Just Go Places Magazine Cambodia Cambodia | Page 50

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Apsara Dance
Apsara dance is the Khymer classical dance which has
its orgins in Indian court dance based on Hindu mythology.
Women in beautiful costumes and headdresses dance gracefully to
percussion music. The dances are highly stylized and the dancers
use their hand and body positions to tell stories.

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BEACHES
Cambodia is blessed with miles of gorgeous beaches. There are
3 main beach communities, Sihanoukville, Kep and Koh Rong,
each appealing to different types of tourists.
Sihanoukville is the most developed, Kep is for those looking to escape
from it all, and Koh Rong is good for divers and eco-tourism. Kep used
to be popular with the French in the mid-twentieth century but now has
an amazing range of Modernist mansions in splendid decay. It has a
famous crab market and many good restaurants.

pho t o : http s ://fli c.kr/p /7YkzS7

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Cultural resurrection
Cambodia’s rich cultural heritage is being revived after the horrors
of the recent past. Take a tour of Cambodian Living Arts (located
in both Siem Reap and Phnom Penh) and see how music, dance and
theater are being revived in Cambodia.
Check out Artisans Angkor (www.artisansdangkor.com) which is also
helping to revive traditional Khmer crafts such as stone carving, painting
and silk-making. They have a showroom in Siem Reap, a silk farm you
can visit with shuttle buses from the Siem Reap showroom, a boutique in
Phnom Penh and concessions at the airports.
The Bophana Audiovisual Resource Center (www.bophana.org) is
located in Phnom Penh and is dedicated to preserving Khmer culture.
They have cultural events, movie screenings and exhibits open to the public.

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Eco Tourism Eco-resorts in the Cardomom Mountains
provide a livelihood for the locals who would otherwise be
struggling to make a living. The Four Rivers Floating Lodge
has 12 eco-friendly tented “Villas ” that float on the Tatai river.
The resort has a wonderful restaurant as well as facilities to arrange
trekking, kayaking and other tours.

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FESTIVALS Cambodia has many traditional and cultural festivals
throughout the year. The following are some of the most important:
The Khmer New Year occurs in the middle of April for 3 days in
accordance with the Cambodian lunar calendar. This festival is considered
the most important in the Cambodian year and marks the end of the
harvest season. The Royal Ploughing Ceremony celebrates the
beginning of the sowing and planting season. The cultural festival is
kicked off at the National Museum in Phnom Penh every May.
All Souls Day is celebrated over 15 days at the end of September and
beginning of October. The festival is dedicated to the spirits of deceased
ancestors and is culturally very significant. The Festival of Boat Racing
is held on a moveable date in November. It celebrates the changing
course of the Mekong River and Tonle Sap. This festival is a real
spectacle and is a way of giving thanks to the Mekong for providing the
country with fertile land and fishing.

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G

Great choice of accomodation
The accommodation ranges from homestays, and eco-resorts
to boutique and luxury hotels. This wide range will suit most
travelers and their budgets.
Luxury Hotels The Raffles Hotel LeRoyal in Phnom Penh was built in
1929 and has managed to retain much of its period charm. The Raffles
Grand Hotel D’Angkor in Siem Reap is also another French Colonial
building built in 1931. Boutique Hotels In Siem Reap, Karavansara is a
restored colonial villa and boutique hotel. In Battambang, La Villa is a
seven-room boutique hotel set in a 1930’s home built for a wealthy
merchant and restored in 2005. In Phnom Penh, the Foreign
Correspondents Club now lodges tourists instead of journalists sending
stories home. The Villa Paradiso is a converted Khmer house in central
Phnom Penh. Eco Resorts The Four Rivers Floating Lodge is an

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Designer Talent
If you search amidst the backpacker hippie shopping in Cambodia,
you will find chic treasures which are a product of the budding
designer scene in the country.
The local fashion celebrity in Siem Reap is Eric Raisina, the Parisiantrained designer, who has worked with major French fashion houses,
Christian Lacroix and Yves Saint Laurent. He has a workroom and a shop
in Siem Reap where he has lived for years.

Websites to check out:

✤ fashion www.ericraisina.com; www.jasmineboutique.net;
www.songresort.com; www.wanderlustcambodi.com
✤ accessories www.smateria.com; www.gardenofdesire-asia.com
✤ home www.theamshouse.com; www.senteursdangkor.com;
www.tendance-khmere.com.au

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eco-friendly resort in the Cardamom Mountains. Alternatively, try the
village of Chi Phat which is part of a community-based eco-tourist
initiative. The villagers run guest houses and provide guided treks into
the mountains.

Family-friendly hotel options: Phnom Penh ✤ Himawari Hotel
Apartments (www.himawarihotel.com) ✤ The Kabiki (www.thekabiki.com)
✤ The Plantation Urban Resort & Spa (www.theplantation.asia) Siem Reap
Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa (www.victoriahotels.asia) ✤ Navutu Dreams Resort
& Spa (www.navutudreams.com) ✤ Journeys Within (www.journeyswithin.com)
Other Knai Bang Chatt in Kep (www.knaibangchatt.com) ✤ Sokha Beach
Sihanoukville (www. sokhahotels.com)
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