My Story

Intro

Despite a booming tourism industry, Siem Reap province remains one of the poorest in Cambodia with negligible amounts of economic prosperity reaching those in the countryside. Kunns business, the Jasmine Lodge, has attempted to rectify this with its ‘pro-poor’ employment, tour and food policies.

About Me

My name is Chab Vann Kunn, most people call me Kunn. I was born in Sampov Lourn village, Kralanh District, 54 km away from Siem Reap. I have one younger brother.

In 1999 me and my younger brother moved to Siem Reap. I studied in high school while my younger brother became a mechanic apprentice in my uncle’s garage, because he said that school makes him tired. While I was studying I seized the chance to work in a local guesthouse because I could eat there and at the same time could practise my English with tourists. Unfortunately after graduating from high school I was not able to attend university, so I went back home to ask my parents to sell my bull in order to buy a motorbike for me to drive tourists to Angkor. While I lived with my brother in the garage I met a Nowegian guy and who was the owner of the Earthwalkers Gueshouse in Siem Reap. He was kind and often send his tourists to me so that I could take them around for a tour on my motorbike.  In 2001 I applied as English speaking tour guide and became the official English speaking tour guide. At that time I had some money and decided to get married with the daughter of the owner of another guesthouse.

In 21th of June 2003 I married with Miss Jasmine call Vandy. I am now the owner of my own guesthouse called Jasminelodge. I got my own website and tourists staying in my guesthouse highly recommended me and my lodge in Lonely Planet. Right now I manage Jasmienlodge with my wife’s grand mother-in-law and my parents-in-law together as a family business.

My Venture

I run a small friendly guesthouse called Jasminelodge. We have a big selection of affordable rooms ranging from basic rooms, standard rooms, and deluxe rooms with ceiling fans, bathrooms with own private shower with clean fresh and fast water, and window and Balcony amenities, to rooms with en-suite bathrooms, hot showers, air-conditioning and cable TV. The prices of room starting from $6 to $22 including a huge delicious breakfast. Some customers stay in our guesthouse for a long term, sometimes for more than 2 weeks or one month as they volunteer as English teachers in the area around Siem Reap.

We now have eight permanent members of staff (6 general, 1 cook and 1 laundry lady) and all have been recruited from villages outside of Siem Reap. All eight employees receive accommodation and training, and can go to school locally. They also receive $40 per month in salary. Also all our staff benefit from on-the-job English language training through interaction with our guests.