My husband and I were fortunate to have won a 3-day, 2-night trip to the Farmhouse Resort & Spa at the Aware Ball in October 2025.
My daughter and I visited in May 2026. I thought I would be spending time unwinding and bonding with my adult daughter, enjoying the resort and taking a short break.
The resort is about a 90- to 120-minute drive from the airport, depending on traffic. You turn into a driveway that leads to the resort, lined with lush greenery and trees. We stayed in the Luxury Suite, which was part of the package. The room was very spacious, with an extremely comfortable bed. There was a sitting area, a desk, and a private patio. The package included full board, with one dinner served in the private dining restaurant. Every meal, from breakfast to lunch and dinner, was absolutely delicious. Fresh ingredients and a fusion of Khmer and Western dishes, accompanied by freshly baked bread made on the premises, made every meal memorable. There are two pools and a bar by the pool. The package also included a 60-minute massage, and we thoroughly enjoyed being pampered by our two massage therapists, who were nothing short of welcoming and highly skilled at easing the knots in our backs and shoulders.
*photos provided by Farmhouse Resort and Spa
It was only on Day 2, during a tour of the property, that we realized how Smiling Gecko was connected to the Farmhouse Resort & Spa. My family has been blessed to sponsor children from developing countries through education bursaries in the past, but I was not prepared for what I saw during the tour of the 150-hectare property, especially the Smiling Gecko school, which started in 2014, and all that it has done—and continues to do—for the children from the surrounding area.
The children receive an education that is 60% Khmer and 40% English. They also have art and music classes. We were able to observe a music lesson where the children played recorders, and what we heard was a treat to the ears. There was also a well-stocked, cheerful library. The children arrive at school, have showers, brush their teeth, and change into lovely pink T-shirts for the day. Their hair is brushed and checked for lice, with treatment provided if needed. They are given a nutritious breakfast as well as another meal before they leave school. Each day begins with a flag-raising ceremony where they sing and recite the Cambodian pledge.
I was also informed that the children receive dental checkups twice a year and are given supplements to help address any nutritional deficiencies.
The tour also included visits to the woodworking and metalworking workshops, as well as the vanilla plantation, vegetable gardens, and fish farm. We were so grateful to have had the opportunity to visit Smiling Gecko and witness the incredible work they do for Cambodian children.
We left with a much deeper understanding of the work that Smiling Gecko is doing and feeling truly blessed to have had the opportunity to visit.
*photos provided by Farmhouse Resort and Spa
Written by Smiling Gecko Supporter and Farmhouse Resort Guest, Joan Khaw