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Durian fruits at a vendors cart in Siem Reap

How to eat durian in Cambodia

Written by André Ruys on . Posted in cooking class, eat with locals, Food adventure, food in Cambodia, Kambodscha, Khmer culture, Siem Reap, Uncategorized.

Durian, also know as stinky fruit or The King of fruits, is an eatable fruit of a certain species of tree in Asia. It’s famous for the strong odor, but also for it delicious creamy texture. In Cambodia you can buy durian at most local markets as well as from street vendors. Durian is usually farmed in Kampot, Kampng Cham and around Battambang. Many fruits are imported from Thailand and Vietnam as well.

Durian is different from jackfruit. The latter is a much bigger fruit with smaller spikes and a different, more sweeter taste. The prices depend on the season and quality. You can get them starting from 13.000 riel per kg (about $3.50) all the way up to 20.000 riel ($5). Most stalls have a fix price, although there is a small margin for bargaining.

How to eat durian – our guide
How to eat durian – our guide

Where to buy durian in Siem Reap?

Most people will direct you to the roundabout on Apsara road near the Sokha hotel. Many vendors have their cars lined up on the street. Most markets have stalls as well – just follow the smell. And that’s why supermarkets rarely sell it. 

Can I take durian back to my hotel?

The simple answer is no. Hotels will not allow even locals to bring durian inside the premise or rooms. It’s also banned in buses and planes.

Where to eat it?

It is common to eat durian in the tuktuk on the way to Angkor Wat or other places to visit in Siem Reap. Cambodians know how to picknick, so they will just stop somewhere, sit in the shadow of a tree and enjoy durian and other fruits and food they bought on the way.

How to eat durian?

When you buy it on the street, ask the seller to open the fruit and take the eatable pieces out. They usually give you a box for it. Some sell the inner parts of the flesh (normally for a higher price). In the markets you may see them selling durian with sticky rice and coconut milk. There is also ice cream made from durian and dried durian chips.

When eating you may use plastic gloves of a fork. Once you have contact with your skin, the smell may stay for a while, even after washing your hands. Also be aware of the seed inside – it cannot be eaten raw. But you can bake them until soft.

The outside skin (the one with the spikes) can be used as traditional local medicine. They say it helps for the pain during a women’s period. The skin is dried and then boiled with water.

 

 

 

 

Learn how to throw a Cambodian fishing net

We are back: Enjoy food adventures with locals families in Cambodia

Written by André Ruys on . Posted in cooking class, eat with locals, Experience Cambodia, food in Cambodia, Kambodscha, Khmer culture, Khmer food, Siem Reap.

We had rough two years, but now we are back. Dine With The Locals will continue to connect travelers with local families in Cambodia (and in two cities in Vietnam) and provide great food adventures. We are finishing our process to update our lists of host and started to onboard new hosts. 

Learn how to throw a Cambodian fishing net
Learn how to throw a Cambodian fishing net

Our food adventures are more than a cooking class

Say hello to Ms. Sokvy, who lives in the outskirts of Siem Reap, next to rice fields, with her husband and her kids. While Mr. Chantry is buy as a driver (he will pick you up and bring you back when you book with us), she is taking care of the house. We visited her recently and consulted the family regarding food and activity selection. Expect one of the best dishes in Cambodia, Tek Kreung, and lean how to make this thick soup (some call it a paste) made of pea eggplants and river fish.

You will also learn how locals go fishing (no animals harmed during this experience): Mr. Chantry will show you how to throw a fishing net. It is traditionally used for fishing in ponds, but also in shallow waters like the Tonlesap lake (Asias biggest lake).

Good bye to some great hosts

We had some amazing hosts during the last three years, providing authentic food adventures and great experiences. It’s no surprise, that some changed location and work during the pandemic. First of all, all of the host families survived the crises and are doing good. But some found new jobs, moved to Phnom Penh or other cities. 

One hosts made a remarkable progress: Ms Hong Ginlai, who runs a food stall in Siem Reap. When we started with her, guests could prepare street food in the morning in a made shift stall. She later had to move – what turned out to be a great opportunity. She told us, that she has to pause now taking guests for food adventures because she is too busy. We could not be more happy to see her being so successfull. Watch our video and see what you have missed.

Finding more food adventures in Cambodia

After we have updated our current list of hosts we will find more soon. Ms. Sokvy is just the first. We are looking for more families in Battambang and in and around Phnom Peng now. To be a host at Dine With The Locals, a family needs to provide a menu with three local dishes as well as a interesting experience beside cooking with guests.

Ms. Kaum provides an amazing food adventure in Siem Reap
Ms. Kaum provides an amazing food adventure in Siem Reap

And one more thing: You may hav noticed that we had to increase our prices. This is due rising costs for food in Cambodia, but also for our operations. Host get the biggest share of what you pay, because our main goal is to eatable women to earn money in their home and provide a great food adventure for foreign guests. 

 

An update for 2022: Dine With The Locals and food experiences in Siem Reap

Written by André Ruys on . Posted in cooking class, Kambodscha, Siem Reap, Siem Reap Höhepunkte.

Cambodia has finally re-opened its borders to international tourism. You do not need a PCR anymore nor get tested at the airport. However, prof of vaccination is still required. At Dine With The Locals we had a hard time during Covid-19. So far, no one of us or the hosts got seriously sick, although some got infected. 

Since we had no tourists coming, the business broke down and we had to close the company we founded in 2020 as a start-up. It is now back as a web service in the hands of the Co-founder Thomas. We also lost some hosts, mainly because they got jobs, moved or other personal reasons. But we still got some requests for bookings, so we want to keep this going, but on a smaller level.

Dine With The Locals is a platform connecting hosts and guests. We see ourselves as a digitales service we provide. Although we promote our hosts and try to promote Cambodia as a tourism destination, our main goal is to provide a fast and easy service to hosts and guests. Thats why we withdraw from sites like AirBnB and Tripadvisor. We think, small is beautiful, and we do not want to give money to cooperations who see us as just a number in their database.

We do take commission from our hosts, but the main amount goes to the hosts families. We encourage guests to leave tips or buy products our hosts sell and produce. We want to help families and in particular women to get an additional income. So far, we did well until the pandemic hit us. The near futures will tell, how fast Cambodia can recover – and how fast we can get back on our feet. The team is small, we are still looking for people to join us – but recruiting for start-ups in Siem Reap is not an easy task. 

If you are interested in authentic food experiences while visiting Cambodia, our hosts are here for you. We are available in Siem Reap, Banteay Meanchay, Phnom Penh and Stung Treng – and hopefully soon again in Battambang.

We wish you all healthy days ahead! 

 

 

Another view of the famous pubstreet in Siem Reap during road works

Siem Reap ist eine große Baustelle

Written by André Ruys on . Posted in Kambodscha, Kochkurs in Kambodscha, Online-Experience, Siem Reap Höhepunkte, Uncategorized.

Die Covid-19-Pandemie hat Siem Reap zu einer Geisterstadt gemacht. In der Pub Street sind fast alle Bars und Restaurants geschlossen, die Straße zum Flughafen ist gesäumt von Hotel mit einem Schild “Zum Verkauf” oder “Zur Miete” an den zugezogenen Gittern an den Eingangstoren. Die Zahl der ausländischen Touristen ist um über 90 Prozent gesunken. Kleine Läden, die in Angkor Wat einst kühle Kokosnüsse und gebratene Bananen verkauften, bieten jetzt Gesichtsmasken an.

Gleichzeit hat ein gigantisches Bauprojekt begonnen. Die Zentralregierung in Phnom Penh hatte 2020 beschlossen, 38 Straßen in Siem Reap zu erneuern. Dafür wurden 150 Millionen Dollar budgetiert – das meiste Geld stammt aus Verkäufen von staatlichem Land.

Seit einigen Monaten nun haben Bagger die Touristenbusse abgelöst, Bauarbeiter mit Helmen und Warnwesten stehen dort, wo einst chinesischen Besuchergruppen ihrem Führer hinterherliefen. Die Sivutha Road im Herzen von Siem Reap wird ebenfalls erneuert wie die Airport Road. In der Pub Street werden neue Abwasserrohre verlegt. Wo einst Angelina Jolie einen Cocktail trank, sind heute die Rolläden heruntergelassen. Das Red Piano hat eine zweite Dependance in der Sok San Road eröffnet, die bereits fertiggestellt ist.

Hier und da kam es zu Protesten, weil einige Häuser in die Straße hineingebaut wurden oder Stände einige Meter öffentlichen Raum in Anspruch nahmen. Da halfen aber die sonst so guten Beziehungen nicht, manches Hotel musste seine Einfahrt zurückbauen oder verlor gar seine Rezeption.

The Red Piano in Siem Reaps Pub Street is closed
Das Red Piano ist derzeit geschlossen.

Die neuen Straßen werden nicht nur einen neuen Belag bekommen. Zu dem Projekt gehört es, dass die meisten Kabel in die Erde verlegt werden. Gleichzeitig werden die Straßen auf die ursprüngliche Breite vergrößert, viele bekommen sogar einen Bürgersteig.

Derzeit, um Juni 2021, sind die meisten Wasser- und Abwasserrohre verlegt, die Gräben und Löcher wieder zugeschüttet. Am Jajavarman-Hospital sind die ersten Abschnitte schon fertig. Die Airport Road bekommt in einigen Abschnitten bereits ihren Asphalt.

Wenn in 2022 Touristen wieder nach Siem Reap kommen, werden sie sicherlich ein anderes Bild sehen als noch zuvor. Die City Hall malte in einem Video das Bild von prachtvollen Boulevards und Booten auf dem Siem Reap River. Auch wenn da einige bezweifeln, auf jeden Fall wird Siem Reap anders aussehen.

Noch sind aber Touristen in weiter Ferne. Die Zahlen mit Neuinfektionen sind landesweite im mittleren dreistelligen Bereich, in Siem Reap zwischen 20 und 30 täglich. Es gibt ein Verbot von Alkoholverkauf, außerdem ein Verbot von Versammlungen und eine Ausgangssperre zwischen 22 und 4 Uhr. Derzeit wird in der Haupstadt Phnom Penh und den am schlimmsten betroffenen Provinzen geimpft. Die Quote liegt bei 20 Prozent, die meisten Impfstoffe kommen aus China, SinoPham und SinoVac.

Kambodschas Premierminister Hun Sen hat angekündigt, bis 2022 alle Bürger geimpft zu haben.

The Red Piano in Siem Reaps Pub Street is closed

Siem Reap is under construction

Written by André Ruys on . Posted in eat in Siem Reap, Kambodscha, News and Updates, Siem Reap.

The Covid 19 pandemic has turned Siem Reap into a ghost town. On Pub Street, almost all bars and restaurants are closed, and the road to the airport is lined with hotels with a “For Sale” or “For Rent” sign on the drawn bars at the entrance gates. The number of foreign tourists has dropped by over 90 percent. Small stores that once sold cold coconuts and fried bananas at Angkor Wat now offer face masks.

At the same time, a gigantic construction project has begun. In 2020, the central government in Phnom Penh had decided to renovate 38 roads in Siem Reap. A budget of $150 million has been set aside for this – most of the money comes from the sale of state-owned land.

Workers replaced the tourists in Siem Reap

For several months now, excavators have replaced the tourist buses, construction workers with helmets and high-visibility vests stand where Chinese visitor groups once ran after their guides. Sivutha Road in the heart of Siem Reap is also being renovated, as is Airport Road. New sewage pipes are being laid in Pub Street. Where once Angelina Jolie drank a cocktail, the shutters are now down. The Red Piano has opened a second branch on Sok San Road, which is already completed.

The road between Pub street and Sivutha Road in Siem Reap
The road between Pub street and Sivutha Road in Siem Reap
The Red Piano in Siem Reaps Pub Street is closed
The Red Piano in Siem Reaps Pub Street is closed

There were protests here and there because some houses were built into the street or stalls took up a few meters of public space. But the otherwise so good relations did not help, some hotels had to rebuild their driveways or even lost their reception.
The new streets will not only get a new surface. The project includes laying most of the cables in the ground. At the same time, the roads will be widened to their original width, and many will even get a sidewalk.

The once famous Elephant Hotel gets an overhaul

The once famous Elephant Hotel gets an overhaul

Currently, around June 2021, most water and sewage pipes have been laid, and the trenches and holes have been filled in again. At Jajavarman Hospital, the first sections are already finished. Likewise, the Airport Road is already getting its asphalt in some areas.

A new city will emerge

When tourists return to Siem Reap in 2022, they will certainly see a different picture than before. In a video, City Hall painted the picture of magnificent boulevards and boats on the Siem Reap River. Even if some doubt, in any case, Siem Reap will look different.

But tourists are still a long way off. The numbers with new infections are nationwide in the middle three-digit range, in Siem Reap between 20 and 30 daily. There is a ban on alcohol sales; also a ban on gatherings, and a curfew between 10 pm and 4 am. Vaccination is currently underway in the main city of Phnom Penh and the worst affected provinces. The rate is 20 percent, and most of the vaccines come from China, SinoPham, and SinoVac. Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen has announced plans to have all citizens vaccinated by 2022.

 

Street food in Siem Reap

Street food in Siem Reap you should not miss

Written by André Ruys on . Posted in Food adventure, Kambodscha, Siem Reap, Siem Reap Höhepunkte.

Everyone is talking about street food in Siem Reap, but only few actually know where to get the best dishes. As food lovers our team went out for dinner to our favorite places in Siem Reap, and some of them are not on the usual bucket list for tourists.

The riverside stalls in Siem Reap

Street food in Siem Reap
Street food in Siem Reap
Grilled chicken and pork ribs
Grilled chicken and pork ribs
Cow brain soup
Cow brain soup

Beside the stalls on road 60 the riverside from Wat Preah Rath all the way down to the roundabout opposite the cinema provides a large selection of street food. You get grilled chicken and pork, squid and other seafood as well as classics like fried rice and fish amok. The stalls south of the police post at the bridge are usually more touristy, while locals eat at the stalls north of the old market. One of our favorites is nearly at the end of the line and run bu a couple, who worked here for four years. This stall has probably the best pork rips and chicken legs, but serves also a rare delicacy: steamed cow brain with mushrooms. The soup is quite famous in Cambodia, but only few stalls actually serve it.

Street food at Road 60

Opposite the Angkor Wat ticket counter is another street food in Siem Reap paradise, although not the best place for vegetarians. In the early afternoon this part of road 60 starts to fill with vendors pushing their carts and unfolding tables and stands. Within an hour the first grills are up and running. at some places you van buy take away, others have some plastic chairs and tables when you can sit and enjoy grilled chicken, fish, meatballs and of course lots of fried insects. The area is popular with locals, and most vendors don’t speak English. Best is to just point on something and ask how much (“Bon man”) They will usually tell you the price in dollar. 

Street food in Siem Reap by Ms. Hong Ginlai

One of our most booked food experiences was making street food in the morning at the restaurant of Ms. Hong Ginlai. She moved her stall in 2020 from the behind the provincial hospital to the street where the high school is located. And she got so busy, that unfortunately she can’t cook with tourists anymore. However, you can still watch her making lots dishes and of corse try them.

Every day she prepares up to 15 dishes, from sour soup to Koh Kor, fried fish cakes and her signature dish, prahok ktis. She is open from 8 am until everything is sold out, usually around 5pm. While she doesn’t speak English, ordering dishes is simpel: just point on the dish you want to eat. One of the most authentic street food in Siem Reap experiences.

 

The best Num Pang (Banh Mi) in Siem Reap

All sandwiches are freshly made
All sandwiches are freshly made
This Num Pang Saik Ko ang street food in Siem Reap shop is here since 30 years
This Num Pang Saik Ko ang shop is here since 30 years
One sandwich comes with grilled beef
One sandwich comes with grilled beef
The marinade recipe was developed by the grandmother
The marinade recipe was developed by the grandmother

If you haven been to Vietnam, you most likely had a banh mi, the sandwich with pate and beef or chicken and some pickeled vegetables. Cambodia has its own version called Num Pang pate, but there is also a sandwich with grilled beef which is then Num Pang Saik Ko Ang. One place near wat Damnak is famous for it grilled beef sandwiches, it on the corner where Rabutan Lane starts and where the Khmer Grill was once. This small restaurant sells the sandwiches since 30 years. What makes it so special is the marinade. Its the old recipe developed by the grandmother. The stall opens late afternoon, around 5pm and you cannot miss it, just stop where all the motobikes are parked. 

 

Khmer waffles made by Ms. Laum, best street food in Siem Reap

Ms Laum sells Khmer waffles on the street Another of our hosts, Ms. Laum, is also a street food seller, but for the sweet tooth. She makes some of the best Khmer waffles, Num Pom, in Siem Reap. She uses not only coconut milk, but als fresh grated coconut flesh, and prepares the batter every morning in her home, You can find her on Sivutha road, where the pub street starts, from 8am until she sold out. In case she isn’t there, another alternative is the stall under the big tree opposite Amazon cafe on the river side. 

 

 

The barkeepers at Bar 43, one of the best five bars in Siem Reap 2020

The five best bars in Siem Reap 2020

Written by André Ruys on . Posted in eat in Siem Reap, Experience Cambodia, Kambodscha, Siem Reap, Siem Reap Höhepunkte.

In Siem Reap, cocktails are served on every street corner. Since the beer was reduced to 50 cents a few years ago, cocktail prices went down as well. But the venue operators could only do that because they used cheap spirits. Those who drink a Pina Colada for 2 dollars hardly get a good rum in it. Additionally, as it is so often usual in Asia, every bar and restaurant has the same offers on the menu. The standards and the shooters. But there is light on the horizon. We found the top five bars in Siem Reap 2020 that make more than just gin tonic and margarita. We went out to look for quality and style, and we found some real gems!

Bar 43: The creative bar

 

The barkeepers at Bar 43, one of the best five bars in Siem Reap 2020
The barkeepers at Bar 43, one of the best five bars in Siem Reap 2020
Interior at Bar 43 in Siem Reap
Interior at Bar 43 in Siem Reap
Midnight monk cocktail at Bar 43 in Siem Reap
Midnight monk cocktail at Bar 43 in Siem Reap

You can tell how good the drinks are just by looking at the bottles on the shelf of a bar (https://web.facebook.com/Bar43REP). In the new Bar 43 you will not find any of the usual suspects like Jameson or Gordon’s Gin. Instead, premium ingredients are used here. There you can eve have a Japanese whiskey in a cocktail. The menu is small but very creative. There’s also very fancy gin, rum and whiskey for those who like a neat drink. Standards are also offered. The ambience somehow takes the visitor into a French road movie of the 70s, also because the two owners look like they just jumped out of this movie.
Recommended cocktail: Midnight monk
Location: West Alley 43, a small side street near the Pubstreet

Miss Wong – the classic bar in Siem Reap 2020

Interior of Miss Wong Bar in Siem Reap
Interior of Miss Wong Bar in Siem Reap
Cocktail at Miss Wong
Cocktail at Miss Wong

Miss Wong  is something like an institution. She definitely belongs to the five best bars in Siem Reap 2020, if only because of the decoration. The bar has just moved to 26nd Street, and has become even more beautiful. The interior reminds of a middle-class Chinese house and is a colorful mixture of decoration and design. The cocktails have it all, the ingredients are exclusively premium spirits. For the small hunger there is Dimsum.
Recommended cocktail: Rose & Lemongrass Martini
Location: Street 26

Menaka Lounge the quietest of the five best bars in Siem Reap 2020

Menaka Lounge is the only Speakeasy place in Siem Reap
Menaka Lounge is the only Speak-easy place in Siem Reap
Finest Japanese whisky is on the shelf at Menaka lounge
Finest Japanese whisky is on the shelf at Menaka lounge

The only real speakeasy bar in Siem Reap is not easy to find. Opposite the Old market you have to walk through the Menaka Bistro and then climb up the stairs, but the climb is worth it: Old leather sofas in English club style invite you to stay. In the Menaka one has his quietness, even if it is only a few meters away from the party mile Pubstreet. On the menu there are own creations of cocktails that are sorted according to the different eras of Angkor Wat. Accordingly, ingredients such as Jackfruit and Kampot pepper are found. There are also some rare Japanese whiskeys and excellent rum.
Recommended cocktail: Don’t Miss Me Baby
Location: 2 Thnou Street, Old Market Area

Elephant Bar Raffles: For fine spirits

The Raffles Hotel in Siem Reap is one of the best addresses and since its renovation has been brought up to date without forgetting its colonial history as the Grand Angkor Hotel. State guests and royals stayed here. The Elephant Bar is accordingly legendary. The barkeepers are discreet enough to name names, but they can tell a story or two what happened here. Sitting in one of the leather armchairs, you feel like you’ve been transported back to the times when European business people discovered Asia. The assortment is top class, only the finest whiskies are available here as well as gins and other spirits.
Recommended Cocktail: Airavata
Location: Roya Garden, opposite Palace

Chi at the Anantara Hotel – best whiskies

Whisky selection an Anantara Siem Reap
Whisky selection an Anantara Siem Reap

The Chi is actually the restaurant in the luxury Hotel Anantara, but it also has a bar where you can take a seat and enjoy excellent spirits. Most cocktails are standard, but with premium ingredients. Whisky lovers will get their money’s worth here, though, as there are a few rarities of single malt and Japanese drops on offer. It’s best to go straight to the bar and see what’s new in the range.
Recommended drink: Macallan 12 fine oak
Location: Airport road, next to ferris wheel

 

Summary:

Our favorite of the best five bars in Siem Reap 2020 is Bar 43, followed by Miss Wong and Menaka Lounge. All have excellent cocktails and an impressive selection of spirits. Also, the interior is inviting and relaxing, and prices are very reasonable. 

5 best local coffeeshops in Siem Reap 2020

Written by André Ruys on . Posted in Food adventure, Kambodscha, Siem Reap, Uncategorized.

You don’t have to walk around in Siem Reap for long to discover a small coffee stand on a street corner. Locals in Cambodia have discovered their love for coffee and many have opened their own coffee shops. Due to the Covid pandemic many cafes and restaurants have had to close, but a new one has opened. We have looked at the 5 best local coffeeshops in Siem Reap in 2020. They all belong to Cambodians as well.

Romsai Cafe

A little below the Sarai Hotel at the junction of Salakamreuk and Sombai Road is the Romsai Cafe. It is truly an oasis, as the owner has made a point of ensuring that the ambience here is dominated by many plants. You can get different kinds of coffee, but also local food. The coffee is roasted in Cambodia, the beans are from Asian farmers. Try the coconut coffee!

Romsai offers coffee and food
Romsai offers coffee and food
Romsai is one of the 5 best coffeeshops in Siem Reap
Romsai is one of the 5 best coffeeshops in Siem Reap

Order suggestions:

  • Coconut Coffee
  • Cafe Latte
  • Noodle soup with beef

Opening hours:
Daily from 7am to 6pm

Price: $

Noir Cafe is one of the 5 best local coffeeshops in Siem Reap 2020

Noir started with a small corner in a minimart of a hostel. Meanwhile there are three branches in Siem Reap and three in Phnom Penh. The charm lies in the decoration, all coffee shops have something of industrial design, the owner Sotheara Tit has put a lot of effort into the interior design. There is also food here and one speciality is egg noodles and wontons, which are made according to Sotheara’s grandmother’s recipe.

Noir is one of the 5 best local coffeeshops in Siem Reap 2020
Noir is one of the 5 best local coffeeshops in Siem Reap 2020

Order suggestions:

  • Milk with egg
  • Cafe Latte
  • Noodle soup with wonton

Locations:
Diagonally opposite the Park Hyatt
Road 6/Tela petrol station Royal Garden
Road 6/Lokthaneuy Road

Opening hours:
Daily from 7am to 6pm

Price:
$

Biolab: One of the best coffeeshops in Siem Reap to work

Biolab is roasting its coffee in-house
Biolab is roasting its coffee in-house

The small café was founded in 2018 and has slowly but surely developed into a meeting place for digital nomads and one of the 5 best local coffeeshops in Siem Reap 2020. The owner Samnang dared something by setting up the cafe a bit like a laboratory. You still get some drinks served here in a glass flask. On the two floors you can work in peace on your laptop, you can also rent a meeting room and even a small office. Meanwhile the coffee is roasted by yourself. Biolab also has a branch at Sa Srang in the Angkor Wat complex.

Order suggestions:

  • Passionfruit soda
  • Espresso

Location
Wat Bo road/street 22
Opening hours: Daily 7am -9pm

Price: $$

Temple Coffee n Bakery: Most comfortable of the best coffeeshops in Siem Reap 2020 

Temple Bakery is one of the most comfortable coffeeshops in Siem Reap
Temple Bakery is one of the most comfortable coffeeshops in Siem Reap

After Lee Kong Srin and Lee Kong Vong, the founders of the legendary club in the pub street in Siem Reap, became more and more successful, they started a new project right at the river. The Temple Bakery has three floors, from here you can enjoy the sunset from the roof. On the ground floor and the first floor there are super comfortable lounges where you can relax.

Order suggestions:

  • Prahok Ktis
  • Coffee latte
  • Cocktails

Price: $

Opening hours:
7am-11pm

Location:

Street 25 at the river

Madame Cafe

Actually, it’s just a little shack with a coffee machine in it. But the Madama Cafe on the river has become so popular with locals that sometimes there can even be traffic problems. You are sitting here directly at the Siem Reap River, among flowers and trees. The coffee is cheap, and you can also buy smoothies and even baked goods.

Order suggestion

  • Iced coffee
    Cinnamon Rolls

Opening hours:
7am-9pm
Price: $

Location: Riverside street, corner street 27

Brown Coffee

The most successful Cambodian coffeeshop company is Brown
The most successful Cambodian coffeeshop company is Brown

When the Chang Bunleang and the other young founders of Brown Coffee opened their first shop in Phnom Penh in 2009, nobody believed that they would one day become the largest chain in Cambodia. The entrepreneurs started with 10 employees, today 700 people work in 21 stores. In Siem Reap there is a cafe next to the Treeline Hotel on the river and a larger one at the end of Tapul Road. At Brown, the coffee is roasted by themselves and there is also very tasty food. It is for sure one of the 5 best local coffeeshops in Siem Reap 2020.

Order suggestion

  • Coffee latte
  • Chocolate frappe
  • English Breakfast sandwich
  •  

Price: $$

Opening hours: 6.30am -10pm

Location: Treeline Hotel and Tapul road/Road6

 

10 false tourist assumptions about Cambodia

Written by André Ruys on . Posted in eat in Siem Reap, food in Cambodia, Kambodscha, Khmer culture, Siem Reap.

When you travel to Cambodia, you will certainly look for information in travel guides and on the website of the Foreign Office. What diseases are there, how to behave, what is allowed and what not. But many assumptions about Cambodia are outdated today and therefore we want to help you to get a realistic picture.

1. No ice cubes in the drink

Today the ice for drinks comes from a specialized production and is made from filtered drinking water. You can put ice in your drink today without hesitation. Furthermore, beer is often drunk with ice instead of being cooled.

Cambodia Beer2. Drinking water cannot be used for brushing your teeth

That too is outdated today. Phnom Penh has an excellent drinking water supply, and the water is constantly being tested. This is also the case in Siem Reap. In the countryside, water often comes from a groundwater pump. When brushing your teeth or taking a shower, this is no problem.

3. You must help Cambodians

Even though Cambodia is a poor country and the majority of the people here live from one day to the next, they also have their pride. Distributing books and pens to children is no longer appropriate today. It is better to finance a child’s education through an organization (Green Gecko), or to go to local restaurants run by locals. You can always leave a tip. 

4. There is a tuktuk on every corner

Since about 2018, Cambodia has had Passapp, and now Grab. With this apps you can call a rickshaw (motor tricycle) or a tuktuk. This is cheaper, faster and you get a fixed price. Many tuktuk drivers have taken advantage of tourists again and again and charged far too high prices. You are free to tip here as well.

5. A restaurant is good if there are many guests

Many cafes and restaurants with high ratings are run by foreigners who are more familiar with social media. But that does not mean that you get better food. The rule that a restaurant is good because there are many people there is only true to a limited extent. Tourists go where they see tourists, without this having anything to do with price and quality. In case of local restaurants it is different, there, a visit is worthwhile.

6. The Khmer Rouge trauma

Although the time of the Khmer Rouge was a traumatic event for the Khmer living at that time, most young people today know little about it. It is part of history, but Cambodia is more than just the few years of reign of terror.

7. Cambodia is a combination destination

Die New Cambodian Arrists
Die New Cambodian Artists

Many combine Cambodia with a trip to Thailand, Vietnam or Laos. You can also spend two or three weeks in Cambodia. There is more to see here than just Angkor Wat. Siem Reap alone has many other destinations, and then there are the beaches, the city of Battambang and the great forests.

8. Siem Reap is Angkor Wat

Of course, Siem Reap is known by Angkor Wat, and you just have to have seen it. After all, it is the largest temple complex in the world. But there is much more to see and experience. For example a meal with locals, or a bike tour through the rice fields. You can explore the temples in the outskirts or spend the night in the forest. There are great yoga classes and you can meditate with monks.

9. Cambodian food is simple

When you come to Cambodia, you will of course try Fish Amok and Beef Lok Lak. But there are many other dishes. Especially when it comes to soups and curries, Cambodia has a lot of culinary delights to offer. The pork is especially good here and if you like you can also eat fried insects.

10. You have to support an NGO

Cambodia is a developing country, and particularly in terms of health care and education, it lags far behind other countries. However, even the many aid organisations have not been able to change this. If you want to help, support Cambodian shops and drivers. If you really want to donate, we recommend the Kanta Bopha Hospital or the Angkor Children Hospital. They do a great job.

 

Nach Kambodscha reisen: Jetzt ist’s günstig

Written by André Ruys on . Posted in Kambodscha, Kochkurs in Kambodscha, Siem Reap Höhepunkte.

Auch wenn Reisen gerade nicht auf jedermanns Prioritätenliste steht, gibt es gute Gründe jetzt  nach Kambodscha zu reisen.

  1. Günstige Preise, gute Verbindungen

Kambodscha ist eines der wenigen Länder, in denen es keine Fälle des Covid-19-Virus gibt. Damit ist es ein sicheres Reiseland, und derzeit sind die Preise auch recht niedrig. Die Regierung hat nicht nur den Hotel Steuererleichterungen gegeben, sondern auch die Gültigkeit der Eintrittskarten für Angkor Wat bis Ende Juni verlängert. Das Ein-Tages-Ticket gilt jetzt 2 Tage, das drei Tage Ticket hat 5 Tage Gültigkeit. Damit haben Reisende noch mehr Zeit, die Tempel und die Umgebung zu erkunden. 

Außerdem fliegt die arabische Fluggesellschaft Emirates jetzt Phnom Penh direkt an, so dass man aus Europa kommend nicht mehr in Bangkok oder in anderen Städten umsteigen muss. Qatar Airways wird ab Ende des Jahres sogar direkt nach Siem Reap fliegen und es noch einfacher machen, nach Kambodscha zu reisen.

 

  1. Reichhaltige Kultur

Die kambodschanische Kultur ist eine der ältesten noch bestehenden Kulturen und bildete die Grundlage für die thailändische und laotische Kultur. Das Reich der Khmer war einst größer als das von Karl dem Großen und auch heute noch ist das Land reich an kulturellen Angeboten. Am bekanntesten ist natürlich die Tempelanlage von Angkor Wat, es gibt auch ach noch weitere Sehenswürdigkeiten. Ein kleiner Geheimtipp ist Banteay Chhmar, etwa 3 Stunden westlich von Siem Reap. Hier wird ein Khmer-Tempel von der Dorfgemeinschaft gepflegt, die auch Reisenden anbietet, im Dorf zu übernachten und zusammen zu essen. 

Kunst ist ein Grund, nach Kambodscha zu reisen
Kunst ist ein Grund, nach Kambodscha zu reisen

Sowohl in Siem Reap als auch in Phnom Penh und in Battambang entwickeln sich Kunstszenen von modernen einheimischen Künstlern, die immer mehr Beachtung finden. Sie greifen sowohl historische Themen wie das Khmer-Reich und die Schreckensherrschaft der Khmer Rouge auf, aber auch moderne Entwicklungen wie Klimawandel und Umweltverschmutzung. 

 

  1. Nach Kambodscha reisen und das Essen genießen

Die kambodschanische Küche wurde in ihren Grundzügen bereits zu Zeiten des Königs Jayawarman II. begründet, der auch das Khmerreich in seinen größten Ausdehnungen regierte. Sie hat Einflüsse aus Indien, beinhaltet aber viele lokale Gewürze und Zutaten. Fisch ist eine der wichtigsten Zutaten, weil es eine einfach zu bekommende Proteinquelle war. Heute gibt es aber auch sehr schmackhafte Fischgerichte, wie einen Fleischtopf und das bekannte Beef Lok Lak.

Guests cooking Khmer food in Phnom PenhZunehmend kann man auch vegetarische Gerichte bekommen. Im Kambodscha werden viele verschiedene Suppen – Samlor – gekocht, die von einer sauren Brühe bis zu einem cremigen Curry reichen. Außerdem wird gerne gegrilltes Fleisch gegessen, das Reisende auch an Straßenständen kaufen können. Wer es exotisch mag, kann auch gefüllte Frösche und frittierte Insekten probieren. 

 

  1. Zauberhafte Landschaften

Wer zwischen Phnom Penh und Siem Reap mit dem Auto oder Bus fährt wird einen ersten Eindruck von der Landschaft bekommen. Entlang der Nationalstraße 6 gibt es Reisfelder, die manchmal bis an den Horizont reichen. Aber Kambodscha hat noch mehr zu bieten, zum Beispiel die Wälder in Norng Kabat in der Provinz Ratanakiri. Hier gibt es noch wilde Tiere und unberührte Natur zu sehen, außerdem atemberaubende Wasserfälle und verborgene Teiche, in denen man Angeln kann. Viele die nach Kambodscha reisen, sind überwältigt von der Natur.

 

  1. Nette Menschen kennenlernen

Wer in einer Gruppe oder mit anderen Touristen unterwegs ist, wird manchmal keine Zeit haben, mit Einheimischen in Kontakt zu kommen. Dabei bekommt man einen viel besseren Einblick in die Kultur des Landes und die unterschiedlichen Gepflogenheiten. Bei Dine With The Locals kommen Sie mit kambodschanischen Familien zusammen und verbringen gemeinsam ein paar Stunden bei einem ganz besonderen Kochkurs. Sie kochen und essen gemeinsam, haben auch aber Zeit, sich das Haus der Familie und die Umgebung anzuschauen und sich auszutauschen.