Reflecting on 2 years in Cambodia
The things that initially shocked me the most about Siem Reap was the poverty, specifically, fewer infrastructures (i.e. the lack of paved roads, how dirty it was), and how much better Cambodians spoke English.
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Sihanoukville, Kampot and Kep: 7 days and 6 nights
Looking to spend more time in Cambodia? What else is there to see besides Angkor Wat, right?
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Beyond Pub Street: where to eat in Siem Reap
Pub Street can be overwhelming and crowded and once you’ve taken a turn around there, it’s nice to go somewhere else to eat. Now, don’t get me wrong. There are some good restaurants in that area, and we occasionally stop by, but since living here, we’ve found a whole other world of eats beyond…
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What to do + what to buy when you get sick in SE Asia
What to do when you get sick in SE Asia. Tried and true natural remedies. Yup, even something for mosquito bites, too.
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Chiang Mai versus Siem Reap: an expat weighs in
I’ve compared the two cities via transportation, accommodation, shopping, visas and more.
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Living with lizards: a love story
If you ask SE Asians what they are afraid of, they will most likely say: ghosts, snakes and lizards. Since I grew up in Hawaii, I can certainly understand why ghosts would be a legitimate concern. Ghost stories are very much part of Hawaiian culture, whether this be a modern development or something that spans…
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Day trip to Kulen Mountain!
Just like Tonle Sap, I’ve wanted to check out Kulen Mountain for some time. But it can be expensive, so I’ve been waiting for the right opportunity. And said opportunity finally came a’knockin’ on my front door this month when my friend’s sister was visiting. Gotta love visitors!
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Tips for finding an apartment in Siem Reap
We’ve been here for about a year which makes us expert expats in Siem Reap. Now, in Thailand, like Chiang Mai, if you are an expat for less than 3 years you are a fledgling, considered a mere babe in the eyes of wizened and longer-lasting expats who probably will be all too eager to…
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A visit to Siem Reap’s floating villages
Siem Reap is best known for the ruins of Angkor Wat, but Tonlé Sap, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia and a UNESCO biosphere reserve, is another standout feature of the area.
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Reflecting back on my first crazy year in Siem Reap
On July 15, 2015 we moved from Chiang Rai, Thailand to Siem Reap, Cambodia. Yippee! Right? Wrong! First of all, there was no honeymoon phase for me. As you might remember, it was looking for a place to live straight away and starting work.
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A quick visit to Phnom Penh
Whenever I asked my colleagues or students what they thought of Phnom Penh, most replied, “I don’t like it.” But I knew I had to go to Cambodia’s capital to get my passport renewed, so I decided, why not make a little holiday of it, and judge for myself. Phnom Penh, once known as the…
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Further impressions + updates on life in Siem Reap
Negotiate a river by following its bends, enter a country by following its customs. – Cambodian Proverb It’s been 7 months since we landed in Siem Reap and I still don’t feel ready to write about it, at least with any authority. The problem is I lived in Thailand since 2010 (if I don’t count…
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Taking the bus from Siem Reap to Battambang (and back again)
Battambang is about a 3 hour drive from Siem Reap and while SR is the smaller of the two, you wouldn’t know it by the amount of tourists that flock to Angkor City. So, is Battambang worth the visit? I think so, but it depends what you are looking for. Even though Battambang is Cambodia’s…
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Why not Battambang? (and things to do)
“Battambang is famous for being the birthplace of Cambodia’s most famous artists and musicians, but during the Khmer Rouge era the art scene was virtually destroyed when most artists either fled or were killed.” – Canby guide, Nov 2015 It’s been six months since we moved to Cambodia, and last month I felt like I…
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Why I love Angkor Wat
Most folks were surprised to hear that I went to Angkor Wat for 3 days. I suppose people generally visit for one or two days, but not 3. As much as I’d like to confess that I’m a hard-core nerd, I’m just an average Jane who majored in Archaeology and enjoys being in nature. And…
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Pictures of people taking pictures at Angkor Wat
Who was I kidding? Angkor Archaeological Park has got to be one of the most photographed sites in the world. My camera is a cheap, tepid, point and shoot that I impulsively bought when I couldn’t find the cameras I wanted back in Hawaii. What could I do to make my pictures stand out? What…
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At home in Siem Reap (part 2)
I wake up to the sound of our local handyman sawing ice. It’s a slow sounding push, the rhythm, soft, the ice surrendering to Jahb’s saw. His saw appears rusty, prehistoric, with fine-long-sharp teeth. Sometimes he runs the ice through a “shaved ice” machine that was once red, it sounds old and temperamental, but he…
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At home in Siem Reap
Thailand is sooo easy compared to living in Cambodia. Something that takes three steps here, took one step back in T-land. Even with many Cambodians’ better command of English, the conveniences of Thailand can’t be beat. After all, there are greater numbers of tourists visiting Thailand and I’m willing to wager, more expats, too.
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Why moving to Cambodia is scary and exciting
I’ve been waiting to make this announcement for a while and now that we’re about a month away from the big move I’ve decided to let the tiger out of the bag. I’m excited and scared. I’m looking forward to it and I’m afraid of what we’ll find. We have no choice and yet we…
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Life, the Universe, and Lani 
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