As of 1st March 2010 MaD moved back in to Siem Reap and is upgrading its volunteer accommodation.

The MaD House in Bakong ceased to be our volunteer accommodation, office and base of operations.
MaD has leased a tropical garden property on the outskirts of Siem Reap town, some 5mins from the airport, to be known as: MaD Base Camp! [MBC]

As of March 2010 all volunteers are accommodated at MBC nestled amongst the palm trees and lush greenery, in a very quiet and private tropical garden setting. Our new base has the advantage of being close to the action in Siem Reap’s pub street (something that many previous volunteers felt left out of at our HQ in Bakong) but far enough away from the centre to give volunteers and staff a much needed sense of tranquillity.

Tropical vegetation, butterflies, birds, lizards, frogs and other critters surround the traditional Khmer accommodation. Our Burmese Python – Cleopatra, will become focal point in the garden where she has her own secure enclosure. Aviary, fishponds, water lilies, colourful and interesting plants, shaded areas, verandas and hammocks serve to create a tranquil, friendly and peaceful environment to relax in on the sticky hot days after your work on your project.

You will be welcomed into the MaD family upon arriving at the MBC and you will share MBC with MaD’s founders, several members of our Khmer team, a whole host of friendly pets.

24/7 onsite security, pleasant and well appointed rooms with 19” LCD TVs & DVD player [yet to be installed] with 88 channels of cable TV, crispy white linen, a personal fan, a good sized bed, [awaiting these to be made to order] WiFi throughout the property and free laundry service are just some of the little luxuries that await your time with vMaD.

Accommodation is ecofriendly built using local, renewable resources and materials such as grass thatch, sugar palm leaves, bamboo, and light timber. Sanitation is provided using compost toilets; recycled grey water is used to keep the gardens lush and green. Our showers are open roofed and use natural ground water, heated by the sun.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner is cooked by the professional chefs of our MaD Eatery (Me) Restaurant, also located onsite, serving a unique blend of Western and Asian cuisine with an assortment of ice cold drinks. The ME is a registered social enterprise that helps to raise funds and awareness for our charitable work by attracting tourists from Siem Reap to come and dine with us. A great majority of the food that is served at our restaurant is grown on MaD’s Organic Farm, where we test out sustainable farming techniques for growing fruit trees, vegetables and organic rice.

Whilst we loved living at the MaD House and working in Bakong, we truly feel that moving to the new MaD Base Camp will, on all accounts, be a big step up in the experience that vMaD provides its volunteers.