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Journeys Within gets cookin’ with Beyond Unique Escapes

Posted by Andrea on (Updated: )  |  1 Comment

Andrea’s recent visit to Cambodia marked the perfect opportunity for the team to get together and test out a new activity option in Siem Reap…

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Just outside of Siem Reap is the quaint village of Kompheim. Surrounded by lush, green rice fields and accessible by the dusty red roads the country is known for, Kompheim is the perfect quintessential community to host Beyond Unique Escapes’ Cambodian Cooking Classes.

Set in a traditional wooden house, the cooking class is led by Chef Tola from Sojourn Boutique Villas. With his guidance, we were set to prepare our three-course Khmer meal of mango salad, fresh-water fish amok and banana with palm sugar and grated coconut flesh.

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Fresh ingredients make the best meals.

After a brief introduction to the ingredients and the techniques we would be using to cook the class was underway. With simple instruction and pre-portioned ingredients, the class was easy to follow, enjoyable and most importantly, delicious.

Get a taste for the experience with some of our photos and consider adding it to the itinerary of your next Cambodian adventure.

A big thank you to the Beyond Unique Escapes’ team for such a great day!!

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Old friends, Andrea and Narla, reconnect over a new experience.
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Leak busts out her cooking skills.
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Regine looks to Linda for tips.
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Kanika uses only the freshest ingredients.
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The scenery around the Cambodian Cooking Classes school house.
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Chef Tola gets us set to prepare dessert.
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Narla and Kanika enjoy the fruits (and vegetables) of their labour.

 … Read more »

Finally a trip of my own!

Posted by April on (Updated: )  |  Leave a comment

Only one month away and I’m off for my VERY first trip abroad! Mine and Gavin (my son)’s passports came in the mail a few weeks ago, and it really hit me that we are taking a HUGE and exciting adventure. Of course I was bummed because my passport photo had red splotches all over it and it made me look like I had really bad acne or something – but I got over it. I have been doing everything I can to not pack already, but I’ll admit that I have a couple outfits set aside.

I am so grateful for this opportunity to travel, especially with my husband and my son.
We will be traveling to Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Siem Reap, Krabi and Koh Lanta. Each place will deliver a unique experience. I keep trying to tell people which place I am most excited to tour, and I simply can not choose! I am thrilled to finally meet the JW staff in person. After spending a year working with each individual via email we have developed bonds and it will be incredible to give each person a big hug and say hi (I hope they are all prepared for how talkative I really am in person!). I must admit I am especially excited to meet Waew as she and I have become friends. My husband can’t wait for the cooking class in Chiang Mai. He has aspirations of becoming a world-renowned chef and this is right up his alley. I’m sure Gavin’s favorite experience will be seeing Callie and “Pouper” in Cambodia. I doubt he will ever want to leave. “Pouper” is his best friend; it is so cute watching them play together.

I’m also excited to stay at the B & B, I have a vision of how nice it is, but I have a feeling it will exceed my expectations. To be honest, I am nervous about volunteering at the language school and going to the squatters village as I have never experienced poverty on this level. I think it is something that I can not prepare for and must keep my mind open to all the good that JWOC is doing to help and focus on the things I can do and the things that are out of my hands.

Surprisingly, I’m not nervous about the 22 hour flight! We’ll see what I say AFTER our trip. My entire family keeps saying “how are you going to handle being on a plane for that long with a 2 year old?” I always respond “Andrea does it by herself with 2 kids, I can handle it.” I think I am just going to go with the flow as I normally do and we’ll work it out.

Well, back to day dreaming about my upcoming adventure – will chat soon!… Read more »