Cambodia Activities
Cultural Studies
Cambodia has less opportunities for language and cultural studies for the short-term traveller, though there are many language schools and private teachers advertising for those who are hanging around a bit longer. There are also meditation groups which meet at some of the Buddhist Pagodas in Phnom Penh.
Phnom Penh
Thunder Ranch is a shooting range near Cheoung Ek. Moto drivers, apparently oblivious to the reaction most visitors have, will try to include this in a trip to the killing fields. Rumors abound that cows and other farm animals used to serve as targets, but this is probably no longer the case.
Places to hang out after dark include Street 104, Street 278, and Street 108 around the Street 51 corner, which all feature restaurant bars, hostess bars, and guesthouses.
Barbados, south of Street 104 near the river, is a hostess bar. Buy 5 beers and get 1 free.
DV8 Bar & Guesthouse on Street 148 (near the riverfront) is a popular hostess bar with a good selection of spirits and a pool table on the 2nd floor - great if you're a single guy. Good accommodation on the premises.
Elephant Bar, Raffles Le Royal. The classy bar at the classiest hotel in town, with frescos on the ceiling and live piano in the evenings. Try the Femme Fatale, a mix of cognac and champagne dreamed up for Jacqui Kennedy in 1967. Expensive.
Elsewhere on Street 51 is an ex-pat hang-out with platform seating surrounding a small pool, in a French colonial villa. Big party first Friday of every month, when the place is packed.
Equinox on Street 278 (near Street 51) is a cocktail bar featuring paintings by local artist Soumey and photo exhibits by Isabelle Lesser, gaming room with a pool table and the unique bonzini foosball table of Phnom Penh, cool tunes, good food. Increasingly popular with expats.
Golden Vine on street 108 next to VooDoo Lounge. Hostess bar with pole dancing and good food. Sunday roast recommended.
Heart of Darkness has long been the most infamous nightclub in Phnom Penh, closed in August 2005 after a patron was shot to death but is now back in business. Some seating is reserved for well-heeled (gangster elite) Phnom Penh local youth, so move if you are asked. While certainly not the safest place in the world, more nights go by without incident than not. A number of expats avoid it now, however. Saturday nights are always packed.
Martini Pub & Disco on Street 95 (one block off Monivong Blvd, across from the Total Gas Station) is an infamous girlie bar. Two full bars, food USD2-6, burgers & fries, pizza, Asian dishes, gaming room, disco, outdoor big-screen showing movies or sports. There some copycat Martini bars in other places like Sihanoukeville and Siem Reap, but this is the original. A place for single men and loose ladies.
Monsoon Wine Bar on Street 104 is an intimate, cosy wine bar. Try a glass of wine from the well-chosen international wine list or nibble on something from the small but excellent Pakistani menu. Chilled vibe, cool tunes, friendly service.
OneZeroFour Bar on Street 104 is a popular low-key hostess bar, one of the few bars in Phnom Penh with a foosball table.
Pit Stop on Street 51 is a popular hostess bar.
Rubies on Street 240 is a wine bar favoured by young ex-pats working for local NGOs. Busy with a cliquey atmosphere on a weekend night.
Sharky's Bar & Restaurant, #126 Street 130, Phnom Penh. Since its opening in 1995, Sharky's has been rocking & rolling. Located upstairs on the first floor above street level, Sharky's boasts a large space, huge center bar, outside balcony, and plenty of available seating. Most moto taxis will understand "Shockeee Bah". It's about three 1/2 blocks from the "Psar Thmei" (new market).
Sugar Shack on Sothearos (the street in front of the National Museum and Palace) is a classy little hostess bar featuring a nice wine selection.
VooDoo Lounge on Street 51 near street 108 is a new bar with a great range of drinks, nice decor, air-con, happy hostesses, and a pool table. Two other hostess bars nearby.
Walkabout on Street 51 has food and good pool tables. Many freelance girls congregate here. Popular after hours bar, also has rooms available. Open 24 hours.
Zanzibar on Street 104 is high energy hostess bar with reasonable prices and a pool table upstairs, that's very popular among expats.
Zapata Bar on Street 108 next to VooDoo Lounge is a stylish air-con hostess bar with a good range of drinks, and no pool table or food to distract you from the lovely ladies.
Banlung
Banlung is situated near several spectacular natural attractions, including waterfalls, natural parks, and local tribes. As you might have figured out from all the gem dealers in town, Banlung and the Ratanakiri province is a significant gem mining area. Miners work in the Bokeo mines about 36 kilometres from the town extracting the gems which sometimes end up for sale in Banlung's market. For more information on a tour, ask your guesthouse. Wat Rahtanharahm is located about 1 kilometre out of town at the base of Eisey Patamak Mountain. Inside is a large reclining Buddha situated amongst a spectacular view of the surrounding countryside. There are several local waterfalls, and they are best seen during the rainy season when the water volume is at its highest and the vegetation is lush and green. Cha Ong is the most toured waterfall in the area, and is 18 metres high. The rock area behind the waterfall has been eroded away over the centuries by the waterfall, thus allowing you to walk behind the fall. Kan Chang is another fall, this one approximately 7 metres in height. It empties into a large pool in which it is possible to swim. Ka Tieng is a third waterfall, this one 10 metres tall, in the jungle which also allows swimming. Each of these charge a 2,000 riel entry fee in addition to whatever you shell out to get there in the first place. On the way to the waterfalls, there are a few large rubber plantations. You might want to stop for a few minutes to look at this massively monocultural French colonial legacy. Take a dirtbike ride along 'The Death Highway' ox cart tracks to Sen Monorom, visit a hilltribe cemetery or head to 7 steps waterfall and mining villages.
Battambang
Take a ride on the bamboo train. A trip to the train can be booked in most hotels. Expect to pay additional for the train. Take a motorbike trip around the countryside and visit some nice temples and enjoy the views. Wander around the market and sample local dishes.
Kep
eeing Hands 5 Massage, On the riverfront road, Tel: 012-503012. Shiatsu massage by seeing-impaired Cambodian masseurs and masseuses.
Koh Kong
Boat tours to the islands, through the mangroves and/or to the islands, and even inland waterfall excursions by both slow and fast boats, are available from just about everywhere that provides accommodation or food/drink for foreigners.
Kratie
Irrawaddy dolphin watching is a very popular activity. As there are probably less than 100 or so dolphins left, you may only see them from a distance, though there are sometimes large groups of them frolicking. The best spot to watch the dolphins is Kampi village, 15km north from Kratie. By motodop, this trip should set you back US$2-4 for the roundtrip, about 20 minutes each way. Once at the village, you charter a small boat for US$2-3 per person, with the best times for viewing being late afternoon, rainfall permitting. To protect the dolphins, you should ensure that your boatmen follows the dolphin watching guidelines provided and only use oars when near the dolphins. There's also a nice little shop which benefits the community and helps encourage the villagers conserve the remaining dolphins. If you are interested in birds, when on the boat, go upstream to the islands to look for the Mekong Wagtail (Motacilla samveasnae), a Cambodian endemic species that can be found in this stretch of the river. Early morning might find them hopping on rocks near the dolphin area.
CRDT is a local organisation which works with communities along the river and runs Community Development Tours to their projects. This gives your a unique experience of Cambodian village life, and the chance to help out with their integrated development and dolphin conservation project. The restored ancient pagoda Wat Roka Kandal is about 2km south of the centre, right on the riverfront; it's ideal for a bike ride or extended walk - just go south and stay on the riverside. It now serves as the local office and shop for the Cambodian Craft Cooperation, which is working with local craftsmen to create quality goods. There is a range of low-priced souvenirs, and the pagoda is worth seeing for itself - as it is an ancient, Laotian style place, which has been beautifully restored, and now offers traditional accommodation - see the Sleep section. There is also a more modern pagoda over the road, with a good contingent of monks who can be heard chanting at dawn and dusk. The town museum, at the north end of the main town near the globe roundabout, is almost never open. If you are really keen, go see the culture ministry and they might open it up for you (for an appropriate donation) - though you'll be lucky to catch them in the office.
There are three basket weaver villages 15kms south of Kratie City. The biggest is the Cham village Chheu Teil Ploch with 4.000 villagers.
There's a basketball and volleyball area on the south side of the old Governor's residence. The security guards probably won't refuse a civil request to use it within reasonable hours, and they might even join in.
Watching the sun go down over the Mekong, with a cold beer or a tuk-a-lok (fruit shake) on the riverfront, is one of the joys of a visit to Kratie. There are many stalls which set up in the late afternoon to service that need (and stay open until midnight, unusually late for a Cambodian Provincial town).
Siem Reap
Hidden Cambodia Dirt Bike Tours, Tel. + 855 (0)12 934 412 or (0)12 655 201. HCDBT offers once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to explore the countryside of Cambodia in a safe yet exciting way, by motorbike or 4WD. Apsara Theatre, tel. +855-63-963-363. The only air-conditioned theater in town presents various traditional popular and classical dances and serves a set of local specialties. Booking recommanded! Another - albeit weird - solution to temple fatigue is offered at the army shooting range near Banteay Srei and Kbeal Span. An alarming amount of armament and explosives are available, and the only limit appears to be the cash you're willing to spend. Even a short round is pretty expensive, but listening to the soldiers-turned-used car salesmen put the hard sell on a new machine gun is almost worth the trip.
Most of Siem Reap's watering holes are concentrated in a few lanes north of Psar Chas (the old market), mainly on a street known appropiately as "Bar Street" or "Pub Street". Drinks usually US$2 and up, although most if not all bars have happy hours before 8 PM and draft Angkor often goes for as little as US$.50.
Angkor What?, Pub St. The pub that started it all, still going strong after ten years and covered in years of scribbled notes from travellers to prove it.
Temple Club, Pub St. A popular western-orienated (But Khmer owned) nightclub featuring Angkorian decor, three free pool tables, and a rocking dance floor, it's not uncommon for this place to be open until sunrise. Inexpensive drinks.
FCC Angkor, (west river bank next to post office), [6]. Opened in October 2002, this is far and away Siem Reap's hippest place for a bite and a drink. A branch of the legendary Phnom Penh Foreign Correspondents' Club, the FCC offers food (~US$5) and drink (~US$3) in a marvelous blend of modern style and colonial architecture... if at a fairly steep price, at least by Cambodian standards.
Le Tigre du Papier, Pub St. Free movies most evenings, a huge selection of used books upstairs and cheap shots of the aniseed liquor pastis. French-run.
Linga Bar, the only officially gay-friendly bar in the village that attracts gay and straights alike. In the words of the owner, your grandmother would feel comfortable here. Great drinks opposite the markets, parallel to the "bar" street.
Soup Dragon, Pub St. A restaurant/bar on one of the corners of the "bar" street in the old part of town. Great sunset vista from their rooftop with the added bonus being it is the same time as happy hour - two for one cocktails, drinks range from US$2-4. The food is mostly vietnamese, good and cheap plus they make their own ice cream.
Warehouse/The Art House. Two bars for the price of one: downstairs has an appropriately warehouse-y feel with lots of red brick and a "Service Entrance", while upstairs is a clean white art gallery that also happens to serve drinks. Free draft beer offered at various times on Friday, though courtesy dictates you have a drink or two before or afterwards or dine from the food menu.
Laundry Bar A popular French-owned expat hangout with a sophisticated setting and chilled atmosphere, this is definitely a late-night bar. It features a huge selection of music albums for sale at US$5 for 7 albums (On one MP3 disk). Free pool table.
Sihanoukville
Koh Russei (Bamboo Island) - can be reached by private boat for US$5, at the Sunset Cafe on Occidental Beach, ask the owner the night before you want to go, or from the beach near Ream National Park (about 20km east of Sihanoukville). On the island there are 2 sets of huts on either side of the island, both with bar/restaurant and offering 10 basic huts each for US$8-10 per night (early 2007 prices). Bookings though Bar Ru or Coasters Guest houses in Sihanoukville. Despite too much plastic waste around for the pure unspoilt tropical island experience, it is still wonderful place to relax. Scuba diving - there are many islands off the Cambodia coast that have lots of coral and fish. All the dive boats in Cambodia leave from the Sihanoukville port area. There are 2 PADI Dive Centers, 1 SSI Dive Center and instructors from NAUI and CMAS working at smaller dive shops in town. The main scuba diving area is the Koh Rung Group located 14 miles offshore. There is also some shallow diving at Koh Tas 6 miles of shore. The best diving is the overnight trips to the Koh Tang Group, 35 miles from Siahnoukville, where large pelagic are seen regularly, visibility is double what you will find at the close in sites. 2 dive day trips US$59-70, overnight trips US$185-195 all inclusive. Snorkeling - is possible around most of the islands, with the best snorkeling being at the further our islands for visibility, corals and fish. US$10-25.
For after hours fun and drinking, there are Monkey Republic (Near Serendipity Beach. 75c Draft, Big parties every Thursday. Good pool table. Good tunes selected by UK Dj's.) and Star Bar (Located downtown behind Shell gas station. Extremely cold Anchor draft beer (happy hour 50c, rest of the day 75c). Friendly waitresses. Good pool table. Decent kitchen with western oriented menu. Popular Wednesday evening barbecue US$2.).
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Cambodia Travel Information has been extracted in part from ‘http://wikitravel.org/en/Cambodia’ and is based work by Has Kosal, Jani Patokallio, Michele Ann Jenkins, Felicity T, Maïte Romand & Hugues De Keyzer and Aneel Nazareth, Wikitravel user(s) Texugo and Episteme, Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel and others.
