JOLIE’S JOLLY JAUNT

The streets have been alive with Angelina Jolie sightings over the past week, and her movements around town were not tracked so much by the dreaded paparazzi, but by social media.

In turn the social media was tracked by journalists. According to a Phnom Penh journalist, Siem Reap’s Marum Restaurant tweeted that Jolie and kids had dined at the establishment.

A Siem Reap journalist followed up a Facebook sighting of Jolie and kids shopping at Lucky Mall supermarket, and a German journalist reported another Facebook sighting – Lolei Travel agent Sven Zika had written on his Facebook page that he had spotted Jolie and kids buying ice-cream at Café de la Paix late in the evening.

But as usual, journalists discovered that Jolie’s movements around town were surrounded by the proverbial wall of silence. Nobody was prepared to say much. Indeed a staffer at Lucky Mall said she wasn’t aware of Jolie’s visit and even if she did visit the store, it was nobody’s business.

The venture proved that who needs paparazzi in town when you have social media on the job.

Meanwhile another German journalist, Regina Droge, reported that the world’s “oldest individual tourists” had been in Siem Reap.

 Apparently the visit was the culmination of a self-organised 10-day trip through Cambodia by Tilde Lang, 85, from Austria and Inge Werth, aged 81, from Germany.

MORE HOTEL GOODWILL

Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa is organising a fundraising to support Friends International and the ChildSafe Network, an initiative for the protection of children.

Proceedings kick off on December 9 From 3pm, with a buffet dinner at 7pm, and a raffle around 8.30pm.

Cost is $25 per adult, free for children under 12 and includes free animation and activities for kids, free food and drinks for kids, an Asian and western BBQ buffet dinner for adults, one drink per adult,  live music, and the raffle with great prizes.

From 3pm until the buffet, the fun will take place in the Apsara Garden, and a “nice terrace” will be set up for the adults in the Japanese Garden. The buffet dinner and raffle will be in L’Escale Restaurant.

Tickets can be bought in advance or on site, and for each ticket sold, $13 will go to Friends International.

Meanwhile, one of our favourite establishments, Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor will hold its annual Christmas tree light up on the evening of Thursday December 6.

The children from the illustrious Geraldine Cox’s groundbreaking Sunrise Village will be showcasing their drawing talents by creating their version of a festive card.

Judges will pick their favourite drawing, and Raffles will reproduce it as the 2012 festive card of the year. This has always been a big hit with guests and locals alike.

The children’s choir will also perform some carols and the chef will prepare homemade goodies and light refreshment for munching as the tree is illuminated.

On December 14 the hotel will also assist Sunrise Children’s Village, with an end of year celebration. The program starts at 10am with a dance presentation by the children, games, and festive card presentation from the Xmas Tree light up, followed by buffet lunch prepared by Raffles’ chefs.