Tales of the Orient by Simon Ostheimer
Tales of the Orient by Simon Ostheimer
A Life in Ruins
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A Life in Ruins

Meet Paulo Bonini, the lively narrator of his own videos exploring the lost temples of Cambodia. Between trips, he reveals the dark path that led him to ruins in the jungle
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Paulo Bonini before and after giving up drinking

Forgotten Temples Cambodia is the intriguing YouTube channel of Siem Reap-based Briton Paulo Bonini, who spends much of his spare time exploring the remotest parts of Cambodia in search of, you guessed it, ancient temples that have been forgotten.

Raised in London, he moved to Siem Reap in search of adventure, but instead found a bottomless pit of alcohol-fueled self-despair. Having recently turned 50, he decided to put away the bottle and venture into the jungle, devoting his every waking moment to seeking out ‘forgotten temples in Cambodia’, and sharing his adventures with viewers worldwide on YouTube. With thousands of views, and coverage in the local English press, he is rapidly becoming a well known expat face in the country - a far cry from the days when he was too scared to even venture from his bedroom to the kitchen.

I recently caught up with Paulo to ask what drives him to head so far off the beaten track, what he has learned about the Kingdom of Wonder along the way, and how the journey has changed him. Press play on the podcast link at the top to take a listen.

Click here to watch Paulo’s YouTube channel Forgotten Temples Cambodia.

To support his ongoing work, consider a donation via his Patreon page.

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Tales of the Orient by Simon Ostheimer
Tales of the Orient by Simon Ostheimer
Original travel stories about Asia by a British Hongkonger
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