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rss The Lowdown on Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

July 5th, 2006

Phnom Penh, Food and Drink

Tea and Coffee World. Cambodia's Starbucks.

Tea and Coffee World had its first incarnation in Cambodia as a franchise of the Vietnamese cafe chain Trung Nguyen, and is part of the BBWorld (rip off McDonalds) and CD World (rip off dvds and music) family...

Sokorn on the move...

April 9th, 2006

Phnom Penh, General Info, Getting Around

The Tuk Tuk is Your Friend.

Now, I'm all for cruising around Phnom Penh on my hoo-ride (100cc Honda Dailem), not only for the pleasure of the cruising, but also the sincere relief I feel at not having to bother with motodops 500 times a day...

March 27th, 2006

Phnom Penh, Health and Safety

Bag Snatching in Phnom Penh.

Petty crime does not seem to affect tourists to Phnom Penh the way it does in a lot of other capitals, except in one regard: bag snatching.

The scenario is this - you're riding along on the back of a moto taxi with your purse/handbag/backpack over one shoulder...

March 25th, 2006

Phnom Penh, General Info, Social Issues

Mith Samlahn/Friends Needs a New Home

Friends - the Restaurant is one of the most popular places to eat in Phnom Penh for a couple of reasons. One, the food is fantastic - a wide selection of western/asian tapas that are creative and delicious. They also make the best daiquiris in town...

March 24th, 2006

Phnom Penh, General Info

The Culling Continues. Tree Cutting in Phnom Penh.

After a first round of rather severe tree 'trimming' which started last year on street 240 and continued with tree mauling along Mao Tse Toung, Monivong and a few other main roads, the boys are back...

March 23rd, 2006

Phnom Penh, Food and Drink

The Deli Restaurant and Bakery

The Deli is a welcome addition to the cafe scene in Phnom Penh, especially now that they seem to sorted out their croissant issues (which are delicious, by the way...)...

February 27th, 2006

Phnom Penh, General Info, Getting Around

Tales of Asia

We're not above giving kudos to those who deserve it, and Tales of Asia definately does...

O viola meu bem viola

February 16th, 2006

Phnom Penh, Sports

Capoeira Kampuchea

Capoeira is alive and well in, of all places, Cambodia. A group of enthusiasts have been playing for more than 3 years now in the capital Phnom Penh.

Classes are open to all, and are taught 3 times a week...

February 16th, 2006

Phnom Penh, Food and Drink

Shiva Shakti Restaurant.

If you have some time and money to spend while in Phnom Penh, and even better, you've hooked up with someone on your travels and you're looking to impress them, bring them to Shiva Shakti...

February 16th, 2006

Phnom Penh, Food and Drink

Indian Kitchen.

Good Indian food, great Samosas, and cheaper than many of the other Indian restaurants in town, Indian Kitchen is great for take away or delivery.

If you are looking to eat out, it's not the most charming place to have a meal...

January 15th, 2006

Phnom Penh, General Info

Slipping Into Phnom Penh.

Phnom Penh offers a welcome break for travelers who have enough of the frenetic free-for-all of other asian capitals...

November 28th, 2005

Phnom Penh, Food and Drink

Tamarind Bar and Restaurant.

Tamarind is a classy Mediterranean restaurant on street 240, and one of my favorite places to eat in Phnom Penh.

Maybe it's because I'm married...

November 26th, 2005

Phnom Penh, Festivals and Events, Music and Clubs, Secret Stuff

7th Annual Bokor Mountain New Year's Party 2005

It's that time of the year again. Preparations are already underway for the next New Year's Eve bash...

November 2nd, 2005

Phnom Penh, Food and Drink

Java Cafe and Bakery.

With a beautiful view of Hun Sen Park, Java is a poplar place to eat and is the de facto meeting point for many of Phnom Penh's expat consultants.

Java has done an excellent job of preserving the colonial feel of the architecture without the pretension...

October 18th, 2005

Phnom Penh, Buying Stuff, General Info, Living Abroad

Getting Cash in Phnom Penh (ATM, Credit Cards and More)

One of the hottest topics regarding traveling in Phnom Penh seems to be where to get your cash...

June 29th, 2005

Phnom Penh, Health and Safety

Ly Srey Vyna Medical Clinic

When traveling in Cambodia you are bound to get sick, and hopefully when it happens, you'll be in the capital and not stuck out in the boondocks where what passes for medical service might consist of a couple of aspirin and a saline drip...

June 27th, 2005

Phnom Penh, Buying Stuff

Get your Mac on - Uni Young Technologies

If, while tooling around Cambodia with your powerbook, you run into problems (excessive dust, computer-loving fire ants, theft, etc) visit Mr. Phay at Uni Young Technologies...

June 27th, 2005

Phnom Penh, Food and Drink

Rendez Vous Restaurant.

Rendez Vous is a meat lovers paradise, where the massive menu contains dishes like Chicken Cordon Bleu, Taco Salad, and Filet Mignon. Portions are huge, but try and save room for the blueberry pikelettes (pronounced 'piglets')...

The pool really is this nice.

June 27th, 2005

Phnom Penh, Entertainment, Secret Stuff, Where to Stay

The Billabong Hotel.

Located on a small side street a few blocks south of Psar Tmei, the Billabong is an excellent spot to relax and beat the blistering hot summer days. (Are there any other kind here?) On a weekday, $5 will get you use of the pool (towels supplied). An extra $2...

June 27th, 2005

Phnom Penh, Food and Drink

Flavors of India

Ah, patience truly is a virtue. 'Flavors of India', (formerly Himalaya) is back in all its northern Indian glory...

May 28th, 2005

Phnom Penh, Entertainment, Sports

Olympic Stadium

Since the completion of controversial renovations, Phnom Penh's Olympic Stadium is open for business, providing an almost hazard free excercise venue for the masses...

April 14th, 2005

Phnom Penh, Getting Around

Khmer New Year Blues.

Getting around during the long weekend of Khmer New Year requires some planning. Buses to places like Siem Reap fill up quickly, and you should think about buying tickets at least a full day in advance, if not more...

April 8th, 2005

Phnom Penh, General Info, Getting Around, Living Abroad

Surviving the streets of Phnom Penh. (A Traffic Primer)

I am alternately bemused and terrified when I see newcomers to Cambodia tooling around on their rented motos or dirt bikes. At best, they'll wind up breaking some of the bizarre traffic rules that are actually enforced and be conned out of too much money...

April 8th, 2005

Phnom Penh, Food and Drink

Asia Europe Bakery

I don't remember how exactly I became addicted to Asia Europe Bakery. Maybe it was the coffee. It's good. And cheap. 70 cents to be exact.

The baked goods run the gamut from the okay (croissants and pain au chocolat) to the bizarre (hot dog pizzas on flat donuts)...

A game of Capoeira at 100 Degrees

March 20th, 2005

Phnom Penh, Entertainment, Festivals and Events

Capoeira in Cambodia

If you haven't heard of Capoeira, you may have seen it, and if you haven't seen it, here's your chance...

March 15th, 2005

Phnom Penh, Entertainment, Food and Drink

Veiyo Tonle Restaurant.

The Phnom Penh riverfront is packed with restaurants serving pizza and other 'Italian' food - some fairly good, most pretty bad. The Veiyo Tonle restaurant stands out for two reasons:

1) The pizza is pretty decent...

February 2nd, 2005

Phnom Penh, Food and Drink

Nature and Sea Cafe

I've known Stephane for a couple of years now, and he still is as quiet, friendly and unassuming as when I first met him. He does has another side to him though - one of the key expats living in Cambodia for all things music/dance/party and food related...

December 28th, 2004

Phnom Penh, Food and Drink

Teuki Bar - Chazillin' a la Francaise

My first night in Phnom Penh I went to the Teukei Bar for a quick dinner before heading back home to recover from my 22 hour trip from Los Angeles. That was the plan, anyway...

Bokor Casino entrance

December 25th, 2004

Phnom Penh, Entertainment, Festivals and Events

7th Annual Bokor Mountain New Year's Party 2005

It's that time of the year again. Preparations are already underway for the next New Year's Eve bash...

November 12th, 2004

Phnom Penh, Food and Drink

Pop Cafe da Giorgio. Italian Food Like Momma Make.

Giorgio's Place isn't actually called Giorgio's Place. The real name is Pop Cafe, but the name doesn't fit, so let's be done with it.

Giorgio's Place is a little italian restaurant just underneath the FCC and facing the Tonle Sap river on Phnom Penh's waterfront...

June 10th, 2004

Phnom Penh, Food and Drink

Mama Restaurant

There isn't much to distinguish Mama's from any of the other chinese-apartment / restaurant / shop / dental clinic / etc, but its anonymity is one of it's endearing qualities...

June 10th, 2004

Phnom Penh, Culture, Entertainment

Sovanna Phum Art Association.

Sovanna Phum is Khmer for "Magic Village", and the group - a collection of young Cambodians from the Royal School of Fine Arts in Phnom Penh - began giving regular performances of traditional Khmer culture back in 1995...

October 22nd, 2003

Phnom Penh, Food and Drink

The Shop Cafe and Bakery

The shop is nestled on Street 240 - a cozy tree lined street where the frenetic pace of Phnom Penh's roads can be left behind. With a style that is clean and modern, the Shop wouldn't be out of place in any smart urban setting, and in Phnom Penh it offers a welcome break...

You know you'd look good on the back on this baby...

October 14th, 2003

Phnom Penh, Getting Around, Living Abroad

Need a Moto? Get Lucky! Lucky!

Lucky! Lucky! motos is one of many rental places along Monivong Boulevard that provides small scooters (100cc) for your daily commute in the city, as well as larger dirt bikes suitable for visiting the provinces - or if it's the rainy season - navigating the flooded roads with their jacuzzi sized po..

November 13th, 2002

Phnom Penh, Food and Drink

Friends - the Restaurant

Friends (Mith Samlang) is one of the most interesting places I have come across in Phnom Penh...

Hook it Up!

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