Phnom Penh, Cambodia: 10 Things to Do With 24 Hours in Phnom Penh

PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA in 24 HOURS: 

THE 10 PLACES YOU MUST SEE, STAY, AND EAT AT

There are very few occasions in which I like to be proven wrong. They all involve pleasant surprises especially when it comes to managing travel expectations. More specifically, when a layover city turns out to be more than a place to pass through but rather a destination in itself. That was what happened last Christmas. The plan was to fly to Siem Reap, Cambodia via the capital, Phnom Penh. What I thought was going to be a simple stopover (maybe just a cocktail at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club, a few lazy hours at one or two museums) turned out to be an extremely enriching experience of culture, history, food, food for thought, and shopping..all of it clocked in just 24 hours, with time to spare. Suffice to say, I had a Phnom-menal time, and you can too. Here are my 10 Things To Do with 24 Hours In Phnom Penh, Cambodia...

CAMBODIA TOURISM

February 16, 2018

Phnom Penh, Cambodia: 10 Things to Do With 24 Hours in Phnom Penh

PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA in 24 HOURS:  THE 10 PLACES YOU MUST SEE, STAY, AND EAT AT There are very few ...

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Phnom Penh, Cambodia: Malis and Topaz, 2 of the Capital's Best High End Restaurants

MALIS AND TOPAZ: TWO OF THE BEST HIGH-END RESTAURANTS IN PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA

Ayo sis*! I’ve found the Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield of Phnom Penh’s restaurant scene. Like the Sweet Valley High twins who have so little in common, these two restaurants exist almost side by side - separated by a 5 minute walk on the same street in downtown Phnom Penh - and belong to the same family (Thalias, a leading company in the Cambodian hospitality industry), yet seem like polar opposites: one being a revival of an almost-forgotten traditional Cambodian cooking style, and the other being French haute cuisine that is classic and unlikely to ever go extinct let alone out of vogue. Like the Wakefield twins, the two restaurants have more in common than their personalities suggest: both Malis and Topaz represent an era in Cambodian history, both are two of the most highly-rated restaurants in Phnom Penh. Want to keep it in the family next time you’re in the city? I got you, fam...

MALIS RESTAURANT • TOPAZ RESTAURANT 

*I’m stanning Aja for All Stars 3, can you tell? She levelled that pussy UP!

February 12, 2018

Phnom Penh, Cambodia: Malis and Topaz, 2 of the Capital's Best High End Restaurants

MALIS AND TOPAZ: TWO OF THE BEST HIGH-END RESTAURANTS IN PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA Ayo sis *! I’ve found the Jessica and Eli...

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Siem Reap, Cambodia: What to See, Eat, Do, and NOT To Do

SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA: HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OUT OF A SHORT STAY (AND HOW DO IT IN STYLE AND CONSCIENCE, TOO!)

Now, I’m all for slow-living and taking it nice and easy (as the glacial pace I take to respond to Whatsapp messages will attest to) but sometimes, time is a luxury that money just can’t buy. What’s a girl to do, eh? That’s no excuse to dive into a whirlwind tour of a city unprepared. Luckily, I live life in the fast lane and do the research beforehand so others don’t have to. If you’re planning a short (3 or so days) trip to Siem Reap and don’t want to scrimp on comfort or culture, keep reading my guide on Where to stay, What to eat, What to see, What to do and most importantly, What NOT to do.

SIEM REAP • CAMBODIA TOURISM

January 29, 2018

Siem Reap, Cambodia: What to See, Eat, Do, and NOT To Do

SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA: HOW TO MAKE THE MOST  OUT OF A SHORT STAY   (AND HOW DO IT IN STYLE AND CONSCIENCE, TOO!) No...

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Siem Reap, Cambodia: Park Hyatt Siem Reap

Location vs. Luxury: Why not both? Park Hyatt - one of the very few luxury hotels in downtown Siem Reap - proves to be unbeatable for both its prime position and its commitment to 5-star quality. 

January 25, 2018

Siem Reap, Cambodia: Park Hyatt Siem Reap

Location vs. Luxury : Why not both? Park Hyatt - one of the very few luxury hotels in downtown Siem Reap - proves to be u...

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Siem Reap, Cambodia: Banteay Srei, the "Pink Temple"

 

THERE’S MORE TO BANTEAY SREI - AKA THE “PINK TEMPLE” 

OF SIEM REAP - THAN MEETS THE EYE... 

It is a known fact that yours truly does not like to get out of bed for less than a $10,000 view in the morning. So imagine my consternation when, after an early wake up call and bumpy, dusty hour-long drive into the heartlands of Siem Reap, the famous pink temple that is Banteay Srei - also known as The Citadel of Women - was a lot less the ‘millenial pink’ I expected than it was ‘overcooked salmon’. B*tch, HUE better work. Was my pastel colour-motivated trek into the wildnerness all for naught? Happily, it was hardly a wasted journey, for I had serendipitously discovered a temple that was far unique to the others in Angkor for a myriad of reasons...

SIEM REAP • CAMBODIA TOURISM

January 22, 2018

Siem Reap, Cambodia: Banteay Srei, the "Pink Temple"

  THERE’S MORE TO BANTEAY SREI - AKA THE “PINK TEMPLE”  OF SIEM REAP -  THAN MEETS THE EYE ...   It is a known fact t...

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Siem Reap, Cambodia: Ta Prohm, the "Tomb Raider temple"

FEELING THE TOMB RAIDER FANTASY AT  TA PROHM IN SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA It is indisputable that the centuries-old temples of the ancient city of Angkor in what is now called Siem Reap is what put Cambodia on the map of many a wanderluster. Two places immediately come to mind: the iconic Angkor Wat (itself on the flag of the Kingdom of Cambodia) and Ta Prohm, famous for its ruined walls intertwined with giant tree roots. In the second part of my Cambodia photo diaries, I walked among the remnants of history and learn what makes the “Tomb Raider temple” so unique. SIEM REAP • CAMBODIA TOURISM

January 19, 2018

Siem Reap, Cambodia: Ta Prohm, the "Tomb Raider temple"

FEELING THE TOMB RAIDER  FANTASY  AT  TA PROHM  IN  SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA It is indisputable that the centurie...

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Siem Reap, Cambodia: Why sunset is better than sunrise at Angkor Wat

SO NICE, I WENT THERE TWICE - ANGKOR WAT IN THE MORNING VS. THE EVENING (AND WHY SUNRISE AT ANGKOR WAT IS OVERRATED)  

With peak season in Cambodia (November to January) coming to a close and savvy travellers such as yourself (you clever thing, you) looking into visiting Siem Reap in the less crowded, less expensive off-peak season that is May to October, it seemed timely that my first Asia travel story of the year should be of arguably the most famous of Cambodian monuments - the instantly recognisable and incomparable Angkor Wat. You know by now, of course, my 2018 mission to see all the South East Asian countries I've yet to visit. With Vietnam, Singapore, my native Malaysia, Thailand, and now Cambodia under my belt, that leaves just six countries to go. I can't think of a better destination to kick off this year's travel stories with, so here are the first of my photo diaries from Siem Reap, Cambodia, and my observations on why sunset trumps sunrise at Angkor Wat.

SIEM REAP • CAMBODIA TOURISM

January 17, 2018

Siem Reap, Cambodia: Why sunset is better than sunrise at Angkor Wat

SO NICE, I WENT THERE TWICE - ANGKOR WAT  IN THE MORNING VS. THE EVENING  ( AND WHY SUNRISE AT ANGKOR WAT IS OVERRATED ) ...

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