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Hater Depot
Apr 14th, 2007, 07:38 AM
All of this stuff is from a pamphlet, which I found in my guesthouse, put together by the ministry of tourism in Siem Riep. I put comments for the stuff I did.

*Sala Bai Hotel and Restaurant School: Founded by a French NGO, the school trains young Cambodians in hotelling, English, and French, provididing them with room, board, and a bicycle for 1 year, and 70% are women. 95% have a job 3 months after graduation.

my comment -- I had lunch there and purchased their French-language Khmer cookbook for my brother (there's no English edition). Good food.

telephone: 063) 963 329

*Krousay Thmey: A shelter for orphaned, disabled, or abandoned children which offers education and vocational training. They created the Khmer version of Braille. Every Wednesday you can see the kids perform traditional Khmer music while dining at the La Noria Hotel, and you can tour their Tonle Sap ecological centre near the children's hospital.

my comment -- make your reservation early for the music, or you will be out of luck.

telephone -- 063) 964 694

Angkor Hospital for Children -- provides free care to thousands of Cambodian kids and women every year and is one of just two teaching hospitals in the country. You can give blood and buy souvenirs to support the hospital.

telephone: 012) 725 745

Jayavarman VIII Children's Hosptial -- also provides free care. On Saturday nights the hospital's founder, a Swedish guy I think, performs classical music to raise money. Also you can give blood.

my comment -- I gave blood here. You get a t-shirt, semi-yummy cookies, and HIV test. I dunno how you would check up on the HIV test without understanding Khmer though...

Cambodian Living Arts: Trains people in traditional Khmer music, dance, and shadow puppets, and provides living stipends for the masters. You can buy their CDs and puppets.

my comment -- my guide called and said they were closed or something, which I think meant he just didn't feel like going there. He was kind of ticked I wasn't interested in the places he wanted me to go.

telephone: 012) 583 891

Rehab Craft Cambodia: Art produced by disabled Cambodians, some from sickness like polio, others from landmines. They also sell some food.

my comment -- Cool place, nice stuff, I haven't tried the food yet but I'm excited. It's quite easy to find as well. I bought a CD of traditional music from them but it seems to be busted.

telephone: 063) 965 104

Osmose: Operates conservation and development projects on Tonle Sap lake. Great ecotourism. Plus they have crocodiles.

my comment -- my tour guide was deadset against going there claiming it would be too far, even though we wound up going nearby anyway. Lesson learned, get a good guide next time.

telephone: 012) 832 812

Sangkheum Center for Children: Trains orphaned, abused, and neglected kids in traditional dance and music. If you call them -- and pay, of course -- they will organize a performance at your hotel. You can also visit their school and workshops.

telephone: 012) 858 015

Landmine Museum: With a staff made up entirely of mine victims, the museum documents the different kinds of mines found in Cambodia and illustrates the damage they do every day. Money given to the museum supports the victims and demining efforts.

my comment -- searing experience.

www.cambodialandminemuseum.com

Paul Dubrule School of Hotel and Tourism: Similar to the Sala Bai school above.

my comment -- I didn't go, but I saw it and this place is swank, and tuition-free. I'll be staying there next time I'm in Siem Reap.

telephone: 063) 963 672

Handicap International: Offers physical rehabilitation programs for landmine victims. You can tour their workshops and learn about prosthesis-making and rehabilitation.

telephone: 012) 289 258

Artisans Angkor: Young Cambodians receive free training in traditional Khmer crafts. You can tour the workshop, the silk farm, and of course buy stuff. They also operate a cafe near Angkor Wat.

telephone: 063) 963 330

Dialectic
Apr 14th, 2007, 08:03 AM
Thanks for this, Hater! I know a couple people going to Cambodia this summer!

Hater Depot
Apr 15th, 2007, 12:28 AM
Oh, I forgot to mention the War Musuem, which isn't really a museum but a collection of weapons, tanks, and artillery from the wars. The guides are veterans, and while their service is nominally free they apparently don't get paid so you should tip them.

Also, it's no longer true that the War Museum and Landmine Museum are in a dispute, as some guide books still say.

I'm sure your friends will have a great time, I just hope their guide is better than mine. He really didn't want to take me off the beaten path of Angkor Wat and so on and kept trying to get me to spend time with prostitutes. He did give blood with me, though.