🌏 Women Embrace Cambodia 2025-An Adventure of a Lifetime

Sharon Mackay
Nov 11
5 min read

It began, as all the best adventures do, with excitement at Sydney Airport.

Bags packed, passports in hand, and hearts full of anticipation, our Women Embrace Adventure team was ready for something truly life-changing.

brushes in hand, we scrubbed, swept,A quick Singapore stopover (and yes, a Singapore Sling or two!) set the tone for what was to come — laughter, connection, and a healthy dose of chaos. Then we were off to Phnom Penh, where the heartbeat of Cambodia pulsed around us — tuk-tuks weaving, colours swirling, and smiles everywhere we turned.

Part One – Phnom Penh’s Charm & Courage

Phnom Penh welcomed us with contrasts — vibrant and chaotic, yet filled with grace, resilience, and hope.

We began with a powerful, emotional day visiting the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek and S21 Genocide Museum (Tuol Sleng). To walk through these places was to feel Cambodia’s pain up close, the immense loss, the cruelty, the heartbreak. Yet from that darkness, we saw something remarkable: a nation determined to remember, rebuild, and move forward with compassion.

But one of the most uplifting moments of all came as we boarded a riverboat for an unforgettable evening with 52 Restore One High School Graduates, now university students studying to become engineers, doctors, lawyers, designers, teachers, and entertainers.

As we cruised along the Mekong under a starry sky, music played and the boat shimmered with laughter and dance. We shared stories, practised English, and were moved by their passion, gratitude, and hope. Cambodia’s future is bright — and it shines in the eyes of these incredible young people.

As the night ended, we all agreed — this wasn’t just travel, it was transformation.

A visit to the Restore One Sewing Project left us in awe of how simple life can be. Vanak welcomed us into her one-room home to show us where the Restore One merchandise is made. Home to a family of 4, this one-room house houses the kitchen, lounge, sewing room, and bedroom. They are very grateful to now have tiles and no longer be on the dirt, thanks to Restore One. You may have seen the beautiful products made here on one of our adventures: tote bags, tea towels, and tablecloths.

Our SHE Rescue visit, an incredible organisation providing safety, education, and a new start for young girls rescued from exploitation, was an eye-opener. Their courage and the staff's compassion reminded us why we came to be part of something that uplifts and changes lives. We stocked up on their merch, all proceeds going to help this amazing charity.

Between heartfelt moments, we immersed ourselves in Phnom Penh’s energy — exploring the Russian Markets (complete with wriggling fish, colourful fruit, and “adventurous” pants that didn’t all survive the experience!). We dined at social enterprise cafés, where every meal supported local empowerment — delicious food served with purpose.

Part Two – Kampong Thom & The Village

Leaving the city behind, we bumped and splashed our way down red-dirt roads to Kampong Thom, home to our partner charity, Restore One, and the centre of our mission.

This year, our Women Embrace Adventure team proudly raised a whopping $15,450.34 for Restore One.

These funds were used to build vital toilets in the village, fit out a brand-new high school library, and pay teacher wages across three schools — investments that change lives every single day.

And then, we got to work!

With paintbrushes in hand, we scrubbed, swept and transformed. We painted bright, happy murals on the toilets built with the funds we raised. More stunning murals at the high school and primary school, bursts of colour and hope to inspire every child who walks through those gates.

We created a safe, vibrant library space at the primary school where stories and learning can flourish, and we saw the joy in every student’s smile. From filth to fabulous with lots and lots of elbow grease.

It was hot, hard, rewarding work, equal parts sweat, laughter, and heart. We danced with children, sang songs, shared stories, and forged friendships that will last a lifetime. The laughter of the students and the pride in their teachers’ eyes said it all; this was impact with purpose.

To see our stunning crocheted creations hang above beautifully organised books left us speechless and very proud of what we achieved as a team.

Our Village Cook Out was a huge success, with each team shopping at the local markets with $12.50 for their ingredients to cook for a family or three. Primitive cooking on an open fire, not knowing how many mouths they were feeding, and lots of mud proved to be a few steps outside the comfort zone for most! All teams created delicious, nutritious meals, so it was smiles all around as the ladies of the village laughed at our incompetence!

We rounded off our village stay with a visit to the 1000 Step Temple. Climbing to the top got our heart rates soaring, and hearing Sokhoun's life story there pulled at our heartstrings.

The beautiful students of the Restore One High School performed their traditional dance for us in the afternoon, so stunning! Again, laughs all around when they got us up to dance with them...

Part Three – Siem Reap & The Spirit of Wonder

After the hard work came the wonder. We journeyed north to Siem Reap, where Cambodia’s ancient heart beats strongest.

We stood in awe as Angkor Wat blazed gold in the sunrise, gazed at the calm, wise faces of Bayon Temple, and marvelled at Ta Prohm, where tree roots embrace ancient stone, a breathtaking symbol of resilience and renewal.

Then came the legendary 24-kilometre cycling adventure, “flat and easy,” said Tim (we’re still laughing about that one!). Instead, we found ourselves pedalling through mud, rain, motorbikes, and pure joyful chaos, dodging dogs, families, and the traffic snarl. It was wild, wet and unforgettable — a story we’ll be telling forever.

Siem Reap offered plenty of time to rest, play, and connect, too. We swam in the pool, enjoyed massages, shopped for treasures, and ate incredible food. We dined again at social enterprises, where every bite supported a great cause, and we capped off one perfect evening at Wild Café with spring rolls, cocktails, and laughter before wandering the glowing buzz of Pub Street.

We visited Apopo Rats, where African giant pouched rats are trained to detect landmines — clever, heroic little creatures saving lives every day. And one of our favourite nights was at the Phare Circus, where acrobatics and storytelling collided in a performance bursting with talent, pride, and joy.

And then, as the Water Festival filled Siem Reap’s river with floating lanterns, fireworks, and music, we celebrated our final nights in Cambodia; grateful, proud, and utterly in love with this country and its people.

The Heart of It All

What makes a Women Embrace Adventure trip truly special isn’t just the destination, it’s the people.

It’s the laughter echoing through tuk-tuks, the teamwork in the heat, the shared moments of awe, reflection, and joy. Cambodia gave us beauty, challenge, and connection, but the women who came along made it unforgettable.

Thank you to Tanya, Tim, Sokhun, Kimlang and the entire Restore One Team for making our adventure fabulous. Thank you to the 10 adventurers who said “yes” to this journey of purpose and heart. You’ve left a little piece of yourselves in Cambodia, and taken a whole lot of Cambodia home in return.