AsiaLIFE Cambodia May 2013

052013 ISSUE77

Sanitation Marketer

Curious jobs in Cambodia

Rugby Referee

Bomb Diver

Jungle Sonographer

www.asialifemagazine.com

Chocolate Artist

note from the editor AsiaLIFE Group 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

Group Creative Director: Johnny Murphy johnny@asialife.asia

Editor-at-Large Cambodia: Mai Lynn Miller Nguyen Siem Reap: Rhi Quinn Sales Manager Cambodia: Sorn Chantha chantha@asialife.asia sornchantha@yahoo.com

Ellie Dyer Fun may not come into the equation when many people think of work. Long hours, small rewards, economic frustration and office politics can come into play when people complain about their jobs over a well-earned beer.

But fear not, there are also many people, myself included, who enjoy Monday mornings at the office.

This seems especially true in Cambodia, where business is booming and the economy is strengthening year by year.

Inspired by the sense of optimism evident across the country, AsiaLIFE is considering employment this month. In our cover feature, we’ve profiled five people who are making the most of out-of-the-ordinary professions. Though their jobs are very different, one thing unites them all — a passion for their work.

We hope it shows that, with a little entrepreneurial effort and luck, anything is possible and there’s no end to possible career paths out there — whether that involves owning a chocolate business or helping communities buy toilets. With that in mind, we’ve also interviewed recruitment guru Chris Potter for some practical tips on job seeking in Cambodia.

Elsewhere in the magazine, we’ve highlighted some fun activities to try in your time away from the daily grind. From preening Vietnamese chickens to compete in poultry beauty contests, to fishing on the Tonle Sap river with cockroaches, and rocking out to young Khmer rock bands, there’s no end of options out there.

If you’ve got a sweet tooth but don’t know where to start, try Gabi Yetter’s article on Khmer desserts, inspired by her epic trip around Cambodia searching for the best examples of sweet cuisine. It’s a must-read for any foreigners who remain mystified by the world of Asian puddings, many of which make the most of rice, beans and coconut. Pick up a yummy ple aiy cake or a square of agar next time you pass a stall. While I can’t promise you’ll love it as much as chocolate cake, it should provide a new treat for the taste buds.

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Art Director Cambodia: Hilary Fastier Photographers: Chatti Phal & Charles Fox Social Media and Marketing: Kate Burbidge kate@asialife.asia

Sales and Accounts: Seang Seyha 012 581 455

Distribution: Sam Ath Ouk 012 319 172

Accountant: Seang Satya

Printing: Sok Heng Printing House

For advertising enquiries call Chantha on 012 576 878.

Special thanks to: Jeremie Montessuis, Darren Gall, Gemma Jones, Mary Kozlovski, Dana Filek-Gibson, SOS, David Preece, Gabrielle Yetter, Henrietta Allen, and Cambodia Restaurant Association - for their contribution to this issue.

052013 ISSUE77

Sanitation Marketer

Curious jobs in Cambodia

Rugby Referee

Chocolate Artist

Bomb Diver

Jungle Sonographer

www.asialifemagazine.com

AsiaLIFE is a registered trademark.

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

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

052013 ISSUE77

front

14 Picks of the Month 16 Openings

food

42 Sugar, Spice and All Things Nice 44 Chilly Noodle House

18 Dispatches 20 Phnom Penh Calendar 22 Photo Essay

getaway

46 The Beach Rediscovered

style & design

48 Behind the Design

back

55 Listings

26 Q&A: Chris Potter

on the cover

28 In Their Shoes

storyboard

34 Rock Generation 36 Chickens and the Men Who Love Them

50 Fleur

90 Phnom Penh Map 100 Pub Quiz

38 Hook, Line & Sinker 40 Crafting Nature

34 6 asialife Cambodia

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48 50

March 2013

personal dinner with a view of Angkor, a private jet to an exclusive island retreat on the Cambodian Riviera, and accommodation and dining at the most sophisticated establishments in the Kingdom. The creation of the luxury trip may surprise some travellers and travel agents, but Khiri says its philosophy is flexibility and a diverse choice of activities and destinations.

For further information, email sales.cambodia@khiri.com.

Submissions Open for Angkor Photo

The Ninth Angkor Photo

'Villa Amanzi' by Thomas-Pierre

Perspective at Metahouse

Thomas-Pierre’s latest exhibition opened at Meta House on Sothearos Blvd on Apr. 23 and runs until May 15.

Entitled Perspective, the new series of paintings explores the artist’s fascination with perspectives and attitudes.

Compositions mix architectural lines with landscapes, colour fields and dripping. The artist uses photos and images from archives, books and magazines in his designs,

Festival is now accepting submissions. The week long festival, held from Nov. 23 to Nov. 30 in Siem Reap, showcases photographers and their work on an international stage. It has a unique focus on new talent, especially emerging photographers in Asia, and aims to provide an accessible, inclusive platform for photographers from all over the globe to interact.

Submission is free and open to all nationalities. The submission deadline is Jun. 15. For more information, visit bit.ly/2013apfsubmissions or angkor-photo.com.

combining them with a strong graphic style. The work is dynamic and original and offers a refreshing and engaging view of the capital’s diverse architecture.

Millionaire’s Immersion Tour

Khiri Travel Cambodia has created a flexible 10-day luxury trip for millionaire travellers. Highlights include helicopter visits to spectacular 11th-century mountain temples, a

Angkor Photo Festival

Pharmacy & Beauty store Services - International cosmetic brands - Largest selection of medicines with original brand products - Professional advice - Central locations in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.

www.ucarepharma.com

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Rugby Gala

Fitness fans can support Cambodian rugby by attending the sports annual gala dinner on Jun. 8. The Cambodian Federation of Rugby event will take place at the Himawari hotel on Sisowath Quay from 7pm until midnight, with proceeds from the $40 tickets going towards supporting the sport, which is rapidly growing at a grassroots level. Celebrity guests are set to include Justin Sampson, of ESPN Star Sports, and Scottish rugby union player Gavin Hastings.

PPAWS Pet of the Month Eva is about three months old and has had all of her vaccinations. She has also been de-wormed and is ready for a new home. She is a playful kitten and very curious about everything around her.

She has a good appetite and loves to climb trees, bookcases and cupboards.

She loves to talk and will meow happily with you during the day. If you can offer Eva a loving home, please contact Nicky on 017 293 654 or email nicola.scales@gmail. com.

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March 2013

Revelation at Sofitel

An exhibition of Dominique Tricoire’s work, curated by Pierre-Antoine de la Gorce, is on display in the lobby lounge at Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra until Jul. 25.

Revelation is the culmination of a year’s work. Tricoire has been living in Phnom Penh for the past 12 months, during which time he has produced a series of drawings and paintings. Focusing on Cambodian architecture from sacred temples to urban edifices, the artist applies an abstract filter to figurative scenes to produce pieces with dream-like qualities. A strong collection of original work, Revelation offers a fresh new angle on familiar scenes around the Kingdom. Lobby Lounge, Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra, 26 Old August Site, Sothearos Blvd. Tel: 023 999 200, www.sofitel.com.

Children’s Art Competition

On Jun. 1, Global Art Cambodia is holding an art competition open to those aged between four and 18 at the CambodiaJapan Cooperation Centre.

Registration forms must be in

by May 20. The competition

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is based on the theme ‘My Invention’ and has three age categories. Prizes will be awarded for first, second, third and fourth places. Entrants should bring their own drawing and colouring materials. The competition starts at 8am and finishes at 4pm. Registration is $5 and includes a T-shirt, a goody bag, a snack and a drink.

To register, call 015 770 716 or go to globalartcambodia.com or facebook.com/GlobalArtCam.

Bike Fest Mark 2

After the success of last year’s event, which brought more than 400 motorbike enthusiasts into Phnom

Penh, Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism and NagaWorld are set to host Bike Fest again from May 9 to May 12 at Samdech Techo Hun Sen Park. High-powered vehicles — Harley Davidsons, BMWs, KTMs, Kawasakis, Hondas, Suzukis and other branded bikes — will journey from the border near Poipet via Svay Sisophon, Battambang, Pursat, Kampong Chhnang and Preak Pnov, until they reach Phnom Penh. In the capital, around 50,000 bike enthusiasts are expected to enjoy a display of customised bikes and apparel from leading brands, as well as live music performances.

Blood and Sand

Blood and Sand, a large format exhibition by Colombian photographer and Phnom Penh resident Erika Piñeros, opened at Tepui at Chinese House on Sisowath Quay on Apr. 26 and runs until Jun. 30.

The photographs document bullfighting in Colombia, a spectacle that has survived and evolved over centuries to become an important part of the country's culture. With public opinion growing restless as animal rights concerns come to the fore, this controversial contest and its particular breed of cattle — toro de lidia — are now under threat. For more information, visit www.erikapineros.com.

March 2013

Siem Reap news People Are Strange When You’re A Stranger

The first generation of circus performers from Phare Ponleu Selpak are bringing Siem Reapers a spectacularly strange show. Tchmlaek, meaning weird in Khmer, tells the tale of a father suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. His clueless family do their utmost to lift his spirits, but it is the visitation of a medium who takes him on a trip to the moon and a fantastically camp painter who builds a big house that finally restores him to his former self. Choc-full of hilarity and hair-raising stunts executed by the talented artists, we think it’s Phare’s best show to date.

Shows behind Angkor National Museum start at 7.30pm with tickets costing $15 per person.

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Choul Chhnam Khmer!

Organised by the Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia (UYFC), Angkor Sangkrant Trade Fair was the big event held to celebrate Khmer New Year. Based outside Angkor Wat Temple, the fair featured numerous stalls selling all sorts of trinkets and copious amounts Angkor draft for thirsty shoppers from Apr. 14 to Apr. 16. The fair ended on the last day of Khmer New Year in spectacular fashion by covering Angkor Wat in thousands of candles. Angkor Thom and Bayon temples were also lit up by the lights, giving the ancient settings an even more magical and mysterious air. It was a truly beautiful way to welcome the year into our lives.

Voodoo Guesthouse & Bar What’s your poison? The witchdoctors have arrived in town and brought a selection of cocktail concoctions to tantalise the tastebuds. These elixirs can be found on the rooftop bar of the magic-themed Voodoo Guesthouse, which also features a pool table, beer pong and a small gym. After trying cocktails such as Hey Sexy Laydee or a Voodoo

Kiss for $3, you can check in to the air-conditioned rooms for $10 per night or double bedded dorms for $6. The guesthouse wants to promote local and international artists and has numerous murals covering its walls. “We’re always looking for more people to paint if they want to,” says barman Allan Keo. The guesthouse offers airport transportation and rooms are cleaned daily.

picks of the month Watch: Peep Show

Download: CheckInTonight

Possibly the ultimate British comedy sitcom, Peep Show has lasted for eight glorious seasons.

Starring comedians David Mitchell and Richard Webb, it charts the lives of hapless flatmates Mark and Jez. The pair of misfits — one a straight-laced history enthusiast, the other a drug-addled wouldbe musician severely lacking in morals —try their best to woo a series of unsuspecting women and navigate ‘normal’ adult life with amusing, and often disturbing, results. Much of the show is filmed as if looking out from Mark and Jez’s eyes, with internal monologues permeating the scripts. Despite dubious ethical compasses, Mark and Jez have a legion of fans and a touching friendship. Viewers can’t help but hope that the underdogs eventually win out.

Fancy a cheap night in a top hotel? Then mobile application CheckInTonight Asia might be the answer. The free app allows visitors to check out last minute hotel deals that are available within the next two days. With serious discounts on offer for hotels in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, Hanoi, Bangkok and Bali, it’s a good tool for both regular travellers and those who fancy some time out in luxury surrounds. Log on after 11am to see the deals of the day.

See: Deconstructing Phnom Penh Read: The Definitive Guide to Moving to Southeast Asia — Cambodia Freelance journalist Gabrielle Yetter is among a number of authors sharing their knowledge of Cambodia in a new book released on Amazon. The Definitive Guide covers all aspects of preparing for expat life, including information on visas, vaccinations and traditional greetings. A large food section demystifies market fare, while a handy shopping list breaks down the average cost of everyday items. The honestly written publication is a great resource for any new arrival and features a wealth of information that could take years to glean solo.

Attend: Catch a Cambodian Star The second edition of the Catch a Cambodian Star concerts will be held at the InterContinental Hotel on May 25 at 6pm.

Commemorating 60 years of friendship between Cambodia and Japan, the soiree will include performances from world acclaimed Italian-American pianist Julian Gargiulo and Japanese soprano Satomi Ogawa. Tickets cost $20 in advance and $25 on the door, with proceeds going towards music scholarships for gifted Cambodian artists. For details, please call 016 892 377 (English and Japanese) or 077 552 922 (Khmer).

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Running at the Insider Gallery until May 5, photographer David Holliday’s new exhibition has deconstructed Phnom Penh buildings with stunning results. Separate images of individual building parts have been put back together from memory. The colourful Hockneyesque show allows viewers to observe architectural detail that could have been passed over in a simpler image, in a number of powerful representations of the cityscape.

Tiffany's Diamonds are Phnom Penh’s best friend as luxury jeweller Tiffany’s plans a stone polishing factory in the capital.

Hard Rock Café Siem Reap braces itself for the arrival of the global chain with adverts already out for new staff.

Rain Coats Hot season reaches its zenith, but refreshing showers offer a taste of the wet season ahead. It’s time to invest in a poncho.

Cambodian Art Season of Cambodia rocks New York, bringing local art to a whole new US audience.

Airlines New domestic airline set to challenge Cambodia Angkor Air as Philippine Airlines links up with the Royal Group in new flight venture.

GOING UP GOING DOWN Google Coalition of technology companies including Microsoft calls on EU competition commissioner to investigate Android, claiming it disadvantages rivals.

Monkey Republic Tragedy hits Sihanoukville as much-loved backpackers Monkey Republic is razed in a seaside blaze. Luckily no one is hurt.

Margaret Thatcher Loved and loathed in equal degrees, Great Britain’s former Prime Minister and ‘Iron Lady’ dies at age 87.

Birds New influenza strain kills victims in China, as Cambodia grapples with ongoing H5N1 avian flu outbreak.

Camels A camel given to French president François Hollande in Mali is butchered and put in a stew after the animal stayed with a family in Timbuktu.

openings Venetian Escape

Suite Home Boutique Hotel Two painted murals depicting Venetian canals and a Cambodian riverside greet guests as they walk into Suite Home Boutique Hotel, a new hotel on bustling Street 184. The facility has 10 airconditioned deluxe, deluxe twin and superior rooms starting from $39 per night including breakfast. Visitors can enjoy Italian and Khmer food at Contro D’Oriente restaurant downstairs, featuring wood-fired pizzas, a selection of pastas and classic Khmer dishes.

Suite Home Boutique Hotel has 24-hour reception and free WiFi for guests, and is offering online discounts of up to 40 percent for certain rooms until Jun. 30.

20 Street 184, Phnom Penh. Tel: 023 212 551. info@suitehome.asia. www.suitehome.asia. Restaurant open daily from 7am to 11pm.

Cherry Blossom

Hanami

In late March and early April, Japan blooms with cherry blossom trees under which people gather for outdoor parties called ‘hanami’. A new restaurant in Phnom Penh that takes its name from these gatherings offers daily lunch and dinner buffets for $9 and $18 respectively, with Japanese dishes such as sushi, oden, tempura and yakitori. A dessert buffet with tea, drinks and sweets runs for $5 in the afternoon.

Hanami director Go Yoshida told AsiaLIFE that Hanami wants people to enjoy the quality of Japanese food. The restaurant also has instructional placemats to school sushi novices in the art of eating nigiri sushi.

23 Street 63, corner Mao Tse Tung Blvd, Phnom Penh. Tel: 070 389 100. Open daily from 11am to 10pm. Lunch from 11am to 2pm, tea and dessert from 2pm to 5pm, and dinner from 5pm to 10pm.

Brunch Paradise

Will’s Brunch Café Brunch is a versatile meal. At 11am on a Saturday in new eatery Will’s Brunch Café, couples, corporates and people recovering from the previous night with a cocktail are splayed on multicoloured seats, shaking condiments onto enormous plates of food. Will’s hearty menu features all-day country-themed brunches from Swiss to Canadian, including a classic English breakfast at $8.50. Every angle is covered here, from eggs slathered with hollandaise to pancake stacks and well-buttered bagels. All meats and vegetables used are organic. Coffees start from $1.50 and tea from $2.50, with Mondulkiri coffee beans also on sale.

23 Street 294, Phnom Penh. Tel: 078 262 626. Open daily from 6am to 8.30pm.

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Hong Kong Style

Dim Sum Emperors

City folk can sip hot tea and watch over Central Market while indulging in dinner at Dim Sum Emperors, a new ‘Hong Kong-style’ Chinese restaurant run by Dick Wong — the man behind Emperors of China. For a bite to eat over lunch, the restaurant has noodle and rice dishes for under $4. Brunch, held every Sunday between 11am and 1pm, costs $9.90 and features dim sum, rice, noodles and tea. Manager Yanousan Meas says the food has the finesse of Hong Kong cuisine, at lower than usual prices. After conquering the capital, the Emperors plan to open another restaurant in Siem Reap by the end of the year.

48 E1, E2 corner Street 53 and Street 130, Phnom Penh. Tel: 023 650 7452. Open daily from 6.30am until late. dimsumemperors.com

Sunset Spot

Boat House Still reminiscing about cold beers on Chroy Chang Va? Well fear no more, as a new venue has opened on the peninsula — just turn left after you cross the Japanese Friendship bridge. Opened by Eliza and Thoeun, the proprietors of the Willow hotel, Boat House is set to be a new retreat from the city. Open from 4pm to 10.30pm on the weekend, it boasts a spacious balcony overlooking the Tonle Sap river with beers from $1.50 and cocktails from $3.50. Sample sharing dishes from the two-dish menu of antipasto plates at $12.50 and a dip and warm flat bread selection at $5.50. The couple, who live above the bar, create a warm family-friendly environment and are set to offer a sunset BBQ in the coming weeks.

642 Tonle Sap Road, Phnom Penh. Tel: 092 553 743. Open Saturdays and Sundays from 4pm until 10.30pm.

Meaty Job

Digby’s Butchery

Vegetarians need not apply at Digby’s Butchery, a sleek new meatery in BKK1. Digby’s is a veritable menagerie, selling pork, beef, chicken, turkey, duck and bacon for individual and wholesale use. Local and imported products include Kampot pepper-seasoned pastrami and German pork knuckle. Director Amy Chiv says that Digby’s meat is chemical-free and prepared according to international standards on food safety and hygiene. For those wishing to sample Digby’s selection of meats and cold cuts, the butchery holds free tastings every Saturday from 9am to 1pm at its production unit on Street 306.

197 Street 63, Phnom Penh (Store); 34A Street 306 (Production).

Tel: 023 226 677. Customers can be pre-order. Open daily from 8am to 6pm. digbysbutchery.com, info@dnakcompany.com

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DISPATCHES

Travel news from around the region and beyond

Fun in Fiji

Imagine a whole week of leisure with spectacular South Pacific landscapes. The shores of Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa lead to accommodation with natural chic. The Denarau Island resort interweaves cosmopolitan and indigenous culture in a contemporary setting with Fijian and French influences. When you stay seven nights, you’ll pay for five in rooms, suites and villas ranging from family-friendly to romantic beach views. Try the onsite spa, sports and recreation, such as golfing, biking, volleyball and table tennis. The hotel also can arrange parasailing, deep-sea fishing, snorkelling, and windsurfing. Book at sofitel.com.

Ancient and Modern

Hyderabad is a confluence of forces that represent India.

Minarets and decadent palaces in the old city compete with its status as a technology capital. On one side of the town is the historic charminar, built by Muslims who ruled the area until India's independence. On the other is a place that was dubbed ‘Cyberabad’ by Bill Clinton for its high tech industries. To get a taste of this metropolis check out the Hyatt, which is offering 10 percent discounts for stays through 2013 that are booked at least two weeks in advance. Go to hyderabad.park.hyatt.com for more information.

Arabian Ambiance

Luxury hotel group GHM has signed on to manage the Al Bait Sharjah hotel, which is due to open in the United Arab Emirates in early 2015. The project will include 54 rooms, a spa and dining facilities with a traditional Arabic tea and coffee house. Wall-mounted lanterns, arched porticos, rooftop terraces and pedestrian arteries course through the compound. Rooms open onto intimate, interior courtyards.

Some heritage buildings at the complex are decades old and once owned by prominent residents. Today they maintain some of their original layout and function. One will continue as a library and museum. The Souq Al Arsa, a traditional open-air marketplace, will wind through the core of the hotel property, forming a pedestrian thoroughfare that promises a lively, interactive guest experience. For more information visit ghmhotels.com.

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Have an event coming up?

Send information and dates to k8bluesky@gmail.com

CALENDAR PHNOM PENH MAY

Glamazon 2.0 lands in Phnom Penh tonight, with the fashion and style extravaganza taking place at NagaWorld.

Expect performances from drag star Jujubee as well as spectacular make-over and avant-garde segments in the not-to-be-missed event.

MAY

After the success of his first exhibition at The Tamarind Restaurant on Street 240, painter Chhim Sothy comes back for another creative and meaningful experience. His new exhibition, VISION II, opens at 6pm.

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MAY

Meet the UK Trade and Investment office at 12pm at Deco restaurant on Street 57. A lunch organised by the British Chamber of Commerce will be held with guest speaker Jeffery Lamb from UKTI. Tickets cost $30 for members, $35 for nonmembers. For more information, contact executivedirector@ britchamcambodia.org.

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MAY

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Kick start a healthy lifestyle through personal training sessions and a five-day raw food program. The scheme will help get you in shape and leave you feeling great. Email artillerycambodia@gmail.com for more information.

06 10 23 24

The Flicks @ the Empire is relaunching. It has been refurbished and offers a new menu, designed with movie watching in mind. Go dressed in ‘Hollywood Glamour’ style and enjoy a free drink and nibbles to celebrate. The Empire, 34 Street 130. Call 077468243 or visit www.the-empire.org.

03

The WUPP first Friday pool party is set to rock The Eighty8 guesthouse tonight. BBoy Peanut and DJ Bree will be performing, along with guest DJ Bfox from Kimchi Collective. Don’t miss his electro set. Free entrance, $2 cocktails at the bar and BBQ available.

MAY

MAY

MAY

MAY

GTS Jazz piano trio play The Piano Shop on Street 13 from 7.30pm.

The original lineup plays contemporary jazz in Phnom Penh’s cosy and intimate venue. Space is limited so please book by emailing cambopianos@gmail.com.

07

Dance World Cambodia is hosting three guest teachers in May — Freya List, Kim Adam and classical pilates teacher Erin Hooper, who performs professionally in Australia. Classes are in lyrical, contemporary, hip hop and broadway jazz. Open level evening classes available. To register email danceworldcambodia@ yahoo.com.au. Dance World Cambodia at Hotel Cambodiana, 313 Sisowath Quay. Tel: 012 634 008.

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MAY

09

Photographer Greg Constatine has spent the last seven years photographing the Rohingya community in Myanmar. At 6pm he will present a slideshow of his work from the book Exiled To Nowhere at Meta House.

MAY

Splitter rocks out hard and fast at Equinox, showcasing their latest material and revisiting old favourites from 9pm to 11pm. Equinox, 3A Street 278. Tel: 023 676 7593, www.equinoxcambodia.com.

11 MAY

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MAY

Mother’s Day Brunch at Regency Café at InterContinental Hotel. Delights include fresh seafood, beef Wellington, raclette cheese, chocolate pralines and much more. $36++ per person including a glass of Mother’s Secret. Free for children under 12 when dining with parents.

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Anida Yoeu Ali’s new exhibition opens at the Insider Gallery at InterContinental Hotel. Enter is a mixture of photographic prints and textile installations.

MAY

As the world celebrates International Day Against Homophobia, Meta House launces a three-day film festival in cooperation with Pride Week. Film screenings will be held nightly.

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MAY

The Fumes bring their twist on the past five decades of music back to Equinox from 9pm.

Equinox, 3A Street 278, tel: 023 676 7593.

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MAY

Little Kitchen: Cooking for Change is set to host a night of Laotian food at Meta House. Revenues benefit M’Lup Russey, an organisation that works on providing emergency foster-care to children who have been separated from their families. Limited amounts of tickets can be bought in advance at the Meta House Art café or make a reservation at littlekitchenpp@hotmail.com. Ticket sales and reservations end on May 23.

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MAY

Kin play live at Opera Café on Street 13, from 9pm to 11pm.

One of Phnom Penh’s most diverse jazz bands mixes up some smooth sounds.

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MAY

Painter Chov Theanly will hold his first solo show at Java Café and Gallery on Sihanouk Boulevard from 6pm to 9pm.

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EVERY DAY

Yoga classes at Yoga Phnom Penh, close to BKK market. For more information, please visit yogaphnompenh.com or enquire at 012 739 419.

Every afternoon Sofitel in Phnom Penh will serve a red-themed afternoon tea from 3pm to 5pm.

Tickets cost $25 for sparkling rosé wine, abundant fruits and delights.

Every evening except Sundays and Mondays at Le Bar, Sofitel Phokeetra Phnom Penh, DJ Lady Bluesabelle plays soul, jazz, world music and tropical beats from 6pm until late. No cover charge. Sofitel Phokeetra Phnom Penh, 26 Old August Site, Sothearos Blvd. Tel: 023 999 200, www.sofitel.com/ phnompenh.

EVERY MONDAY

Mad Monday at The Empire, 6pm.

Yoga at Yoga Phnom Penh.

Sweat and Samadhi at 8am, Slow Flow at 12.15pm and Deep Flow at 5.45pm. See yogaphnompenh.com

EVERY WEDNESDAY

Drink & Draw at ARTillery, 7pm.

Get your creative engines going with a live model, a couple of drinks and a whole lot of creative fun.

Latin Fever at The Latin Quarter.

Trivia in the garden at The Willow, $2 entry and 7.30pm start.

Salsa Classes at Ebony Tree on Street 29. Beginners class from 7pm to 8pm. Intermediate class from 8pm to 9pm. $5 for expats, $2.50 for locals.

Salsa with DJ Jimmy at Equinox on Street 278.

EVERY THURSDAY

Open Mic at Paddy Rice Irish Sports Bar. Steak Night at The Empire.

Weekly special at a big discount.

Women’s Night at The Riverhouse.

Swing dancing at Equinox on Street 278, Phnom Penh.

Cool Jazz Thursdays with Kae Lhassan on the microphone, from 7pm until 9pm, at Opera Café on Street 13. The smooth and sensual voice of Kae meets the sweet harmonies of Gabi on piano.

EVERY FRIDAY

Special happy hatha yoga classes at Yoga Phnom Penh, 5.45pm discounted happy hour class.

EVERY SATURDAY

Regular yoga workshops, Sweat and Samadhi lessons, and lunch delivery from ARTillery Cafe at Yoga Phnom Penh. For more information, please visit yogaphnompenh.com.

EVERY SUNDAY

Sunday Escape at the Regency Café, InterContinental hotel. Free flow wine, from $34 per person.

Morning meditation with Beth Goldring, a zen Buddhist nun teacher. Sessions held in a private home close to the national museum, all religions welcome. yogaphnompenh.com Phnom Penh Hash House Harriers’ run. Meet at 2.15pm at the railway station.

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Perhaps one of the most unique forms of storytelling to come out of Australia today is rooted in its oldest traditions. Bangarra Dance Theatre draws on aboriginal dance, throwing in skin-tight dress and impressive choreography using a blanket as a prop, to offer modern interpretive performances. In March, the troupe swung through Ho Chi Minh City Opera House to help Australia mark 40 years of diplomatic ties with Vietnam.

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Photos courtesy of Bangarra.

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Chris Potter After 15 years of employment industry experience, Chris Potter recently launched Ambition Recruitment Agency in Phnom Penh. The Brit gave AsiaLIFE an insight into the current job market.

Photography by Dylan Maddux.

Many western countries are in the midst of recessions while Asia seems to be booming.

How healthy is the Cambodian job market?

It seems to be booming because it is booming. There are great opportunities for Cambodians and the inward investment to the country is unlike any other I’ve seen. This can lead to skills shortages and labour shortages as the best employees get snapped up. There’s a need for investment in training if Cambodia is to maximise on these opportunities.

Inward investment is not just in garment production — there’s engineering, electronics and logistics added to the mix.

Financial services and banking sectors have definitely grown, and as tourism increases there’s more focus on highend hospitality.

What kind of employment opportunities does the city offer to people moving here?

Expats have the benefit of experience in different countries, which can be valuable in an emerging market such as Cambodia. They might find themselves using previously developed skills in a new industry. However, there’s increasing competition from educated, experienced Cambodians, who also speak the language better than most expats. There’s work available in NGOs, start-ups, new technology

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and international companies.

My advice to expat job hunters is not to focus just on salary but to choose a position where they enjoy the work, the interaction and the differences.

Foreigners may experience cultural differences in the workplace. Do you have any advice on how best to adapt?

The role of hierarchy can take some getting used to.

Overt deference for the boss, the importance of job titles, an expectation that senior management will give instructions without asking for contributions, can all be a shock to someone used to a more relaxed office environment.

The best way to learn is by observing Cambodian colleagues and asking questions of your team members. Be polite, remember you are a guest in the country, and remind yourself that things may be done differently for good reason.

Just because it’s different doesn’t mean it’s wrong.

Do you have any advice on how best to present a CV? It’s all in the detail, but sometimes there’s far too much detail. A 12-page CV, including the first aid course you completed in 1998, will put off a busy HR manager who will have to trawl through to find the relevant information.

A good CV is factual, with the

most important information in the top third of the first page, which is where the eye naturally rests. Ensure that your CV matches with your online profiles — LinkedIn is a great resource for hiring managers doing background checks.

Demonstrate how you’ve been effective in previous roles — give figures for savings made for the company, increased sales or productivity.

Any tips on how to best present yourself in a job interview?

Research and preparation are key. Find out everything you can about the company before you go. If you have the time, find the location beforehand and allow plenty of time to arrive — we all know Phnom Penh traffic can be tricky. Allow the employer to get the best impression of you by looking the part: clean clothes, clean shoes, new haircut. Prepare questions about the role, what you’d be expected to do, how success will be measured, what the company expects from the first 100 days of employment. And don’t forget a pen and notebook.

What kinds of skills are important for young graduates entering the job market?

Critical thinking and initiative are difficult to teach but vital for ambitious job-seekers.

Experience in a real working environment through an

internship can put you slightly ahead in the game. You won’t be learning how an office works for the first time and can make a contribution more quickly. Be willing to learn and recognise all those opportunities for personal development, not just training courses but also conversations with more experienced colleagues, online articles, criticism from the boss.

Loyalty and enthusiasm will be rewarded, so I always caution people against job-hopping every few months.

What areas could become more important as the country develops?

Things move quickly in the business world. Ten years ago, no-one would have considered going to university to learn how to develop smartphone apps.

So I’m aware that my crystal ball is a bit cloudy on this one.

Adaptability, flexibility and keeping up with technology will give people the best chance of developing their career, whichever direction they take.

Finally, what’s the most unusual job you’ve placed someone in?

The most unusual role was finding a bird-scarer for a waste transfer station in the UK. Their job was to fly a kite to scare the seagulls away.

There were surprisingly few candidates for that.

IN THEIR

shoes

From chocolate sculpting to toilet marketing, Cambodia can offer unusual job opportunities for those wanting to try something new.

Ellie Dyer and Marissa Carruthers seek some employment inspiration from passionate residents and visitors for whom weird, wonderful adventures are an everyday occurrence. Photography

by Charles Fox and Dylan Maddux.

28 asialife Cambodia

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CHOCO LATE ARTIST Sweet too

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Steady ha

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PHILIP MOSER With a scalpel clutched in his white-gloved hand, Philip Moser circles the six-foot-high chocolate spirit house in a chilly temperature-controlled room near the capital’s German Embassy. After careful consideration, he whittles out a groove on its roof, adding touch after touch to create a realistic representation of the home shrine.

“Culture is fascinating.

You discover a country, you discover people, ways of life, traditional art. To share that — it’s kind of like sharing my trip,” says the German-French chocolatier, who first began experimenting with carving the sweet substance while working

as a pastry chef. It was a trip to Madagascar in 2006 to meet coco plantation owners that led Moser to create his own high-end chocolate company, called Xoco.Phil, in Switzerland in 2009. The niche company uses quality goods to produce a range of chocolates, with Moser flying across the world to countries including Cambodia to source ingredients such as beans, sugars and spices.

“I try to be a control freak on my ingredients,” he says, emphasising the deep respect and fascination he has with all things chocolate, divulging that he can easily eat a pound of it a day.

Though undoubtedly a dream job for chocoholics, carving intricate sculptures — which have in the past included a traditional Madagascan totem pole — for international exhibitions is a delicate task.

Sculptures have taken up to 300 hours to create, and are carefully planned out using computer programs to set proportions. Once, disaster struck when Moser created a chocolate clock that fell and broke within the first hour of a show.

“Chocolate is very precise, if you make a mistake you’ll see it,” he explains.

“When you get into it, it’s a fascinating raw material.”

Though Moser admits that “maybe once every two years, I have a little Toblerone phase” the 30-year-old stays away from industrial chocolate, highlighting the purity of quality chocolate and the blossom notes of Ecuadorian varieties compared to fruity Madagascan fare.

“For a lot of people chocolate equals chocolate … but then if you tell them coffee equals coffee, they might be picky about it. It’s like telling someone who smokes cigars that a Cuban cigar and a Cambodian cigar is the same thing,” he says. “In theory, yes, but it’s not.” asialife Cambodia 29

DOS PHALLA Plunging blind into the murky depths of the Mekong to salvage tens of thousands of unexploded bombs that litter the riverbed will become a daily occurrence for Dos Phalla when the country’s first underwater clear-up launches next year.

The 40-year-old joined the ranks of the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) in 2001 as its public relations officer.

When the call was made for recruits to help recover artillery shells and bullets that lie at the bottom of the country’s lakes and rivers, he decided it was time for a change.

“We are the first in Cambodia to do this and there are a lot of explosives still underwater here,” he says.

“I want to be the person that can help people in Cambodia from the impact of both landmines and unexploded ordnances (UXOs).”

Phalla was one of 10 Cambodians who graduated from the first dive course to locate underwater UXOs after four weeks of intensive training supported by the US Department of State’s office for weapons removal and abatement. The course, which took place in February, saw the divers learn to

D WANTE

IVER BOMB D immer Strong sw ills Diving sk

work in Willing to ions dit dark con

Photo by Nick Street

30 asialife Cambodia

swim before going on to deep sea dive in Sihanoukville.

This year the graduates will complete another two courses on locating and salvaging explosives before starting to recover deadly munitions that were dropped during the 1960s and 70s. During this time, it is believed about 300 ships were sunk in the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers, with some boats filled with up to 1,000 tonnes of munitions. The team of divers have been trained to carry out work to remove these remains, which still pose a threat to Cambodians.

Despite facing deadly

dangers at every turn, Phalla says helping to make his homeland safe is a top priority for him. “I want to make Cambodia peaceful and I’m very proud and happy to be part of this,” he says.

“I have enjoyed the work so far but I know that every minute is dangerous. You don’t know if one minute you will die or your friend will die, and if we miss something on our mission it can be dangerous.

You can’t see anything under the water. It is like coffee, so we have to be perfect and know clearly every step of the way what we are doing.”

WANTED

ION SANITAT ER MARKET ware Business a Honest dly

Toilet frien

TAMARA BAKER “Sanitation is an incredibly important issue, but it’s not particularly sexy as far issues and causes go. You are literally dealing with shit,” Tamara Baker says with a smile.

Since 2009, the affable Canadian has, together with her partner Cordell Jacks, been immersed in the distinctly unglamorous sanitation business thanks to her work as director of development organisation iDE’s Wash Initiative. iDE helps train concrete producers in seven provinces to sell and distribute affordable latrines to local communities, in a bid to stem open defecation and make the most of an untapped market. Only 23 percent of Cambodia is thought

to have latrine coverage. Though faeces can spread disease — more children die every year of diarrhoea related disease than malaria, HIV and tuberculosis combined — Baker points out that success is not rooted in lecturing households on health.

The key is offering an affordable and accessible toilet that people can aspire to own.

“They have to want something.

It’s not just a technical solution but something they can have pride in owning,” she says, pointing out that the “beautiful” white tiled latrine is a popular model among customers.

Training Cambodian business owners to actively sell latrines is honest, and sometimes graphic,

work. Sellers sometimes take images of faeces and scenarios — such as not having a toilet when guests come — as sales tools to trigger customers’ emotions.

“Within our work, we embrace the use of the word shit — it’s part making it not a taboo, and making it something very real,” she says.

Over the years, Baker has developed a fascination for bathrooms of the world, debating the ergonomics of squat versus sit-down latrines during the interview.

“I have so many pictures of toilets and I can’t help but look for houses with toilets as I’m driving through the countryside,” she adds.

Despite falling into the profession by chance — the couple sold their belongings intending to leave Canada and meet again in Kolkata, India, before landing their Cambodian jobs — it seems her passion for sanitation won’t abate anytime soon.

“I think first and foremost you have to love the work that you are doing, and Cordell and I love what we do. I hope and think that translates through to our team,” she says. “We always joke we never got to Kolkata. Fate brought us to toilets together.”

Technical support for iDE’s project work is provided by the Water and Sanitation Programme of the World Bank. asialife Cambodia 31

WANTED JUNGLE SONOGR APHER Good listen

er

Love of natu

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Sense of ad

venture

ADRIAN STOEGER Deep in Cambodia’s jungles, weighed down with microphone equipment, Adrian Stoeger listens carefully for sounds, from tweeting birds up in the canopy to croaking frogs and deafening cicadas hidden in the undergrowth.

“What I do is sit down, close my eyes, and I really concentrate on what’s happening,” explains the 37-year-old sonographer, who has traversed the Cambodian wilds in search of sounds to put on his iOS app ‘Ambinator’. “It’s like I want to imprint on myself what’s happening at the moment.”

Born in Germany and raised in France, Stoeger was always drawn to sound — an 32 asialife Cambodia

aptitude that led him first to play the guitar and later into a career as a sales manager for a music company.

Ambinator, which immerses listeners in rich and complex atmospheric recordings, was born in 2009 after a discussion with a group of friends in Berlin.

When Stoeger moved to Cambodia with his wife last year, the app evolved from electronic sound to include jungle noise, which he hopes will enable listeners to take time out of a hectic modern world where they are constantly bombarded with visual images.

“What is extremely beneficial for me is closing the

eyes, getting out of the visual thing, and just concentrate on what’s happening in the mind,” he explains. “This is what sound allows me to do — it’s a gate and an access to my inner world.”

The hunt for rich and complex acoustic ambience has led Stoeger to accompany NGOs on trips deep into Ratanakiri province and the Cardamom Mountains, sleeping in hammocks and trekking through inhospitable forests.

“I went through the whole range of possible emotions.

On my first trip my backpack was way too heavy and it was April,” he recalls. “You are confronted with something very

basic, just having to get along with yourself — the sweat and the smell.”

The experience reaped great aural rewards, including an encounter with a huge Hornbill in a remote clearing surrounded by frogs and cicadas.

“You could hear the flapping of the wings, and he moved directly into the axis of the microphone on a tree … and began making the loudest call I’d ever heard – I had goose bumps and my hair was standing on my head,” Stoeger says. “In a great recording or a great moment it’s almost a spiritual experience for me.”

Ambinator Jungle is available for $0.99 on iTunes.

SOPHOAN PEOU The picture of perfection running across the pitch is hardly the image conjured up when you think of a rugby referee. For a start, Sophoan Peou is a woman, and she’s as far from the big, burly blokes that traditionally dominate the rugby pitch as an ant is from an elephant.

Despite her petite frame, she harbours a fire in her eyes and passion for the sport that mirrors any man’s. As she pounds the pitch, blowing hard on her whistle before shouting out orders, it’s obvious she has the ferocious drive necessary to referee any match from start to finish.

The 23-year-old became one of the country’s first female rugby referees two years ago after falling in love with the sport when she was introduced to it at school. Unperturbed by the aggression and keen to grapple in the middle of a scrum, she got stuck straight into the game.

“I liked it straight away because it’s a tough game,” she says. “I also like it because the rules are complicated. It’s all about teamwork and there is a lot of passion involved. You have to communicate well but it’s also a lot of fun.”

In 2005, a women’s rugby team was formed at NGO

Pour un Sourire d’Enfant.

Peou was drawn by the passion she saw on the pitch and signed up immediately.

She went on to rise to the ranks of captain of Cambodian Rugby Union — training three hours a day— and has played in tournaments in Thailand and Laos for the Southeast Asian Games.

In 2010, she decided she wanted to turn her skills to refereeing and started an intensive training course, which included a 10-day stint in Hong Kong. Since then, she has refereed games across the world, including in Vietnam, Bali, Australia and Thailand,

and currently serves as referee for the under-13s, under-19s and a team of deaf children.

As well as holding a passion for the game, the tourism student uses her refereeing skills to help promote equality among young children. “I always thought if boys can do it, so can women and that’s what I try and teach the kids.

I want them to learn from a young age how to be fair and for it to be equal between men and women. That’s very important to me and I would like to see more girls involved in rugby,” she says.

For more information, visit cambodiarugby.net.

WANTED RUGBY REFEREE ation skills Communic usiast Fitness enth ir play Sense of fa

asialife Cambodia 33

Rock

G E N E R AT I O N A young generation of Cambodians fighting to express themselves has turned to music. Marissa Carruthers and photographer Dylan Maddux caught up with three bands at the forefront of the alternative music movement.

Leaping into the air, the young singer dressed in skinny jeans and a simple black T-shirt screams into her microphone before launching into a head-banging session on stage. A healthy crowd of fans follow suit and transform the dance floor into a moshpit, moving to the sounds of the Khmer post-hardcore and metal-core band.

Welcome to the world of alternative music — a movement that seems to be quickly catching on with young Cambodians as talented rock bands join the country’s evergrowing music scene. “I love the attitude that comes with this sort of music,” says No Forever vocalist Pheng Sovandaeriza.

“It comes with a certain kind of freedom to express yourself.

Even if it’s brutal or cruel, it’s always so pure.”

Off stage, the 22-year-old student couldn’t be more different from her almost terrifying on stage alter-ego.

Timid, polite and adorably sweet, Pheng — who also goes by the name of Sam — aims to inspire a generation of young Cambodians through her music, a blend of guitars and passionate screaming and shouting.

“What we want is for people in Cambodia to be who they are and not to be afraid of anything, and that’s what I 34 asialife Cambodia

of young people in Cambodia think this sort of music is all tend to listen to K-pop but about. Being a female singer there do seem to be more in this genre of music is also listening to alternative music. unusual but I don’t like to I think that’s because they’re think about what’s different. rebelling and want to broaden I don’t care if I’m female or their horizons and this is a way male, I do what I want and to do that.” that’s how it should be,” she With relatable lyrics about says, citing bands Asking love, life and teenage angst, Alexandria and Sleeping With it’s little Sirens as her wonder inspiration. such music Despite is capturing only forming ˝I like the the minds of eight months aggression, the youngsters, ago, No pure ecstasy, many of Forever the heightened whom are has already emotions — hearing attracted alternative that’s not a firm rock following of something you created by fans keen to can fake and Cambodians rebel against I love that.˝ for the first social norms. time. The And it seems genre’s rise they’re not is also set to get a boost after the only band to create waves the launch of record label Yab in the music scene.

Moung Records Phnom Penh Hoern Vanntin, front man four months ago. No Forever, of two-year-old metal band Sliten6ix and ANTI-fate are Sliten6ix, has noticed a rise in among the five bands signed the number of young people up to the label, which has in the Kingdom turning to been securing them paid gigs alternative music. in the capital.

“I’ve been a big fan since I Myley Rattle, 27, co-founder was young,” the 20-year-old of Yab Moung and Phnom Slipknot fan says. “I like the aggression, the pure ecstasy, the Penh venue Showbox, which hosts alternative music nights, heightened emotions — that’s believes the genre can attract not something you can fake attention across borders by and I love that. The majority

encouraging youngsters to express themselves openly.

“I saw two of the bands live and thought they could easily play in Melbourne or New York with their unique and up-to-date music. I knew there had to be a way for this sort of music to be bigger in Cambodia,” he says.

“It’s unique Khmer creativity being made by Khmers, and they sing songs about everything. This stuff’s not PC, and some is in English and some is in Khmer. It’s really relevant for the slightly younger generation. It’s getting people to express themselves in a way that’s not socially acceptable.”

Later this year, it is hoped the bands will embark on a national tour, which will start and end in Phnom Penh, taking in Siem Reap, the coast and Battambang. In the next two years, Rattle hopes to get them out of Cambodia and introduce the rest of Southeast Asia to the country’s sounds.

The musicians themselves also hope to make their mark on the nation. “We want to make Cambodia proud and hope to help Cambodians understand what this sort of music is really all about," says 23-year-old student Chhuth Sen Propey, frontman of ANTI-fate.”

Pictured: Chhuth Sen Propey of ANTI-Fate, Pheng Sovandarrza (AKA Sam) of No Forever, Hoeurn Vanntin of Sliten6ix. asialife Cambodia 35

A growing number of pets are competing in chicken beauty contests to earn the title of Vietnam’s top bird. Words and photos by Dana Filek-Gibson.

Elbows pressed against the table, long-time chicken enthusiast Chau Dinh Phuong removes the cigarette from his mouth.

“In the afternoon, say we go drinking and Khiem here can drink 10 beers,” Phuong says, gesturing across the table to a younger man with a crew cut.

“But he only drinks eight. And you think, 'Why don't you drink the other two?' It's because he has to take care of his chickens.”

36 asialife Cambodia

Here, Phuong pauses for effect, stirring his drink with a dented spoon. Around him, members of the Gia Dinh Ornamental Chicken and Bird Club are greeting one another, pulling up wicker chairs and ordering coffee. Every two weeks the group gathers at Hoa Vien Truc Lam, a park in rural Hoc Mon District in northern Ho Chi Minh City, to plan monthly beauty contests for their pets.

After a beat, Phuong finds the point he's trying to make.

“Caring for chickens helps us get rid of the negative things in our lives,” he tells me. This is as close as we get to a mutual understanding of his passion for ornamental birds.

Like many people in Vietnam, Phuong has raised fowl since he was a boy. In recent years, as organisations devoted to this hobby have sprung up across the

country, he and his fellow club members have begun competing in beauty contests, along with a growing number of avid ornamental chicken owners.

“When the club first started, there were many people who came to the grounds to see what the group was all about,” says Nguyen Thanh Liem, current leader of the Gia Dinh club. “The entire yard would be filled with chickens and their owners.”

Photo by Chau Dinh Phuong

That was back in 2009, when organised beauty contests were first catching on. Though chickens have long been a popular pet in Vietnam, the Gia Dinh club was one of the few organisations where owners could meet and share their experiences at the time.

Nowadays, ornamental chicken clubs are everywhere and with them a multitude of local competitions in which to enter your pet.

“To raise chickens so that they survive is very easy,” Phuong says. “But to raise them so that they're beautiful is very difficult. Chickens must be raised to adulthood, just like a lady must come of age before she is beautiful.”

In order to maintain the colour and health of their feathers, these animals require adequate space, proper nutrition, and hygiene. The birds, a specific breed known as the Vietnamese bantam chicken, do not become competition ready until they are a year old and, much like human beings, there is no guarantee that an animal will grow up to be attractive. Even the most dedicated of owners still runs the risk of raising an ugly bird. In the interest of certainty, beautiful chickens can be purchased, but the more attractive the chicken, the higher the price. Liem says the going rate for top-notch ornamental fowl can be as much as $5,000.

Before the start of each

contest, chickens are concealed in cardboard boxes. Each animal receives a number in order to mask the identity of its owner and is then placed beneath a dome-shaped wire cage.

“If you have an exceptionally beautiful chicken and you open your box before it's time to judge the animals, perhaps I have a chicken less beautiful than yours,” Phuong explains.

“I'll be scared to lose, and so I'll withdraw from the competition.”

When the judging begins,

legs, saddle feathers, tail, and overall appearance — for a maximum score of 100 points.

According to Tran Ba Khiem, a fellow club member and judge, a beautiful chicken must have small facial features, particularly its earlobes and its comb, the red appendage atop its head. Neck and saddle feathers must be long, healthy and full, and wings should be such that the animal's legs are barely visible beneath the feathers. The most important features on the score sheet are

Much like human beings, there is no guarantee that an animal will grow up to be attractive. Even the most dedicated of owners still runs the risk of raising an ugly bird. the animals are assessed by a panel of three to four judges, all of whom have been deemed fit to judge by their respective clubs. Each adjudicator must have a discerning eye, an honest temperament, and years of experience raising fowl. On some occasions, clubs will hire assessors from other localities in order to ensure that those assessing the birds are not biased toward any particular contestant.

Chickens are judged in seven categories — the head and face, neck feathers, wings,

the saddle feathers and tail, which require a full, healthy plume in order to receive top marks. Once each of these areas has been scrutinised, judges stand back and take in the entire chicken, providing a final score in the category of overall beauty.

Though it is frowned upon, some owners perform procedures on their pets to reduce the size of certain features, namely the earlobes and the comb. Owners have also been known to dye their

pets or glue broken feathers back onto the chicken.

“If an owner interferes with the natural beauty of the chicken, that animal will lose points or be disqualified from the contest,” Khiem says.

Following the calculation of the scores, winners are announced. The top three contestants receive certificates commemorating the occasion, while the overall winner is awarded a small sum of money, which is meant to go to the chicken's care. There is also a 15-minute period following these announcements in which owners are allowed to approach the judging table and contest any scores with which they disagree.

“Many people complain,” Phuong says. “But people don't often disagree with the judges' explanations. If someone feels the judge is wrong, however, spectators will gather and listen to the complaint and the judges' response. If the crowd sides with the judge, then that owner must let the argument go.”

Neither Khiem nor Phuong have won the top prize in a competition, but, like their fellow club members, enjoying the company of these feathered friends on a sunny Sunday afternoon is enough to keep their reverence for ornamental birds alive.

“I don't know how, but if tomorrow everyone stopped raising chickens, I would keep doing so because I enjoy it,” Phuong says. asialife Cambodia 37

HOOK LINE SINKER Phnom Penh’s rivers are the lifeblood of the city. Ellie Dyer meets the man behind a new fishing tour on the Tonle Sap river.

Photography by Charles Fox. From a mysterious message in a bottle to grappling with a monster catfish, blogger Dorn Phok is no stranger to the fruits of Cambodia’s rivers.

An avid fisherman since his youth in Svay Rieng province, the 27-year-old has spent many happy hours entrenched on the capital’s riverside with rod in hand.

“During the fish season we use different bait. If the water is up, we use worms. When the water subsides, we use cake.

And I use prahok too, and cockroach,” explains the angler, who runs an online diary recording his river exploits.

“Cockroaches are very easy to catch. You just pick them up and put them in a bottle. I was looking for earthworms but I didn’t know where to find them in Phnom Penh. I tried some cockroaches and it worked.

Fish — they love it.”

After years of plying the depths and honing his angling skills, the hobby fisherman is trying to bait a new and potentially more lucrative catch — tourists. “People read my blog and message me to ask to come and go fishing, so I thought okay: yes, I’ll try to open a business of fishing trips,” he says.

Armed with a plastic bottle full of scuttling roaches, multiple fishing rods and a hired boat, the newly launched trips currently take place on Friday and Saturday afternoons. Thought to be one of the first such tours in the capital — though regular fishing trips are 38 asialife Cambodia

offered in coastal regions including Sihanoukville — the trips introduce would-be fishermen and women to life on the river, with expert advice on technique provided along the way.

Cruising beside Phnom Penh’s bustling riverside, our first stop is behind Chaktomuk Theatre and the Himawari Hotel — a popular spot for local fishermen, many of whom sit in contemplative silence on the jagged cubes that dot the water’s edge.

In the boat, Dorn dons his shady fisherman’s hat before clipping off the legs of the roaches. The wriggling bait is then speared onto a hook, cast into the river, and dropped into the depths in anticipation of tantalising some bottom dwelling catfish.

Hopes run high for a catch, as big fish certainly make the capital’s rivers their home.

Dorn once battled for 30 minutes before reeling in a giant catfish that reportedly weighed 12 kilograms. “I brought it to my grandma in Kandal province. She said: ‘No, I don’t believe, you bought from a market’. Later she believed me, because she found many hooks inside its stomach,” he says. “Big fish destroy many hooks and escape, I was lucky.”

Living in a big city, he admits that plastic bags and rubbish have also been the catch of the day. Once, the fishing guide even found a message in a bottle from a gay man grappling with a personal

crisis. He returned it to the waters, saying he was not the right person to receive it.

Though river fishing is best from September to October, small groups of men with their own gear can be spotted on the banks all year. Many are fishing as a social activity rather than out of necessity.

“You just have fun, we can meet new friends,” says Dorn, who emphasises that the relaxing activity requires a lot of patience and can attract up to 150 fishermen to try the waters off Koh Pich on a good day. “We don’t talk about any work, we just talk about fishing.”

After passing the Japan- Cambodia Friendship Bridge, the boat stops again.

A few nibbles are felt and a cockroach disappears from a hook, but when night draws it’s clear that the fish aren’t biting.

As the sun sets over the river and we tuck into a steamed fish dinner — prebought at the market in case of unproductive days — a sense of peace pervades. Many of those on the trip become lost in silent thought. In the words of American author Henry David Thoreau: “Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.”

Dorn Phok’s fishing tours cost $10 per person. For more information call 097 897 0007, or visit www.fishinginphnompenh. wordpress.com.

“Cockroaches are very easy to catch. You just pick them up and put them in a bottle."

asialife Cambodia 39

Crafting Nature

The ancient art of lacquer work is being revived in Siem Reap, thanks in part to two French brothers who emphasise the use of natural ingredients at their unique workshop. Words and photographs by Ellie Dyer.

Surrounded by shelves of vibrant pigment and gold leaf, a budding artisan pastes tiny fragments of eggshell onto a bowl, his hand steady as he covers the vessel in a fractured pattern. It will later be layered with coat after coat of lacquer, producing a lustrous work of art ready for a global market.

The studio of French brothers Eric and Thierry Stocker, located down a dusty road in Siem Reap, is at the forefront of Cambodian lacquer work — an art form that uses tree sap and metal leaf to produce distinctive designs in polished hues of red, black and gold.

40 asialife Cambodia

The craft has a long history.

In ancient times, understanding of lacquer techniques and ornamentation spread through global silk routes. Knowledge passed from China to Japan and made its way to Southeast Asia, where it was utilised for waterproofing containers and decorative purposes.

In Cambodia, remains of 15th century lacquer work have been spotted on bas reliefs at Angkor Wat temple, while French colonial rule saw sap exported for industrial purposes. The viscous liquid can be used in boat building and engine work due to its resilience to high

temperatures. But, like many art forms, the craft was hit by the turbulence of the latter half of the 20th century. Many artisans died, preventing knowledge of the craft from being transmitted to future generations of their families.

“Step by step we want to introduce it again,” explains 55-year-old Eric Stocker, a French expert who initially came to Cambodia in 1998 to help revitalise the art as part of a European Union project.

“The first time I came, it was difficult. I needed to learn Khmer — to speak, to read, and to write the technical book, 700 pages in Khmer,

for the memory of all the techniques,” recalls the artist, who began training with a lacquer master at the age of 16.

“After three years I had trained more than 200 young people in the techniques of lacquer ware and gilding.”

The project was followed by the creation of locally-based design company Artisans Angkor in 2002. Stocker worked with the business for a decade until he set up his own studio called Angkor Artworks with his brother Thierry, creating the brand Eric Stocker Laque et Textures last year.

The current workshop, set in an airy house and surrounding

gardens, emphasises the use of natural substances and used materials.

Wide paintbrushes are made from pig hair, while artistic implements have previously been fashioned from motorbike parts and iron work for building foundations.

Eric also ventures into forests in Kampong Thom and Ratanakiri provinces to collect sap from lacquer trees — the location of which, after years of experience, he knows well.

“When I have three or four kilos I can work for two or three months, but we collect only in the rainy season. So I await the rain,” he says,

adding that each tree can produce only four to five grams of sap per day.

Stocker also celebrates nature with his finished designs — often rendered in the distinctive red and orange shades of cinnabar pigment — which are rooted in the organic world.

Fish and flower imagery feature in the art works, while lily pads and papaya leaves are drenched in lemon juice and then laid over canvases.

Over hours, the lemon’s acid strips away at painted layers beneath, leaving a distinctive imprint of leaf veins behind.

“I’ve never seen this

technique before and we sell across the world,” says Stocker. “For me what is important is to continue to work with the old techniques, but we adapt.”

While looking to the past, the artist is ensuring the future. Having gained knowledge of sign language, Stocker is training a number of deaf workers aged between 19 and 27. They practise moulding, gilding and sanding techniques, delicate egg shell work, and the use of lacquer.

Like the art form itself, which can see up to 20 layers of lacquer applied on a single

piece, it can be a lengthy process. Training can take up to a decade to complete.

Maintaining the environment is equally key for an art form that is so rooted in natural substances, and Stocker hopes that one day lacquer plantations will take root in Cambodia again.

“What is important now in Cambodia is to plant again the lacquer tree, because it’s the base of our work,” he says. “You are independent when you know what nature and the environment can give to you.”

For more information, visit angkorartwork.fr. asialife Cambodia 41

Sugar, Spice and All Things Nice

Gabrielle Yetter, author of new dessert book The Sweet Tastes of Cambodia, lifts the lid on the best of the country’s sugary treats.

Photography by Dylan Maddux.

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Every morning at around 2am, Vichet and Sreymom start boiling palm syrup in a large soot-encrusted cauldron.

There's often a cow or two grazing outside their front gate, while smoke from the fire imbues the surrounds with the strong aroma of burning wood.

At 5.30am, Vichet loads the freshly cooked batch of pong ansong — deep fried rice balls filled with beans and coconut and cooked in sugar — into a Styrofoam container, straps it to the back of his moto and drives to the local market in Ratanakiri province, where vendors from around the region display sweet treats in shiny silver bowls.

You won’t find chocolate cake and cream-filled cupcakes at this buffet. You'll probably see purple kidney beans, green basil seeds, orange pumpkin, dried mushrooms and mung beans.

More than likely, they’ll be drenched in coconut cream, condensed milk or palm syrup — or all three — and served over a heap of crushed ice.

It’s no surprise that Cambodia has a sweet tooth, but there are a number of unique ingredients and preparations involved in some of the country’s recipes. For example, crop chi is a creamy combination of kapok resin, basil seed, condensed milk and palm sugar that contains malva nut, which is said to have medicinal qualities.

Damnapp svay is made by cooking ripe mango with palm sugar and salt, then drying it in the sun for several days so it becomes like leather.

Flavours of other desserts are enhanced by cooking with chak leaf or banana leaf wrappings, jasmine flowers and candied winter melon. Even shallots are sometimes added to bak kheng,

a yellow bean custard, for additional taste.

These are just a couple of tidbits I learned during my pursuit of traditional Cambodian desserts. For almost five months, I shadowed chefs, documented recipes and travelled the country writing The Sweet Tastes of Cambodia. The book, conceived by NGO Pour Un Sourire d’Enfant, is designed to document traditional recipes as well as tell the stories of the cooks, the legends and the countryside.

While researching such stories, I squelched through muddy paths in search of a lost village, sat on woven grass mats with elderly nuns in a mountaintop temple, and scurried past herds of angry buffalos in rice fields. I talked to villagers in dark, aromatic markets, and spent time with women who grind their own flour. I learned there’s an island near Kratie that produces the country’s sweetest pomelos, and a particular type of coconut in Battambang that is richer and more expensive than other varieties.

I discovered that much of the produce commonly grown in Cambodia — potato, corn, mango and taro, among others — often ends up on the dessert table. According to Tourn Kiv, senior chef at Pour Un Sourire d’Enfant, most ingredients used in Cambodian desserts originate from farming communities.

“Cambodian desserts use a lot of legumes, roots and vegetables since these products grow near people’s homes and farms,” he explains. “Women added sugar and gave them to children as a snack, as well as to men working in the fields, because glucose gave them strength. Most desserts are steamed or boiled since

people here don’t have ovens for cooking.”

One ingredient that is an essential component for most desserts is sticky or glutinous rice. Ansom chek, for example, is sticky rice filled with banana and wrapped in a banana leaf.

Kralan is a bamboo stalk stuffed with sticky rice, coconut milk and kidney beans or black eyed beans, and num ple aiy are sweet dumplings made with sticky rice, palm sugar and coconut.

Recipes for Cambodian desserts are generally passed down from generation to generation without being documented. With the younger generation moving toward more western style sweets like ice cream, efforts are being made to record the old traditions.

Chith Narith, a tourism officer at the Ministry of Tourism who helped organise a dessert show in Phnom Penh last year, says that Cambodian sweets are often regionalised and created for different religious ceremonies.

“Num ple aiy is usually used for offerings during full moons because the dessert is white and the moon is white,” he says. “Desserts are often made in honour of the souls of ancestors, so Cambodians can take them to pagodas as offerings to the monks.”

Dessert in Cambodia is not just considered an after-meal experience — some of the busiest times at sweet stands are during the mornings or after school, when shoppers indulge in a sugary blend as they tend to their daily errands. Simply stated, dessert in Cambodia is for any time of day.

The Sweet Tastes of Cambodia costs $20 and is available at Monument Books, International Book Centre, Flicks 1, Couleurs d’Asie, Lotus Blanc and restaurants around Phnom Penh.

You won’t find chocolate cake and cream-filled cupcakes at this buffet. You'll probably see purple kidney beans, green basil seeds, orange pumpkin, dried mushrooms and mung beans.

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Chilly Noodle House Being entertained while you eat is always a bonus, especially when the show on offer is a chef creating the noodles you’ve ordered from scratch. A few twists, pulls and stretches and, as if by magic, a lump of dough is suddenly transformed into strings of perfectly shaped noodles ready to be tossed into the pan.

It oozes confidence when you set up your kitchen on the street for all to see. The bold move, coupled with the noodle magic, pays off for Chilly Noodle House. Without the display it would be easy to walk past the unassuming eatery tucked away at the top end of Street 172, home to a smattering of small restaurants and guesthouses.

Simplicity is the key here and it works well. The small shop house boasts a handful 44 asialife Cambodia

of tables and minimal décor, with a few paintings of the Cambodian countryside adding a splash of colour to the walls.

Other than that, it’s light, bright and breezy with a small room at the back offering chillout sofas for those wanting to settle their stomachs before hitting the road.

The menu is surprisingly big and offers a range of noodle dishes, rice dishes, dumplings and Khmer offerings, all reasonably priced. Despite being tempted to try the fried broccoli with pork, we were there to eat the freshly hand-stretched noodles that were being carefully crafted in front of us.

Settling on fried pork dumplings ($2.50), fried noodles with beef ($2.50), chicken fried rice ($2.50) and fried cabbage with pork ($3),

Harbouring a craving for some freshly made noodles, Marissa Carruthers and photographer Charles Fox grab a bite at Chilly Noodle House. we watched as one of the chefs whistled up the noodles while the other chopped and sliced a bundle of greens to accompany our meal.

Service came with a smile and plates loaded with scrumptious smelling food quickly landed in front of us.

With generous portions, there’s no chance of leaving hungry and my plate was piled high with soft noodles doused in soy sauce, succulent strips of beef that melted in the mouth, and a selection of vegetables.

Because of the small kitchen, each dish is cooked separately.

The next to arrive was the fried cabbage, complete with healthy chunks of non-fatty pork. A blend of herbs gave a different burst of flavour with each bite.

A mountain of rice topped with a generous portion of

strips of tender chicken was next on the menu. The rice was not too sticky or hard, with the mix of stir-fried vegetables remaining deliciously crunchy.

Last up were the dumplings, which were as equally tantalising. Cooked to crisp perfection, the minced meat was complimented with a perfect blend of herbs. A small side serving of salad and a saucer of chopped garlic allowed diners to concoct their own spicy mix from the condiments on the table.

Full, we finished off our mango smoothies ($2) and left, promising to come back.

There’s something satisfying about stumbling across a place where there’s no fuss, and the food is fresh, cheap and tastes good.

Chilly Noodle House, 1 Street 172. Tel: 023 5550 511.

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The Beach REDISCOVERED

Mark Bibby Jackson sets off for the Thai royal resort town of Hua Hin searching for the beach he encountered on his first visit to Asia.

We all have that beach: the one etched in our memory so vividly that it transports you back to a time when you were still young, and travelling was an endless adventure. Mine was Hua Hin. Twenty-one years ago — even before Alex Garland had written The Beach — the town was just a stop-off on the way back from Hong Kong on my first trip to Asia. A short bus ride from Bangkok and I was standing on my own plot of sand with nothing to disturb me but an occasional seagull. At least that’s how I recollect it.

An old man took me to the beach in his cyclo. I had to get out each time we approached a hill and walk to the crown.

Such things are inconceivable now, as cyclo drivers are in as short supply as deserted stretches of sand.

Although nowhere near as congested as Pattaya, Phuket or Samui, the once sleepy royal resort town is now riding on the shirttails of the Thai tourism trade. Sammy Carolus, the general manager of the Hyatt Regency, still feels there is room for expansion.

Enjoying a cocktail at the resort’s McFarland House — a two-storey 19th century pavilion transformed into an airy beachfront bar and dining area overlooking the Gulf of Thailand — he explains his hopes for more international flights so that Hua Hin can compete with the more famous resort islands to the south.

According to Carolus, Hua Hin’s runway is longer than Koh Samui, although its only international flights are from Kuala Lumpur, and it is the growth of condominiums that compete with his repeat trade and stand empty for weeks on end that should be stunted.

An early morning stroll reveals that Hua Hin no longer resembles the beach I remember. Condominiums and luxury resorts stretch down to the still communal sands. Loungers wait in line for Northern European travellers starved of sun. Books, sunglasses and T-shirts demark those seats already reserved in the time honoured tradition of the Costa del Sol. Ironically, given its coastal location, the peace and quiet of Hua Hin is now reserved for pastures located away from the main drag. The Hyatt Regency has ample gardens in which guests can doze off between pages of the latest best-seller underneath the shade of a tree. Another luxury resort, the Anantara Hua Hin, has an exclusive lagoon where the privileged few can enjoy complimentary cocktails while gazing across lotus leaves from the sanctuary of their pool.

The less fortunate, crowded in their beachfront compounds, must head for the hills. In search of tranquility, I set off for the Hua Hin Hills Vineyard more in faith than in hope.

Thai wine is not something I have yet acquired a taste for.

However, after reaching the

former elephant corral that is now home to Monsoon Wines, it is clear why the owners chose this location. The view is quite spectacular.

The vineyard still has a few elephants on its grounds, I am informed by Hanna Oberauer, the vineyard’s assistant marketing manager. They are ideal for keeping the kids entertained while mum and dad set about the serious task of sampling the wines. To my surprise, the slightly sweet wines complement the spice of Thai cuisine.

Tranquil, beautiful and refreshing as the vineyard might be, it still is not a beach.

So I head back to the coast once more. Some 20 or so kilometres further north than its regal neighbour, the fishing town of Cha Am still possesses a charm that Hua Hin seems to have lost despite, or perhaps because of, its luxury resorts.

Here you can spend a lazy Sunday afternoon sat in a deckchair in the shade of an umbrella eating seafood and downing a bottle of beer.

Only the spicy food and the temperature of the beer separate it from the traditional British resorts of my childhood.

If I had a handkerchief I would knot it around my head.

The narrow beach is full of locals trying to prevent their skin from darkening under multi-coloured umbrellas, while an equal number of western tourists aim for precisely the opposite effect.

A further few kilometres

north lies my final destination.

Designed by Thai architect Duangrit Bunnag, the Hotel de la Paix has garnered much deserved praise for its contemporary yet minimalist design. Less is said about its beach. It might not be that of legend — such as might send Leonardo Di Caprio rafting across oceans to discover — but it is the same beach, only transported a few kilometres north, that I remember from my first trip to Asia all those years ago.

Heeding the lessons of Pattaya and beaches further south, Cha Am’s governor wishes to preserve the integrity of its town and surrounding beaches, the resort’s general manager Nigel Tovey explains.

With every step further north the sands become emptier. An occassional dog with its owner passes me, taking advantage of the refreshing air that comes with the setting of the sun. The beach continues off into the distance, for some seven or so kilometres — far enough at any rate. Occasional buildings, a couple of resorts and vacant plots awaiting far-sighted property speculators dot the area, but above all it is a deserted beach.

My quest over, I can return to Bangkok wondering why nobody has trodden the same steps as mine. Or maybe they have and it’s just that Cha Am’s governor has only passed his secrets on to the owners of the Hotel de la Paix and its lucky few guests. asialife Cambodia 47

BEHIND the

DESIGN

THE MAJESTIC HOTEL

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In the heyday of 1930s Malaysia, plantation owners, local nobles and glamorous expats alike would gather in the halls of Hotel Majestic in Kuala Lumpur. With distinguished guests clutching cocktails and dancing in its roof garden, the neo-classical hotel — opened in 1932 and designed by Dutch architect Van Leangeanderg — was the perfect venue to mingle with the country’s colonial elite.

But after decades of use the historic hotel fell — like the British domination of the country — into disrepair. After closing its doors in 1983,

it lay derelict and remained a shell of its former glory until the iconic building was reopened to much acclaim last December.

Years of careful restoration work, under the direction of architect Zaidan Tahir and the YTL hotel group, have introduced the opulence of yesteryear to a new audience.

Careful research into the hotel’s past was carried out to ensure that its rehabilitation was in tune with the building’s original character and that its legend did not die.

After passing by concierges in elegant traditional dress

and sashaying up a covered walkway to its entrance, modern day visitors can relax beneath the bar’s original domed ceiling — a stunning feature that was saved and inlaid with gold to add a touch of contemporary grandeur.

Spiralling staircases in a huge, airy atrium have been carefully restored in dark wood, while guests can slip off to the hotel’s attached ‘gentleman’s club’, featuring a billiards table, a barber’s shop and a selection of smoking jackets.

The design of the attached spa was inspired by Scottish

design icon Charles Rennie Mackintosh, while hundreds of orchids decorate a sumptuous conservatory.

On any given afternoon, scores of high society once again flock to the hotel for afternoon tea, where delicate cakes and scones totter on art deco style stands.

As gentle piano music rings out amongst the clang of teaspoons, and despite the addition of an ultra-modern new tower wing, it’s as if the hotel never closed.

For more information, visit majestickl.com. Words by Ellie Dyer.

asialife Cambodia 49

Neutral tones are juxtaposed with blossoming brights to celebrate the beauty of Spring.

Top: Keo K'jay Jeans: Le Marais @ First Floor Fashion Store

Top: Esquisse

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Top: Caroll @ First Floor Fashion Store Earrings: Paperdolls

Necklace: Paperdolls Top: Stylist Own Skirt: Caroll @ First Floor Fashion Store Photographer: Chatti Phal Stylist/ Creative Director: Nataly Lee Illustrator: Kyra Bartley Hair and Makeup: Syna' Stylin Models: Prom Vorleak Chmar the cat

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Listings

Tel: 023 424 300 www.dragonair.com/kh, pnh.res@dragonair.com Eva Air 298 Mao Tse Tung Blvd.

Tel: 023 219 911

hotel & travel Airlines & Agencies Air Asia 66 Mao Tse Tung Blvd.

Tel: 023 356 011.

Air France Phnom Penh Tower, 11th Floor 445, Monivong Blvd, cnr of St. 232 Tel: 023 965 500 Angkor Airways 32 Norodom Blvd.

Tel: 023 222 056 Asiana Airlines A-16 Domestic Arrival Terminal Phnom Penh International Airport Tel: 023 890 440-2 Bangkok Airways 61A Street 214 Tel: 023 722 545 China Airlines 32 Norodom Blvd.

Tel: 023 222 393 Dragon Air 168 Monireth Blvd.

Jet Star Asia 333B Monivong Blvd.

Tel: 023 220 909 Korean Air F3-R03, 254 Monivong Blvd.

Tel: 023 224 047/8 Lao Airlines 58C Sihanouk Blvd.

Tel: 023 216 563 Malaysia Airlines 172 Monivong Blvd.

Tel: 023 218 923 Silk Air 313 Sisowath Quay (Himawari Hotel) Tel: 023 426 808 Sunbird International Cambodia Ltd. PGCT Center 2F, St. 274 Tel: 023 99 1010/ 023 98 3333 sunbirdintl@yahoo.co.kr PSA of Korean Air, PSA of Asiana Airlines, Worldwide Air ticket, Visa, License.Open Mon~Fri 8am ~5:30pm & Sat 8am~1pm Thai Airways 294 Mao Tse Tung Blvd.

Tel: 023 214 359 Vietnam Airlines 41 Street 214 Tel: 023 363 396.

Battambang

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.

Riverside Balcony Bar & Restaurant West bank of river. Tel: 012 437 421 Traditional wooden house with great views of the river and good food, ideal for a sunset cocktail lounging over the river. Open Tues – Sun, 4pm - 11pm.

Kampot

Blissful Guest House Tel: 012 848 390 www.blissfulguesthouse.com Small guest house, with 11 rooms, set in a quiet part of town with downstairs restaurant and bar, and communal TV room upstairs.

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.

Nataya Coral Bay Resort Prek Ampil, Kampot, Tel: 016 226 471 / 012 902 823. natayaresort@yahoo.com Only 16km from Kampot, this topend hideaway comes complete with eight beachfront bungalows, a 25m infinity pool, a 2km private beach, stilt huts off a 300m pier, and simply oodles of relaxation.

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.

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Rusty Keyhole Riverfront 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: 078 888 557 www.knaibangchatt.com An exclusive resort offering personal service and modernist style. Lush and private grounds house a collection of remodelled 1960’s style colonial villas. With 18 unique rooms the resort includes an infinity pool, full spa, and media centre. All rooms refurbished to international standards. Choice of two dining options – upscale The Strand or the adjoining Sailing Club.

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

Saravoan Hotel Thmey Village, Kep, Tel: 036 639 3909 012 715 588 / 012 357 729 Recently renovated building with 17 rooms has all the modern amenities including an inviting swimming pool and sweeping views of the sea.

Veranda Natural Resort Tel: 033 399 035, 012 888 619, www.veranda-resort.com Traditional wooden bungalows set in the hillside. Settle down for the night and listen to the jungle purr. Has a good restaurant and bar with some quite stunning sweeping views down to the coast.

Phnom Penh – Deluxe

Amanjaya 1 Sisowath Quay. Tel: 023 214 747 www.amanjaya-pancam-hotel.com Large hotel with a great central location along the riverfront. The rooms are spacious and wellequipped with tasteful Khmer decorations. The downstairs restaurant doubles up as the air-con K-West bar.

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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. Facilities include infinity swimming pool, tennis court, gym and children’s playhouse, 24 hour security, housekeeping, internet and complimentary shuttle to the city.

Studio to 3 bedroom units available.

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.

The Governor’s House 3 Mao Tse Tung Blvd. nr cnr Norodom Blvd. Tel: 023 987 025 www.governorshouse.net Welcome to The Governor’s House Colonial Boutique Hotel in Phnom Penh. The Governor’s house offers an exclusive 10 rooms 5-star boutique hotel embodied in an original colonial-style mansion in the heart of BKK I, surrounded by the top residential area in downtown Phnom Penh city, Kingdom of Wonder.

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.

Imperial Garden Hotel 315 Sisowath Quay Tel: 023 219 991 Large hotel and villa complex next to the Cambodiana. Has a swimming pool, gym and tennis court.

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.

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.

Beautiful gardens with a separate swimming pool for kids plus reasonably priced apartments for long stays. The rooms at the front are particularly special.

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. Along with 201 luxurious rooms and suites with Mekong or Bassac river views, are chic restaurants and bars, an upscale spa, two swimming pools, a sports club and the finest conferencing facilities in Cambodia.

Phnom Penh – Mid

Hotel Cara 18 Street 47 & 84 Tel: 023 430 066 / 023 998 422 stay@hotelcara.com www.hotelcara.com Just north of Wat Phnom, this stylish boutique hotel has well-fitted rooms at very reasonable rates and a great sushi restaurant.

AQUA Boutique Hotel 2 Street 278. / Tel: 012414596 info@aqua-pp.com Modern Indochina villa offers 7 rooms in a stunning Art Deco building, All en-suite with A/C. and on-sight pool, sun bed, wine bar and tapas restaurant.

Lebiz Hotel & Library 79F Street 128. Tel: 023 998 608 / 610 info@lebizhotel.com www.lebizhotel.com Luxury accommodation with a competitive edge and sleek modern design offers a full range of specialty services tailored to business needs, and cutting-edge technology to maximise comfort and productivity.

Has unique library.

Almond Hotel 128F Sothearos Blvd. Tel: 023 220 822 www.almondhotel.com.kh 56-room hotel located close to the Royal Palace and the riverfront with spacious rooms with WiFi. Downstairs restaurant serves dim sum and Cantonese food.

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 and you can have drinks and food delivered from Man Han Lou Restaurant.

Blue Lime 42 Street 19z (off Street 19), Tel: 023 222 260. www.bluelime.asia Centrally-located mini-hotel with a great swimming pool and contemporary rooms is a good flashpacker option.

FCC Phnom Penh 362 Sisowath Quay. Tel: 012 253 222 www.fcccambodia.com Phnom Penh’s landmark restaurant has seven rooms with balconies offering views of the river. Each is individually designed and meticulously outfitted with high-speed Internet access and the latest mod cons.

Paddy Rice 213-217 Sisowath Quay Tel: 023 990 321 www.paddyrice.net Former Hope and Anchor has newly refurbished rooms with solar hot water, cable TV, air conditioning, WiFi and great views of the river from its balconies. Downstairs restaurant offers full western and Asian cuisine Splash Inn Hotel 5 Street 244. Tel: 023 986 174 www.splashinncambodia.com The Splash Inn opened in March 2011 after full renovations to two traditional Khmer villas, one block from the Royal Palace. All rooms boast handmade furniture, en-suite bathroom, flat-screen LCD TV, DVD, Wi-fi, fridge and mini-bar.

River 108 2 Street 108. Tel: 023 218 785 www.river108.com

Art deco hotel aimed at the flashpacker set, the river view rooms are extremely comfortable with flat screen TV and separate bathroom and toilet. Efficient WiFi, good working space and spacious rooms make this the perfect business option.

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.

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.

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.

The Plantation Urban Resort and Spa 28 Street 184. Tel: 023 215 151 http://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 Pavilion 227 Street 19. Tel: 023 222 280 www.pavilion-cambodia.com Beautiful boutique hotel set in a colonial building with large, unique rooms, each with either a small balcony or garden. Outdoor swimming pool, free WiFi and a small poolside restaurant.

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.

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 with air con and security box. Downstairs bar has great Tex-Mex food and pool table.

Feeling Home Cnr. Streets 278 & 63 Tel: 023 221 522 www.feelinghomecambodia.com Stylish nine-room boutique hotel with ample rooms at competitive rates, including flatscreen TV, aircon, security box and great beds.

Also has two apartments, an Asian restaurant and a Café Sentiment coffee house.

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

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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.

The restaurant has a European set lunch menu and serves authentic Khmer food a la carte for diner.

Tonle Sap Guest House 4-6 Street 104. Tel: 023 986 722 www.tonlesapguesthouse.com Clean, well-kept guesthouse upstairs with 15 rooms, with air-con, fans, hot water, cable TV. Downstairs Pickled Parrot bar open 24 hours.

Sihanoukville

Club RED 25 Tola St., Ochheuteal Beach

Tel: 068 319 481 Located in the very heart of the city, this unique nightclub, bar, and lounge is open every night of the week. Great music, dance shows and live entertainment. Enjoy exclusive drinks and cocktails served in stylish surroundings by our friendly staff.

Open 8pm till late.

Independence Hotel Independence Beach Tel: 012 728 090 www.independencehotel.net Beautifully restored hotel on Independence Beach, originally opened in 1963, reopened in 2007 following a complete refurbishment.

Has sweeping ocean views from most rooms. Also has a gym, conference rooms and circular restaurant.

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.

Sokha Beach Resort Sokha Beach Tel: 034 935 999 With its own private beach, excellent swimming pool and fine restaurants, Sokha is the most up-market place to stay in Sihanoukville. A live Filipino band plays around the cocktail bar at night.

The Secret Garden Otres Beach Tel: 0976 495 131 www.secretgardenotres.com Modern beachside air-con bungalows

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with hot water, jungle showers or baths, TV, WiFi and Otres Beach’s only swimming pool. Restaurant run by professional Australian chef with draught and imported beers.

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 Spanish-born 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 French-owned 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 and managed travel company specialising in small group journeys around Asia that can tailor trips for individuals.

Listings

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.

siem reap 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.

Fresh at Chilli Si-Dang East River. Tel: 012 723 488 Riverside dining, balcony views, a relaxing lounge downstairs, and a pool table. Fresh food, including traditional Khmer cuisine, cheese, sandwiches, a generous selection of vegetarian food.

Laundry Bar Old Market Extremely chilled music bar just off

Little Pari The Lane, off Pub Street, The newest and bluest bar in town! Very sweet, very stylish little jewel of a bar, much like the eponymous owner herself, Pari. This jazz/wine bar serves delicious Asianised cocktails, wines and beers.

Open from 7pm until closing.

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: 017 925 181 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.

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.

The Station Wine Bar Street 7, close to Pub Street Tel: 097 850 4043 www.thestationwinebarsiemreap.com For lovers and lovers of wine offers a selection of fine wines, always 20 by the glass and a list of over 100 by the bottle.

Good music and pleasant decor in air conditioned comfort. Tuesdays, varietal wine tastings and every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday our Lady Boy Variety Show.

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.

Siem Reap - Cafés

Blue Pumpkin Old Market Tel: 012 946 227/ 063 463 574 www.tbpumpkin.com Popular café with a great range of freshly baked breads and pastries, shakes and coffee. Also at Angkor Wat and the airport. Open daily from 6am to 10pm.

Free WiFi.

Siem Reap - Galleries

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.

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

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

FCC Angkor Pokambor Avenue Tel: 023 992 284 www.fcccambodia.com Boutique hotel with 31 contemporary Asian-designed rooms spread around the garden and swimming pool. Free WiFi for guests both in rooms and around the pool.

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.

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Siem Reap - Leisure

siem reap

Angkor Silk Farm Puok District (20min from Siem Reap downtown) Open daily from 8am to 5pm Tel: 063 5555 768 www.artisansdangkor.com Enjoy Cambodia’s countryside while admiring the skills of the silk workers.

During a free guided tour, learn about the meticulous process of silk-making, from the mulberry trees which nourish the silkworms and unwinding the cocoons to the tie-dyeing of threads (ikat technique) and the 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.

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 10:00am - 10:30pm.

The Bee’s Knees Rhi Quinn We live alongside them, but many have never considered them to be much more than pests. Yet Siem Reap expat Paul Phippen, better known by his pseudonym Mozchops, has weaved a fantastical wonderland of insects in his new graphic novel Salsa Invertebraxa.

The book is a fusion of pictures and poetry that took more than six years to metamorphose from a larval idea into fully fledged fiction. It follows the antics of an array of insects, from anthropods on the forest floor to spectacular dragonflies above the canopy and grisly subterranean predators, including a centipede described as having “a majesty most whoresome.”

“At first I wanted ‘dance of the invertebrates’ but that sounded too much like a BBC documentary. Salsa brings a tropical, steamy element,” says Phippen, who started his career designing video games such as Batman and Robin.

In 2005, he holidayed to Siem Reap, saw Bayon Temple and fell in love. He now resides here with his wife and two children.

The book’s literary side has echoes of Edward Lear’s nonsense rhymes infused with a scientific lexis, which gives the poetry a cheeky sense of mischief in lines such as “earth scorching twigasaurus rex.”

When asked if his children inspired the playful grammar, Phippen says: “My children are a reflection of me. They like to

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play around with words. I’ve had a pretty good education and have always been aware that humour is an important way to send a message. If you throw in a joke it catches people off guard.”

Having never studied poetry, Phippen describes his writing as “winging it.”

The gamble paid off and after attempting to write a linear narrative he realised poetry could be played with more. There is, however, one element of humanity hidden within the pages. A Hans Holbein skull stretched out on a butterfly’s wing pays homage to artists who inspired him.

“At first I was going in an A Bug’s Life direction. It’s much easier to create animals with big round eyes. But after more research I became fascinated and felt I’d be doing insects a disservice by drawing them in this manner. What a galaxy of creatures you could invent!” he says excitedly.

Phippen created the brilliant bugs by studying thousands of photographs of insects and mixing insect parts to create his fantastical creatures. One picture can take up to two weeks to create, and the time spent is reflected in the quality and beauty found inside this curious Eden.

Salsa Invertebraxa has been shortlisted for Best Graphic Novel by the Aurealis Awards.

Costing $30, it can be ordered at pecksniffpress.com.

L’Oasi East River Road. Tel: 092 418 917 The best Italian restaurant in, or rather just outside of, town. The combination of the beautiful garden and home-cooked Italian pasta and pizza makes the trip well worth it.

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.

Marum 8a Route B, btwn Wat Polanka & Catholic Church. Tel: 017 363 284 contact@marum-restaurant.org Great food, good service. Part of the Friends International group that trains marginalized and vulnerable young people for a career in the hospitality industry. Profits go back into the training programme.

Siem Reap - Shops

Khmer Ways Wat Svay Village. Tel: 077 367 790 www.khmerways.com Ride specially adapted motor-scooters to explore parts of Siem Reap nobody else gets to, including villages, temples and waterfalls. No previous experience required. Lunch, water, sunscreen and snacks provided.

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, lacquer paintings and decorative items for all contemporary lifestyles. Also offers free guided tours of the handicraft workshops to see some of the secrets of traditional Khmer craftsmanship.

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.

De Silk 18 Oum Khun Blvd Tel: 063 761 198 / 011 775 168 www desilk.com Boutique offering 24/7 tailoring services using 100% Khmer traditional silk, that has expertise in making clothes and accessories.

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.

Eric Raisina 53 Veal Village Tel: 012 965 207 / 063 963 207 Accessories, decor, textiles and clothing created by Madagascan-born and French-trained designer. Phone in advance for an appointment.

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.

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 - Restaurants

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.

Le Malraux Street No. 7.

Tel: 063 966 041 Beautiful French restaurant offering alfresco, café and brasserie style dining with a menu catering to a range of budgets and tastes. Both food and service is consistently good. An attractive wine list rounds out this restaurant’s promise.

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’.

With 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, Sokkhak Spa is a Cambodian owned and managed business with over 16 years experience in the spa industry throughout Cambodia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and South America.

Open daily 11am - 10pm.

Listings

food & drink 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 25K Suramarit Blvd. (Street 268) Tel: 023 225 225 / 092 665 225, www.knyay.com knyay@hotmail.com Modern Khmer restaurant tucked away down an alley off Sihanouk 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 12pm - 9pm (Mon - Fri), 7am 9pm (Sat), closed Sunday.

Malis 136 Norodom Bvd. Tel: 023 221 022 www.malisrestaurant.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 midday sun too much. The cuisine is modern Khmer, with no MSG. Restaurant Le Royal Raffles Hotel Le Royal Tel: 023 981 888 (see also restaurants, French) Romdeng 74 Street 174 Tel: 092 219 565 Come to Romdeng and order some delicious Khmer food for you and also for your children from our new kid’s menu, serving creative and healthy treats for little one! While waiting for your dishes, let you kids enjoy the playroom while you relax by the pool… And before leaving don’t miss our new gift shop in the first floor. Special lunch set menu everyday.

Open 11am - 9pm.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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Brasserie du Port 49E Sisowath Quay, cnr Street 84 Tel: 012 607 507 Seaside 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 sea breeze and the restaurant’s comprehensive wine list.

Open daily, 8am – 11pm.

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

Le Café Mith Samlanh French Institute, Street 184 Tel: 092 471 791 Set in the lush garden of the French Institute (formerly CCF), Le Café offers an extensive à la carte menu with Khmer and French dishes. All proceeds go towards Mith Samlanh’s programmes for marginalised youth.

Open 7am - 5pm, closed Sundays.

Le Gourmet NagaWorld Hotel and Casino, Hun Sen Park Tel: 023 228 822.

Kitsch meets tradition at this up-scale restaurant. 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).

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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.

Mumtaz 162 Street 63. Tel: 023 726 761 Popular Vietnamese chain of Indian restaurants comes to Phnom Penh.

Excellent tandoori and southern Indian delicacies including dosa with chefs from both north and south.

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.

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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: 012 996 707 Elegant Thai-managed restaurant with stylish use of heavy wood and artefacts to create a far more luxurious ambience than the reasonable prices would suggest.

Open 10am - 10pm.

Le Wok 33 Street 178. Tel: 092 821 857 Light and modern pan-Asian and French eatery with dishes such as prawns with lime and wasabi and Mekong lobster thermidor, and a comprehensive list of wines and cocktails.

Open daily 9am - 11pm.

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

AQUA Modern Eatery 2 Street 278. Tel: 012414596 Reservations: info@aqua-pp.com Asian influenced wine bar with sophisticated tapas & mezze dishes to indulge in at the bar, by the pool or in the Imperial Chinese Bed. A modern veranda restaurant featuring avant-garde globally-inspired fusion dishes with a French focus.

Open 11:30am – 2:30pm and 6pm -10:30pm. Closed on Monday nights.

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.

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.

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.

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Doors Restaurant 18, Street 47 & 84. Tel : 023 998 114 www.doorspp.com New tapas restaurant, with live music. Open 11am until late eLYXIR 3 Street 466 (near Thai embassy), Tel: 023 211 711 Elyxir is dedicated to wine, luxury and gastronomy. Each course was dreamed up in order to marry perfectly the wines on our menu.

Elyxir includes a swimming pool, champagne bar, private rooms & all our wines are available at our Wine Shop. Open Tuesday - Sunday, 10am 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, split-level 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 Cnrs. Street 51 & 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.

Friends 215 Street 13 Tel: 012 802 072 Non-profit training restaurant where all the proceeds go to the neighbouring street-kid school. Food is a reliable mix of Mediterranean and Asian with tapas thrown in if you are not feeling too hungry. Great juices. Another one of Phnom Penh’s places designed to take it easy, but this time with a clear conscience.

Open 11am - 9pm.

Garden Centre Café 60-61 Street 108 Tel: 023 997 850 / 092 429 968. www.gardencentercafe.com Popular expat restaurant with fresh ingredients and lots of healthy options. Another location is at 4B Street 57.

Open from 7am - 10pm (closed Mondays).

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.

Gastrobar Botanico 9b Street 29 Tel: 017 873 101 info@gastrobarbotanico.com Located in its own habitat with over 2,000 plants. Open-air.

Offers tapas, salads, sandwich, and straightforward food, yet with character, in lush garden setting.

Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and in between. Espresso bar. Cocktails, wines, fruit shakes.

Open daily 8am - 9:30pm.

Green Vespa 95 Sisowath Quay, Tel: 012 887 228 Superb daily breakfast selection, varied lunch and dinner specials and the best roast meal in town on the weekends. Traditional accompaniments to great food include Branston pickle, Colemans mustard, mint and horseradish sauce, HP and Heinz Ketchup.

Open 6am - 11pm.

Irina Russian Restaurant 15 Street 352 Tel: 012 833 524/ 092 833 524 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.

Kandal House 239 Sisowath Quay Tel: 023 986 803 Very friendly riverside established serving good and reasonably priced homemade pasta and a variety of Asian dishes.

Open 8am - late.

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 Phnom Penh’s one and only Spanish tapas bar. It 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.

Le Quay Café Cnr. Sisowath Quay & Street 110 Tel: 023 998 730, www.amaraspa.hotelcara.com Enjoy the menu of sushi, salads, paninis, crepes and Asian specialities, with a wide range of healthy power juices, smoothies, cocktails, coffees, beers and wines, either beside a relaxing water feature or on the riverside terrace. Smoke free environment for lunch and dinner.

Open from 10.30am to 10.30pm.

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.

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.

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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 15pm -Midnight.

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.

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.

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.

One More Pub 16E Street 294 Tel: 017 327 378 (see bars)

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 12pm - 2pm, 5pm -11pm.

Paddy Rice 213-217 Sisowath Quay Tel: 023990321 www.paddyrice.net (see bars) 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 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.

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.

Sonoma Oyster Bar 159 Street 278 Tel: 023 223 617/ 077 723 911 Phnom Penh’s first and only independent oyster bar has drawn a crowd of expats and Cambodians seeking high-quality oysters in a

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cosy setting.

Open daily 10:30am – 2:00pm, 5:00pm - 11:00pm.

Tepui Restaurant Lounge Chinese House, 45 Sisowath Quay Tel: 023 991 514 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 6pm - 10.30pm, closed Mondays.

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.

Italian

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.

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.

Dolce Italia da Giorgio 96 Sothearos Blvd.

Tel: 012 562 892 Authentic neapolitan pizzeria ristorante. Pizza prepared in traditional wood-fired oven.

Open from 11:30am - 2pm and from 6pm - 10pm, closed on Sunday.

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

Open daily 11:30am- 2:30pm, 6pm10:30pm Luna d’Autumno 6C Street 29. Tel: 023 220 895 Beautiful courtyard or stylish interior air-con restaurant, whichever you choose, Luna has more classical pizzas, both red and white, to

choose from than most restaurants.

Also serves excellent pasta and other up-market Italian food. Good wine cellar on view in the restaurant.

Open 11am - 2.30pm, 5.30pm 10.30pm.

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.

Open daily 11.30am - 2.30pm, 6pm - 10pm.

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.

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.

Aircon Restaurant Art Exhibitions 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

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.

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Yumi Restaurant, Bar and Grill 29a Street 288 Tel: 092 163 903 Elegant but inexpensive English-run Yakitori restaurant nestled in a quiet street in BKK that serves top-notch Japanese nibbles, hot and cold sake, plum wine, wine and beer. Don’t leave without trying the salt and chilli squid.

recipe

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.

Chicken Leg Marengo Bougainvillier Hotel INGREDIENTS Chicken leg 200g Tomatoes 100g Onion 50g

White wine 10cl Carrot 50g

STEP ONE Start by slowly frying the chicken leg in a pan.

STEP TWO Cut up the tomatoes into small cubes and mince the onion and carrot.

STEP THREE When the chicken leg is coloured, add the onion and the carrot. Mix all together and add the white wine. Add the tomatoes on top, cover, and cook slowly until the chicken is well cooked.

277C Sisowath Quay, Phnom Penh. Tel: 023 220 528 or 012 4 57 920, www.bougainvillierhotel.com.

Recipes provided by members of:

Vegetarian

Fresh Salad Bar 37E0 Street 310 Tel: 081 555 559 / 016 977 790 The first salad bar in Phnom Penh which provides healthy organic salad and other foods to help you maintain you healthy lifestyle.

We serve salad coffee and bakery goods. Free Wifi. Free delivery, call Jung on 081 555 559.

Open daily, 8am - 10pm.

K’NYAY (see restaurants Cambodian)

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.

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.

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.

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.

Casa Lika 16 Street 136.

Tel. 012 429 542 American-run family restaurant serving up good Mexican fare in an authentic setting with rustic brick walls and colourful Mexican artwork, great music and even better tacos make this a good place to share some Coronas with friends.

Open 10am - midnight, closed on Mondays.

Cafés

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.

La Citá 13 Street 282 Tel: 092 388 123/ 092 626 123 www.lacita.ox2net.com Get ready to change your tune about what you think Mexican food is! Just one taste of our hand-rolled burritos, tacos and quesadillas will tell you how much effort we put into our mouthwatering products.

Open daily, 9am-10pm.

Taqueria Corona 14E Street 51 (btwn Sihanouk Blvd and Street 242) Tel: 089 281 626 / 012 629 986 Enjoy our mexican specialties, barbacoa, cochinita pebil, texas chile, carnitas, pollo and carne

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asoda in our festive dining room.

Open daily from11.30am - 2pm, 6pm - 10pm (Sunday evenings only).

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.

Blue Pumpkin 245 Sisowath Quay and at Monument Books on Norodom Blvd Tel: 023 998 153 Siem Reap’s favourite café also offers two locations in Phnom Penh, serving breakfast sets, Asian and Western entrées and an array of ice cream flavours. Open daily from 6am - 11pm.

Botanic Cafe-Art gallery 126 Street 19 Tel: 077589458 botaniccafe@yahoo.com, www.botanica-gallerycafe.com Cafe and food inside over 80 year old building, with garden is display art works, pot plants and premium souvenirs. First floor exhibition and event space is for promote local artists. We have special lunch and dinner set for your special times.

Open daily 8am – 9pm.

Brown Coffee & Bakery 17 Street 214 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, ground-floor restaurant and on the streetside terrace.

Open 6.30am - 10.30pm.

Café Fresco 363 Sisowath Quay, Tel: 023 217 041 Cnr. Streets 51 & 306, Tel: 023 224 891 The FCC’s café chain sells strong Illy coffee and mix-and-match sandwiches. Interiors have a slight retro 70s feel to it and there are pleasant outside seating areas.

There are currently four outlets in town Open 6am to pm.

Café Namu 28b Cnr Streets 30 & 57, Tel: 023 220 074 Breakfast, brunch and lunch venue.

Serving pizza, cakes, cookies, desserts, teas, coffees and fresh juices.

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.

Chill Ice Cream & Coffee Lounge 219d Sisowath Quay Tel: 092 547 534 Pretty, casual lounge on the riverside offering coffee, sandwiches, cocktails, and some of the best homemade ice cream in town, as well as inventive ice cream cocktails.

Open 11am - midnight.

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.

Daughters of Cambodia 65E0 Street 178. Tel: 077 657 678 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.

Lunch: 11:30 am – 2:00 pm Dinner: 6 pm – 10 pm

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 in three differences area BKK 1, on the riverside and inside the commercial building Canadia Tower.

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. Opening Nov 1.

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

Open daily 6am - 2am.

Morning Café 32C Street 592. Tel: 023 982 109 Cosy air-conditioned coffee house with relaxed atmosphere, located in Toul Kork district serves Khmer, Thai and European cuisine. Open every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner from 6am to 9pm.

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).

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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

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!

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 ariverfront vantage to watch the world go by.

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) 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.

Do It All Pub & Bistro 61 Street 174 Tel: 023 220 904 Dishes out African, Asian and Western cuisine, with hip hop and reggae played into the early hours of the morning.

Open daily 9am to 4am.

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 twofor-one happy hours (4pm to 8pm).

Open 2pm to midnight from Monday to Friday. Saturday and Sunday from 12pm to midnight.

Equinox 3A Street 278, Tel: 012 586 139 or 092 791 958 (see Restaurants, International)

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FCC 363 Sisowath Quay Tel: 023 724 014 (see Restaurants, International) Freebird 69 Street 240 Tel: 023 224 712 (see Mexican & Tex-Mex restaurants) Green Vespa 95 Sisowath Quay Tel: 012 887 228 (see Restaurants International) Harem Shisha Lounge 157 Sisowath Quay. Tel: 023 990 244 Share in an ancient ritual and enjoy the many fruity flavours of the shisha pipe at Harem. With lavish golden surroundings and chilled world house beats, the Penh’s first shisha bar offers signature cocktails and exotic Middle Eastern tapas menu.

Open from 5pm till late.

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: 012 607 465 / 067 867 305 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)

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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.

available for private events if booked at least two days in advance.

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

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

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.

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.

Elyxir 3 Street 466 (near Thai Embassy) Tel: 023 211 711 Elyxir is dedicated to wine, luxury and gastronomy. Each dish was dreamed up to marry perfectly with the wines on our menu. Elyxir boasts a swimming pool, champagne bar and private rooms. All our wines are available at our Wine Shop.

Open 10am until late, closed Mondays.

The Bungalows Mekong River. Tel: 077 555 447 Stylish simplicity located within a quick cruise from Sisowath Quay port. The floating bar serves basic drinks and nibbles. Open Saturdays and Sundays from 3pm to 8pm,

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.

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Rubies Cnr Streets 240 & 19. Tel: 015 670 024 Intimate wood-pannelled wine bar that is a mainstay of the female expat population with well-priced wines.

Often has parties at the weekend.

Gay

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 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.

K2 25k Street 268. Tel: 093 665 225 www.fb.com/K2Bar.PhnomPenh Classy addition to the Phnom Penh scene and it’s first straight-friendly, chill-out bar. Contemporary design and LGBTIQ artwork. Secluded space, attracting a socially conscious, Khmer crowd who mix easily with expats/visitors.

Open 6pm 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.

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.

Equinox (see Restaurants – Intrenational) Has regular live music from expat and cal bands at weekends and swing dancing on Thursdays.

Heart of Darkness 38 Street 51. Tel: 023 222 415 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.

Mao’s Cnr Street 106 & Sisowath Quay Tel: 023 992 726 Chairman Mao has been reconstructed into one of Phnom Penh’s liveliest nightspots with djs and occasional live bands.

Open 5pm - 2am.

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.

Paddy Rice (see Bars) Often has live music events.

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 6 Street 110. Tel: 023 212 302 The alternative dance venue for both expats and young Khmers with a self-contained air-con dance room and great balcony to chill out. MonWed, Fri is hip hop, Thu is Ladies night, Sat is house and Sun is dance remix. Open daily 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 - 2pm.

Sharky Bar 126 Street 130. Tel: 012 228 045 www.sharkybar.blogspot.com Has regular live gigs at weekends involving local and expat bands with an emphasis on heavy rock.

imbibe

Wine and Khmer Cuisine Darren Gall Khmer cuisine is one of the world’s oldest cuisines. Spices are often exquisite in quality, yet restrained and understated in their use. Regional flavours and dishes prevail: cardamom from the Cardamom Mountains, turmeric from Battambang and, of course, pepper from Kampot. Saffron is valued for medicinal qualities as well as flavour and aroma. Tamarind forms the basis of many sauces and marinades.

An assortment of freshwater fish and seafood from Kep and beyond is sought out and savoured.

There are culinary influences from China, Vietnam and Thailand, as well as the impact of French colonialism on dish construction and cooking technique.

Chilli is widely used in Khmer cuisine, although more sparingly than its neighbours. Prahok is a national institution made from fermented fish and often used much in the way westerners would use salt in cooking. Kroeung is a widely used curry paste made with the skilful art of spice blending.

Pairing wine with Khmer cuisine can be fun and brings a great deal of enjoyment and satisfaction, although certain accepted norms must and can

be successfully abandoned.

For a start, given that a meal usually consists of a selection of dishes, trying to pair a certain wine to a certain dish is not going to work unless you want four of five glasses in front of you at once.

What we are looking for are good all-rounders with the fresh, clean flavours of Khmer food and subtle Asian spices.

Aromatic whites shine with the fresh herbs, greens and spices abundant in Khmer dishes, and the wide use of seafood and salads makes them perfect partners. Think Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Alberino, Pinot Grigio and you are on the right track. Rosé also works well, particularly with the spicier dishes. Look for the slightly off-dry styles.

If it has to be red, then I adore Pinot Noir with Khmer cuisine, although most fruity and fruit-driven reds work well such as Merlot, Pinotage, Carmenere, Grenache and GSM (Grenache, Shiraz, Mourvedre) blends. For heavier red meat dishes I like Malbec from Argentina or a juicy Aussie Shiraz.

I personally find the main trick is to stay away from big oaky whites and big oaky and tannic reds. Instead look for pure fruit-driven wines to enhance your Cambodian culinary odyssey.

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. He currently resides in Cambodia developing the wine market with Celliers d’Asie. gall.darren@ yahoo.com

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Listings

culture Cinemas

The Flicks 39B Street 95. Tel: 078 809 429, theflicks-cambodia.com A festival movie house with a revolving weekly schedule of international films. Also offers possibility for movie parties, with option to hire the movie room for a private session (max 30 people).

Screenings generally at 2pm, 4pm, 6pm or 8pm, but check the website for schedule and ticket prices.

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.

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Legend Cinema 3rd Floor City Mall, Monireth Blvd.

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

Happy Painting Gallery 363 Sisowath Quay. Tel: 023 221 732 www.happypainting.net A must see. Since 1995 this art gallery has been dedicated to showing and selling the work of Stef, a local iconic artist with a very personal and positive insight in everyday life in Cambodia. Open daily 8am - 10pm

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.

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.

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.

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. 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.

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) is one of Phnom Penh’s major venues for the arts. Promoting French culture and Khmer Ongoing cultural activities include exhibitions, festivals, and film screenings. Onsite shop Carnets d’Asie offers a selection of French books.

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 407 Street 246 Art organisation devoted to the revival of traditional Khmer performing arts that puts on occasional performances.

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

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.

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.

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.

Epic Arts 1DE0 Sothearos Blvd.

Tel: 023 998 474 www.epicarts.org.uk Organisation that uses art to empower people with disabilities.

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.

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.

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 fullday rates available.

Classes

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: 012 242 396 Lessons in this rhythmic Brazilian cross between dance and martial arts are held every Tuesday from 6.30pm to 8pm.

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.

Dance World Cambodia At Hotel Cambodiana. 313 Sisowath quay. Dance studio entrance at Physique Club Gym. Tel: 012634008 danceworldcambodia@yahoo.com.au www.danceworldcambo.wordpress.com RAD ballet, neo classical, modern

dance, jazz, tap dance, hip hop and k pop, breakdance, raqs sharqi bellydance, classical pilates. Classes for kids aged 2.5 and up. classes for adults, beginner and intermediate. performance and choreogrpahy group for advanced/ professional level adults.

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 The Flicks Community Movie House 39b, Street 95, @The Empire, 34, Street 130. theflicks-cambodia.com Daily classes in yoga and pilates, check website for schedule, prices and signup form. Stress relief massage therapy sessions by appointment.

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 Center 52 Street 302. Tel 012 250 817 www.yogacambodia.com Daily classes in yoga and pilates, check website for schedule and prices.

Photography Tours 126 Street 136. Tel: 092 526 706 www.nathanhortonphotography.com Weekend 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.

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sos

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.

Amoebic Dysentery Dr Daniel Tranchant Amebiasis is caused by a single-celled parasite called Entamoeba histolytica. The parasite is found worldwide, especially in areas with poor sanitation. Infections are more common in tropical areas and/or places where people live in crowded conditions. Worldwide, it is the third leading cause of death from parasites.

The parasite usually lives in a patient’s large intestine without ever causing symptoms. Approximately 10 percent of those infected become ill. Those who experience symptoms commonly have stomach pain, diarrhoea that may be bloody and painful, and weight loss. These symptoms are sometimes accompanied by fever.

In rare cases, the disease can move through the blood to organs outside of the intestinal tract. If this happens, the most common target is the liver, where an abscess can form. It is possible, though rare, for the disease to attack the patient’s lungs or brain.

Amebiasis is transmitted from human to human by the fecal-oral route when a person ingests the parasite’s

cyst, which is excreted in the faeces of an infected person.

Food and water can also be contaminated with the parasite. The cyst can exist outside of the body for a few days to several weeks.

The disease is diagnosed through examination of stool samples. As the parasite may not be present in every stool, it is sometimes necessary to provide multiple samples.

Even patients who show no symptoms may require treatment with a single antibiotic if they have a proven Entamoeba histolytica infection. Patients who develop symptoms require a course of one antibiotic followed by a course of a second antibiotic.

Antidiarrhoeal medications are not usually recommended and can make the condition worse. After treatment, the patient’s stool should be rechecked to ensure that the infection has been cleared. There is no vaccine for amebiasis. Wash hands regularly with soap and maintain a high level of personal hygiene. To reduce your chance of infection, make sure to eat safe food and water.

Dr Daniel Tranchant works at the International SOS clinic in Phnom Penh. If you have any enquiries regarding this or any other medical matter, please contact info.cambodia@ internationalsos.com.

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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 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 172z2 Norodom Blvd. (alley nest to Sushi Bean) www.yogaphnompenh.com 012 739 419 / 012 739 284 Daily drop-in yoga asana classes for everybodys body. Classes include Ashtanga, Vinyasa Flow and core power yoga. Join our great teachers to improve your flexibility, strength, balance, posture and reduce stress. Also offering private 1-2-1 or small group classes ,regular workshops and retreats.

Chemists

U-Care Pharmacy 26-28 Sothearos Bvd. Tel: 023 222 499 14 Sihanouk Bvd. Tel: 023 224 099 High quality western-style chemist and pharmacy that sells the full range of beauty products, including international brands.

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 www.imiclinic.com Siem Reap 545 National Road N6, Banteay Chas, Stor Kram. Tel: 063 767 618 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 High-end Japanese Dental Clinic that caters your dental needs. Open from Monday to Sunday, 8am - 8pm.

SOS Dental Clinic 161 Street 51. Tel: 023 216 911 International standard dental clinic providing family dental care, from routine cleanings and fluoride treatments to crowns and root canals. Dr. Deborah Moore is a UK dentist with a gentle manner suitable for children and nervous patients.

Open 9am - 12pm, 2pm - 6pm Mon – Fri, 9am - 12pm Sat. Open 24/7 for emergencies.

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.

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.

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. Common conditions treated include neck and back pain, sports injuries, knee pain.

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.

Optics

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 Comprehensive day spa providing a wide selection of facials, body massages and treatments, arranged in a four-storey modern facility at riverfront. Open 11am - 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 both women and men. Our Japanese-

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trained nail artists have years of experience. We provide expert personal care in a quiet and relaxing atmosphere.

Full Set Care (Manicure and Pedicure) More than 250 Nail Lacquers and More than 350 Nail Design Simples. Acrylic and Gel Nail (Gel Colors) 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.

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.

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.

Derma-MK Skin Center 183 Street 63. Tel: 023 452 5626

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.

Dermal Spa 4C Street 57 Tel: 023 720 042 / 012 415 552 Spa offering beauty salon, foot massage and body massage servies, specializes in Dermalogica skin and beauty products. Open daily 9am – 9pm.

EL Skin and Wellness Centre 115E0 Street 101. Tel: 012 681 948 Using Dermalogica, L’Oréal, Jane Iredale and OPI products for a variety of face and body treatments, spa provides a professional, relaxed ambience for customers to sample products before purchase.

Open 9am - 7pm.

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.

Master Kang Health Care Centre 456 Monivong Blvd. Tel: 023 721 765 Health centre next to Man Han Lou Restaurant offers foot massage in

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

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public or private rooms, with both Chinese and oil massage. A grand piano is played in the evenings.

Open 10am - 12pm.

Passion Spa & Salon 29 Street 302 Tel: 081 998 227 / 089 998 227 Dedicated to helping you celebrate a happier, healthier lifestyle. Your Day in a healthy, beautiful way.

Open daily 9am – 10pm.

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 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.

Sports General

Ball Hockey Played every Thursday night at City Villa, corner of Streets 360 and 71 at 7pm. To play, contact Mike: michaelwarford@ispp.edu.kh Beeline Arena Sangkat Chroychangva, Phnom Penh Tel: 067 716 565

www.banzaicambodia.com Located on the Chroy Changvar peninsula, facing the city of Phnom Penh, the Beeline Arena is the first multi-purpose sports arena in Cambodia with international standard, including Multi-surface state of the art FIFA regulation pitch, 2,000 person capacity, VIP lounge and restaurant. Rental for futsal, basketball, volleyball, events and more. Open daily 8am until late.

Cambodian Federation of Rugby cambodianfederationofrugby.com Proper 15-a-side rugby league with four senior teams as well as kid’s touch and women’s rugby teams.

Contact Larry: khmer_rugby@yahoo. co.uk for more details.

Cambodia Golf & Country Club Route 4, Kompong Speur Tel: 023 363 666 International standard, 18-hole golf course. Open 6am until dark.

Football: The Bayon Wanderers www.bayonwanderers.com Mixed Khmer and western team.

Training at the City Villa court on Wednesday and Friday, 8pm to 10pm, Old Stadium on Tuesday from 4.30 pm.

Contact Billy Barnaart on 012 803 040 (available from 11am to 10pm).

Sunday play at 2pm.

Hash House Harriers 8, Street 360 (cnr. Street 71) Meets at the railway station every Sunday at 2:15pm. An ideal way to see the countryside walking or running.

Tel: 012 832 509.

Phokeethra Country Club Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Tel:063 964 600 reservation.angkor@phokeethragolf.com International standard 18-hole, 72-par golf. Clubhouse facilities: pro shop, rental equipment, restaurant.

Phnom Penh Ultimate Frisbee A fast paced fun game that is open to everyone, regardless of skill set or gender, Phnom Penh Ultimate has weekly games at ISPP and Northbridge. Contact CraigDGerard@ gmail.com for details on times and locations.

Touch Rugby Mixed touch rugby is played most Saturday afternoons at 3-5pm at ISPP. Contact pptouchrugby@gmail.com.

Listings

family Cafés & Restaurants

Café Fresco II Cnr. Streets 51 & 306 Tel: 023 224 891 Let your children play with puzzles and Lego on beanbags, watch films like the Lion King looked after by a trained staff as you enjoy your cappuccino.

Open daily 6am - 9pm.

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.

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.

Dragon Water Park Diamond Island (Koh Pich) Tel: 023 45 54 023 / 023 224 776 Clean-Safe-Exciting! Wonderful Water World, the biggest amusement land, fit for all ages. Have fun with Crystal Blue Clear Water, immense pools, giant slides up to 15m high & water toys. Open daily 10:30am until late.

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

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 playbased, ‘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 6 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.

Giving Tree International Elementary School of Phnom Penh 40 Street 334.

Tel: 017 997 112 www.thegivingtreeschool.com Established to provide an exceptional, affordable, and unique learning environment, based on small class sizes and a international curriculum incorporating compassion, communication, conservation, contemplation, creativity, conscience and global citizenship.

ICan International School 85 Sothearos Blvd.

Tel: 023 222 418 www.ican.edu.kh Offers affordable, high quality education to 330 children, aged 2-12, from 31 different nationalities, using British curriculum. iCAN is a contemporary, purpose-built school and is the first in Cambodia with interactive whiteboards in every classroom.

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 fully-authorized 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.

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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.

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

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 New Brunswick.

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.

The Giving Tree Nursery and Preschool House #17, Street 71, Bkk

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Tel: 017 997 112 www.thegivingtreeschool.com Preschool committed to providing a nurturing and supportive environment that supports and extends the child’s overall development. With an international, experienced team of teachers the school offers a play-based programme that is fun and motivating.

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.

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 onestop shop you can trust when it comes to educational needs for your children.

Willi Shop 769 Monivong Blvd Tel: 023 211 652 All products are imported from France, including bébé brand baby products, the range includes prams, baby care, cots and toys. Open 8am - 8pm.

kids corner

Get Physical Gemma Jones

The modern age, eh? In these times of iThis and iThat, it is way too easy to allow your munchkins to stare at screens all day. However, we all know that this just won’t do. Don’t we?

Parents should provide an environment that allows exploration. Babies and toddlers need plenty of space for rolling around, crawling, jumping and running. Physical development is important for children of all ages — right from birth. It can help build confidence through movement, as well as develop spatial awareness. Physical play can also help to relieve frustration, and improve your child’s concentration.

There are two areas in particular that you should support your children with: gross motor skills are large movements that develop upper and lower body strength, which can be learnt through activities such as running, jumping and throwing a ball; fine motor skills are smaller movements that relate to dexterity and handeye coordination, with useful activities including using a crayon, cutting and sticking, and doing jigsaw puzzles Here are some quick and easy activities — useful with rainy season now upon us — that encourage physical development: Songs with actions: Many nursery rhymes help to encourage fine motor skills through their accompanying actions. ‘Incey Wincey Spider’

and ‘Wind the Bobbin Up’ are two cracking options.

Obstacle courses: You can encourage gross motor skills by making a course indoors or outdoors. Put blankets down to crawl under, ropes to balance on, and hoops to hop in and out of.

Trip to the playground: Obvious, I know, but this is one of the most effective ways to encourage all aspects of physical development. Try to take your children at least once a week.

Threading: An activity that will encourage smaller movements, but will also develop handeye coordination and concentration skills. All it takes are some shoe laces and cotton reels or beads.

Boxes and blankets: This will keep your little ones occupied for longer than you think. Find a space and fill it with lots of empty boxes and blankets (or other large fabrics). Then be amazed by your children as they make tents, crawl in and out of the boxes or dance with the material. This will help to improve gross motor skills, as well as encourage creative and imaginative development.

Make sure you are supportive at all times during any activity and be sure to praise your children when they complete tasks. Ensure that all activities are safe and you will almost certainly need to give your children a demonstration first, using clear and simple instructions.

Gemma Jones 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.

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money matters Are You Seeing the Return You Deserve?

Vanessa Vrdoljak We’ve all heard the phrase “a penny saved is a penny earned,” and getting into the habit of saving on a regular basis is unarguably a good one. Savings are a backup in times of emergency and allow you to grow money with relatively low risk by earning interest. If you are not currently saving, my advice is to start now.

However, saving alone is not the best way to make your money work for you.

There is a well-known quote which goes: “save a little money each month and at the end of the year you’ll be surprised by how little you have”. Never has this been truer than in the current financial landscape, where we are seeing unprecedented low levels of interest rates coupled with inflation.

Inflation is a rise in the general level of prices and is currently the enemy of the saver. If the rate of inflation is higher than the rate of interest you are earning on your bank deposits, then your money is depreciating in real terms.

If we take the United States as an example, the average rate of inflation in 2012 was 3 percent, and current interest rates are under 1 percent for general savings accounts.

This means that savers in the States are losing out big time.

As a practical example, imagine that you have $100,000 to purchase a house. You stick it in a savings account earning 1 percent interest while you spend a year looking for your dream property. Over the course of the year, your

money will earn you $1,000 in interest giving you a grand total of $101,000. But inflation of 3 percent means that a house formerly costing $100,000 is now out of your reach at $103,000. Of course, this is oversimplifying things, as the property market doesn’t work quite like that, but you get the idea.

This is all pretty depressing stuff but don’t despair — there are better ways to save and invest than simply sticking all your money in the bank, crossing your fingers and hoping for the best.

Navigating your way through the investment market can be a tricky business which is why you might need a MAP to help you.

MAP stands for Multi Asset Portfolio. This is a fund made up of deposits from many small-scale investors like yourself and managed by a professional who has the time and knowledge to keep track of the financial landscape and ensure that your money is working as hard for you as it possibly can.

The key to a MAP’s success is diversity. A good fund manager will invest in a range of assets including equities, bonds, properties, hedge funds, commodities and cash. The fund manager will also constantly adjust the investment ratio to ensure that risk is diversified, capital is protected and that you receive a higher return than you would on money in the bank. If you’re feeling lost in the current financial landscape, could it be time that you looked at a MAP?

Vanessa Vrdoljak is a senior financial consultant 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 Vanessa, please send an email to info@infinitysolutions.com or visit infinitysolutions.com.

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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 to your interior dilemma.

All products from Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and Cambodia have been treated to withstand any climate.

Open 9am - 7pm 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.

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 admin@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 go-anywhere packages to all areas of 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.

ANZ Royal Bank Main Branch, 20 Street 114 www.anzroyal.com Cambodia’s major commercial bank has brought international standards

services 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 admin@wmg-cambodia.com A garage with Western and Khmer staff that emphasises communication and trained, attentive skills.

IT & Software

Cresittel Co., Ltd. Office 705, KT Tower, 23 Street 112. Tel 098 518 888 Company that 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.

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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.

Infinity Insurance 126 Norodom Blvd Tel: 023 999 888 Prfessional 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 (Cambodia) 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.

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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. www.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.

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.

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.

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services 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 ids the home of 42 luxury serviced apartments set in the most stylish area of Phnom Penh with spectacular river and city views. The condominium was designed by leading international architects gfab and represents the most contemporary luxury apartment development currently available in Cambodia.

CB Richard Ellis (Cambodia) Co., Ltd. 9th Floor, Hyundai Phnom Penh Tower 445 Monivong Blvd.

Tel: 023 964 099www.cbre.com.kh

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The world’s largest commercial real estate services company offering premier quality real estate, valutions, consultancy, investment and property services.

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.

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.

Taxi Services

Choice Taxi Tel: 023 888 023 / 090 882 882 Metered taxi service with rates from US$1 for first 2km.

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.

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 pick-up service.

Home Connect Cambodia 86 Street 160.

Tel: 023 88 56 85 www.homeconnect.asia

Global Meter Taxi Tel: 011 311 888 092 889 962 016 680 118

Relocation, Shipping

Modern metered taxi fleet with rates from less than US$1 for first two km.

Telecoms

Ezecom 7D Russian Blvd. Tel: 023 888 181 www.ezecom.com.kh Internet service provider that promises boundless internet packages suited to everyone’s needs. Good packages for those looking for unlimited downloads.

Mobitel 33 Sihanouk Blvd.

Tel: 012 801 801 Largest ISP in the country. Major mobile phone company which issues the 012 SIM card.

Smart Mobile 464A Preah Monivong Blvd.

Tel: 010 201 000 www.smart.com.kh facebook.com/SmartMobileKH One of the most dynamic and fastest growing mobile telecom service providers in the country. Issues the 010, 069, 070, 086, 093 and 098 prefixes.

Listings

shopping Art

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. 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 12E Street 178 & 79 Street 240 Tel: 092 675 629 Second-hand book shop with over 20,000 copies and some originals, with a heavy emphasis on best sellers and travel books. Open 9am - 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 English-language 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 high-quality 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.

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.

Artwood 6B 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.

NatureWild 10Eo Street 420 Tel: 023 727 407 www.naturewildcambodia.com A sustainable lifestyle store featuring community products made from natural and wild materials from the forests of Cambodia, ideal for gifts.

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 space with Buddha statues and old wooden boxes. Upstairs are pieces from the French colonial era. Open 10am 7pm, closed Sun.

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.

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Bambou Indochine 7 Street 178. Tel: 023 214 720, Facebook: bambouindochine High-quality T-shirts, Polo shirts and 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.

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 A design boutique offering home decor, women’s fashion, kids clothes, bags, accessories and continually updated design surprises. Next to K’nyay restaurant, in the alley across the park from java cafe.

Open 10am - 7pm, closed Sun. Lim Keo 9 Street 222. Tel: 012 941 643 Pret a porter by Lim Keo, son of Sylvain Lim, the master of Cambodian fashion.

Luna Boutique 8E1Street 278. Tel: 023 220 176 www.lunaboutiquephnompenh.com Original and stylish fashion designs for men and women, from work suits

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to evening dresses. 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 and hosts a large selection of shoes, bags, and women’s accessories to complement your style.

Open daily 8am - 9pm.

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.

SALT 2 Street 294 Tel: 012 815 066 SentosaSilk’s younger sibling has just opened in the comfortable surroundings of BKK1. Its stylish wooden interior complements the products sold, ranging from bags and shoes, clothes and dresses to accessories.

Open daily 9am - 7pm 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 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.

Food & Wine

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. Open7:30 - 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 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 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) 7am11pm.

Silks & Accessories

Friends ‘n’ Stuff 215 Street 13 Tel: 012 955 722 Colourful shop with unique products designed by Mith Samlahn/Friends students and parents of former street kids. Range includes cclothes, necklaces, purses and second hand goods. Has a nail bar run by students from the beauty class. Open 11am - 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.

asialife Cambodia 89

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Photography by Dylan Maddux & Jeremie Montessuis (Film Noir Studio)

92 asialife Cambodia

Kimchi Collective @ Meta House

Indie Concert Caroussel @ Meta House

soundfix album review

by Mai Lynn Miller Nguyen

LADY

The Knife

Kurt Vile

Rokia Traoré

LADY

Shaking the Habitual

Wakin on a Pretty Daze

Beautiful Africa

The golden sounds of Motown are resurrected in Lady’s eponymous debut. A collaboration between Londoner Terri Walker and Atlanta-based Nicole Wray, Lady’s approach is nostalgia at its best. Tunes are straight out of the 1960s, with hints of contemporary R&B, yet the appeal is timeless.

Walker and Wray’s voices are ambrosial pleasures, particularly when intertwined in harmony. Although their acquaintance is recent, the two come across as — mind the pun — soul mates, whose voices support and complement each other. Songs focus on good ol’ romance, although ‘Sweet Lady’ pays homage to both musicians’ mothers. Even the ballads avoid sugary “loves me, loves me not” tropes, with lyrics that celebrate strong women. On the catchy ‘Money’, the singers croon “I’m lovin’ it makin’ it move / Cause I feel proud that I’m an independent lady”, while urging a golddigging friend to get a job. The Supremes would be proud.

Scandinavia may be the land of blue-eyed blondes, bountiful welfare systems and Pippi Longstocking, but a dark side lurks behind the utopian exterior. Norwegian tales of fearsome trolls and the popularity of heavy metal are two proofs — not to mention that winters are long, bitterly cold and very deprived of sunlight. As The Knife, sibling Swedes Karin Dreijer Andersson and Olof Dreijer fashion music out of this darkness. Their fourth studio album, released seven years after the critically acclaimed Silent Shout, is a continuation of their unsettling and experimental electronic sound. These new tracks — featuring cacophonic rhythms overlaid with Andersson’s ghostly vocals — are not as accessible as The Knife’s 2003 breakout ‘Heartbeats’, but can be hypnotic nonetheless.

Christened after a Michel Foucault quote and laden with literary and political references, Shaking the Habitual shows there’s more to the Nordic countries than Ikea ease.

Kurt Vile’s fifth album is titled Wakin on a Pretty Daze. And how appropriate, as a pretty daze is just what Vile has created.

His collection of chilled out indie rock tunes is pleasantly hazy. The Philadelphia-based artist’s music meanders and strolls along the sunny side of the street, with dextrous guitar solos, murmured words and “yeah, yeah, yeah” verses that seem effortless. Tracks are on the long side — overtaking six minutes — but Vile and his backing two-piece band The Violators keep from becoming redundant with rich instrumental textures.

Compare him to alternative heroes of the 90s, Pavement and Beck, but also find traces of the tumbleweed folkrock of Neil Young. Even when lyrics are more morose than uplifting, the melodies keep the songs buoyed enough to avoid gloom.

Standout tracks include the opener ‘Wakin on a Pretty Day’, ‘Girl Called Alex’ and ‘Shame Chamber’.

Someone once told me that if Asia’s most celebrated cultural export is cuisine, then Africa’s is music. Not that the continent should be essentialised by its rhythms, but it’s hard to ignore the wealth of talented musicians.

Rokia Traoré, a singersongwriter-guitarist from Mali, is one such exemplar. A mix of traditional and contemporary sensibilities, her fifth album Beautiful Africa delivers dynamic songs with universal allure.

Traoré sings superbly and mostly in Bambara, although French makes an appearance on the bittersweet ‘Mélancolie’.

The daughter of a globetrotting diplomat, Traoré has absorbed influences from around the world without losing an African essence. The Gretsch electric guitar — a mainstay of midcentury American rockabilly — is at the centre of her sound, with additional accompaniment as varied as the harp, beat boxing, and the n’goni, a West African lute. Even if her words will be incomprehensible to most listeners, Traoré uses music to communicate beyond language barriers.

94 asialife Cambodia

topten

endorsed

Official 97.5 Love FM Phnom Penh Top Ten 1. When I Was Your Man Bruno Mars 2. Daylight Maroon 5 3. Tonight I’m Getting Over You Carly Rae Jepson 4. Stay Rihanna 5. Almost Home Mariah Carey 6. Don’t Run Away David Archuleta 7. Just Give Me A Reason P!nk 8. Hung Up Hot Chelle Rae 9. It’s Time Imagine Dragons 10. 22 Taylor Swift

UK Top Ten 1. Need U (100%) Duke Dumont 2. Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead Wizard Of Oz Film Cast 3. Just Give Me A Reason P!nk 4. Pompeii Bastille 5. Feel This Moment Pitbull feat. Christina Aguilera 6. Hey Porsche Nelly 7. Mirrors Justin Timberlake 8. What About Us The Saturdays 9. 22 Taylor Swift 10. When I Was Your Man Bruno Mars

US Top Ten 1. Just Give Me A Reason 2. Thrift Shop 3. When I Was Your Man 4. Stay 5. Can’t Hold Us 6. Suit & Tie 7. Mirrors 8. Feel This Moment 9. Started From The Bottom 10. Heart Attack

P!nk Macklemore Bruno Mars Rihanna Macklemore Justin Timberlake feat. Jay Z Justin Timberlake Pitbull feat. Christina Aguilera Drake Demi Lovato

Children of Men Michael Tatarski There have been countless dystopian science fiction movies made through the years. Most are completely forgettable, but some stay with you. Children of Men, released in 2006, sits firmly in the latter category.

Based loosely on a novel, the film is set in 2027 in the United Kingdom. Many of the world’s major cities have been destroyed by nuclear war and for some reason every female has been infertile for two decades. London is home to the last functioning government and strict policies are enforced against people trying to enter the country.

Clive Owen stars as Theo Faron, a cynical, depressed former activist who now works at a dreary desk job. An unexpected encounter with Julianne Moore, his estranged wife, leads Faron into a cat and mouse game as he tries to evade a radical group while protecting a very important West African refugee.

Directed by Alfonso Cuaron, Children of Men is a thoughtful look at immigration and contemporary politics, with numerous visual allusions to imagery from Guantanamo Bay, Israel and other parts of the world.

What really makes this movie stand out is its cinematography and outstanding direction.

Though there is a generous

amount of action, Children of Men never feels like another dumb shoot ‘em up.

Cuaron makes his talent as a filmmaker obvious, with two simply incredible single-shot sequences in particular.

For those that who know, a single-shot scene is filmed through one camera without interruption. These are extremely complex to film and the fact that Cuaron pulled them off is amazing.

For example, in one nearly eight-minute long take, Faron searches an apartment building during a firefight between government forces and radicals. It took 14 days to prepare this scene and five hours every time they needed to reshoot it.

In the final cut, a few drops of blood splatter onto the camera at one point and the cinematographer had to convince Cuaron to keep the shot. The effect is profound, as it is simply impossible to take your eyes off the screen during this sequence.

Children of Men isn’t just great cinematography. There are excellent performances put in by Owen, Moore and Michael Caine, who plays a dope-smoking hippie living in the woods outside of London.

Combine these actors with a strong script, brilliant story and Cuaron’s stunning direction and you have one hell of a movie.

asialife Cambodia 95

bookshelf How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia Mohsin Hamid Riverhead Books

Though the title would indicate a bluntly named self-help book, How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia is, in fact, a novel. Written by Pakistani-American Mohsin Hamid, the narrative parodies the genre of books about how to get rich quick, assigning each chapter with a rule such as ‘Don’t Fall in Love’. The story takes shape as a bildungsroman set in an unnamed South Asian city, chronicling the move of a young boy from his village to a city and his pursuit of both success and love. Within this clever framing, Hamid’s novel explores the fabric of modern Asia.

Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead Sheryl Sandberg Knopf Sheryl Sandberg is the chief operating officer of Facebook.

A Harvard Business School graduate, her CV also includes Google, The World Bank and the US Treasury. With this motivational memoir — an extension of her 2010 TED talk — Sandberg has become the public face of women in the workplace. Men still run the world, says Sandberg, and she encourages women to step up to the plate. One of Fortune’s 50 Most Powerful Women in Business, she looks at what is holding women back, from societal pressure to self-imposed reluctance, and refutes the idea that it is impossible to have both a career and a family.

For those who want to emulate Sandberg’s success, this is a blueprint of how she broke through gender barriers.

96 asialife Cambodia

Siege 13 Tamas Dobozy Thomas Allen In his third collection of short stories, Hungarian-Canadian writer Tamas Dobozy traces the impact of the Soviets’ 1944 siege of Budapest on present-day émigrés in North America and Europe. Served dark and dry, these 13 stories examine one of the longest, bloodiest battles of the Second World War and the legacy it has left behind. The settings cut between past and present, focusing on characters coming to grips with the siege’s enduring trauma. Linkages between the stories emerge, drawing them together for an insightful look at how history is never simply buried and done with.

Fresh Off the Boat: A Memoir Eddie Huang Spiegel & Grau The title of Eddie Huang’s memoir — Fresh Off the Boat — refers to that insult turned inside joke now used by immigrant Asians with some ironic affection.

In this playful work about growing up in America, Huang debunks stereotypes of Asians as being studious, docile and a model minority. Born of Taiwanese parents who immigrated to the US, Huang spends his youth living on the edge, flirting with drugs and petty crime. Now a cook and blogger with a law degree, Huang recollects his adolescence with humour and honesty, mixing amusing anecdotes and unsettling encounters with racism.

boxoffice

EPIC

Olympus Has Fallen

side effects

Star Trek Into Darkness

Based on children’s book The Leaf Men and the Brave Bugs, this 3D-animated tale takes place deep in a forest. When Mary Katherine, a teenager who lives with her professor father in the woods, finds herself shrunk to a tiny size, she encounters a whole different world. Together with the Leaf Men — known as the protectors of the forest — she must fight against the Boggans, who menace both the natural world and the world of humans, as well as figure out a way to return to her father.

From the creators of Ice Age, the film features the voices of Amanda Seyfried, Colin Farrell, Beyoncé Knowles and more.

The White House has been captured and the US President is being held hostage. This is the situation at the centre of action-thriller Olympus Has Fallen, which imagines a terrorist attack on the most protected building in the world.

When terrorists attack the White House, the security of the world is put at risk. Gerard Butler plays Secret Service agent Mike Banning, trapped within the White House and fighting to protect President Benjamin Asher (Aaron Eckhart). Morgan Freeman stars as Allan Trumbull, the Speaker of the House who becomes Acting President.

Director Steven Soderbergh channels Hitchcock with a psychological thriller that will keep audiences guessing. After her husband Martin (Channing Tatum) is released from a prison sentence for insider trading, Emily (Rooney Mara) suffers from severe depression. When she makes a failed suicide attempt, Emily is assigned to meet with psychiatrist Jonathan Banks (Jude Law), who prescribes her various anti-depressants. When nothing seems to work, Jonathan tries a new drug recommended by Emily’s previous psychiatrist.

Soon after, Emily awakes to find Martin has been killed, with all signs pointing to herself as the murderer.

Start practising your Klingon as the Star Trek franchise returns with a 12th feature film. Into Darkness is the sequel to 2009’s Star Trek, with many cast members reprising their iconic roles. Even non-Trekkies can enjoy this action-packed, three-dimensional science fiction film. When a top agent of Starfleet turns rogue and launches an attack on Earth, it is up to the crew of the Starship Enterprise to protect the universe. Commanding officer James T Kirk (Chris Pine) leads the crusade to capture the culprit, with Spock (Zachary Quinto) as his right-hand man.

Coming Soon MAY Movie Releases Platinum Cineplex See platinumcineplex.com.kh for screening schedule.

Arb Wear Helmut 2 (Khmer) Still Showing Oblivion Still Showing Tongsuk 13 (Khmer Dub) Still Showing Iron Man 3 (3D) May 2 The Host May 2 Never Ending Story (Korean) May 9 Olympus Has Fallen May 9 Evil Dead May 16 Side Effects May 16 Star Trek Into Darkness (3D) May 23 P. Mak (Khmer Dub) May 23 Fast & Furious 6 May 30 Epic (3D) May 30

Legend Cinema See legend-cinemas.com for screening schedule.

Iron Man 3 (3D) May 2 Never Ending Story May 9 The Incredible Truth May 9 Evil Dead May 16 Star Trek Into Darkness (3D) May 23 Fast & Furious 6 May 30 Epic (3D) May 30

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radar Read all day Longform.org

Longform was founded in 2010 to curate and share outstanding non-fiction pieces that are more than 2,000 words in length. A fiction section was added in December 2012. The site’s editors provide links to pieces they believe are worthy of attention. Some are from prominent writers for major outlets, while others would be harder to find. The homepage displays the latest selections, and you can narrow your options by topic, writer and publication. This is a great place to read a random group of stories and see what you can learn. An iPad app is also available.

Videos made easy Animoto.com Many people harbour dreams of making their own movies, but editing software can be expensive and complicated to use. Animoto allows users to upload photos or videos from platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Flickr, add a style and music, and have a video of their own. There are four different pricing systems that determine how much you can customise the product. The free package allows you to create 30-second videos with a limited selection of styles, while the other plans cost $2.50, $8.25 and $20.75 per month.

Video top 10s

Youtube.com/user/alltime10s This YouTube page presents video lists in a wide variety of subjects, including conspiracy, sci-fi, history, medical and crime. The videos range from informative and intelligent to ridiculous. A few examples from the main page include ’10 Most Stupid Darwin Awards’, ’10 Unexplained Discoveries’, ’10 Countries With The Most Executions’ and ’10 Things You Didn’t Know About Kim Jong-un’. Did you know that the North Korean leader was reportedly once found with a bondage porn magazine during an exam?

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pub quiz 1. Journey to the Centre of the Earth was written by which French novelist?

2. Whose 1981 debut single was ‘Planet Earth’?

3. What building material takes its name from the Italian for “baked earth”?

4. What was the subject of the film The Greatest Show on Earth?

5. What name is given to the point on the Earth’s surface immediately above the seismic focus of an earthquake?

23. Cu is the symbol of which chemical element?

24. To whom did Sherlock Holmes often remark that his logical conclusions were “elementary”?

25. According to Monty Python’s Flying Circus, who had amongst their weaponry “such elements as fear, surprise…”?

Celebrity Star Wars!

26 Jeremie Montessuis (Film Noir Studio)

Earth

no holds barred

Wind

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Water 16. From what poem do the words “Water, water, everywhere” come?

17. Which zodiac sign is the water carrier?

18. How many players are there in a water polo team?

19. Which town in Eire is famous for cut glass?

20. In Watership Down rabbit language, what is a hrududu?

Elements 21. Who starred in the 1997 film The Fifth Element?

22. Which chemical element has the atomic number 1?

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30 1. Jules Verne 2. Duran Duran 3. Terracotta 4. The Circus 5. The epicentre 6. The Rockies 7. The Seven Year Itch 8. In the Willows 9. Trachea 10. Vivien Leigh 11. Vulcan 12. Chariots of Fire 13. 1660s 14. Igor Stravinsky 15. The Ring of Fire 16. The Rime of the Ancient Mariner 17. Aquarius 18. 7 19. Waterford 20. A motor vehicle of any sort 21. Bruce Willis 22. Hydrogen 23. Copper 24. Dr Watson 25. The Spanish Inquisition 26. Morgan Freeman 27. Angelina Jolie 28. Rowan Atkinson 29. John Malkovich 30. Anne Hathaway

11. Who was the Roman God of fire?

12. Which film told the story of two athletes in the 1924 Olympics?

13. In what decade was the Great Fire of London?

14. Who wrote the music for the ballets The Firebird and The Rite of Spring?

15. What name is given to the circum-Pacific seismic belt, home to more than 75 percent of the world’s volcanoes?

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pub quiz answers

6. The Chinook is a warm, dry wind that blows along the eastern slopes of what mountain range?

7. In which film did the wind from a subway grate famously blow up Marilyn Monroe’s skirt?

8. Where is the Wind in the story about Toad and Badger?

9. What is the more scientific word for the windpipe?

10. Who won the Best Actress Oscar for Gone with the Wind?