The coolest, hippest, funkiest music shop has just opened in Siem Reap, near Psar

Chas. Strangely enough, however, you won't see a single CD on the shelves of the

Boom Boom Room. The shelves are in fact lined with tops, skirts, fisherman pants

and other stylish clothing for the young and hip. Music selection in the shop occurs

while sipping coffee in a large, comfy rattan chair perusing the catalogue of thousands

of albums, all neatly organized into well-defined genres. Once your choice is made,

you can have the pirated music on CD, mini-disc or have it downloaded directly to

your iPod or iRiver. Open everyday from about 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

*** Anyone for a cup of tea? A quaint little shop has recently opened across the

road from the Provincial Hospital selling nothing but tea. Tea leaves of all varieties

at Plantation Indochine Tea Shop are packaged into boxes, bow-tied bags and tea cups

- great little gifts for grandmothers. If you have been touring the temples all day,

why not stop in for a soothing cup of ginseng oolong or lemon grass tea for only

3,000 riel. Open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day.

*** Sangkheum Centre for Children, an orphanage located 20 minutes out of town near

the West Baray, requires English teachers who can commit for three months an hour

or two on weekdays. The center provides a loving, caring home for 40 children between

the ages of 2 and 15. English language classes are part of the education program

providing the children with the highest education possible, increasing their future

employment prospects. The center is a joint project between Italian NGO Progetto

Continenti and local NGO KADO (Khmer Angkor Development Organisation). Contact Sunsoley

if you are interested on 012 858 015.

*** One of the oldest eateries in Siem Reap, Arun Restaurant provides an extensive

menu of Khmer dishes. Vegetarians will be pleased, with almost a whole page of meat-challenged

dishes. The next page, however, is a selection of meals for the acquired taste, such

as frog and eel. This restaurant has been popular for many years due to the quick

service and extremely tasty, good-sized meals, all at very affordable prices. (Mains,

$2 - $3.50). At the Wat Po Lanka end of Wat Bo Road, be early if you want a table

outside. Breakfast, lunch and dinner every day.

Slices of Siem Reap is a regular column that aims to provide information on events

and happenings in the Siem Reap area. If you have something to add, e-mail Michael

Hayes at: [email protected]