The Kingdom of Cambodia has a complicated, dark and tragic history. 

A trip to Cambodia’s S-21 prison (the Tuol Slengh Genocide Museum) and Choeung Ek Killing Fields in Phnom Penh will show you this history in graphic detail. It’s a harrowing experience, and one you shouldn’t shy away from. But why? 

Why should you put yourself through a disturbing and emotionally difficult time? Let me be real, you won’t just be listening to horrific stories of mass torture carried out by the Khmer Rouge under Pol Pot’s command, you will see photographs of their pained, contorted faces after they died. 

Why make yourself look at photos of victims, then stare at skulls piled thousands high, as tall as a building, knowing this could be the skull of someone you saw alive in a photo? 

Why? Because the young survivors of the Cambodian genocide want their story to be told. They wish to educate the world about what happened to them, their families, and the country they love. 

Why? In the hope that these atrocities, too vile to describe in too much detail, will never happen again.
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Their suffering should never be repeated. The people of Cambodia never thought something like this could happen to them, and you need to learn so that this doesn’t happen to you. 

Rooftop bars and sky lounges provide fabulous cityscape views, and a certain ambience. Sipping on a margarita as the sunsets in Siem Reap, Cambodia is the perfect way to end a busy day of temple viewing. But which one do you choose?

I simply adore sunsets. Some early risers prefer sunrise but for me, sitting down at the end of the day with a cold, refreshing drink makes me happy. I always try to seek out the best sunset spots; when we are at a beach I look for beanbags, in a City it’s a rooftop bar.
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During our recent trip to Siem Reap, Cambodia, I discovered there were quite a few sky lounges, and I found myself wanting to visit as many as I could within the time we had available.
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If you enjoy City views, people watching from up high, sunsets, cheap beers and cocktails, this is our pick of the best rooftop bars in Siem Reap.

Street Art in Phnom Penh Cambodia? Not the usual place to search for murals but wherever we travel, I always look for Street Art. 

Admittedly to say there is a “Street Art Scene” brimming with insta-worthy Urban Art would be a stretch too far, however there is at least one street where you can find some pretty murals.

Street 93 in the Boeung Kak Area known by many as “Lakeside”, is where you will find a collection of walls painted to brighten up a once derelict area.
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But for now, until more murals are painted, let me show you what we uncovered when looking for street art in Phnom Penh.

Cat and dog lovers of the world take note: Siem Reap Pagoda Cats is better than any cat café you could ever visit!

More than 30 cats and 8 dogs live with monks at this one particular Pagoda, and they would love for you to visit and pet them (the cats and dogs, not the monks, you are not allowed to pet the monks).

These cats and dogs crave attention, they want you to stroke them, pick them up and give them a cuddle. You could have five cats and three dogs around you, all begging to be next in line for your attention. As an animal lover, who doesn’t want that?

All animals are unwanted and were brought to the monks to look after. An unexpected litter, high medical fees, or stray animals found in the street are just a few of the reasons people take cats and dogs to pagodas in Cambodia.
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If you want the most heart-warming, natural animal encounter when you visit Cambodia, a visit to Siem Reap Pagoda Cats is a must!