Only forty minutes from Siem Reap on the Tonle Sap is the floating village

Choeng Keong. As the lake is so low at the moment, the only transport option to

get there is by car. Depending on your bargaining skills, this should cost

between $14 - $18. Buy your ticket prior to leaving ($10), on National Highway

6, opposite Wat Bo Road, to avoid any unnecessary commission tacked on by your

driver. An hour or so before sunset is the best time to arrive. Drop in and

support the Gecko Environmental Centre.

** Located on the road to Angkor

Wat is one of three children's hospitals set up by the Swiss foundation Kantha

Bopha and Dr. Beat Richner. A cello concert is performed every Friday and

Saturday night at 7.15 p.m. Titled "Beatocello," Dr. Richner plays Bach and

talks about the activities of his hospitals. Entrance is free. If that time

isn't suitable or classical music isn't your thing, drop in during the daytime

and donate urgently needed blood.

** A popular eating hole for ex-pats

and locals is the Japanese cafe Mollopor. Offering a variety of dishes from

Japan and elsewhere, there isn't a dish on the menu over $2. The food is

delicious, the setting is cozy and the staff attentive and friendly. I have a

particular liking (or addiction) to the 75 cent lemon and honey shakes. The cafe

is located on East River Road.

** Tickets for Angkor Wat are $20 for one

day or $40 for three days. Most tourists know this. What they don't know is that

you can buy your ticket at 4 p.m., get in a couple of hours of temple admiring

in the cooler hours of the day at sunset, and your ticket is still valid for the

next day. I would also recommend buying only a single day ticket and seeing what

your level of "Temple Touring Tolerance" is. Many people find that three days

becomes a bit monotonous all in one hit. Buying two single day passes, gives you

almost the same amount of time but allows you the liberty to split up your days

of visiting.

** The man on the cover of your Lonely Planet is often at

the back of Ta Prohm, and is happy to have his photo taken (or autograph your

book!) for a small donation.

** Lazy Mango Bookshop and D'Angelo's

Italian Restaurant have both closed down. AFI (Australian Friend Institute) has

shut down and FBI (Future Bright Institute) has opened it's doors on Wat Bo

Road.