Romcheik 5 Art Space and Cafe – A Trip to Battambang

After visiting the Battambang Museum, I found Romcheik 5 Art Space on Google Maps, and I was going to look over. It was about 1 p.m. when I arrived, and after entering the door, a white man came over. After a few chats, I learned that this is a Frenchman, who came to Cambodia after he retired, in this art space has been working for five years. I told him I wanted to visit here. I bought a $5 ticket, and then asked him if there was still anything to eat.I was a little hungry.

It’s hot outside, but the breeze is blowing, it’s cool here.

Coffee and light meals are served here.

The menu of the coffee shop.

The artists here come from an arts school called Phare Ponleu Selpak, a non-profit organization.

This is a two-story wooden house, people grow vegetables and fruits around the house.

There was an textile machine in the coffee shop, and some scarves were sold here.

I’ve been here for three or four hours and the staff are very enthusiastic. I was estimated to be the only guest to visit that day, spending a total of $13 ($5 for tickets, $5 for meals, $3 for coffee). After a walk, the young man who had just cooked for me took me to an artist’s studio. I had a chat with a painter in his 30s in the studio and learned that they were happy with their lives and income. The sponsor, the aforementioned Frenchman, is responsible for the operation of the entire space, and every year he organizes trips abroad or studies. The whole space is like a big family, the father takes the children to take care of the family, the atmosphere is very harmonious.

Battambang, Cambodia, this is a quiet town. After i came out of the art space, I took to the streets of the city, where the local people lived and worked, and the same tourists as I did walk aimlessly on the banks of the river.

This is an important river in Battambang.

A small bridge.

It’s blue, everything is so quiet.

This is a nearby village.

The barefoot children are playing a game of throwing slippers.