accessories, home furnishings, lacquer paintings and tableware, stone and wooden sculptures, silver-plated ornaments and silk paintings. Special commissions and custom orders welcome.

Renature Aquarium Shop 35AE Street 288. co.operating7@gmail.com Tel: 012 664-381 (Khmer-English) / 088 3335-338 (Japanese) High quality aquarium products including fish, tanks, lighting systems, filters, water grass, rocks, Japanese soil and much more. Open Mon-Fri 10am to 6pm. Sat-Sun 10am to 7pm.

Artwood 33 Street 302. Tel: 016 934 999 www.artwood.asia Drop in to our showroom to experience modern wooden furniture designed and manufactured in Cambodia. Offers free consultations for both commercial and residential custom-made needs.

DeCosy 219 Street 19. Tel: 023 219 276 Stocking charming knick-knacks and furniture,is the place to find the things to make your house a home. Open daily from 9am to 7pm.

Pavillon d’Asie 24, 26 Sihanouk Blvd. Tel: 012 497 217 Antique lovers dream, a large array of well-restored furniture and decorative objects. Wooden cabinets jostle for

PhalyCraft 37 Street 113. Tel: 016 485 857 www.phalycraft.com Located near Tuol Sleng Museum, PhalyCraft makes scarves, bags, gifts and accessories. Custom orders available.

Fashion

Ambre 37 Street 178. Tel: 023 217 935 The high-end fashion designs created

by Cambodian designer Romyda Keth are popular all over the world, this beautiful colonial building makes the perfect setting for the city’s most glamorous design shop. Also has men’s fashion. Open 10am - 6pm, closed Sun. A.N.D. 52c Street 240. Tel: 017 854 726 artisandesigners@gmail.com The designers at A.N.D. work with many local artisans, giving a fashion twist to traditional skills: look for generously-sized ikat wraps in pure cotton, innovative up-cycled bags, and covetable jewellery combining hand-carved hardwoods with silver and vintage porcelain.

Bambou Indochine 7 Street 178. Tel: 023 214 720, Facebook: bambouindochine High-quality T-shirts, Polo shirts and

Adam Lee/Travel 3Sixty

inspiring arts

Nary’s Journey Cambodian Living Arts Our upcoming festival is named Amatak because it means eternal in Khmer, celebrating our essential ideal of living arts – arts that are creative and new, while preserving tradition and becoming self-sustaining.

The Amatak festival will encourage these ideals in the arts community by promoting emerging talent and attracting youth.

One of the ten performances at the festival, Nary’s Journey, comes from a relatively young group. The troupe is a special project that fuses creativity and tradition.

Through a stage performance of different traditional arts, members tell stories about traditional Cambodian life.

This year, the group is pairing with a long-time CLA collaborator, French-Khmer playwright Jean-Baptiste Phou, who has worked on the Khmer opera Where Elephants Weep and Winds of Angkor as well as his own play Cambodia Here I Am. “Where Elephants Weep was my first experience as an artist. I used to be an investment accountant in Singapore, until I heard about the job through a friend.

My life changed and it’s all thanks to CLA,” he says.

During Phou’s six weeks with the group, his aim is to share with the artists how to create a new piece, reflecting the challenges of balancing

modernity and tradition in current Cambodian life. The troupe will create complex and nuanced stories using traditional art forms.

“I think it’s key to the piece that it’s their choice, I’m just here to try to shape that and put it together. Most of them are afraid of losing this tradition and for them the culture, ceremony and tradition is part of their identity and, as artists, that is what they want to defend,” he says.

“How does this fit in the theme that we want to talk about, which is tradition vs. modernity?” asks Phou, as the troupe huddles closely around him because the rain drowns their conversation.

“What is a disagreement that can happen nowadays?” he adds, as they discuss ideas like arranged marriage, moving to the city, modern music albums, even a tradition of taking blood tests before marriage.

“One thing that makes it important is the choice that the character has to make. That’s what’s interesting. To see how a character is transformed from the beginning to the end of the story,“ he says.

Nary’s Journey will premiere during the opening ceremony of the Amatak festival on Friday, Aug. 15, at 6.30pm on the Plae Pakaa stage at the National Museum, Phnom Penh.

Physiotherapy Phnom Penh General Physiotherapy Practice Manual and Rehabilitation Therapy, Medical Taping, Paedriatic Physiotherapy-FitKids* & Acupuncture (TCM) Dick van der Poel Lidwina Niewold Veerle Knoop Naomi McKnight - Certified Physiotherapists -

Tel : +855(0)23 99 63 44 hp : 092 485 593 Street 456, #45C Phnom Penh, Cambodia Email: physiophnompenh@gmail.com * Extended treatments!

Cambodian Living Arts celebrates its 15th anniversary this year. To mark its achievement, CLA will be submitting a regular column to AsiaLIFE to explain the world of traditional art forms to our readers.

AsiaLIFE Cambodia 85

comfortable clothes in original designs.

A full-range of sizes for men, women and children. Open daily 8am -10pm.

Beautiful Shoes 138 Street 143.

Tel: 012 848 438 Family-run business measures your feet and designs the shoe exactly as you wish. The shop also caters for men.

Open from 7am to 6.30pm.

Bliss 29 Street 240.

Tel: 023 215 754 A beautiful colonial building houses this exquisite shop with funky patterned cushions, quilts and an excellent clothing line. The health spa at the back of the shop also sells Spana beauty products. Open from 9am to 9pm (closed Mondays).

Color Vintage 168 Street 13 Color Vintage is Phnom Penh’s premiere shop for refined vintage styles for men and women. We source authentic articles from around the world and offer free alterations for a perfect fit! Buy, sell or exchange.

Couleurs D’Asie 33 Street 240 Tel: 023 221 075/ 099 499 478 www.couleursdasie.net info@couleursdasie.net Established in Cambodia for more than 15 years, Couleurs d´Asie has developed a full range of textile products for home decoration, clothing and fashion accessories. Jewellery, essential oils, soaps and more are on offer. A custom service for existing products is also available.

Dara Shoes 10 Street 166, near corner Street 107.

Tel: 012 855 173 / 097 8097 143 Good quality shoes, boots, bags, belts and leather products made to order since 1993.

86 AsiaLIFE Cambodia

Jasmine Boutique 73 Street 240.

Tel: 023 223 103 www.jasmineboutique.net Established in 2001 by Kellianne Karatau and Cassandra McMillan, this boutique creates its own collection of designs twice a year using hand-woven Cambodian silk. Open 8am - 6pm.

Khmer Attitude Raffles Hotel Le Royal.

Tel: 023 981 888 Fashion boutique that offers the finest Khmer silk clothing for men, women and children, including designs by Romyda Keth, and exclusive jewellery that complement the limited edition outfits.

La Clef de Sol 10 Street 208.

Tel: 012 394 915 A design boutique offering home decor, women’s fashion, kids clothes, bags, accessories and continually updated design surprises. Near KFC on Norodom Blvd. Open 9am - 6pm Monday - Saturday Lim Keo 9 Street 222.

Tel: 012 941 643 Pret a porter by Lim Keo, son of Sylvain Lim, the master of Cambodian fashion.

Lost‘N’ Found Vintage Store 321 Street 63 cnr Street 322 Tel: 023 640 5047 Vibrant vintage shop offering a selection of interesting, handpicked second-hand dresses, handbags, belt, purses and other accessories. Men’s clothing available too. The collection is constantly changing and the attractive prices already make it popular amongst expats.

Luna Boutique 8E1Street 278.

Tel: 023 220 176 www.lunaboutiquephnompenh.com Original and stylish fashion designs for men and women.The tailor-made

creations, designed by modern Cambodian stylist Mengchou Kit, are fit for any occasion. Luna Boutique is located in the heart of Phnom Penh, in front of Anise Hotel, while its sister shop - Luna Shoes - is just next door.

Open daily 8am - 9pm.

selling Cambodian handmade women’s clothes, scarves, shoes, bags and other accessories in contemporary and interesting designs, the Subtyl collection combines class with colour. ChilliKids children’s clothing is also stocked at the shop. Open 9am - 7pm.

Promesses and Kaprices 20 Street 282.

Tel: 023 993 527 Lingerie shop stocked with exclusive French and Thai undergarments. Chic, new prêt-à-porter shop Kaprices is located upstairs. Open 9am - 7pm.

Food & Wine

SentosaSilk Uniform 33 Sothearos Blvd, cnr Street 178 Tel: 012 962 911/ 023 222 974 sentosa@online.com.kh Well known for its professional management ability, SentosaSilk gives clients efficient and reliable service through quality systems and procedures that consistently enhance product quality and reliability.

Sobbhana Boutique 23-24 Street 144/49 Tel: 023 219 455/ 023 219 452 www.sobbhana.org, A not for profit organisation founded

by Princess Norodom Marie, offering a range of colourful, handwoven silk products. Profits fund training, medical care and education of weavers.

Smateria 8Eo Street 5.

Tel: 023 211 701 7 Street 178.

Tel: 023 214 720 www.smateria.com Boutique specialising in accessories made from recycled materials including a range of bags and wallets made from old fruit juice cartons, plastic bags and mosquito nets.

Subtyl 43 Street 240.

Tel 023 992 710 www.subtyl.com Up-market boutique

AusKhmer – The Pantry Shop 125 Street 105 Tel: 023 993 859 /023 214 478 This small deli features a variety of well priced wines, Australian beers, and French delicacies, cheeses, antipasti, and cold cuts. Open 10am - 8pm.

Camory – Premium Cookie Boutique 167 Sisowath Quay.

Tel: 023 224 937 Makes cookies using produce from the provinces such as cashews from Kampong Cham and Mondulkiri honey.

A portion of the profits fund education for a local orphanage.

Open 9am - 8.30pm.

Celliers d’Asie 62B & 98 Street 432. Tel: 023 986 350 Wine supplier with the largest quantity of retail stock in town, has been providing wine to most of the top hotels and restaurants for over ten years. Open 8am -12pm, 2pm - 6pm, closed Sun. Comme a la Maison 13 Street 57.

Tel: 012 951 869 Decidedly sophisticated French restaurant has a small delicatessen and bakery at the back of the restaurant ideal for that morning baguette or croissant with your coffee. Open from 6am - 10.30pm.

Dan Meats 51A Street 214. Tel: 012 906 072 Phnom Penh’s man of meat, Lanzi, supplies his strictly non-vegetarian products to many restaurants around town. Open 7:30 - 6:30, closed Sun.

Kurata Pepper Cnr. Streets 63 & 322.

Tel: 023 726 480 Selling organic Koh Kong pepper and associated products, Kurata is one of the more unusual shops in town.

Open daily 8am - 7pm.

Open Wine 219 Street 19 Tel: 023 223 527 Aircon wine shop and tasting gallery sells wines, severac, calvados and meat. Open 7pm - 11pm.

Red Apron 15-17 Eo Street 240 Tel: 023 990 951 Home of wine enthusiasts in Phnom Penh is both a wine boutique and tasting gallery. With around 300 wines, the boutique has more range than the supermarkets.

Open 9am - 9pm.

Supercheap Cambodia 87 Street 360, Tel: 023 631 3668 336A Monivong Blvd, Tel: 023 977 779 www.supercheap.com.kh Budget shop claims to offer the biggest variety of wines and spirits in Cambodia as well as the cheapest prices. Open 8am - 10pm.

The Chocolate Shop 240 35 Street 240 Tel: 077 666 402 Premium Chocolate shop with a large range of Cambodian-made Belgian chocolates including some classics such as pralines, truffles, bars as well as some unique Cambodian flavoured products such as Mondolkiri honey pralines and Kampot pepper encrusted chocolates.Open 9am - 7pm from Monday to Saturday & 9am - 4pm on Sunday. Second outlet in BKKI Street 63. Third outlet in Aeon Mall, Ground floor - Sweet Island.

The Deli 13 Street 178, Tel: 012 851 234

Café and bakery with take away breads, sandwiches and pastries. Now has a second outlet on Street 51.

Open 6.30am - 6.30pm, delivery service (within 30 minutes) 7am-11pm.

Silks & Accessories

Friends ‘n’ Stuff 215 Street 13 Friends ‘n’ Stuff shop sells products made by the parents of children in need, from various Friends projects, as well as other consignment items.

After some serious shopping, you can relax here with a manicure and massage by Mith Samlanh’s beauty training students at The Nailbar.

Friends ‘n’ Stuff has a small shop at Russian Market and Romdeng restaurant as well. Open daily from 11am to 9pm.

Mekong Quilts 49 Street 240 Tel: 023 219 607 www.mekong-quilts.org Outlet for NGO Mekong Plus, stocks a large range of hand-crafted bed covers, home accessories, gifts and decorations. Benefits Mekong Plus, which promotes health initiatives in Svay Rieng Province.

Open 9am - 7pm.

Sentosa Silk 33 Sothearos Blvd, cnr Street 178 Tel: 023 222 974 www.sentosasilk.com Using a colourful range of Asian silks, Sentosa creates men’s and women’s clothing, accessories and soft furnishings. Sentosa employs disadvantaged people.

Open daily 8am - 7pm.

Pinno Home or Japan Home Center 48A Street 294 (between 63 & Monivong) Ms. Alice Yam, Director Tel: 095 320 620 alice.yam@pinnohome.com

TROPICAL & TRAVELLERS MEDICAL CLINIC Dr.Scott BSc.MBChB. DRCOG.DipVen. (U.K.) -20 years of medical experience in Cambodia

Tel: 012 898981 No.88 St.108 Phnom Penh www.travellersmedicalclinic.com

AsiaLIFE Cambodia 87

Himawari Hotel Cambodiana French Element Hotel & MW Medical AG Service

St. 308

Sihanouk Blvd.

Sihanouk Blvd.

St. 312

Suramarit Blvd.

2

St. 244

St. 2

St. 310

St. 151

St. 153

St. 157

St. 159

2

St. 380

St. 370

St. 368

St. 376

St. 360

St. 330

St. 348

St. 320

St. 310

St. 350

St. 121

SupercheapSt. 133

St. 260

St. 163

St. 167

.1

89

.2

84

St

St. 17

Legend Cinema 6

St.

28

8

31 St.

31

01

8

St

.1

93

St

74 St

331

34

8

0 29

vd .

Bl ng

To u

4

Ts e

38 8

ao

38

M

St.

St.

2 40 St.

4

0

St.

41

4

40 St.

43 St. 4 43 St.

7) 21 t. th re ni o M St. 388

St. 372

St. 362

St. 344

St

.2

17

St. 336

St. 324

St. 314

271

St. 596 St. 598

St. 598

37 St.

St. 346

St. 218

St. 210

St. 204

St. 202

St. 192

St. 186

St. 270 St.

)

4

4

36 St.

S

St. 336

St. 326

(S

St. 182

St. 160

St. 230

Kampuch

St. 116

ssie la Ru

n de io derat

St. 265

13

2

59 St. 88 AsiaLIFE Cambodia

4

St.

35

6

St.

St. 3 t. 3

6

St. 272

St. 234

St. 230

St. 217

St. 206

St. 202

St. 194

St. 182

St. 188

St. 316

St. 150

St. 156 St. 156

St. 150

St. 146

St. 136 St. 122

rt Ro

ad)

St. 604

.3

Technical Institute of Cambodia

17

St. 263

71

59

St

St. 261

.2

S t.

15

269

St

6

.3

.3

255

vd

.(

333

St.

7

57

9

St. 160

5 St.

St.

St. 33

St.

2

St.

St. 156

57

24

St.

St. 259

St. 136

St.

St. 311

St. 257

St. 132

0

St. 251 St.

St. 261

fe Con

57

o (Airp

600 St.

8

St.

St. 566

St. 602

S

6 t. 5

St. 606

90 St. 5

Tin Tin Cafe Tango

6

St. 309

St. 319

56

St. 321

5

3

9

34

St. 33

St.

St. 146

St. 162

St.

St. 305

. (St. 128) ea Krom Blvd

86

84

NailHolic

4

St. 323

54

St. 325

St. 33

St.

Rattanak Hospital Comme a la Maison

88

St. 5

17

St. 5

.3

2

St. 327

54 St.

IFL: Brown Coffee

St. 608

78

82 St. 5

St. 5

66

St. 5

54 St. 5

St. 5

52

07

80

St

0

St. 329

54

St. 5

8

St. 247

253 St.OPPOSITE

297

592

50

St. 3

St.

01 03

53

St.

St. 534

13

6

St.

St. 530

St. 532

.3

St. 138

St. 134

St. 618 St. 608

46 48

St. 5

St. 5

St. 5 St

53

95

St. 3

St.

St. 3

99 St. 2

St. 247

St. 253

St. 2

St. 5

28 St. 5

7

8 . 52

St. 226

St. 220

St. 122

St. 118

St. 616

St. 612

St. 614

St. 610

St. 566

St. 564

St. 562

St. 55

St. 528

St. 524

2 St. 52

St. 556

8

St. 560

St. 2 516 6 51 St.

St. 33

Learning Jungle School St

St. 341

St. 291

St. 150

75

26

73 St. 2

4 St.

51

Khema Clinic

15

93

.3

St. 2

St

To Airport approx. 6 km

Chenla Theatre

g Blvd.

09

AT THE AIRPORT: 9 St. 28 Bambou Indochine Smateria

Mao Tse Toun

.2

5 St.

St. 241

Home Connect

Forte

11

St. 243

St. 237

St

St.

St. 233

(St. 289)

InterContinental Friends ’n’ Stuff

St. 239

07

Penn Nouth

St. 231

Royal Rattanak Hospital

Grand Phnom Penh Golf TK Avenue

St. 227

St. 229

.2

St. 225

St

5

05

St.

28

.2

St. 3 28

St

1

03

99

28

.2

.1

St.

St. 528

St. 223

St

St. 221

7

1

19

St.

608

St

Sunbird

St.

St.

05

95

79

The Way Cafe

.1

2 St.

32

99

St

S

7

St. 112

St. 221 7 t. 2

.1

93

.2

.1

St

St

St )

91

St. 213 d. (St. 215 Nehru Blv

t. 1

St. 211

St.

33

8

St.

32

.

St

.2

St.

6 33

St

0

St.

2 St. 18

3

8

St. 175

29

St. 171

St. 304

St. 129

Olympic Stadium

169)

St. 360

St. 306

St. 302

St. 294 St. 292

St. 300

St. 280

St. 288

St. 127

Toul Sleng Museum

St

aquie (St.

St. 352

St. 322

St. 282

St. 278

St. 276

St. 119

Sihanouk blvd.

St. 152

Tchecoslov

St. 288

St. 242

St. 248

St. 232

St. 242

St. 236

ar Ch

1

St. 161

St.

St. 122

v

St. 118

St. 165

Confederati

Jok Dimitro

St. 161

St. 117

St. 143

St. 143

St. 198

St. 190

les

de

1

St. 149

sie (Poc on de la Rus

St. 278

St. 252

)

St. 141

64

St. 139

St. 134

14

St. 334

Wat Lang Ka

St. 26

4

2

St. 25

St. 24

0

St. 24

8

St. 22

2

St. 182

S

St. 214

7 t. 1

St.

St. 115

17 .2 ( St

St.

PhalyCraft

St. 113

St. 113

St. 125 Orussey Market

St. 137

St. 95

St. 105

St. 111

11

Giv

The Terrace The Flicks K’NYAY

St. 107

0

109

St.

16

8

St.

6 16

.1

St. 71

Supercheap

Oknha Noukan

St

St. 63

T-Bone

Japan Home Centre

Lucky Kids City

St. 180

St. 158

Malis Dental Clinic

St. 140

Kampuchea

St. 109

ort Road)

Byrd

Blvd.

Monivong

Dara Shoes

Kurata Pepper

Derma-MK

St. 107

St.93

hentong Airp

St. 22

4 St. 21

8

St. 200

St. 184

St. 174

St. 20

8 St. 17

2 St. 17

St. 154

St. 136

St. 81

Le Biz

St. 70

4

St.

St. 25

6

St. 1

St. 1

St. 17

2

8 4

St. 136 St. 126

r (St. 114)

St. 118

Kramuonsa

(St. 110 Angduong

St. 108

St. 106

)

Blvd.

St. 86

St. 80

St. 14

6 0

St. 13

St. 13

St. 118

St. 108

St. 106 St. 102

Monivong

Smateria

Ocean UdonCafe HomeFeel Hotel Pandan Hotel

St. 55

Queen Boutique Hotel

Cabaret

Raffles Hotel Le Royal

St. 126

St. 76

Cineplex

Central Mansions The Shop

British Embassy

French Embassy

Villa Paradiso

Hotel 252 Le Rit’s Hair & Nail Studio International Le Cafe Dental Clinic International Chiropractic Clinic CCF

lle

Stella

)

St. 63

St. 67

mey Psar Th

Street

Romdeng

u Ga

St. 75

Estampe

Pontoon Mr Lee

St. 53

Market

(St. 128) Krom Blvd.

St. 86

St. 90

Tell

Central

St. 96

Exchange

St. 84

Preah

St. 92

St. 61

St. 88

82 St.

80 St.

78

St. 102

Oknha San

88 St.

St.

84

United States Embassy

4

St.

St. 74

Takarabako La Marmite

al Hotel Le Roy

r(

g va han oy C Chru

St. 72

St. 14

4 10

02

St.

.1

00

St

.1 St

8 .9 St thomok

krong Cham Baksei St.

Wat Phnom

ur (Paste

.3

90

Sobbhana

St. 51

Le Librairie

St

t

Nathan Horton Photography

o

Fra

eS nc

Sharky’s

9

St. 49

The Chinese House Brasserie du Port Hotel Cara Doors 7) t. . (S

St. 1

M

Black Star Tattoos

Giant Ibis Transportation Van’s

l tra e Cen Offic t Pos

7)

w

St. 154

3

16

St. 1

21

S

iso

Vietnam Friendship Monument

n)

78

St

Amara Spa

ay Qu

h at

nsio

t.

Limoncello

a eM

84

Lemon Grass Paddy. 5Rice

Beirut Indian Delight iVIVA! Gloria Jean’s Stone Grill

Chez Rina

Sunbird 2 Fox

Sothearos Blvd.

(S

Sa

ow

y ua

th

le

Sis

Q ath

ni re

n To

d. pR

ge

264

Riverhouse Bistro Riverhouse Lounge

id

Australian Embassy

40

Chow

Sushi Bar Comme a la Maison Bellevue

Br

Comme a la Maison Meta House Cambodian Living Arts The Duck Higashiyama Kan Ji Almond Hotel Sofitel St. 7 (th St. 9 Phokeethra nce ide Zino s Vego Splash Inn e Lime 9 er R hm Blvd Soth o-K Quinapenas AEON Mall earos Shigeta Dental Sin Bl One More St. 21 Vegetarian Rising Sun I Ching vd.

Public House Pub Toni & Guy Villa Borann Mumoo’s Java Café & Gallery iCAN Sentosa Silk Bar Sito Royal Palace Emergency Room St. 21 K West Samba Luna Irina’s Artillery The Warehouse St. 29 Amanjaya St. 13 Seibur St. 29 Color Vintage National Lost Room ISPP Museum Friends Caravan’s Malis Red Apron La Rose 9 Infinity Derma-Care Reyum Institute t Euro Dental Clinic Yves Rocher St. 1 umen on M of Arts & Culture Mekong Quilts 240 Phnom Penh ndence Norodom B pe The Shop Jay’s Diner Inde A.N.D Villa Samnang Beyond Kiriya cafe Jasmine Interiors ard Latin Quarter Monkey Business ulev om Bo od et) The Plantation Stre or Elephant Sky Bar N St. 51 (Pasteur Botanic The Blue Pumpkin Villa Srey Patio Hotel Monument Books Toto Ice Cream Simphony Brown LimKeo Steve’s Steakhouse Dosa Corner Coffee Cafe Le Point . 25 St St. 23 Irrawaddi ce Petra The Dollhouse Taqueria iden St. 57 o Res Th La Clef Corona Huynh La Table Khmer de Sol Circa 51 SOS Cupcake Rush

Riverside Bistro Metro Café The Blue Pumpkin

ne Arena

St. 258

Ch

Pop Café Bambou Indochine Smateria FCC Bodia Spa

ce

St. 246

en fer

St. 240

on kC

mu

to ak

on

Mind Body Eriq Amtalla Salon Practice Shangri-La

ll Ha

St. 266

Phnom Penh Central

ag Dr

Naga World Darlin Darlin

ou

m

in

Bl

1 l Road

St. 35

9

St. 35

9

St. 36

3

St. 622

St. 62

8

Dragon Water Park

0

ge

St. 64

id

St. 36

8

Br

St. 63

on

9

Mon

g ivon

Brid

ge

L’imprevu

n

7

St. 36

6 St. 62 0 St. 63

St. 620

ag Dr

St. 64

2

St. 64

4

Nationa

Jingu Japanese Restaurant

Blvd.

g

St. 394

Natio

Canadian International School

DK Schoolhouse

oum k Ph

St. 73

St. 95

St. 466

St. 498

St. 97

St. 99

St. 99

Yoth

St. 508

Smart

St. 436

Rambutan Giving Tree Resort Monivong Blvd.

apo

ROCK Entertainment Club

Man Han Lou

St. 484

Arthur & Paul

lK

ara hem

St. 63

Eton House

St. 71

rd

(S lvd.

St. 462

St. 422 St. 400

St. 398

St. 392

St. 380

St. 370

Aura Spa Thida Salon New York Steakhouse

leva

St. 466

The Governor’s House

Bou

2

in B

Topaz

levard

dom

St. 474

Norodom Bou

a cafe

Noro

oad

1) t. 27

Rose

nal R

St. 101 St. 103

Nature Wild Art desLignes

St. 488

5

173

47 St.

apo

l Kh

St.

510 St.

5 St.

St.

St.

S

49 6

494

St.

492 St.

St. em

ara

ho kP

um

in B

. (S lvd

t. 2

71)

St. 457

St. 448

St. 442

75

St. 4

30

St.

17

7

75

Global Art St

.1

St

.1

81

St.

18

3

vd .

St. 432

St. 424

St. 4 St.

St. 438

3

Yoth

7

430

St. 486

St. 480

St. 476

St. 478

St. 472

St. 163

Physiotherapy St. 16

St.

St.

488

490

St. 147

St. 470

St. 468

St. 464

St. 460

Hahahoho

St. 444

Toul Tom Pong

St. 155

St. 456

St. 450

St. 440

St. 432

St. 426

St. 418

St. 408

Russian Market

St. 145

St.

Indigo Counselling

St. 482

Cando Craft Cafe Yejj

00 t. 5

St. 135

502

St. 132

504

06

512

St. 450

St. 454

St. 446

St. 432

St. 440

St. 428

St. 408

St. 105

St. 454

St. 121

heapSt. 133

St. 420

Mao Tse Toung Blvd. (Street 245)

St. 396

St. 390

St. 386

St. 376

St. 368

WSC

St

.1

85 St

.1

87

.1

91

(St. 271)

St

St

.1

93

n Blvd.

St

.1

95

4

Yothapo

l Khemara

k Phoumi

St. St

.2

17

To Choueng Ek Killing Fields approx. 12 km

AsiaLIFE Cambodia 89

DJ Shade @ Pontoon

4th July @ Pontoon

Photography from Kampuchea Party Republic and Riverhouse

90 AsiaLIFE Cambodia

Nude, Culture Club and Night of Bond @ Riverhouse

AsiaLIFE Cambodia 91

soundfix album review

SAM SMITH

IN THE LONELY HOUR

The voice of 2014 belongs to Sam Smith. Following in the footsteps of Amy Winehouse and Adele, Smith is the latest British singer to bring soul music to the top of the charts. His first break came with collaboration on Disclosure’s hit ‘Latch’, an infectious song that showed only a hint of Smith’s vocal skill. On his debut album In The Lonely Hour, Smith demonstrates that dance pop is not his only strength. Unrequited love provides inspiration for this taut collection of soul songs, and Smith’s voice – particularly his electrifying falsetto – gives the well-worn theme a visceral potency. Lyrics are often lines repeated over and over, such as on the moving ‘Stay With Me’ and the playful ‘Money on My Mind’, but meaning is conveyed through more than words.

92 AsiaLIFE Cambodia

by Mai Lynn Miller Nguyen

THE PROPER ORNAMENTS

LULUC

According to record label lore, James Hoare and Max Claps met over a failed shoplifting attempt. Claps, recently arrived to London from his native Argentina, tried to distract Hoare, who was working at a vintage shop, so that his girlfriend could nick some boots.

In the end, the boots weren’t taken, but a bond was formed.

As The Proper Ornaments, Claps and Hoare – who is also the guitarist for Veronica Falls – join with bassist Daniel Nellis and drummer Robert Syme to create psych-pop littered with heavyweight influences. The Beach Boys, Nirvana, Jesus and Mary Chain and The Stone Roses can all be heard in the band’s jangly melodies and breezy harmonies. Yet The Proper Ornaments’ curated sound doesn’t sound like stealing, but instead feels effortlessly, pleasantly familiar.

Music is a beautiful escape.

And when you need to be somewhere peaceful and pretty, Luluc’s sound makes for a sanctuary within reach. As Luluc, Australians Zoë Randell and Steve Hassett produce indie folk music with an ambling, dreamlike quality. Passerby is the duo’s second album, a follow up to their 2008 debut Dear Hamlyn. Randell, Hassett and coproducer Aaron Dessner of The National didn’t rush to create this record, and the time pays off in quality. Singer Randell’s level tones are reminiscent of Velvet Underground collaborator Nico, yet less doleful, whereas Hasset provides gentle acoustic guitar that recalls Nick Drake.

The subject of Luluc’s lyrics may span the mundane, such as the passing of the seasons, but they draw attention to the quiet magic of everyday life.

WOODEN HEAD

PASSERBY

NOURA MINT SEYMALI TZENNI

Native to Mauritania, the ardine is a nine-string harp traditionally played only by women. In Noura Mint Seymali’s hands, the instrument comes alive with contagious energy. Seymali descends from a line of griots, the storytellers and musicians of the Moors. Her father is a notable Arab classical music scholar and composer, and her stepmother is Dimi Mint Abba, one of Mauritania’s most esteemed singers. From this background of music royalty, Seymali emerges as a deserving heir. Her third album, Tzenni, showcases a hypnotic form of Saharan desert blues that fuses tradition and modernity.

There’s heat throughout the album – Seymali sings in Arabic with slow-burning, smoke-tinged vocals, accompanied by drums, bass and her husband Jeiche Ould Chighaly’s blazing electric guitar.

topten

endorsed

97.5 Love FM Top Ten 1. Me and My Broken Heart 2. Not A Bad Thing 3. Fancy 4. All Of Me 5. Problem 6. Sing 7. The Big Bang 8. She Looks So Perfect 9. Wild Wild Love 10. She Ain’t You

Rixton Justin Timberlake Iggy Azalea John Legend Ariana Grande feat. Iggy Ed Sheeran Katy tiz 5 Seconds Of Summer Pitbull New Hollow

UK Top Ten 1. It’s My Brithday 2. Problem 3. Ghost 4. Somebody To You 5. Budapest 6. Right Here 7. Sing 8. Gecko 9. Chandelier 10. Stay With Me

will.i.am and Cody Wide Ariana Grande feat. Izzy Ella Henderson The Vamps George Ezra Jess Glynne Ed Sheeran Oliver Heldans x Becky Hill Sia Sam Smith

US Top Ten 1. Rude 2. Fancy 3. Problem 4. Am I Wrong 5. Stay With Me 6. Wiggle 7. All Of Me 8. Maps 9. Summer 10. Latch

Magic!

Iggy Azalea Ariana Grande feat. Iggy Nico & Vinz Sam Smith Jason Derulo John Legend Maroon 5 Calvin Harris Disclosure

The Glamazon Trilogy It’s that time again. The avant garde extravaganza that is the fashion night Glamazon returns to Phnom Penh this month, with as much shimmer and razzmatazz as ever.

For those who are unfamiliar with the annual glamorous event, here’s a potted history. First launched in 2012, the initial Glamazon – organised by the team from The Dollhouse salon – was billed as a hair show, and soon stunned local audiences with its audacious style creations and makeovers.

The second event in 2013 at NagaWorld was momentous, with models strutting the catwalk dressed as strong female figures, from Marie Antoinette to cartoon characters, interspersed with a poetic ballet show and charismatic performances from international drag star Jujubee.

Now, in its third and final instalment, Glamazon – Abyss aims to surpass all expectations. Ordinary women will receive makeovers before walking the catwalk in local clothing label Ambre, the fantastical creations of the event’s avant garde section are set to impress, and performances

by Khmer singer Nikki Nikki and Jujubee are also on the cards.

If you’re lucky enough to score a ticket (this year the show is invite-only, but the after-party is open to the public from 10.30pm), you’re in for treat, as imagination

seems the only boundary when it comes to Glamazon’s jaw-dropping creativity.

The outfits are simply works of art. Whilst you might not feel comfortable popping down the market in them, the pain-stakingly detailed constructions are impressive and, given evidence from previous years’ creations, push the limits of fashion.

But for all its glamour and glitter, Glamazon also has a serious side. The non-profit event acts as a showcase for the creative talents of Cambodia and allows different companies and sectors of the style industry to work together for a good cause.

Since 2012, the event has raised and donated more than $10,000 to good causes – specifically the Nokor Tep Women’s Hospital and the NGO Wildlife Alliance, where the money has gone towards funding an elephant conservation centre at Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre. So why not get your glad rags on and celebrate all things style?

Glamazon is being held from 8pm on Aug. 15 at CodeRED, Phnom Penh, with a public after-party featuring models from 10.30pm. Creators & Creative Powerhouse: The Dollhouse. Key partners: INNOV8 Events. Designers: US, Cambodia, Madagascar, France. Make-up product & artists: Cambodia, US & Australia. Sponsored by NYX, SMART, Coca Cola, Kimchi Collective.

AsiaLIFE Cambodia 93

bookshelf Blood Feud: The Clintons Vs The Obamas Edward Klein Regnery

New York Times bestselling author Edward Klein pulls back the veil on the most unreported story in Washington — the antipathy that divides the two most powerful Democratic families in the country. With unparalleled reporting and access to the most sensitive sources close to the principals, Klein gives an insider’s, behind-the-scenes view of the Democratic standard-bearers. In this highly anticipated follow-up to his bestseller The Amateur, former New York Times Magazine editor-in-chief Klein delves into the rocky relationship between the Obamas and the Clintons. An old-school reporter, Klein reveals just how deep the rivalry between the Obamas and the Clintons runs, with details on closed-door meetings buttressed by hundreds of interviews.

Mr Mercedes Stephen King Scribner

In the latest from the ever-prolific Stephen King, three of the most unlikely heroes the author has ever created try to stop a lone killer. In the frigid pre-dawn hours in a distressed Midwestern US city, hundreds of desperate unemployed folks are lined up for a spot at a job fair. Without warning, a driver plows through the crowd in a stolen Mercedes, running over the innocent, backing up, and charging again.

In another part of town, months later, a retired cop named Bill Hodges is haunted by the unsolved crime. When he gets a crazed letter from someone who threatens an even more diabolical attack, Hodges wakes up from his depressed and vacant retirement, hell-bent on preventing another tragedy. Only Hodges, with a couple of highly unlikely allies, can apprehend the killer before he strikes again.

94 AsiaLIFE Cambodia

The Silkworm Robert Galbraith Mulholland

The Silkworm is the second Cormoran Strike novel under the pseudonym assumed by Harry Potter author JK Rowling. When novelist Owen Quine goes missing, his wife calls in private detective Cormoran Strike. At first, Mrs Quine thinks her husband has gone off by himself for a few days. But as Strike investigates, it becomes clear that there is more to Quine’s disappearance than his wife realises. The novelist has just completed a manuscript featuring poisonous pen-portraits of almost everyone he knows. If the novel were to be published, it would ruin lives. When Quine is found brutally murdered under bizarre circumstances, it becomes a race against time to understand the motivation of a ruthless killer.

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption Laura Hillenbrand Random House

From Laura Hillenbrand, the best-selling author of Seabiscuit, comes Unbroken, the inspiring true story of a man who lived through a series of catastrophes almost too incredible to be believed. In evocative, immediate descriptions, Hillenbrand unfurls the story of Louie Zamperini – a juvenile delinquent, turned Olympic runner, turned Army hero. During a routine search mission over the Pacific, Louie’s plane crashed into the ocean.

Against all odds, he survives adrift on a foundering life raft, amid thousands of miles of open ocean. Driven to the limits of endurance, Zamperini would answer desperation with ingenuity, suffering with hope, resolve and humour, and brutality with rebellion. You’ll cheer for the man who somehow maintained his selfhood and humanity despite monumental degradations.

boxoffice

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY

NINJA TURTLES

AS ABOVE, SO BELOW

SEX TAPE

The latest adventure from comic book powerhouse Marvel is set in the far reaches of space, where a brash American pilot called Peter Quill (played by comedian Chris Pratt) finds himself the object of a manhunt after stealing an orb coveted by the villainous Ronan.

Quill soon enters an uneasy truce with a ragtag group of misfits, including a raccoon called Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper) and a tree-like humanoid (Vin Diesel, of the Fast and Furious series). With Quinn discovering the true power of the orb, the universe’s fate soon lies in the balance.

1980s children’s favourites, the bandana-wearing, sewerdwelling teenage mutant ninja turtles, are making their way to the big screen. This time the swashbuckling “heroes in a half shell”, accompanied by plucky reporter April (played

by Megan Fox) and cameraman Vernon Fenwick (Will Arnett), must fight to save their city from an evil kingpin. As ever, the turtles – named after Renaissance artists Donatello, Michelangelo, Raphael and Leonardo – are wielding ninja weapons, along with a fair dose of humour, as they fight antagonistic villain Shredder.

Set inside the labyrinthine catacombs below the French capital of Paris, horror flick As Above, So Below centres on two archaeologists looking for lost treasure in tunnels filled with the bones of the dead.

Sure enough, no trip into this ancient burial place can go smoothly. After a cave-in blocks their exit, the journey descends into madness and terror. Filmed in a distinctly The Blair Witch Project style, hand-held camera-work adds to the panic, as the adventurers are confronted with the deepest reaches of the human psyche.

In the age of Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton, it wasn’t going to be too long until the notorious sex tape entered mainstream movie going. In this Hollywood film, which thankfully seems much less saucy than the real deal, happily married couple Annie and Jay (Cameron Diaz and Jason Segel) attempt to spice up their love life by drunkenly filming themselves in action, intending to delete their X-rated video afterwards.

Instead, the film is uploaded to the “cloud” and mistakenly sent to all their family and friends. Cue hilarious high jinks as the couple goes on a frantic search of its whereabouts to spare their blushes.

COMING SOON JULY MOVIE RELEASES Legend Cinemas See legend-cinemas.com for screening schedule Legend Cinemas Love Slave Aug. 5 Guardians of the Galaxy Aug. 7 Ninja Turtles Aug. 14 As Above, So Below Aug. 19 Planes: Fire and Rescue Aug. 21 Sex Tape Aug. 21

Major Cineplex, Aeon Mall Love Slave Guardians of the Galaxy Step Up: All In Ninja Turtles The Expendables 3 As Above, So Below Sex Tape Sin City 2

Aug. 5 Aug. 7 Aug. 8 Aug. 14 Aug. 15 Aug. 19 Aug. 21 Aug. 28

AsiaLIFE Cambodia 95

pub quiz

Spotted!

Animal Genders

Opposite Personalities

1. The males of which edible animal are known as either jimmies or bucks?

2. What name is given to a male bee?

3. What is male duck called?

4. What type of animal is a tiercel or tercel?

5. The males of which animal are bucks or boomers?

6. What term is applied to a female donkey?

7. What is a female sheep called? ­8. A male swan is a cob, but what is a female swan?

9. If the male is a billy, what is the female called?

10. What is a female goose called?

26

27

August Celebrations 11. Which country has celebrated Independence Day on Aug. 15 since 1947?

12. Hari Merdeka is celebrated on Aug. 31 in which South East Asian country?

13. The Glorious Twelfth celebrated the start of what?

14. An international arts and culture festival started in 1947 in which European city?

15. Which rapper and actor was born Artis Leon Ivey Jr will celebrate his 51st birthday on Aug. 1?

Fill in the First Names

28

7

2 4

5

9

6

5 7

29

16. Preston and Logan from a 1989 comedy film.

17. Abbott and Costello.

18. Browning and Barrett – poets and lovers.

19. French and Saunders – creators of Absolutely Fabulous.

20. Mulder and Scully – from the X-Files.

3

3 5

3

9

8

9

5

7

4

2

6 8

2

4

1

1 1

7 5

30

1. Crabs 2. Drone 3. Drake 4. Falcon 5. Kangaroos 6. Jenny 7.

Ewe 8. Pen 9. Nanny 10. Goose! 11. India 12. Malaysia 13. Grouse shooting season 14. Edinburgh 15. Coolio 16. Bill and Ted (Theodore) 17. Bud and Lou 18. Robert and Elizabeth 19. Dawn and Jennifer 20.

Fox and Dana 21. Putin 22. Gandhi 23. Sylvester Stallone 24. The Dalai Lama 25. Hugh Heffner­­­­

pub quiz answers 96 AsiaLIFE Cambodia