Do crowds drive you crazy? Does the noise and commotion of the hectic Phnom Penh streets make your head spin? You could always go for a massage. Or to Paragon Shopping Centre.
You really can feel like the last person on earth in parts of this centre where the three floors do not reflect the loud yellow and orange exterior one sees from the street.
And this is not a bad thing.
Not at all. As the serious shopper knows, a little peace and quiet can go a long way when searching for the perfect dress.
And Paragon is a place to visit if dress hunting is on your agenda.
There are many ways to work up a sweat in Cambodia in April. Walk from your bed to the bathroom, leave your front door, lift a glass of water...but exercise cannot be neglected because we are in a constant state of perspiration. Oh no, the maintenance of youthful looks and wellbeing do not come about without any effort
And you can't fool your body into thinking that just because you are dripping in sweat (whilst walking around the market looking at dresses) you are exercising. It doesn't work.
I would like to have lunch with Karl Lagerfeld one day. My list of reasons is fair in length but one of my top two burning questions for him is about his dramatic weight-loss some years ago.
How does it feel to now be able to hide behind dental floss, I wonder? But being a true fashionista he probably doesn't 'do food' (anymore), so perhaps coffee is a better idea.
Normally the words "Shopping Centre" and "Fashion" go hand in hand. Walking into Sorya Shopping Centre the feeling that the exception to the rule had been found was rather difficult to ignore. Whether it was the fast-food atmosphere or the overwhelming music, I kept on imagining that this must be what it feels like to walk around the inside of a pinball machine. However, fashion is a strange creature and known to lurk in the most unlikely of places, so initial impressions were shelved, and the search for stylish clothes began.
There are times when we all feel so comfortable and familiar in a city it's hard to imagine unearthing anything unexpected. But, of course we know that life will never allow itself to be that predictable. The elements of the unknown and unseen are forever swirling around us. And this week they came knocking on my door. "It's unlike anything you have ever seen," read the text message from my friend. She was shopping at 'Spicy Green Mango' on street 278.
As I walk into Psar O'Russei and up the first flight of stairs, I decide to pause for a moment, and really take in the space around me. After a few minutes I conclude that this market is akin to a massive warehouse, with the contents of a thousand attics, scattered over an indefinable number of floors. Some levels genuinely do look as though they are suspended mid-air. In this video-game architectural space lurk the most curious items for sale... things that really can leave you wide-eyed and momentarily speechless...
The building famed for Le Popil's photography gallery lives on, but instead of photographs, the walls of this space now house rails of clothing and shelves of bags and cushions. Welcome to L' Armoire D' Alexandra.
St Valentine's day may not make everyone feel in the mood for love, but there's no denying that it can be a fun experience if approached in the right way. So let's round up some love inspired gift ideas, as we explore ways to make your loved one smile on that day- flowers, champagne, chocolate...Phnom Penh has it all.
We spend more time with it than we do with friends and family. It speaks of our character. It houses both the practical and the treasured. It's a close bond. Tanja Wessels has respect for the handbag.
It's an age-old question. One we have all asked, or been asked at some point in time-if you are a woman that is. I'm sure men have their own version but that's another article altogether. The question proposed nestles neatly in the list that reads along the lines of: are you a dog or cat person? Shower or bath? Coffee or tea?
They can't help but be cute, and with so many adorable options out there in Phnom Penh it really is time to dress the kids.
Unlike us, toddlers have no concept of 'fat days' or concerns over "but I wore that two days ago" and will never retort with "floral?! That's so 2007!" Sure, they go through phases when all they want to do is run around naked or to be Batman forever, but these phases are still cute. Seeing a boy dressed as Spiderman in a supermarket aisle is something that never fails to raise a smile. Dressing children is great fun.