Customer demand prompts Pandaw to introduce a new three-night voyage sailing the mighty Mekong river between Saigon and Phnom Penh … PANDAW’S MEKONG ADVENTURE THERE’S now a new option for travellers looking to move between Saigon and Phnom Penh with Pandaw introducing a three-day voyage linking the two South-East Asian cities. The new itinerary willContinue reading “CRUISE – MEKONG RIVER”
Category Archives: Cambodia
DESTINATION – SIEM REAP
SIEM REAP ANSWERS ANGKOR Wat is world famous but the ancient ruins wouldn’t be half as easy to see if it wasn’t for Siem Reap. The Cambodian settlement 5km from Angkor’s front door is home to 140,000 people with the majority working to support the hordes of tourists descending daily to sleep, scoff, shop andContinue reading “DESTINATION – SIEM REAP”
HOTELS – TREELINE URBAN RESORT
NEW RESORT FOR SIEM REAP SIEM Reap and serene places to stay go together like Angkor Wat and Apsaras, and now there’s another peaceful property to add to the list. Treeline Urban Resort, which sits on the bank of the modest river that runs through the heart of the Cambodian tourist settlement, officially opened onContinue reading “HOTELS – TREELINE URBAN RESORT”
Do South-East Asia in 2018 …
WHEN Aussies daydream about getting away it’s destinations around Asia that often provide the backdrop for holiday fantasies. Empty beaches, ancient temples, bustling cities, lush rainforests, hectic markets and serene islands promise something to satisfy every appetite, but where to go when new resorts, tours, experiences and destinations pop up every day? Escape chats withContinue reading “Do South-East Asia in 2018 …”
Anantara Angkor’s super suites …
A FRENCH explorer and renowned silk merchant have inspired two grand new guest villas at Siem Reap’s Anantara Angkor Resort. The jewel in the hotel’s crown is the sprawling Henri Mouhot Suite — the serene space celebrates the intrepid naturalist and adventurer credited with uncovering the lost Angkor ruins back in the 1860 — andContinue reading “Anantara Angkor’s super suites …”
the Mekong River …
WHERE … The Mekong River in central Cambodia WHEN … Monday, August 7, at 5.06pm WHAT … It’s the second full day of my cruise from Siem Reap to Saigon on board the RV Mekong Pandaw and we’re sailing downstream somewhere between Kampong Cham and Phnom Penh. It’s about an hour before dusk settles onContinue reading “the Mekong River …”
Temple etiquette for Asia tour …
DO you know the difference between a pagoda, a temple and a stupa? I have been to Asia dozens of times since my rookie tour back in 1994, and ventured inside more Buddhist sanctuaries than I can remember, but it wasn’t until my first sojourn in Myanmar at the end of 2015 that a guideContinue reading “Temple etiquette for Asia tour …”
River ship that feels like home …
“GOOD morning, welcome home,’’ the ship’s crew chant as we step back on board the RV Mekong Pandaw. It’s only 10.30am but the day is already fiercely hot, the dense humidity delivered by last night’s monsoonal downpour settling on the landscape like a wet woolen blanket. I’m pleased to be back on my graceful floatingContinue reading “River ship that feels like home …”
Angkor’s colonial charming …
→ Staying at Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa promises a dose of colonial charm … I’VE stayed in a few Siem Reap hotels over the years. Since my first visit to Cambodia’s Khmer kingdom at the turn of the century I’ve slept in everything from budget bland to luxury lovely with every property providing aContinue reading “Angkor’s colonial charming …”
Slow journey is a fast boat …
THE pastel tropical dawn is fusing with the white glow of street-light fluorescents to illuminate our path along the wharf and we can hear the staccato throb of the motors on the back of the speedboat ferry awaiting our arrival. We’re in Chau Doc, on the Vietnamese side of the Cambodian border, and my WorldContinue reading “Slow journey is a fast boat …”
Asia’s top temples to tempt …
SOUTH-East Asia’s top temples, in settlements from Bangkok to Yangon, are ideal places to find serenity in the region’s bustling cities. Angkor Wat Cambodia’s Angkor Wat isn’t just the world’s biggest temple – the sanctuary occupies a 162ha plot 5km from Siem Reap – but it’s also one of the most famous with more thanContinue reading “Asia’s top temples to tempt …”
Seeing Siem Reap without Angkor …
WHILE the Cambodian city is most famous for its temples — such as Angkor Wat — there is so much more to see than ancient ruins. A new generation of locals and expats are establishing boutique hotels, sophisticated bars, serene day spas, dynamic restaurants, bespoke tours, creative studios and stylish shops with so much goingContinue reading “Seeing Siem Reap without Angkor …”
So Siem Reap …
→ Narrowing the search on a Siem Reap hotel … FINDING a Siem Reap hotel can be an intimidating prospect. If you’ve never visited the Cambodian tourist town you don’t know where to start with the settlement seeming to stretch north, south, east and west along two main roads that meet near the Royal Residence.Continue reading “So Siem Reap …”
Battambang …
Where … The top of a hill near Battambang in Cambodia’s north-west corner When … Sunday, October 25, 2015 What … The lush rice fields and jungle carpeting a hill combine to drop a layer of green on Battambang, which was a region of Cambodia that was a Khmer Rouge stronghold for decades but isContinue reading “Battambang …”
Top-floor tipples …
ASIA has sky-high socialising down to a fine art. Right around the region there are rooftop bars perched in lofty locations that provide the perfect place to match a casual drink with a remarkable view after – or even during – a day playing tourist. 1. Singapore’s 1-Altitude, occupying the 63rd floor at One RafflesContinue reading “Top-floor tipples …”
Far Near Or Here 