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Guiding Light — The Phnom Penh Team

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

Usually we focus our Guiding Light on one guide but after an inspiring trip to Phnom Penh we thought we would introduce our team charged with showing of the Cambodian Capital.

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As a capital city, Phnom Penh can be a dizzying place to navigate. Even for an Asian city it has a unique feel — whizzing motorbikes, a bustling waterfront and a labyrinth of neighborhoods make our hardworking team a must for getting the most out of any visit.

Though I usually travel solo, and by the seat of my pants, our driver Chivoin’s prompt service and air conditioned car really bolstered the mood of my trip from the get go. (It didn’t hurt that he was always quick to open my door making me feel like lady.)

Lyly, pictured in polka dots above, is our young leader in Phnom Penh. Filled with youthful exuberance, she has a unique flair for life that she loves to share with our guests.

Our other guides, Seyha and Bunthoeun, pictured above in grey and white, are equally interested in showing off their civic pride. While each itinerary we plan is carefully designed, both these guides had unique ideas for those guests who look to them for further input.

Along with being enthusiastic about their jobs, our Phnom Penh team had a few more things in common: a love of food, a knack for jokes and a not-so-surprising wanderlust of their own.

So what destination do our guides put on the top of their own must-see lists? For these three Cambodians the answer was unanimous — the United Kingdom.  It would seem that the lure of a foreign culture, history and architecture crosses cultural lines.

Coming to Phnom Penh? Let our awesome team show you around. I know I had a blast!

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Backstreet Academy — Connecting travelers with local talent

Posted by Andrea on (Updated: )  |  2 Comments

We love endeavours that give our guests earnest experiences — something that offers a true sense of local culture and customs. For people that want to do rather than just see, Backstreet Academy has put together a program of hands-on experiences both enlightening and entertaining…

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I am not particularly crafty, but I am adventurous and in that spirit some of Journeys Within’s Siem Reap team and I decided to try out a couple of recently launched Backstreet Academy experiences.

Working with NGOs and through word of mouth, Backstreet Academy locates talented crafts people willing to teach their traditional art-forms to the public. First up for our crew was bracelet making with a local Copper and Silver smith. One of the few left after the Khmer Rouge reign, Sam Orn and his wife Ms Chea Chan Sarouen run a shop just outside the centre of town. Friendly and engaging, as well as tremendously talented with metals, the pair guided the four of us to creating our own gorgeous wearable mementos.

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With a little help from our hosts, the entire team left with souvenir bracelets we were excited and proud to wear.

Guests are encouraged to connect with the local artist while learning their craft. Both friendly and approachable we learned the story of Sam Orn and his wife, with the help of a facilitator, who help translate for those artists who don’t speak English.

Backstreet Academy has gathered a wide range of talented people to teach their craft to willing tourists and have a workspace where this is possible. Want to learn about Cambodian boxing or the finer points of Apsara dancing? You can spend the afternoon testing your own co-ordination with well trained athletes. Want to try your hand at oil painting or sketching? Let a Khmer artist help you create your own Cambodian landscape keepsake. (I did and it was a blast!)

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Me quite proud of the final product of my oil painting class.

From palm hats and pottery to stone carving and cocktail classes, each activity is hosted by a local who has spent years perfecting their craft. Each visit takes guests off the beaten track, to the homes and work-spaces of these artists — a great opportunity to see a different side of town.  The classes range from approximately 1-4 hours making them the perfect addition to almost any itinerary.

Of course you aren’t going to learn how to be a professional oil painter in an afternoon but what you will get is a tonne of laughs, the opportunity to chat with local artists and a beautiful souvenir that you can brag about having had a hand in creating.

These kind of community based tours help the artists supplement their income while offering a meaningful experience (and in most cases a souvenir to take home) to visitors — exactly the kinds of programs that we love discovering!
Want to get arts and craftsy? Let us know — we would be happy to fit these in to any itinerary that visits Siem Ream, Phnom Penh or Luang Prabang!
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