seafood) and offers a selection of Khmer homecooking, as well as salads, home baked bread and grilled sandwiches. The drinks selection includes smoothies, juices and shakes, as well as creative teas and coffees. Free wi-fi access is available for all customers and there is an additional free computer for those without a laptop.
Opened in 2005, the café houses a Fair Trade shop and promotes information on environmental awareness and social issues in and around Siem Reap. The upstairs community space has a library of quality DVDs, including movies on Khmer history, religion and an extensive collection of art, children's and alternative movies. Lectures and presentations on environmental issues complement the regular schedule of yoga and meditation practice.
How it helps: The Singing Tree supports the environment in several ways. The café hosts display boards with environmental information concerning the forest and wildlife situation in Cambodia. There are regular presentations by organizations and individuals who work in these areas. Presentations to date include the subjects of wildlife preservation, water filters and solar power.
The café sells fresh and healthy, organic vegetarian and vegan food. The Singing Tree also supports disadvantaged people in a number of ways. The café is an active fund-raiser for two projects, The Green Gecko Project for street children and Osmose Water Hyacinth Handicraft Products for the women of Prek Toal. This is done by facilitating community workshops and classes where the fees are donated to the projects. The café's information boards help to raise funds for the Angkor Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity, Osmose, The Green Gecko Project and the Trailblazer Foundation.
The small shop at the café displays and promotes Fair Trade products from four different sources: Rehab Craft Cambodia, Silk Lab Handmade Accessories, the Osmose Water Hyacinth Project,
and the Buddhist Association shop in Thailand. To get there, it’s a three minutes' walk from the Old
Market and Pub Street (Psar Chas). Cross the river at the bridge. Turn left and walk along the river. Turn right into the second lane. Enter the green
Cool Café With Heart
A classy café, sassy spa and gift shop that create employment for disabled people and assist vulnerable locals in the wider community. The experience: The Starfish Bakery and Café is a shady retreat from the bustle of downtown Sihanoukville and a great place to relax during the heat of the day. The café menu includes homemade pastries, freshly baked bread, delicious chocolate brownies, healthy salads, inventive
sandwiches and fresh fruit shakes. All customers can enjoy free wireless Internet access and the peaceful garden is the perfect backdrop to keep in touch with family and friends. As well as the popular café, there is also a handicrafts shop upstairs that sells an excellent range of local products made by disabled people.
The Sala Santepheap Massage Centre is also found here and is an indulgent way to relax after a busy day of fun in the sun. Indian head massage, Thai massage, foot massage and aromatherapy are all available and administered by experienced blind masseurs.The café is located down a side street behind Samudera Market in the centre of Sihanoukville.
How it helps: A Buddhist monk was on the beach with his apprentice the day after a fierce storm. Thousands of starfish had been washed up and stranded on the shore. Stooping down, the monk carefully lifted a single creature and returned it to the sea. His young apprentice wondered aloud why his master bothered to do
this when it made little difference to the mass of helpless creatures. As they walked along, the monk picked up another single starfish and replied, “It makes a difference to this one.”
This is the guiding principle behind the Starfish Project, a charitable grassroots organization founded in 2000 as a community-based humanitarian initiative. Starfish meets its objective by providing its clients and their families with the means to gain self-sufficiency and independence. Starfish are involved in a diversity of projects such as housing, community and water projects, medical and livelihood assistance, business startups, support to woman living in prisons and other self-sustainable projects.
The Starfish bakery and café was set up in 2001 and exclusively hires disabled people that would struggle finding meaningful jobs as a result of their disabilities. Income generated from all these businesses fund the staff salaries, rent utilities and covers the administrative costs of the Starfish project so that donations are solely used to help disadvantaged people.
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