Siem Reap perfect getaway: Pippeli Pensione

Siem Reap is a magical place. I used to live there. I landed there helping out in a centre for responsible tourism management. This was 1 year after I first set foot in Cambodia. I`ve only seen Angkor Wat that first time but now I got to know the town. Its a small town surrounded by rice fields. However its one of the busiest tourist spots on earth. Angkor Wat is a major tourist attraction that attracts about 3 million people a year.  But the town is situated in the middle of jungle, rice fields and rural Cambodia. Living there I enjoyed the rural and authentic side of it. Hearing your Cambodian neighbour get up every morning at 5, just like his chickens and pigs. Have daily encounters with snakes, rats, frogs, centerpids, spiders and other friendly earthlings. Spending weekends by the pool, biking, cycling or at the house of your Cambodian friend followed by dancing in bars with drunk backpackers on the same old music.

Anyway, good times really. We moved because a little dusty town in the middle of nowhere is a bit boring for us youngsters and went to live in the capital Phnom Penh. After that Siem Reap became my retreat from the city, my guilty pleasure, my calm oasis. When I was fed up with vibrant and polluted Phnom Penh I took a bus and 6 hours later I was once again surrounded by palm trees and traditional cambodian stilt houses. My husband usually stayed in Phnom Penh, too busy and too much work.

So this one time I dragged him with me together with my sweet american friend who never went to Siem Reap after living 2 years in Cambodia. She had to see this before leaving. Usually I stay with friends or at a nice and cheap guesthouse. But I really wanted a nice retreat and getaway with the husband so I picked out a hotel a little more fancy.  This place turned out to be amazing. A lasting memory.

The hotel is called Pipelli Pensione and tucked away in a small typical dusty siem reap alley. Its surrounded by palm trees and the sound of the frogs and other little animals at night. However its walking distance to the town. The town can be very busy so this place is the perfect retreat. The staff was really amazing. Cambodians are usually very nice and chatty but the girl working here was simply charming and I truly felt at home. The hotel is french boutique style on the outside but modern and bright on the inside. The room also has a its own outdoor 2 persons bath tub. This came as a suprise as I didnt see this on Agoda. Right, but the best thing at this place is the breakfast: eggs, pancakes, home made jams, juices, home made yohurt, fresh fruit on your very own balcony with the view of the palm trees and swimming pool. Yes please :)

Belgian food in Saigon: KOTO Ho Chi Minh City.

If you`re craving some delicious Belgian dishes while travelling in Ho Chi Minh City ( Vietnam), I`ve got a treat for you. I went to KOTO restaurant expecting some traditional Vietnamese food, only to see some yummy Belgian dishes on the menu. Stoverij ( Belgian beef stew), Garnaalkroketten (!!) ( Shrimp croquets), balletjes in tomatensaus ( meatballs in tomato sauce), Mossels ( Mussels) and some other dishes are available and absolutely  delicious. KOTO also serves traditional vietnamese cuisine.
KOTO stands for `Know One, Teach One`, giving disadvantaged youth the possibility to learn and strive in their lives. In addition to its Foundation arm that focuses on raising funds to support its cause through charitable activities and initiatives, KOTO also operates an Enterprise arm that serves as a platform for real life hospitality training as well as a source of income to support the welfare and training for the students. KOTO Enterprises currently include two restaurants, an online bakery, a cooking class and a catering service.

Koto also has a branch in Hanoi! Highly recommended!


( http://www.koto.com.au/about-koto/what-is-koto)

A Treehouse getaway: Koh Rong Island, Cambodia.

  A quiet peaceful and back to nature get away?
Koh Rong in Cambodia is the place to be. Koh Rong is one of the few island in the Gulf of Thailand that is relatively unspoilt. The island has about 7 or 8 little bars and restaurants and about 30 bungalows. If you move away from the pier, where most bars are located, you`ll find the Treehouse bungalows. Right next to the ocean and a short walk away from the jungle you can sleep in your own private treehouse. ( http://treehouse-bungalows.com/)
A bed in a bambootreehouse and an improvised shower that looks over the ocean, is really all you need.
To get away from the hectic city life, technology and modern world.. this is where you want to be. The electricity only works here from 6.30 - 10.30 pm. After that you`ll fall asleep to the blissfull sounds of the ocean and the jungle. Back to nature and rejuvenating in the breathtaking natural wonders of this cambodian island. Waking up in your treehouse with the view of the ocean and this bounty island, you may never want to leave. This quiet peace of paradise is still here for now, but maybe not for long.
For delicious treats, head to Paradise Bungalows Restaurant (http://paradise-bungalows.com/) , near the Treehouses.
Check our amazing photos:

 

 

Where I live now...