cambodia - citibank.com.sg · khmer attitude shopping stocking cambodia’s two finest designers,...
TRANSCRIPT
Intro Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves LUXE Loathes Fab vs. Drab LUXE ItinerariesP1 / LUXE CAMBODIA
Citi PrestigeSM
Cambodia
CAMBODIA IS FAST EMERGING FROM ITS TURBULENT PAST TO EMBRACE THE WORLD AND WELCOME FOREIGNERS WITH OPEN ARMS.
Phnom Penh is the bustling, compact
capital, packed with historic architecture
and museums, locally-produced, standout
shopping, and fantastic Khmer dining.
Smaller, but ever growing, Siem Reap
is home to the gorgeous and spiritual
Angkor Wat complex, and a myriad
of ruined temples reclaimed from the
steaming jungle. With a chic and stylish
hotel, dining and retail scene, it’s no
wonder Siem Reap has become so
popular. Best come now, before the
theme parks get here.
The cult pocket city guides and mobile
apps for the busy, sophisticated traveler
www.luxecityguides.comCITI PRESENTS LUXE CITY GUIDES
Intro Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves LUXE Loathes Fab vs. Drab LUXE ItinerariesP2 / LUXE CAMBODIA
Citi PrestigeSM
• Jun-Oct is wet and lush and great
for photos, cooler/peak season is
Nov-Mar, while Apr is scorching hot.
• Water Festival (Bon Om Tuk) is in
Nov; millions of people descend on
the waterfront, so watch it on TV.
• Visitors can obtain a visa on arrival
for US$20, payable in US$ only,
or avoid queues and get your visa
online at www.mfaic.gov.kh
• De facto currency is US$, though
small change is given in the local
riel. US$1 is approximately 4000R.
• Phnom Penh International Airport
to town: 30 mins / US$9; Siem Reap
International Airport to town: 20
mins / US$5.
• ATMs are dotted around town.
Handy ANZ ATM at 265 Sisowath
Quay, Phnom Penh and Old Market,
Siem Reap.
Blah blah• Cash is king, so carry plenty of
small notes, though high-end
establishments do accept
credit cards.
• Phnom Penh (PNH) streets are
numbered grids, while landmarks
are often used in Siem Reap (REP).
• Get around in tuk-tuks, motorbikes,
hire a car or call for a taxi (Choice
Taxi call +855 23 888 023) in PNH;
cabs don’t exist in REP but tuk-tuks
abound, and cycling is a fun way to
see the temples in cooler weather.
• Foreigner = $$$$. Don’t flash your
cash, hang on tight to your purse
and leave your designer handbag
at home.
• Beggars and street kids are rife.
Politely ignore them as one word
from you instantly transforms them
into Velcro, and they also
know how to cuss in several
different languages.
• Don’t touch the monks in saffron
robes or point your feet at them,
and don’t touch children
on the head.
• The people can be surprisingly
open about their suffering under
the Khmer Rouge, so be sensitive in
your response.
• Opening hours can be flexible,
so best check ahead.
• Country code is +855, landline in
PNH is 023, REP is 063, and mobiles
usually start with 012, 015, or 017.
• Contact your hotel in an emergency,
as special services have limited or
no English.
• Tourist Police PNH 011 858 660,
REP 012 402 424.
Intro Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves LUXE Loathes Fab vs. Drab LUXE ItinerariesP3 / LUXE CAMBODIA
Citi PrestigeSM
Siem Reap-based Eric Raisina began his
foray into the world of fashion design
in his Madagascan homeland, where
natural materials such as silk, raffia,
sisal, linen and cotton quickly became
his trademark. Winning the prize of New
Young Talent at the Fashion Festival and
Textile Competition (MANJA) enabled
him to study in Paris at the Duperré
School where he excelled in the creation
of textiles. He graduated with a Master’s
degree from the Institut Français de la
Mode in 1999, started his own workshop
soon after, and was commissioned to
create unique textiles for fashion houses
Yves Saint Laurent and Christian Lacroix.
Eric Raisina Haute Texture Collection is
available at flagship boutiques in both
Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, plus in
selected stores abroad.
www.ericraisina.com
LUXE INSIDER
Eric Raisina
Intro Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves LUXE Loathes Fab vs. Drab LUXE ItinerariesP4 / LUXE CAMBODIA
Citi PrestigeSM
1) WHAT’S THE ONE THING EVERY VISITOR TO SIEM REAP MUST DO AND WHY?
See the beauty of the Angkor temples,
especially the Bayon temple, with
an amazing sculpture of the King
Jayavarman VII, who is considered
the most important King in
Angkorian history.
2) WHAT ARE 3 OF YOUR FAVORITE RESTAURANTS IN SIEM REAP AND WHAT DISHES DO YOU ORDER AT THESE PLACES?
Cuisine Wat Damnak for delicious
French dishes using Cambodian
ingredients, Sugar Palm for prawns
amok, and Abacus for crab salad
and mango.
Sugar Palm / Taphul Rd / Siem Reap /
+855 12 818 143
www.cuisinewatdamnak.com
www.cafeabacus.com
3) WHERE DO YOU RECOMMEND FRIENDS STAY WHEN IN SIEM REAP?
5 star hotels are great but there are
also excellent boutique hotels such as
Viroth’s Hotel, Samar Villa Resort, and
Heritage Suite Hotel.
www.viroth-hotel.com
www.samarvillas.com/en
www.heritagesuiteshotel.com
4) WHERE WOULD YOU GO FOR A DATE NIGHT OUT AND WHY?
Certainly Miss Wong bar because it is
super cozy, the crowd is friendly and
the cocktails are delicious!
Miss Wong / alley opposite Provincial
Hospital, behind Pub Street / Siem
Reap / +855 92 428 332
5) WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SHOP IN SIEM REAP? WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT IT?
Senteurs d’Angkor for its authenticity
of Cambodian products, its paper and
its mango jam!
www.senteursdangkor.com
LUXE INSIDER
Eric Raisina
Intro Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves LUXE Loathes Fab vs. Drab LUXE ItinerariesP5 / LUXE CAMBODIA
Citi PrestigeSM
LUXE Loves
RAFFLES HOTEL LE ROYAL Hotel
Though it was built in the 1920s, this
historic icon has still got the ‘it’ factor,
with all the modern amenities a loving
restoration has afforded, but with
its old-world charm still marvelously
intact. The checkerboard tiling,
colonnaded exterior and common
areas, perfumed gardens, shaded
pools, Restaurant le Royal, Elephant
Bar and Amrita Spa are all delightful.
MALIS
Dining
Renowned chef Luu Meng presents
both traditional and contemporary
Cambodian cuisine in his semi-
alfresco, Angkor-inspired villa.
Signature dishes include Fish Amok
– steamed Goby fish served in Khmer
curry sauce and lime leaves – and
succulent stuffed roast chicken. Sit
downstairs by the tranquil pond,
or there are private dining options
available too.
TEPUI AT CHINESE HOUSE Dining
Situated in the historic Chinese House
building overlooking Tonle Sap river,
chic Tepui is a fusion of Mediterranean
and South American flavours in the
2nd floor restaurant, Asian inflected
cocktails in the ground floor bar, and
French and Chinese design influence
all around. Order the delicious beer-
braised beef cheeks.
92 Rukhak Vithei Daun Penh /
Phnom Penh / +855 23 981 888 /
www.raffles.com
136 Norodom Blvd / Phnom Penh /
+855 23 221 022 / 6.30am-10pm daily
www.malis-restaurant.com
45 Sisowath Quay / Phnom Penh
/ +855 23 991 514 /
dinner Tue-Sun /
www.tepui.asia
Intro Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves LUXE Loathes Fab vs. Drab LUXE ItinerariesP6 / LUXE CAMBODIA
Citi PrestigeSM
LUXE LovesBLOOM
Dining
Their catchphrase is ‘too beautiful
to eat, too delicious to resist’ and we
couldn’t agree more. Bloom’s artfully
designed, sinfully tasty cupcakes will
have you throwing all dieting plans out
the window. And if you need more of an
incentive, it’s an NPO that empowers
and skills Cambodian women. Dessert
for a cause… we’re in!
HOTEL BE
Hotel
Located in the heart of the vibrant
Old Market area, boutique Hotel Be
is home to just three modern suites,
each personalized with the work of a
different local artist. Tasty Khmer small
plates restaurant AHA is onsite and
spa treatments are available in-room,
making this a truly unique
hotel experience.
LE MOON Bar
Situated on the rooftop of Amanjaya
Pancam Hotel, Le Moon offers
panoramic vistas over the riverfront,
and is the perfect spot to enjoy a city
sunset with a cocktail in hand. There are
also hot and cold international finger
foods and desserts to keep hungry
stomachs at bay.
THE SAMAR VILLAS & SPA RESORT Hotel
A mere stone’s throw from the gates
of the main Angkor temple, Samar’s
eight villas and suites exude French chic
and Khmer charm, while the tropical
gardens and pool provide a serene,
tucked-away ambience. Gentlemen get
a daily shave and ladies one facial per
stay, plus you can choose where on the
property you wish to dine.
TENDANCE KHMERE Shopping
Injecting traditional Khmer silks
with contemporary French panache,
Tendance Khmere’s soft furnishings
are 100% handmade in Cambodia
by a small team of dedicated local
craftspeople. They are available in
an array of eye-popping colors and
combinations, or you can custom
design your own.
CUISINE WAT DAMNAK Dinning
Frenchman Joannès Rivière elevates
Khmer cuisine to new heights in his
pretty indoor/outdoor garden house,
using fresh, locally sourced produce
to create his excellent seasonal
degustation menu. Enjoy dishes such as
braised pork shank with star anise and
caramelized palm sugar, and steamed
Mekong langoustine with rice wine and
Kurata pepper.
4a, St 278 / Phnom Penh /
+855 12 584 661 /
www.tendance-khmere.fr
Wat Damnak Village / Siem Reap
/ +855 63 965 491 / dinner
Tue-Sun / set menu only /
www.cuisinewatdamnak.com
Amanjaya Pancam Hotel / 1, St 154
/ Phnom Penh / +855 23 214 747 /
5pm-1am daily /
www.amanjaya-pancam-hotel.com
Behind Kantha Bopha Children’s
Hospital / Siem Reap /
+855 63 762 449 /
www.samarvillas.com
40, St 222 / Phnom Penh / +855
77 757 500 / 10am-5pm Mon-Sat /
www.bloomcreations.org
The Passage / +855 63 965 321 /
Siem Reap /
www.hotelbeangkor.com
Intro Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves LUXE Loathes Fab vs. Drab LUXE ItinerariesP7 / LUXE CAMBODIA
Citi PrestigeSM
LUXE LovesKONG KEA SPA
Spa
La Residence d’Angkor’s aquatic-
themed, minimalist retreat is the
ultimate indulgence to be found in
town, with private rooms, rain showers,
sauna, Jacuzzi, indoor plunge pool
and organic, chemical-free Sodashi
product treatments. Eco-friendly, local
NGO-made Wonderlust clothing and
accessories are available in the spa
boutique too.
TA PROHM Activities
Built in 1186, this maze-like temple was
made famous when Angelina Jolie and
the Tomb Raider film crew paid it a visit.
It’s the most dramatic of the Siem Reap
temples, with enormous Banyan roots
growing up out of the ruins, and an
amazing greenish hue. Early evening is
the best time to appreciate it, when the
crowds have moved on, and the eerie
light plays shadows on the stone and
trees. Don’t miss it!La Residence d’Angkor / River Rd /
Siem Reap / +855 63 963 390 /
www.residencedangkor.com
KHMER ATTITUDE Shopping
Stocking Cambodia’s two finest
designers, Eric Raisina (see LUXE
Insider) and Ambre, chic boutique
Khmer Attitude also has Carol Cassidy’s
Lao Textile silks, gorgeous silver, woven
bags and other accessories up for grabs
in their Raffles Grand Hotel
d’Angkor locale.
1 Vithei Charles de Gaulle / Siem
Reap / +855 12 917 056 /
www.khattitude.com
Intro Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves LUXE Loathes Fab vs. Drab LUXE ItinerariesP8 / LUXE CAMBODIA
Citi PrestigeSM
LUXE LoathesSEX TOURISTS
Vile, pasty, sock and sandal wearing
detritus, especially in Phnom Penh.
PHNOM PENH RIVERFRONT DEVELOPMENT
A real mess, with seemingly no sort of
government control or design.
PUB STREET SIEM REAP
The name says it all, avoid it like you
would typhoid.
INAPPROPRIATELY DRESSED TOURISTS
Cover up, please!
Intro Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves LUXE Loathes Fab vs. Drab LUXE ItinerariesP9 / LUXE CAMBODIA
Citi PrestigeSM
Fab vs. Drab
SOUVENIRS
Leaving Angkor Wat with only memories
of beautiful Buddhas and bas reliefs can
easily be avoided by taking a custom
woodwork, stone, silk or lacquer memento
home with you from charitable workshop
Artisans d’Angkor.
www.artisansdangkor.com
ARRIVE IN STYLE
Transiting by plane, train or coach
between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh is
hardly glamorous. So consider transiting
in vintage style aboard the Jayavarman,
a C.20th French colonial-style riverboat
complete with stately suites, sundeck,
Funnel lounge bar, and Aspara Salon spa.
The glamorous journey takes you from
Siem Reap down the mighty Mekong to
Saigon, via Phnom Penh.
www.jayavarmancruise.com
TEMPLE GUIDE
Hiring a random local guide on the street
and wandering around the temples, is
a surefire way of not understanding
the immense history and significance
of Angkor and its environs, whereas
hiring an excellent private guide from
ABOUTAsia ensures all your questions are
answered and 100% of the tour profits
are donated to help children’s education.
www.aboutasiatravel.com
HERITAGE RECIPES
Not fully appreciating the almost lost-
forever joys of Khmer cuisine is easily
done, so take the time to properly
discover the local fare by learning to cook
dishes using traditional ingredients and
preparation techniques with Cambodia
Cooking Class.
www.cambodia-cooking-class.com
FLY AWAY
Jostling to get a good look at the sights
with coach loads of tourists inevitably
ends up exasperating and exhausting,
so consider soaring over Phnom Penh
and Siem Reap either privately or
with a small group on a Helicopters
Cambodia chopper, then sitting down to a
champagne picnic lunch afterwards.
www.helicopterscambodia.com
Intro Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves LUXE Loathes Fab vs. Drab LUXE ItinerariesP10 / LUXE CAMBODIA
Citi PrestigeSM
Phnom Penh is a compact and busy
capital, reminiscent of pre-mass tourism
Saigon. There’s plenty of evidence of the
country’s checkered past, but also many
signs the city is well on the mend. Start
by checking into a beautifully restored
suite at the iconic Raffles Hotel Le Royal
(see LUXE Loves), then after breakfast
begin your day on a somber note, with
a visit to Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum,
a former school turned Khmer Rouge
prison. Not for the faint of heart, but it
stands as one of the world’s best anti-
war memorials. For an inspiring example
of the Cambodian people’s resilience,
follow this with a visit to Tendance
Khmer (see LUXE Loves), a local business
specializing in 100% Cambodian-made
silks and soft furnishings. Stop at sweet
LUXE ITINERARY
History & Style
and charitable cupcake boutique Bloom
(see LUXE Loves), then taxi north for
lunch at Romdeng, where traditional
Khmer cuisine is served in a restored
French colonial villa, and your dining
dollar helps children in need. Post-lunch,
wander towards the river and stop at
the National Museum, home to centuries
worth of Angkor artifacts, then pop into
Romyda Keth’s fabulous store Ambre
for gorgeous silk gowns, plus men’s and
homeware. Taxi back to Raffles some
afternoon pampering at the Amrita Spa,
the most complete spa in Phnom Penh,
with face, body, massage, hand, foot and
waxing services available. Head back to
the waterfront to enjoy sunset cocktails
at the Amanjaya Pancam Hotel’s rooftop
bar Le Moon (see LUXE Loves), taking in
the panoramic vistas while you’re there,
then taxi north to the historic Chinese
House building, where you’ve pre-booked
a dinner table at chic Mediterranean and
South American fusion restaurant Tepui
(see LUXE Loves). Follow your supper with
a nightcap in the happening ground floor
bar, then you are just a short taxi ride
from your luxurious Raffles suite.
Intro Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves LUXE Loathes Fab vs. Drab LUXE ItinerariesP11 / LUXE CAMBODIA
Citi PrestigeSM
LUXE ITINERARY
Romance & Style
Cambodia’s fashion capital and home to
the romantic and historic Angkor Wat
temples, Siem Reap is the perfect city
for a stylish and exotic Southeast Asian
rendezvous. Check into lush riverside
spot La Residence d’Angkor, boasting
contemporary Cambodiana suites with
balconies and baths big enough for two,
and begin your day with a pond-side
breakfast at the palm-fringed, wicker
and teak-terraced Dining Room. Leave
the tour buses behind and soar over the
Angkor kingdom on a scenic chopper
flight with Helicopters Cambodia (see
Drab vs Fab). You can join a small group
on a scheduled sightseeing flight, or for
ultimate romance, charter privately and
follow your ride with a champagne picnic
lunch. Next head to eclectic Old Market
alleyway The Passage and share an ice
cream from Blue Pumpkin café, then carry
on up the street to find original jewelry at
Garden of Desire and Christian Develter’s
paintings at The One Collection. By now
you must be feeling weary, so amble back
to your hotel for an afternoon pamper
session at the excellent Kong Kea Spa (see
LUXE Loves) where his and hers Sodashi
product facials, couples massages, and a
full range of rejuvenating spa therapies
are at your soon-to-be-manicured
fingertips. Feeling refreshed, slip into
your evening’s attire and stop for a pre-
dinner cocktail at the hotel’s leafy garden
oasis, The Pool Bar, then either stroll or
tuk-tuk to your pre-booked dinner table
at the excellent Cuisine Wat Damnak (see
LUXE Loves), where chef Joannès Rivière
cleverly blends fresh and interesting local
ingredients with French technique to
create imaginative, palate-pleasing Khmer
fare. Head back towards home for a
nightcap at La Residence’s sultry indoor/
outdoor riverside Martini Lounge, then it’s
a mere stroll back to your luxurious suite
and sweet slumber.
Intro Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves LUXE Loathes Fab vs. Drab LUXE ItinerariesP12 / LUXE CAMBODIA
Citi PrestigeSM
LUXE ITINERARY
Culture
For culture and history buffs, no trip to
Cambodia would be complete without a
visit to the awe-inspiring architectural
wonder that is the Angkor Wat temple
complex. Sadly, coachloads of tourists
and megaphone-wielding guides are
literally ruining the ruins, but it’s still
possible to have a wonderful experience,
provided you structure your trip properly.
Firstly, you’ll need somewhere fabulous
to prepare for and then reflect upon
your journey, and where better to do so
than The Samar Villas & Spa Resort (see
LUXE Loves). Have the hotel pack you a
lunch and arrange a private guide from
charitable tour outfit ABOUTAsia (see
Drab vs Fab). Set out for the day and note
the names not to be missed:
Angkor Wat – Grand, grey and looking
darn good for 900 years old, this C.12th
masterpiece attracts the crowds for the
classic sunrise photo opportunity. Try
entering through the largely overlooked,
leafy east gate for a more private
experience, then stop for breakfast at the
air-conditioned Angkor Café.
Bayon – Housed within Angkor Thom,
Bayon is the next stop after Angkor Wat
for the tour groups, so go late afternoon
when the crowds disperse and the light
plays tricks on the captivating stone
faces.
Ta Prohm – Fabulous, and an absolute
must. Come for the eerie early evening
light, when the swarming packs have
moved elsewhere for sunset (see LUXE
Loves).
Banteay Srei – Pretty pink sandstone
home of fabulous bas reliefs, but there’s
no shade, so pack your sunhat.
All the big names can be done in a day,
while smaller, less-visited sites including
Preah Khan, Neak Paon, Sras Srang and
Banteay Kdei are also worth a look.
After a long day of temple appreciation,
head back to Samar Spa for a well earned
treatment and delicious Khmer supper at
the on-site Fou-Nan restaurant.
Intro Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves LUXE Loathes Fab vs. Drab LUXE ItinerariesP13 / LUXE CAMBODIA
Citi PrestigeSM
LUXE ITINERARY
The Essentials
• Raffles Hotel Le Royal
(see LUXE Loves)
• Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum / Cnr
Sts 350 & 113 / 7.30am-5.30pm daily
• Bloom (see LUXE Loves)
• Tendance Khmer (see LUXE Loves)
• Romdeng / 74, St 174 / +855 92 219
565 / 11am-9pm daily /
www.mithsamlanh.org
• National Museum / Cnr Sts 178 & 13
/ +855 23 211 753 / 8am-5pm daily /
www.cambodiamuseum.info
• Ambre / 37, St 178 /
+855 23 217 935 / closed Sun /
www.romydaketh.net
• Le Moon (see LUXE Loves)
• Tepui at Chinese House
(see LUXE Loves)
• La Residence d’Angkor / River Road /
+855 63 963 390 /
www.residencedangkor.com
• Helicopters Cambodia
(see Drab vs Fab)
• Blue Pumpkin / Old Market /
+855 63 963 574 / 6am-10pm /
www.tbpumpkin.com
• Garden of Desire / The Passage /
Old Market / +855 12 319 116 /
www.gardenofdesire-asia.com
HISTORY & STYLISH ITINERARY
ROMANTIC & STYLISH ITINERARY
• The One Collection / The One
Hotel / The Passage / Old Market /
+855 12 755 311 /
www.theonehotelangkor.com
• Kong Kea Spa (see LUXE Loves)
• Cuisine Wat Damnak
(see LUXE Loves)
Intro Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves LUXE Loathes Fab vs. Drab LUXE ItinerariesP14 / LUXE CAMBODIA
Citi PrestigeSM
• The Samar Villas & Spa Resort
(see LUXE Loves)
• ABOUTAsia (see Drab vs Fab)
• Angkor Café / in front of Angkor Wat /
+855 63 966 539 / 7am-6pm / open for
dinner by special arrangement
CULTURE ITINERARY
LUXE ITINERARY
The Essentials
Intro Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves LUXE Loathes Fab vs. Drab LUXE ItinerariesP15 / LUXE CAMBODIA
Citi PrestigeSM
Your LUXE notes