September 2009 in SihanoukVille, Cambodia

Happy P'chum Bun, the 2 week festival for the dead starting today!

The local Wats (Buddhist Temples) will be filled with people bringing food and gifts for their ancestors, and for the monks.



We're in the middle of the rainy season, and it's been raining for the last few days!

July in SihanoukVille was the best month ever for many businesses, probably due to the summer holidays in the Western World, and the low prices and beautiful beaches here.

Can't say the same for August though.

Billy Bob's Bar & Grill with Western music opened on Victory Hill

Ocean Walk Inn is opening this month just off Serendipity Beach

There's construction all over town for new shopping, offices, housing, and resorts,
but not much else going on.

SihanoukVille's neighbors, Kampot , Bokor Mountain, and Kep, Cambodia are also booming, especially in Kep near the beaches.

Much rain now, but also many perfect days in between and the temperature is around 27 degrees Celsius.

Tourist arrivals look to go up about 15% this coming Winter over last Winter, with many hotels and resorts fully booked for a couple solid months.

It's not the best time to come here, but it's the best time to make plans for Winter now.

Check out the SihanoukVille website, or SihanoukvilleBeachResorts, or SihanoukVilleBackpacker for more details.

May 2009 in SihanoukVille, Cambodia

Happy New Year again from SihanoukVille, Cambodia. April was Cambodia's 3 day New Years celebration, which of course in SihanoukVille lasts for 9 days. The town was packed as usual with vacationers from all over Cambodia and all over the world.



Last 2 weeks we had 10 out of 11 days that were holidays or weekends, so the town was full once again as well.

Now, starts the slow season, when the yearly rains start and the town quiets down. Of course the SihanoukVille Port, the main port for Cambodia is still growing, and construction on new homes, businesses and hotels never stops here.

The bus station has moved a couple blocks to the old New Market behind the New New Market. A few new businesses opened in town as well.

Papagayo has a new hotel near the Golden Lions Plaza on Ocheteaul Beach....
Malibu Snack, a Korean restaurant opened up in front of Utopia,
Casa replaces Atomosphere Bar near Serendipity Beach,
Green Mood Italian Restaurant and Guesthouse opened on Victory Hill as did the Step In Bar and Honey Bee Bar..... Wat's Up Bar opened above the Corner Bar on "The Hill".
Also on the Hill, we have our third Indian Restaurant, Chennai Rottys, and Paco's Spanish Restaurant moved from downtown to Victory Hill as well.
Out of the Blue guesthouse opened on Victory Hill as did Hong Kong Restaurant.

Two new businesses, selling businesses opened, Charles Evans Marketing and Kamreal.
HooHa House Guesthouse opened near the new Papagayo, and i'm sure there's a few more.

The Fitness Club moved and expanded (about 10 times bigger), and now features massages and massage training classes, a restaurant, and other new endeavors.

That's about it.

Happy New Year Cambodia!

Khmer (Cambodian) New Years is almost here! April 14 - 16th, and (but really April 11th to the 19th), is Cambodian New Year.

The town will once again be full of party goers filling up every room in SihanoukVille.




Some new places have opened in town.... including

* iBall - you step in a giant plastic ball, and roll down a hill???
* Paco's has moved from downtown to Victory Hill
* Ann's Thai Pub & Restaurant opened downtown.
* Escape Gourmet Coffee opened in the Beach Road complex.
* Sunset Cafe, a Japanese restaurant opened near the Golden Lions Circle
* and Cafe Sushi, another Japanese restaurant opened near Poco Loco
* Airport beach bar and restaurant, another project from the Snake House people, opened on Victory Beach.
* Ecstatic Pizza opened (almost right next to Happy Herb Pizza) on Ocheteaul Beach
* Rainy Season opened a Pizza place on Ocheteaul Beach
* Aegean Guesthouse opened at Ocheteaul Beach
* At least 3 new bars opened on Victory Hill, with 2 more readying for opening
* A guesthouse opened on Victory Hill, with great ocean views.
* Sri Ramas Indian is open on Ocheteaul Beach
* Traktir Russian Restaurant opened (next to Sri Ramas)
* Several new bars and restaurants opened on Otres Beach, including WonderLand, with horseback riding
* the Fitness & Boxing Center moved to a new location on CT Street with a restaurant, massage training, acupuncture, spa.
* Several beach bars on Ocheteaul changed names and owners
* Le Gaugan, a live music restaurant opened downtown
* Casa bar opened on Beach Road next to Monkey Republic
* 3 new tattoo shops opened around town

and that's about it.

If you're coming to town during Khmer New Year, don't forget to make hotel or guesthouse reservations!

Sour S'day Chnam Thmei