This is an amazing place run by an amazing man. It is not really more than a shack so don't expect a posh museum. But it is a really interesting place to visit and chat to the children who live here.

Along the back streets about 2 km out of Siem Reap. Get a tuk-tuk driver to take you as it is really difficult to explain.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Whether at Angkor Wat or the markets of Phnom Penh, you will be pestered by kids selling you stuff. Don't just ignore them, talk to them.

You'll find them bright and intelligent kids, just doing what they can to earn some money. Talk about school, England whatever - all of the kids we came across were happy to chat and appreciated your interest. And then at least they'll stop trying to sell you stuff. For a short while at least ...

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Apart from visiting the Angkor Wat temple complex, a boat trip on lake Tonle Sap is a pleasant and worthwhile experience: seeing how the Vietnamese boat refugees have adapted to life on the lake, admiring local children paddling in canoes with awesome speed to and from school, watching swarms of caged baby sharks caught by local fishermen and, in general, gaining insights into how the local community depends on the lake for its livelihood.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Take a car or tuk tuk to the boat landing on Tonle Sap lake. The road journey gives a flavour of rural Cambodia with palm thatched houses on stilts and rice paddies. The boat trip (about $10)takes you out onto Tonle Sap where the fishermen live on floating houses which are moved to follow the water as the lake shrinks during the dry season to one quarter of its wet season size. Everything floats, houses, schools, a church, pigs and vegetable patches on their own little rafts and Vietnamese children paddling frantically in bathtubs!

My own preference is to take a local guide and driver so that you can combine the boat trip with other visits such as the silk farm.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

I recommend you attend a Shadow Puppet show at La Noria Restuarant. Shows are on Wednesdays at 1930hrs at a cost of $12 including a meal. The shows are given by street children trained by Krousar Thmey. They operate the puppets and provide the voices for the characters. Programmes include folk tales and extracts from the Ramayana. Your enjoyment will be enhanced if you can go along with a local who can guide you through the nuances of the plot.

An interesting daytime visit is to the workshop where you can see the children making the puppets and meet the puppet master. You can buy a puppet of your favourite character which makes an unusual souvenir. Unfortunately the belligerent Water Buffaloes are very popular and supplies had run out when I visited.

La Noria Restaurant

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

There are many beggars in Siem Reap, and they confront the tourist with a distinct ethical unease. Do we sustain this practice or ignore it? One lesson I recently learned was: if you see a group of blind musicians (sometimes near tourist spots) don't ignore them. Locals will give them donations. For a start these traditional musicians are doing something to help themselves. Second - there is no welfare infrastructure to support them. Third - after Pol Pot a lot of the traditional arts including literature and music and dance were nearly wiped out. So support these guys: a dollar or two and no ethical dilemma! (Thanks to my guides for pointing this out.)

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends