I’m not sure whether or not I’m meant to feel reassured or frightened in a country where hotels feel the need to remind me than guns and grenades are not wecome. At Hotel La Noria in Siem Reap I think I was safe. With its leafy garden and swimming pool it is a comfortable escape from the bustle on the street at a cost of $40 plus a night. It is also reassuring that being a Childsafe hotel – one […]
Cambodia
Tasty snacks at the “rest stop”
Deep fried and served out by the recycled condensed milk tin on the road-side, who can resist these tasy crickets and beetles? Well, about 30 people judging by our bus load of mainly locals. There was one chap though who tucked into a big bag of beetles, the secret being that you flick off the hard unedible wings before popping the bodies into your mouth. I’m afraid I was a wimp having poisoned myself two days earlier and was drawn […]
The boat to Battambang
You’ll want food for the eight hour trip to Battambang, the most beautiful boat trip in Cambodia. Plenty of locals will hassle you to buy French sticks bananas and water. The tiny bananas are delicious. But whatever you don’t don’t sit on the roof unless you want a very pink sore evening.
The meaning of chilli hot salad
Now I really do know the meaning of green papaya salad at the Srassrang View Restaurant near Angkor Wat. You’ve been working in the fields all day – or as I have cycling 40km along hot dusty roads. Your mouth is dry, your mind weak and the body is tired. Green papaya has everything you need. First the finely chopped/ grated papaya refreshes then the chilli kicks in and releases the endorphins that will keep you going. Protein comes in […]
Chicken: Thai for starters
Dragon fruit to the right. Fresh off the plane, I haven’t quite got my street food legs yet. Off for a Thai instead at Chivit Thai ( 130 Ph Wat Bo, Siem Reap 012 830 761) set is a wooden pavillion and garden. Complimentory spring rolls, a scorching green papaya salad ( I asked for hot) and fish cakes in dipping sauce. The most interesting dish was squid served with egg yolks. That’s solid yellow half yolks. The tiny squid […]