Category: Cambodia
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First Impressions of a Visit to Phnom Penh
As a kid growing up in the 1980’s in East Baltimore, I had no awareness of Cambodia. Our neighborhood was working class, and it was the pre-Internet era. We had World maps hanging in our schools, but even these were not entirely reliable because they were often out of date. Especially after 1989 and the…
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Beyond Levi’s: A Look Inside The Modern Factory Phnom Penh
When I found the Factory Phnom Penh online I was intrigued with the idea. A former Levi’s garment plant, some might say sweatshop, has been converted to a modern mixed-use campus. There is not a lot of information online about what to expect when you reach the site. The overall impression on the Phnom Penh…
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Tuol Sleng and The Dark History of the Khmer Rouge
I’m not sure there is anyone in the US who thinks about Cambodia without thinking of the Khmer Rouge first. For people who are over 40 we think of the revolution in Cambodia as being a part of recent events. Much like Apartheid or Rwanda. Pol Pot lived until 1998. Duch and Brother Number 2…
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Bus Travel From Phnom Penh to Saigon: What It’s Really Like
When trying to get from Phnom Penh to Saigon or vice versa many travelers will face the decision of whether to fly or travel by bus between cities. Skyscanner shows most flights starting around $125, but at around $25 bus travel is much more economical and does have a few advantages. If you have come…
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Angkor Mithona Guesthouse: Great Location for a Church Basement
The term guesthouse is not in common use in the US. Somewhere between a hostel and a hotel, a guesthouse typically has a small number of rooms in a private home available for rent, usually at a nightly rate. The Angkor Mithona Guesthouse on Phnom Penh’s riverfront falls squarely into this category. On some sites…
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Hotel Zing in Phnom Penh: The Old Switcheroo?
Phnom Penh can be a great city to score a very cheap hotel room. The only problem is that even after arriving in the city and looking around at hotels it is difficult to gauge the quality of each one without actually staying inside the rooms. Ramshackle buildings sit side by side with modern luxury…