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Upscale shopping in Siem Reap — Kandal Village

Posted by Andrea on (Updated: )  |  1 Comment

Siem Reap’s old French quarter is on its way to becoming one of the city’s fastest growing districts. Now known as Kandal Village, the colonial-style, tree-lined street is home to newly opened shops, cafes and eateries expanding the idea of what it means to be downtown Siem Reap.

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A favourite with expats, this up-and-coming area is perfect for a lazy stroll in the afternoon. Visitors should take note because it’s conveniently located and caters to quality goods. Here are some of our favourite picks on the Kandal Village block.

For Coffee: Little Red Fox Espresso

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This quaint cafe serves up some of the best coffee in town. With a cold-brew iced coffees and some of the creamiest coffee you’ve ever tasted, The Little Red Fox is for people looking to satisfy their inner barista.

For Pasta: Momma Shop

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Momma Shop carries on the tradition of homemade pasta in a new setting. Unpretentious but wholly delicious, Mamma Shop serves up quality gnocchi, pizza and pastas made from local ingredients.

For textiles, silks and homeware: Louise Loubatieres

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A lifestyle store, Louise Loubatieres is known for their silk scarves and stylish home decor. With a strong emphasis on colour and texture, this boutique shop is the perfect go-to for gifts to take home.

Runner Up: Trunkh’s Siem Reap shop is located the on same road and is outfitted with a eclectic blend of of lifestyle wares.

For fresh juices and healthy eats: The Hive

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Nothing feels better than one of The Hive’s refreshing juice concoctions after being on the road (or stuck in an office.) If you are tired of fried food or need a boost, this cafe’s healthy lunch option and fresh fruit and vegetable blends are the way to go.

In addition, Clayton, the owner of The Hive, has some of the best staff in town (many of them former Shinta Mani Foundation students) and is a wealth of knowledge for all things Siem Reap.

For a classic french meal or a refined drink: Armand’s

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Armand’s is one of Siem Reap’s newest restaurants offering a classic french setting with a small, but tasty menu.  The service and lighting match the decor, giving the restaurant a refined charm. The dark-wood bar is also an appealing place for an evening drink.… Read more »

Ta Prohm Trees — Safe for Now

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Ta Prohm was slated to loose some of its iconic trees for safety reasons. According to a source collaborating with the APSARA Authority, the cuts won’t be as drastic at the organization originally feared…

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Recently it was reported that Ta Prom, known as the Tomb Raider temple, was set to lose some of its picture perfect trees. After years of discussion, it seemed that the trees could no longer be maintained while insuring the structural integrity of the temple itself.

We, along with many others who count this gorgeous temple among their favourites, were gutted to learn that it could lose the trees that make it so recognizable. But now, 10 years after the original suggestion to lose the trees and a few months after the most recent call to cut it would seem authorities have found a compromise.

Angkor Tourism Management Plan secretary Marady Om has confirmed that after a UNESCO experts partnered with APSARA to assess Ta Prohm and found a solution that will leave most trees standing.

The team has removed a single tree which had toppled over, while the remainder of trees will be trimmed to ensure that they remain stable. Om said that plans to remove any more trees have been put on hold.

Good news for anyone who have the majestic foliage at Ta Prohm on their bucket list. That said we wouldn’t recommend that you leave seeing these amazing trees much longer!

Looking for more Treespiration in your life? Check out these pictures of ancient trees photographer Beth Moon who captures the beauty of not only the beauty Ta Prohm, but also of other magnificent trees from around the world.

 … Read more »

A Family Affair

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We love getting guest feedback, particularly when it is so kind. Our team is genuinely proud to share one adventurous family’s review of their time travelling with Journeys Within.

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Hi Andrea,

Once again we would all like to thank you for the great trip. It was really the vacation of a lifetime, and we will always remember it.

There are so many highlights that it’s hard to go into details.

My son is putting together a video of the trip – I’ll send you the link once he’s finished. In the meantime, I’m attaching one picture from Sapa so that you can see what we look like!!

We wanted to tell you that your organization and staff are simply wonderful. We always felt that we were in good hands, and that all of our needs were looked after.

The simple touches were the most appreciated, i.e. having cold water and cold towels every time we got back to the van; not having to really wait for anything – when you’re on such a tight time schedule this is so important! And, it was all done with a smile!

Your hotel in Siem Reap was also fantastic – you should think of opening more! Again, it was the “small” touches that made all the difference to us – i.e. free soft drinks; free laundry; ability to stay in the rooms on the last day late since our flight was at night. All these things give the traveler a great feeling!

Also, the activities that you planned were perfect for my family – exactly what we were looking for. Many times Alisa and I asked one another what we would do if we didn’t have the trip planned as such? We would get to a place and waste time deciding what to do, and then would probably not pick the places as well as you did.

The quick organization when our flight to Dalat was canceled was also impressive. My kids were so disappointed that we weren’t going there, as they were so looking forward to the canyoning there, but in the end we had a great time in Saigon, and the motorbike tour with Khoa and his staff is definitely one of the highlights for all of us!!

I would like to give a special thanks to Tim, Tien, Khoa & Michelle, Seyha and Sina – they were all great. Also a big thanks to all the drivers!!

If we ever go to Southeast Asia again (and I sure hope we do soon), we will definitely book the trip with you (and do it right this time – not at the last minute).

Again – thanks for everything, and thanks for your patience with the payment. Not all companies would be so trusting, and we really, really appreciate it!!!!

Best regards,

Lorne and Family, 2014

 … Read more »

Ta Prohm to lose iconic trees

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Nicknamed the Tomb Raider temple, the Ankorian temple Ta Prohm is set to lose four of its iconic trees. Despite being famous for the trees that overrun this ruin, the government has found that it is no longer safe to let nature take its course…

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The Authority for the Protection and Management of Angkor and the Region of Siem Reap (APSARA) has found that three of the  cotton-silk trees that intertwine with the temple’s ruins are already dead and rotting from the inside out. In addition, one of the larger trees that blankets on of the temple’s walls is no longer able to be propped up by its roots or the supportive ropes and wooden scaffolding.

“We’ve tried for many years to prop it up … but when the wind is strong, it is very dangerous,” APSARA spokesperson Kerya Chau Sun said to the Phnom Penh Post.

“We have to be very careful because if we cut the tree out, the wall will collapse; but if we rebuild the wall, the tree will die. It’s a difficult balance,” Chau Sun said.

The forestry department will be charged with removing the trees from the 12th century ruin. The temple will remain open to visitor as the trees are removed in pieces.

Earlier this week,a Buddhist ceremony was held for the trees. Many temples in Angkor are popular because of how the trees grow to become part of the temples. Chau Sun told the Post that these trees “are considered part of the cultural landscape and are only removed if they are damaged or diseased, potentially hazardous, spoil the landscape or threaten the monument’s structural integrity.”

“In this case, we have to cut before it becomes too dangerous and someone gets hurt,” she told the Post.

 … Read more »

Rosana Cabaret — Siem Reap nightlife

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Welcome to Rosana Broadway, Cambodia’s first and only lady boy cabaret show! With show staff consisting of more than 80 dancers this show is sure to dazzle …

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The twice-daily show features a mix of Asian and Western songs making for acts that suit everyone’s taste. Each of the dance routines are  beautifully choreographed, styled and executed — enough so that it makes you think it has been taken off Broadway.

Nakia Mongie is one of the stars of Rosana — she has worked for the company since they first started doing shows in Siem Reap. She says that with two shows a day lasting for about 90 minutes each, 365 days a year, performing is no walk in the park. On average they practice for at least four hours a day, perfecting everything from new numbers to different lighting. Despite the long hours and physical work Mongie doesn’t complain about how tough her job is — she sees it as a good opportunity to stay fit and also a chance to meet new people every day. The Rosana also acts as a hub for the lady boy community — Mongie has met many of her closest friends through the show.

There is a surprisingly big LGBTQ (Lesbian-Gay-Bi-Transgendered-Queer) community in Siem Reap but tradition and classic Cambodian culture can make life tough for lady boys. (To clarify, a lady boy is a biological man that identifies as a woman — a label comparable to transgendered in Western countries.) Before Rosana opened in town lady boys in Siem Reap weren’t as widely accepted, were more isolated and were less understood. The show, which was brought to Cambodia from Thailand where lady boy cabarets are more common, has raised the profile of its performers in the community — even making some of them local celebrities. The Khmer lady boys are mentored and trained by their Thai counterparts who are more widely accepted and integrated in Thai society.

The growing popularity of Rosana locally is a vibrant example of modern Cambodian culture and how it continues to develop. A production that represents both traditional and modern dance across Asia, the Rosana is a lively option for an evening out in Siem Reap.

 … Read more »