https://www.scmp.com/rss/310525/feed Marissa is a British journalist of 15 years, who relocated to Cambodia almost six years ago. She writes about lifestyle, travel and culture across Southeast Asia and has been contributing to the Post for the last five years. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Phnom Penh is a city on the move – upwards. But although the increasing number of upscale sky bars afford a bird’s-eye view of the ever rising skyline, it’s the Cambodian capital’s backstreets where the action is. Founded in 1865 under French rule, Phnom Penh earned itself the moniker Pearl of Asia due to its sweeping boulevards, colonial, art deco and new Khmer architecture and, later, a thriving rock ’n’ roll scene. Its heyday, however, came to an abrupt end when, in April 1975, the Khmer... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/travel/article/3306568/insiders-guide-what-see-eat-and-do-cambodias-phnom-penh?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/travel/article/3306568/insiders-guide-what-see-eat-and-do-cambodias-phnom-penh?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 19 Apr 2025 04:00:09 +0000 A breeze sweeps through the second-floor Buzzz Cafe. The chatter of families, friends and lovers strolling along Alona Beach’s startling white sand rises up to us as we tuck into grilled white fish with a colourful flower salad and a broth packed with prawns, fish, clams and vegetables fresh from the diner’s organic farm. The floors below are stocked with the farm’s produce, including jars of honey and jam, handmade soaps and artisan chocolate, a small selection of the bounty the Philippine... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3221368/panglao-philippines-holiday-destination-dream-beaches-vivid-marine-life-and-agritourism?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3221368/panglao-philippines-holiday-destination-dream-beaches-vivid-marine-life-and-agritourism?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 May 2023 23:15:10 +0000 Tourism operators in Cambodia, the second-most vaccinated country in Southeast Asia (after Singapore), are putting pressure on the government to reopen borders to fully inoculated international tourists as soon as November. When they return, those tourists will be visiting a newly emerging eco-tourism destination. “Eco-tourism is moving forward globally and is very important in Cambodia,” says Nick Ray, tourism consultant for the Cambodia Sustainable Landscape and Eco-tourism Project (CSLEP), a... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3149094/emphasis-will-be-eco-tourism-when-cambodia-reopens?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3149094/emphasis-will-be-eco-tourism-when-cambodia-reopens?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Sep 2021 23:15:08 +0000 The return of international travel may yet seem a long way off, but vaccination programmes are being rolled out worldwide, and hopes are high that travel in Asia will have resumed by the end of the year. With many bargains to be bagged, now may be the time to put a down payment on that dream holiday.  Hotels, airlines, travel agents and other tourism-related businesses that have managed to stave off the economic onslaught of Covid-19 are working on survival. That means there are deals to be had,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3130805/hotels-airlines-and-travel-agents-asia-offer-great-deals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3130805/hotels-airlines-and-travel-agents-asia-offer-great-deals?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 25 Apr 2021 23:15:12 +0000 Sophea* froze when the footage of Cambodian cosmetics entrepreneur Deth Malina being battered by her then-husband flashed up on social media. “It was difficult to watch,” the mother-of-three, 36, recalled. “It reminded me of my home life and what I had to escape.” On March 15, Deth published on Facebook an hour-long compilation of clips that showed displays of violence that have torn the nation in half. In one scene, property tycoon Duong Chhay, 31, lunges across his child to beat Deth, also 31.... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3127213/cambodia-property-tycoon-beats-his-wife-facebook-video-and-she?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3127213/cambodia-property-tycoon-beats-his-wife-facebook-video-and-she?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Mar 2021 08:00:07 +0000 Sikol San freezes mid-sentence. The guide’s eyes dart towards the tuft of a coconut tree on the edge of a rice field. He adjusts his spotting scope to hone in on a small black bird with a forked tail perched on a palm. The co-founder of the Cambodia Bird Guide Association (CBGA), Sikol San starts relating details about the migratory black drongo, which spends September to May in Cambodia. It is one of 40 to 60 species of bird regularly seen at this rural patch of land on the outskirts of Siem... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel/article/3124783/twitcher-tours-why-birdwatching-cambodia-expected?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel/article/3124783/twitcher-tours-why-birdwatching-cambodia-expected?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 13 Mar 2021 01:15:05 +0000 Actual travel may still be some way off, even with Covid-19 vaccination programmes being rolled out in many countries, but tourism players in Southeast Asia are whetting appetites with virtual tours. From a visit to Cambodia’s Angkor Wat and an exploration of Myanmar’s Bagan temples by bike to the discovery of Indonesia above and below water, online tours are feeding the travel bug by enabling viewers to experience the region’s delights from their armchair. Here are some of the best: Bike... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3122146/angkor-wat-it-was-gardens-bay-children-bagan-temples-bike?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3122146/angkor-wat-it-was-gardens-bay-children-bagan-temples-bike?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 20 Feb 2021 10:15:17 +0000 Pen Sokunthea escaped the bustle of the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, for the sleepy riverside town of Kampot two years ago, drawn by its tranquil charm and laid-back pace of life. “I’m not a big city girl,” says Pen, who runs a cafe on the outskirts of the town 150km (90 miles) south of Phnom Penh, close to the coast. “I much prefer the peace and quiet, and Kampot is perfect for that.” However, big changes are coming to the town, which is set to become Cambodia’s next tourism hotspot. As... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3116784/chinese-construction-cambodias-next-tourism-hotspot-kampot?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3116784/chinese-construction-cambodias-next-tourism-hotspot-kampot?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 Jan 2021 01:15:09 +0000 When officials gathered for the Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh hotel’s groundbreaking ceremony in March 2017, Cambodia was in the midst of a tourism boom. Visitors from across the globe spilled out of the galleries, boutiques, bars and restaurants that dot the leafy central street the property sits on as the country set its sights on attracting seven million tourists a year by 2020. Fast forward to today and the scene is very different. Since tourism visas were suspended in mid-March, to help stem the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3111604/five-star-hotel-opening-phnom-penh-takes-added-importance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3111604/five-star-hotel-opening-phnom-penh-takes-added-importance?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Nov 2020 23:45:10 +0000 Prasong Suanchai would usually be gearing up for the high season, waiting for tourists from across the globe to flock to Thailand’s most popular holiday island. This year, the Phuket boat operator has had to resort to old ways. “For generations, the men in my family have been fishermen,” says the 34-year-old. “I was fishing since a young boy, but it was getting hard. There were less fish and less money for what we caught. It was difficult to provide for my family.” Nevertheless, he is again... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3105828/stories-phuket-tourism-workers-hit-hard-plunge-travel?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3105828/stories-phuket-tourism-workers-hit-hard-plunge-travel?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Oct 2020 10:15:11 +0000 The clatter of skateboards echoes around an indoor park in Phnom Penh, the Cambodian capital. A round of applause erupts as a skater masters a kickflip after several failed attempts. Elsewhere, bodies gleaming with sweat tackle the ramps and rails that fill the centre. Some of the skaters are nurturing dreams of representing their country in this burgeoning sport one day. For others, it is an escape from the streets and a break from the shackles of poverty. “Skateboarding didn’t really exist 10... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3096862/skateboarding-cambodia-how-tony-hawk-australian?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3096862/skateboarding-cambodia-how-tony-hawk-australian?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 12 Aug 2020 23:15:08 +0000 “I can’t wait to leave behind the city and get back to nature, away from the crowds and somewhere I can really experience a country,” says seasoned traveller Ashley Chung, who is chomping at the bit in Bangkok, the city the Hongkonger has called home for the past three years. She echoes the sentiments of many travellers looking forward to a rural experience, away from the crowds, in a post-Covid or perhaps Covid-enduring world. According to travel experts, destinations in areas enveloped in... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3094601/agritourism-why-farm-stays-and-rural-experiences-are-set?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3094601/agritourism-why-farm-stays-and-rural-experiences-are-set?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Jul 2020 05:15:15 +0000 “My health and safety is going to be my top priority when I can travel again, and this will play a big part in where I choose to go,” says 32-year-old Malaysian business consultant and frequent traveller Putri Fazura. She echoes the thoughts of many. Hoping to recapture the confidence of tourists like Fazura, Thailand is positioning itself as the number one safe destination to visit when travel restarts. Authorities have said they will roll out measures to keep visitors safe. The Tourism... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3085461/health-and-safety-come-first-tourism-thailand-when-travel?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3085461/health-and-safety-come-first-tourism-thailand-when-travel?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 May 2020 21:00:18 +0000 In August, musician Samantha Katz set off from her hometown, New York, on the trip of a lifetime. Her 12-month journey started in New Zealand and took her to Samoa, Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Japan. In February, she landed in her eighth destination, Vietnam. The streets started to empty, businesses closed, travel restrictions were imposed and coronavirus rapidly spread to countries outside Asia. Katz joined hundreds of thousands of travellers caught up in the chaos and cut... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3076145/coronavirus-pandemic-top-vacation-spots-hold-out-recovery?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3076145/coronavirus-pandemic-top-vacation-spots-hold-out-recovery?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2020 09:00:06 +0000 Thanks to new technology, curious travellers are flying across the world in search of their roots. The emerging trend follows a surge in the popularity and accessibility of home-testing genetic kits that can trace roots back generations, to regions across the world. “With the new-found knowledge about their heritage, travellers in record numbers are using their trips not just to get away on holiday, but to dig into the roots of their family trees,” says Edward Piegza, president and founder of... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3049554/genetic-testing-home-kits-spark-travel-trend-trips-find?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3049554/genetic-testing-home-kits-spark-travel-trend-trips-find?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Feb 2020 18:00:12 +0000 In the wake of mass-tourism disasters that sparked the temporary closure of holiday hotspots, one Southeast Asian destination is taking sustainability seriously in a bid to protect its future: the Philippine island of Bohol. The Philippines’ 10th largest island, Bohol remains unknown to most foreign visitors to the Philippines, who tend to skip straight to Manila, Boracay, Palawan and nearby Cebu. However, this is slated to change. The opening in November 2018 of Bohol-Panglao International... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3039183/undiscovered-bohol-philippines-eyes-sustainable-tourism?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3039183/undiscovered-bohol-philippines-eyes-sustainable-tourism?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 25 Nov 2019 10:00:13 +0000 Dolphin whisperer U Aung Thinn taps a hand-carved stick on the side of his slender boat and patiently waits. As he spots the dolphins’ grey arches gracefully moving towards him, he gathers his fishing equipment. One of the dolphins flicks its tail out of the water, sending the signal for Thinn to cast his net. The mammals corral fish towards the boat. As the fish swarm into the net, the dolphins devour the inevitable overspill. However, like the dolphins, the future of Myanmar’s cooperative... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3037565/fishermens-friends-dolphins-under-threat-myanmar-eco-tour?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3037565/fishermens-friends-dolphins-under-threat-myanmar-eco-tour?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 Nov 2019 04:15:08 +0000 Gasps ripple through the cabin of the turboprop plane as a small group of tourists catch their first glimpse of the marine paradise we’re headed towards. Phones are pushed against windows as we fly over an abstract canvas of colour. Below us, the navy blue sea is peppered with tufts of lush green. Stretches of blinding white sand fringe the turquoise waters that surround a sprinkling of islands, each protected by a jagged coral reef. This is Karimunjawa, an Indonesian archipelago that, while... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3037159/radar-coral-fringed-indonesian-islands-are-heaven-beach?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3037159/radar-coral-fringed-indonesian-islands-are-heaven-beach?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Nov 2019 10:00:09 +0000 Thirty-three-year-old Chana Uy was one of Cambodia’s first female tour guides and has led groups across the kingdom and through Vietnam, Thailand and Laos. She has worked as a guide for over a decade, and has had to overcome numerous obstacles. “There are still a lot of challenges being a female,” she says. She cites difficulties working with males in the industry, such as drivers, who struggle to take orders from females. She has also had male peers ask to share a room with her while she was... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3034606/how-asias-female-tour-guides-are-breaking-gender-barriers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3034606/how-asias-female-tour-guides-are-breaking-gender-barriers?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 27 Oct 2019 21:00:15 +0000 It is not just airfares from Hong Kong that have plunged amid anti-government protests that have seen a slump in travel – there are bargain deals to be had in October for travel to the city as airlines try to fill seats, and no wonder. The city’s airport charges carriers among the highest fees in Asia. The average cost of flying a Boeing 777-300ER, a workhorse on long-haul travel, into Hong Kong International Airport is HK$110,732 (US$14,125) for landing, parking and passenger fees. In contrast,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3030964/bargain-air-fares-hong-kong-october-protests-continue?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3030964/bargain-air-fares-hong-kong-october-protests-continue?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Sep 2019 21:00:12 +0000 Instagram feeds saturated with stunning shots from across the globe are inspiring a new generation of travellers. But when scenic spots become inundated with inconsiderate snappers, problems usually arise. Jemma Hands has been a digital nomad for the last four years and has noticed an increasing number of photo shoots being done at scenic landmarks. “I used to have to fight through a barrage of selfie sticks when I visited places,” says the 32-year-old graphic designer, who lived in Hong Kong... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3029938/seven-scenic-spots-being-ruined-instagram-tourists-paris?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3029938/seven-scenic-spots-being-ruined-instagram-tourists-paris?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Sep 2019 12:00:05 +0000 One million fake reviews have been snared by travel platform TripAdvisor as it steps up its fight to catch out fraudulent posters, the company has announced. This week, the user-contributed travel review website published its first Review Transparency Report. It contains details about the number of fake and misleading reviews posted on the popular online platform. TripAdvisor is seen as the go-to hub for many seeking recommendations for hotels, restaurants, bars and other activities during their... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3027922/tripadvisor-urges-google-and-facebook-step-fake-posts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3027922/tripadvisor-urges-google-and-facebook-step-fake-posts?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Sep 2019 11:00:13 +0000 Last-minute travellers are being wooed with some ultra-cheap air fares from Hong Kong amid the anti-government protests in the city. Hong Kong International Airport has reported its largest monthly drop in passengers in a decade. In August, when the protests caused a partial shutdown of the airport and the cancellation of almost 1,000 flights, passenger numbers fell by 12.4 per cent, according to figures released on Sunday by the Airport Authority. Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific Airways revealed... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3027676/unheard-air-fares-plunge-amid-hong-kong-protests-low-us153?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3027676/unheard-air-fares-plunge-amid-hong-kong-protests-low-us153?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Sep 2019 04:15:07 +0000 Maggie Eno and her Cambodian staff wade through thigh-high murky water as they assess the devastating damage at their headquarters. Destruction surrounds them as they start the huge task of clearing up in the wake of unprecedented flooding that left Cambodian coastal city Sihanoukville under water. “Our building has been here for 11 years and we’ve never seen flooding like this,” says Eno, co-director of M’lop Tapang, a non-profit organisation that works with thousands of vulnerable children and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3024872/chinese-money-drowning-sihanoukville-cambodia-floods?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3024872/chinese-money-drowning-sihanoukville-cambodia-floods?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Sep 2019 21:00:12 +0000 By 2035 there will be one billion digital nomads travelling the globe, predicts NomadList.com, fuelled by a rise in remote and freelance work, cheaper travel and a decline in home ownership. To cater to this demand, a series of retreats are emerging, offering combined working and living spaces. Many people dream of combining travel with their job, but working remotely has its challenges. Many digital nomads work from coffee shops and spend time scouring destinations for reliable Wi-fi – and it... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3024469/five-digital-nomad-retreats-help-you-work-around-world?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3024469/five-digital-nomad-retreats-help-you-work-around-world?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Aug 2019 17:30:09 +0000 Arn Chorn-Pond says he can still smell the blood from all those years ago. “Watching my little brother and sister die slowly; that’s still here with me,” says the founder of Cambodian Living Arts (CLA), an organisation established to preserve endangered art forms and rituals that has since grown to offer scholarships, support troupes and promote creativity in Cambodia’s arts sector. Born into a family of artists, Chorn-Pond was nine years old when he was taken from his parents by Khmer Rouge... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3023686/cambodian-arts-festival-celebrates-music-dance-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3023686/cambodian-arts-festival-celebrates-music-dance-and?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Aug 2019 02:30:09 +0000 As digital-hungry younger generations start to explore the world, glued to their smartphones, new start-ups are looking for ways to make holidays easier. “Technology has helped the travel industry for both service providers and travellers in many ways, such as reducing costs and enhancing travellers’ experience,” says Sakdidet Poolsawad, CEO and co-founder of Thailand-based travel app HandiGo. Poolsawad says traditional travel agencies need to adapt, or face being left behind, with more than 70... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3021599/four-travel-apps-tech-savvy-tourist-asia-ar-tours-car?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3021599/four-travel-apps-tech-savvy-tourist-asia-ar-tours-car?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Aug 2019 21:00:11 +0000 Vira Rama recalls watching his mother carefully stashing treasured family photos in a tarpaulin bag. Trembling with fear, she dug a hole beneath the small hut to which Khmer Rouge soldiers had relocated the family, and buried them among banana leaves, knowing that if she was caught she would be killed. The photos – records of a past life that they, like many Cambodians, had to hide to stay alive – would remain there for the duration of communist leader Pol Pot’s reign from 1975 to 1979. “I was... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3020574/life-under-khmer-rouge-cambodian-family-who-buried-their?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3020574/life-under-khmer-rouge-cambodian-family-who-buried-their?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Jul 2019 21:00:04 +0000 Forty years ago when Yin Myo Su was a child, she would regularly wash in the waters of Inle Lake, in Myanmar’s Shan State. Not any more. “Today, the lake is dying,” says Yin, better known as Misuu, the founder of Inle Heritage, a not-for-profit organisation that works to preserve it and the culture of the lakeside communities. “And if we want it to survive, we have to take action.”  Yin, who was born and raised in Nyaung Shwe, the main hub for visitors to the lake, has been involved in the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3020504/sustainable-travel-myanmar-eco-tourism-pioneer-helps-inle?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3020504/sustainable-travel-myanmar-eco-tourism-pioneer-helps-inle?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Jul 2019 10:10:25 +0000 The tourism industry has a huge role to play in protecting and preserving the environments it encroaches on. Scenes of once-pristine beaches strewn with waste and translucent waters peppered with plastic have forced the companies and communities who make a living from tourism to take action. With this month being Plastic Free July, we throw the spotlight on some of the organisations taking steps to safeguard the environment. 1. Banyan Tree Samui The Thai islands of Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3018601/sustainable-travel-tourism-operators-reducing-or-ending?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3018601/sustainable-travel-tourism-operators-reducing-or-ending?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Jul 2019 11:00:08 +0000 I had been warned that once I found it, I would never want to leave. But as my motorbike taxi sped along a road that traces the rise and fall of rolling hills overlooking the shimmering azure waters of the South China Sea, the fading sun casting dramatic shadows, finding the beach I’d been told about the previous day by a Vietnamese friend was proving harder than anticipated. I had arrived in the Central Vietnamese city of Quy Nhon the previous day after a six-hour bus journey south from Hoi An.... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3008669/beaten-track-quy-nhon-central-vietnams-next-big-thing-laid?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3008669/beaten-track-quy-nhon-central-vietnams-next-big-thing-laid?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 May 2019 23:30:06 +0000 Doha’s Hamad International Airport is a popular stopover for travellers from Southeast Asia to Europe and the US, and of the 34.5 million passengers the airport welcomed in 2018, many were just passing through. Rather than leaving these weary-eyed travellers to spend their time slumped in chairs or slurping coffee to stave off exhaustion, the airport has in recent years been encouraging them to extend their stopover, possibly spending an extra day or two – and a few dollars – discovering... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3008105/best-things-do-doha-short-trip-bazaar-shopping-dune?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3008105/best-things-do-doha-short-trip-bazaar-shopping-dune?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Apr 2019 10:00:15 +0000 Stepping out of the steamy bus brings a wave of relief as a delightfully cold breeze blows by. As Cambodia settles into its hottest month of April, the cool provides a welcome contrast to the country’s mounting muggy heat. But it isn’t only the climate that makes a visit to Kirirom National Park feel like a trip to another continent. With its high elevation, lower temperatures and sun-kissed pine forests, it wouldn’t look out of place in Europe. It was the area’s cooler weather and pristine... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3004853/cambodian-national-park-dream-hikers-and-mountain-bikers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3004853/cambodian-national-park-dream-hikers-and-mountain-bikers?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 07 Apr 2019 03:00:13 +0000 Laughter rings from young Cambodians armed with water bombs and talcum powder. The laughter quickly turns to screams as a sticky combination of water and white powder is fired through the air, drenching passing motorbikes and tuk tuks. In Cambodia, this can mean only one thing – it’s Khmer New Year. Running from April 14 to 16, this is a time for celebration, as festivities take place in the Buddhist countries of Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos and Thailand. New Year in Thailand, known as Songkran, is... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3004107/new-year-southeast-asia-how-they-celebrate-cambodia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3004107/new-year-southeast-asia-how-they-celebrate-cambodia?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Apr 2019 12:00:15 +0000 Dressed in an elegant wide-legged jumpsuit, Sochetra Vartey takes off her oversized sunglasses and flashes a broad smile. “I’ve changed my style slightly,” Cambodia’s leading lady of punk rock confesses, as she runs her perfectly manicured fingers through her glossy hair, revealing a set of gold hooped earrings. She looks a picture of glamour, a far cry from the stereotypical image conjured of a female punk. Her gentle nature and soft tone also sit in contrast to the feisty female portrayed in... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/3002256/cambodias-punk-rock-queen-using-music-empower-women-and-change-views?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/3002256/cambodias-punk-rock-queen-using-music-empower-women-and-change-views?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 Mar 2019 17:00:12 +0000 Not long ago, elephants hauling logs through the jungles of Myanmar – home to the largest captive population of Asian elephants – for the country’s thriving timber trade were a common sight. However, in 2014 the government imposed a ban on the export of raw timber, allowing only high-end finished timber products to be sold abroad. Almost overnight, the nearly 3,000 elephants employed by government-run Myanmar Timber Enterprise, and their mahouts, were made redundant. With no funds made available... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3002092/myanmar-elephants-given-second-chance-thanks-historic?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3002092/myanmar-elephants-given-second-chance-thanks-historic?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 Mar 2019 13:00:09 +0000 Standing in the dappled shade of The Chinese House, an upmarket restaurant and bar in Phnom Penh steeped in history, the guides introduce themselves. Deported from the United States to Cambodia, they are turning over a new leaf and inspiring their peers to do the same, with the launch of a tour agency that shows visitors hidden sides to the country. Indonesia road trip: explore Java’s active volcanoes, idyllic waterfalls and endless beaches It quickly becomes apparent that the five men have one... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/2185934/deported-us-cambodia-crimes-returnees-find-purpose-running?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/2185934/deported-us-cambodia-crimes-returnees-find-purpose-running?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 Feb 2019 14:00:00 +0000 Families gather around mats laden with food. Parcels of banh chung (sticky rice, mung beans and seasoned pork), pickled vegetables and cha lua (Vietnamese sausage) served with xoi (sticky rice) sit alongside a wealth of dishes believed to ring in a prosperous new year. The sound of laughter rings through the air as relatives reunite. This is a typical scene during the most important holiday in the Vietnamese calendar, Tet Nguyen Dan – shortened to Tet. The major public holiday spans nine days... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/2183880/all-you-need-know-about-tet-vietnams-lunar-new-year-what?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/2183880/all-you-need-know-about-tet-vietnams-lunar-new-year-what?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 28 Jan 2019 04:32:24 +0000 Langkawi’s fragile ecosystem and natural heritage helped earn it Unesco geopark status. But as tourist arrivals in the Malaysian archipelago rise, it is increasingly crucial that tourism does not take a toll on the beauty visitors come to see. “Tourism is a double-edged sword,” Irshad Mobarak says. “I’m an optimist, but I feel that we are at a very important crossroads between protecting Langkawi’s natural heritage and exploiting it.” Japanese tourists in Taiwan on the colonial history trail in... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/2183449/langkawi-crossroads-can-ecosystem-draws-tourists-survive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/2183449/langkawi-crossroads-can-ecosystem-draws-tourists-survive?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 26 Jan 2019 01:15:15 +0000 Rows of elephants chained up in cramped stables, saddles resting heavy on their backs. Mahouts – trainers – standing close by, clutching sharp bull hooks. Nearby, groups of tourists wait to mount the beasts ahead of an exhausting trek through jungle. This is a common sight across Asia. It is also one that organisations promoting the ethical treatment of elephants are trying to stamp out through a series of initiatives. One such initiative – the inaugural Elephant Travel Mart, organised by the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/2178519/elephant-tourism-fight-asia-against-unethical-operators?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/2178519/elephant-tourism-fight-asia-against-unethical-operators?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Dec 2018 22:00:45 +0000 Ai Bounnareth flashes a smile before disappearing behind the battered counter of his coffee stall. The sound of coffee beans being ground drowns out the cacophony of dealmaking at the surrounding stalls in the Cambodian capital’s Russian Market. Bounnareth has been serving his now world-famous coffee from his small market stall, Best Iced Coffee, since 1981. Laminated notes of praise that have been left by guests from across the globe, are displayed on his stall. The Cambodian’s charisma, and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/2176123/beyond-phnom-penhs-russian-market-hippest-neighbourhood?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/2176123/beyond-phnom-penhs-russian-market-hippest-neighbourhood?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 03 Dec 2018 10:45:15 +0000 The power of the pink dollar is growing for the travel industry. LGBT travellers spend US$211 billion annually, according to research by specialist consultants Out Now, and this is a niche market the industry is tapping into. “The LGBTQ community has 23 per cent more disposable income than their heterosexual counterparts, they travel more frequently and spend more when in resorts,” says Darren Burn, the managing director of TravelGay.com, a gay travel, entertainment and lifestyle guide, and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/2173894/safe-travel-destinations-lgbts-theres-app-now?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/2173894/safe-travel-destinations-lgbts-theres-app-now?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 19 Nov 2018 14:00:15 +0000 As one of Vietnam’s fastest-developing cities, Da Nang is a melting pot of the country’s old and new. There is plenty to fill a two-day stay, from exploring the rapidly rising city centre to partaking in numerous activities on offer in the surrounding area. What to do on a Chengdu trip – it’s not all pandas and spicy hotpot Here’s our suggested itinerary for a fun-packed 48 hours. Day 1: Ba Na Hills Rise early to make the 45-minute drive from Da Nang city centre to the hilltop resort of Ba Na... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/2172903/best-things-do-and-see-da-nang-vietnam-short-trip?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/2172903/best-things-do-and-see-da-nang-vietnam-short-trip?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Nov 2018 11:04:56 +0000 Thavry Thon smiles as she recalls sitting in her classroom at age 11 reciting verses from the Chbab Srey. “I still remember today how to sing those songs,” she says. Born in Cambodia on Koh Ksach Tunlea, a small island 40km south of Phnom Penh, like most her peers Thon, now 28, was raised in a traditional rural community. According to societal norms, Thon’s life was laid out for her. She would attend school before dropping out in her mid-teens, secure a menial job, marry, have children and look... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-relationships/article/2171713/cambodian-women-who-flouted-archaic-rules-are-now?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-relationships/article/2171713/cambodian-women-who-flouted-archaic-rules-are-now?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Nov 2018 23:45:15 +0000 Angkor Archaeological Park – Cambodia’s tourist trump card – is synonymous with Siem Reap. Each year, the sprawling ancient site welcomes millions of visitors to stand in awe of the main Angkor Wat, Bayon and Ta Prohm temples. The impressive archaeological feats, which date back to the 11th century, often eclipse the wealth of activities peppered across the northwestern province of Siem Reap. No, not Songkran – that other water festival next door in Cambodia In 2017, almost 2.5 million people... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/2170707/beyond-angkor-wat-get-out-country-see-real-cambodia-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/2170707/beyond-angkor-wat-get-out-country-see-real-cambodia-and?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 31 Oct 2018 00:48:15 +0000 Cheers erupt from the thronging crowds that pack Phnom Penh’s riverside as the colourful slim wooden boats race down the Tonle Sap River. A flash of reds, yellows, greens and blues glide along the water as the ornately-decorated longboats, powered by up to 80 men and women, pass by. The best of Cambodia, whether you’re a backpacker or millionaire Welcome to Cambodia’s Water Festival, or Bon Om Touk. The annual event, which takes place this year from November 21 to 23, is one of the country’s... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/2169322/all-you-need-know-about-cambodias-water-festival-its?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/2169322/all-you-need-know-about-cambodias-water-festival-its?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Oct 2018 01:15:15 +0000 As mass tourism becomes an issue across the globe, Phuket hoteliers have united around urgent measures to ensure plastic and pollution don't ruin the once idyllic Thai island. “Phuket is my paradise island and I don’t want to see it damaged by tourists,” says Phuket resident Chawanwit Petcharat. “I want to see the turtles come back and lay eggs on the beach and no trash in the sea.” Tourism invasion: the pain of living in a honeypot destination Eleven-year-old Petcharat is too young to remember... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/2167462/phuket-hotels-unite-save-paradise-island-plastic-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/2167462/phuket-hotels-unite-save-paradise-island-plastic-and?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Oct 2018 12:18:50 +0000 Superstition runs strong in many Asian cultures. Tales of the supernatural feature heavily in myths and folklore, and the region is dotted with spots believed to be haunted. Halloween is the perfect excuse to go ghost-hunting and explore the haunted houses and hotels, jinxed film locations and abandoned buildings believed to be inhabited by the dead. Here are some of the top places to delve into East Asia’s dark side. Thailand Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok: built on a former graveyard, the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/2166271/halloween-tour-planner-10-most-haunted-places-southeast?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/2166271/halloween-tour-planner-10-most-haunted-places-southeast?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Oct 2018 00:45:30 +0000 Chom Mong breaks into a smile as he picks up his four-month-old brown and white puppy, Gigi. He gives her a gentle cuddle as she licks his face affectionately. It’s hard to believe that, until earlier this year, Chom Mong ran a dog meat restaurant in the Cambodian capital. In 2015, desperate to make money to support their two young children, who live with their grandparents in the southwestern province of Prey Veng, the 38-year-old and his wife opened a dog meat restaurant in the Pochentong area... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2164984/why-dog-meat-seller-switched-serving-vegan-menu-and-cambodias?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2164984/why-dog-meat-seller-switched-serving-vegan-menu-and-cambodias?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 23 Sep 2018 23:45:15 +0000 The constant ping of your smartphone, battling your way to the office through pollution and heavy traffic, and trying to balance work demands with your social life can be tough. In the modern world, it is getting harder than ever to fully disconnect – even when we manage to squeeze a holiday in. “Regular breaks, away from the stresses of daily life and the demands of technology and social media, are essential to maintaining good psychological and emotional health,” says Stephen Edwards, a... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/2165203/five-best-places-go-grid-asia-get-back-nature-and-away?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/2165203/five-best-places-go-grid-asia-get-back-nature-and-away?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 22 Sep 2018 07:01:27 +0000