We’ve spent a week in Siem Reap now. We originally booked for 3 nights but it was an easy decision to extend.

Nick’s back was giving him some trouble, the town is charming with plenty to do in addition to Angkor Wat and the Purple Mangosteen hotel where we are staying is great.

The hotel is owned by Polly (seen here with her baby son and colleagues) and her English husband. They embrace values of contemporary quality design and using local products, along similar lines to Design Hotels, and have created a small 6 bedroom oasis. The hotel is located in the very heart of Siem Reap, on a narrow laneway surrounded by small boutiques and restaurants in restored shop houses.

One for the Road quickly became our ‘local’, a tiny cocktail bar with an impressive cocktail list. Located on a small alley way with just one table.

There was a black-out in the city centre one of the first nights we were here. Most restaurants quickly got out candles, the stalls used their mobile phones and business continued pretty much as before.

The Old Market has everything from your daily shopping and restaurants to hairdressers and fabric stores.

Pub Street is party central and is pretty lively at night. Our hotel is located very close by and we are listening to a Karaoke rendition of ‘Bye Bye Miss American Pie’ while writing this…

Tomorrow we are taking the bus to Battambang, a town around 170km (4hours) from here. From there we will continue to Phnom Penh and the beaches near Sihanoukville before coming back to Siem Reap to meet with Julie and Becky.
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