Cambodia

What? You never knew there was a gay community in Cambodia?  The GLBT Community is alive and thriving in Cambodia (The Kingdom of Wonder).  Khmer gays are not oppressed by the government and homosexuality is legal. There are very strict laws about underage sex.  The younger generation seems to be very open about their sexuality, and the expat community is very out and supportive of the gay community. Bars, pubs, disco’s, nightclubs, restaurants, art galleries, spas, saunas, tour guides, travel companies, guesthouses and resorts all gay owned or managed.  Many of the discos and nightclubs are mixed but the gays know where to gather. Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia has the most diverse GLBT community.  Siem Reap, where the World Heritage Site, Angkor Wat is, has a great selection of guesthouses and resorts, and several great gay pubs and restaurants.  Battambang, the second largest city in Cambodia is starting to come alive, with a few gay owned pubs, restaurants and a gay resort.  If it is the beach you want, then head down to Sihanoukville or Kep, both have a gay resort.  The currency most welcomed is the US dollar and the Cambodian riel.  The dollar is accepted almost everywhere, but quite often the change will come back in riel.  Credit cards are accepted at most hotels in the major cities. Be sure to carry small notes of riel and $1 dollars for the motorcycle taxis and most street vendors.

Phnom Penh is the country’s capital, commercial, economic and political hub.  It is situated at the confluence of three great rivers, Mekong, Tonle Sap, Bassac rivers. Getting to Phnom Penh is relatively easy, as they have a nice International Airport that services most major international carriers.  Plan on at least 3 nights there to get around and explore.  There are several gay owned hotels and guesthouses to choose from. There is a lot to see and do there.  Many of the restaurants serve some great gourmet experiences, for a very good value.  The Royal Palace and National Museum are next to each other and will take almost a day to see both. If you have not visited yet, a day trip to the Toul Sleng Genocide (S21) and Cheoung Ek (Killing Fields) is a very moving experience. Most places are walking distance from the river and hotel areas, a pleasant afternoon is a trip to Wat Phnom, to feed the monkeys and watch the local Khmer relax and socialize. The night life is fantastic with a wide variety of clubs, disco’s pubs, saunas, and spas.  Many are open late and some 24/7.  The gay scene is very open and many of the pubs and clubs have cabaret shows.  A night stroll along the Sisowath Quay, can possibly lead to a meeting of some of the local Khmer community. For a romantic evening try a Dinner River Cruise at sunset. There are several NGO’s that work with the MSM (men sex men), providing medical assistance, counseling, and social networking.

Siem Reap (Angkor Wat) is a very relaxing and unspoiled community.  The famous Temples are a must to see.  Getting to Siem Reap is very simple, as they host a nice international airport.  I would suggest at least 3 nights there to explore all the temples and surrounding areas.  There is more to do there then just explore the ruins.  The Tonle Sap Lake is a must see, take a boat trip and visit some of the Khmer Communities. The arts & crafts are fantastic and very inexpensive. There are gay guesthouses and resorts there that will take very good care of you.  The prices can range from backpacker to 5 Star.

Battambang, Cambodia’s second largest city is a very interesting mix of Thai, Italian, and French and Khmer architecture. Getting to Battambang is not that simple, they do not have an airport, so you must use ground transportation.  You can get there from the Thai side, via Thai railway, bus or hired car.  And then a bus or hired car (2 hours) on the Cambodian side of the border.  You can get there from Siem Reap in about 3 hours either by bus, or hired car. Or you can take nice leisurely river boat trip across the Tonle Sap in about 6 – hours.  From Phnom Penh it is about a 4 hour bus / car ride.

Kep (near the southern Viet Nam border) is a great beach resort area; it is very lush and tropical with beautiful clean waters. During the French colonial period it was Cambodia’s luxury destination for the rich and famous from around the world.  Although you can find some gay life walking around, there is no real gathering place for such.  There are a lot of cute beach boyz and tuk tuk drivers that can be friendly. Be sure to check out Teuk Chhou Zoo, and for a nice daytrip, go to Koh Tonsay (Rabbit Island). There is a gay resort in Kep.

Sihanoukville is about a 4 hour drive from Phnom Penh, it is a neat beach resort town.  It is now considered Cambodia’s premier beach resort destination. Backpacker guesthouses and 5 Star resorts, something for everyone.  Eating freshly caught seafood right on the beach in the evening, is the highlight of the night.  You can go into the small town where there are bars and a disco. There are some very handsome Khmer guys hanging around the beach, and a friend of mine was picked up by a gay motorcycle taxi driver.  There is a gay guesthouse in Sihanoukville.