Cambodia is dealing with an outbreak of dengue hemorraegic fever. Many Cambodians can't donate blood because of previous illnesses and so Kantha Bopha/Jayavarma VII (which is partly funded by a Swiss organisation), and Angkor Hospital for Children (funded by an NGO called Friends without a Border), actively make appeals to foreigners.

I gave blood at Jayavarma VII hospital. The blood bank room was clean, my vein was wiped with alcohol before the needle was put in, and the phlebotomist took an extra sample of my blood to put in a test tube for analysis. I had to complete a questionnaire on my health, medications, sexual partners etc.

If you like music, Jayavarma VII also holds fundraising concerts each Saturday evening from around 7:15 pm.

AHC has an online shop with some beautiful cards and prints of Angkor.

Jayavarman VII Children’s Hospital
Street to Angkor
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Tel 063 964 803

Angkor Hospital for Children
Street Achar Mean, Mondul 1 Village, Svay Dangkum Commune, Siem Reap District
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Tel 063 963 409

www.beat-richner.ch/Assets/richner_present.html

www.nationalradio.com/DrBeat.shtml

angkorhospital.org/default.php

www.fwab.org/

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Dr Beat Richner performs music on his Cello every Firday and Saturday night in the auditorium of Javarman VII Hospital. He has devoted his life to helping the children of Cambodia, and has built three hospitals which are funded only by donations, and provide world-class medical care to children free of charge.
This evening will open your eyes, and you will be swept along by Beatocello's passion for what he does. It will show you that in our world unfortunately one life is not necessarily as important as another in the eyes of International Charities, Governments and Aid Organisations. Children are dying in Cambodia every day from entirely preventable diseases, and Beatocello is devoting his life to trying to stop it.
He asks for blood donations which are desperately needed from the young and money from anyone else.

Every Friday and Saturday evening at 7:15pm, Javavarman VII Hospital, Road to Angkor

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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.)

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There are two or three nightclubs in Siem Reap - this one tends to serve the locals more, and is less touristy. When you walk in (you may be frisked for knives) you'll be hit by the loud music (somewhat Western these days: Usher, Black Eyed Peas) and by the pictures of beer from the bar girls. Go for Angkor Beer. It is good, inexpensive. Now settle in and enjoy. Better still go with locals - these guys know how to party.

Just over the bridge from the old market area. A stroll. If in doubt catch a tuk tuk. Goes from 8:00pm to around 1:30am. (Remember, you'll be up at dawn to see Angkor, right?)

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