The programme recommended mixing the sauce first, then to add the fish and bind together with a couple of eggs. I first learnt to cook fish amok at cooking classes in Sihanoukville.

Another favourite of mine highlighted in the show was beef Lok Lak complete with a fired egg on top, served with the all important pepper and lime sauce. Mix some pepper and salt with freshly squeezed limes to get a unique sour tasting sauce.

The programme transported us from our sofas to Siem Reap via Kampot, Kep and Rabbit Island, taking point to note the distinct intense flavours of Kampot Pepper served perfectly with steak or fresh crab from Kep.

Rick Stein then took the viewers across the mighty Tonle Sap lake and introduced us to the locals living in floating villages and how they salt, smoke and dry fish as a means of preservation. The best way to try it is on the lake itself and, perhaps, by taking a sunset cruise on the Tara River Boat.

From fish to fruit, from lake to land our next stop was the colourful and vibrant Psar Leu where Joannes Riviere, previous executive chef of Hotel de la Paix and advisor for Sala Bai Hotel and Restaurant School showed us around the fragrant fruit stalls and bakeries.

The bustling markets are a must do in any Cambodian town. Siem Reap’s Old Market is no exception and is included in the Cambodian cooking classes at The Paper Tiger as an introduction to Cambodian food. Not only do you get to eat your delights after the lesson, but a sum of profits are given over to Sala Bai who also featured in Rick Steins broadcast.

Sala Bai, literally translated to ‘the school of rice’, is a hotel school with a difference. They have social workers who spend more than six months interviewing and selecting potential students. Their criteria for selection is not only poverty, they also accept young girls who, without an education, could end up in poorly paid or less wholesome jobs.

Sala Bai welcomes guests to enjoy their hospitality. Whether staying the night or enjoying lunch, guests can contribute to the students learning experience. A practical lesson with real life travellers is more rewarding and challenging than serving other students. It is also an opportunity for visitors to Siem Reap to make a difference, in a small way, as profits generated go back into improving the schools or into scholarship funds.

If you did watch it and was inspired the programme, then why not come and visit Siem Reap yourself?

Angkor Wat at night

Angkor Wat Night Festival provides spectacular performances, live musical acts and beautiful Apsara dancers. As you approach the main gate of the temple, it is difficult not to be impressed by the magnificence of this enduring architectural achievement, with its beauty enhanced by the illumination set against dark sky.  Candles and flaming torches add to the mystical aura of the temple, as you begin your journey back in history.

The festival will start on 22 February and last until the end of the dry season.

Prices are US$ 15 for adults and US$ 7.50 for children under 12 and the rates include an evening temple pass to Angkor Wat (valid between 19.00 – 23.00) and traditional performances.

Tickets are available from selected outlets in Siem Reap, at the ticket office in front of Angkor Wat and you can also reserve tickets online.

Primus motor Eliaabeth Keister hopes to liven up Siem Reap and create some fun for Siem Reap residents and tourists alike with this Siem Reap Suitcase Sale where people have the chance to clean out their wardrobes and replace it with something new.

Silk decorations are custom made by the Silk Lab

The management at Soria Moria is aware of the economic imbalance in Cambodia between wealthy and poor and is committed to being a profitable business with a strong sense of community engagement. “We contribute to economic development by actively supporting and encouraging the interaction of guests and the neighbouring environment, and by implementing this approach, we would like to create a win-win-win situation for all parties involved,” says managing director, Kristin Hansen. Win-win-win here means that tourists, local communities and the business itself are all winners.

Soria Moria has successfully established a number of community-oriented projects and aims to involve its guests in the process. It has mainly contributed to the economy by helping people and organisations to become sustainable, by providing workplaces following higher standards and by supporting already-existing community projects in becoming profitable and self-sustaining through purchasing their products and services, as well as assisting these organisations with their marketing, promotion and structure.

For their efforts Soria Moria has been awarded Heritage Friendly GOLD status.

Stay tuned for updates on Cambodia – the Kingdom of Wonder.

]]> http://www.suesday.com/uncategorized/hello-world/feed/ 4 http://www.suesday.com/responsible-tourism/responsible-travel-tips/ http://www.suesday.com/responsible-tourism/responsible-travel-tips/#comments Wed, 12 Nov 2008 03:50:43 +0000 admin http://www.suesday.com/?p=72 Respect local rules and values. Try to learn some of the local language and read about the religion and culture. This will improve your travelling experience.

Respect cultural differences

Travellers who respect cultural differences and manage to keep calm, cheerful and friendly tend to gain more respect and get more out of their travels.

Donations, gifts and begging

A difficult issue for many travellers who want to assist the local communities but are unaware of the larger implications. There are many ways in which you can have a positive input into the communities that you visit, and it is worth thinking twice before giving to begging children, as it reinforces that begging is an acceptable way to make a living for these children.

Being a responsible traveller doesn’t finish when your trip does…

When you return home we’d like you to think about how you can give something back to the country you visited. You’ve just spent quite a bit of money on giving yourself a great time by experiencing another culture and meeting the people. Your spending has certainly helped the local economy, and now there are other things that can be done to help some other countries on an ongoing basis. After your trip, you will probably be more aware of the environmental, social, political and cultural problems that some local communities face. There are various agencies and groups trying to address these issues, aiming to assist developing countries maintain their cultural identity, develop sustainable resources and improve social justice situations. All of them require resources.

Money is not the only way you can assist and simply providing your time and skills might be just as valuable and useful.

Keep travelling light and responsibly…!!!

The Mekong Discovery Trail is a network of safe, ecotourism journeys through some of the most natural and least populated parts of the Mekong region and will take you into the heart of the Mekong where the beauty of the river and the friendliness of the people create unforgettable river life experiences

The free trail guide provides maps, transport and accommodation options. You can travel on a small part of the trail, or all of it. You can travel alone or with a group. There are many options along the 180 km trail, which runs between Kratie and the Cambodian/Laos border. But remember to allow enough time to go with the flow of river life.

Along the trail, you will have the opportunity to see critically endangered Mekong River Dolphins, while minimising your impact on them and the habitats they rely on.

By using the Trail, you will also be assisting river communities, some of the poorest (but most welcoming) in Cambodia.

Located just off Siem Reap’s Old Market in the Pub Street Alley, Chamkar Vegetarian Restaurant offers gourmet vegetarian cuisine in a cosy setting. The name ‘Chamkar’ translate to field or garden (of vegetables), and with an array of dishes made by fresh local vegetables, it is a healthy and slightly different take on traditional Cambodian cuisine.

Singing Tree Cafe has a range of vegetarian dishes and doubles as a community center where a well of information about volunteering opportunities and community projects are available.

Indian restaurants such as Maharajah, Little India, Curry Walla, East India also offer affordable vegetarian dishes.