The flappers' gowns are torn, their cloche hats discolored and disintegrating; coattails are ripped and muddied; cigarette holders dangle from bare phalanges; the haunting quintet in matching tuxedos is tearing through Duke Ellington; and a reanimated, though paler than usual, Jay Gatsby has flown in to host the liveliest -- or is that undeadest? -- party of the year in the decrepit ballroom. No need to clear out the dead branches on the floor. The guests' spectral feet will Charleston right through them. And no need to clean out the fireplace; the chilled air suits the atmosphere nicely.
As the driver of a motorbike or car on Phnom Penh's roads, there is a group of chaps you are going to have to deal with at some stage.
They are dressed in blue, they carry guns, they hunt in packs and they are Phnom Penh's finest.
More specifically - they are Traffic Policeman. Abhorred by everyone, they are a part of life here and when you do eventually get pulled over, the fine you pay is only limited by your ability to talk the talk and walk the walk.
In years gone by Sihanoukville was a quaint seaside getaway reserved more for seasoned expatriates than tourists. However, in recent years the town has blossomed into not only a traveler's haven but also a popular hangout for families. The birth of Sokha Beach Resort, the first Five-star resort in the area, has propelled Sihanoukville into a more contemporary town.
For farmers in the West, castrating cattle is a necessary chore. In Cambodia, where steers are worth up to $1000 a head and many people earn less than a dollar a day it is a celebrated profession which ranks besides traditional healers in importance.
Peach Thun thinks his talent, which he believes is due to a magical spirit that guides his hand, helped him survive the Khmer Rouge regime.
The 1975 to 1979 ultra-Maoist regime based its ideology on taking Cambodia back to an agrarian utopia free of social classes, markets and even money. It rode, quite literally, on the cow's back.
From the blast of air-conditioning as you open the doors and are greeted by the attentive receptionist, it is obvious South Korean-funded development, Gold Tower 42, is marketing itself as a development. Perfectly manicured hostesses help you out of your shoes and into slippers to make the carpeted walk upstairs to view the model of the glory that will be and, perhaps, make a purchase.
Year of the Golden Pig, an exhibition of paintings, sculptures and prints, by Sasha Constable and Vincent Broustet opened Wednesday at Java Café and Gallery.
Theo Vallier is not the first foreigner to get lost in the shadows of Phnom Penh, but he may be the first to do it in an elegantly artistic way. Phnom Penh has had the good fortune to have several very good shows lately and Théo's vision of the urban environment stands out.
The first ChildSafe Certified Internet Cafes will receive their certification on Saturday 8 September.
Staff at these internet cafes have been trained to protect children and young people from the potential dangers of using the internet and potentially abusive situations.
'Director of Food & Beverage' - does anyone else get a ping of jealousy learning that someone holds that job title? To me, this equates to "Director of Yum & Fun". At Le Royal, a well-deserving Aussie called Frank not only directs the hotel's sumptuous array food and beverage but absolutely delivers the fun as your host for the Tuesday Wine Dinner.
A well kept secret, to some of us at least, are monthly Tuesday night wine dinners, held at Raffle's Hotel Le Royal. Simply spending time at Le Royal is a special occasion. However, a Tuesday wine dinner is a bit different.
When the Khmer Rouge marched into the capital victorious in 1975, emptied the cities and sent almost the entire population the fields in a disastrous attempt to create an agrarian utopia, the ultra-Maoists virtually sealed the country off from the outside world. That meant the people had to use what they could find to fashion their everyday needs.