Hak is my name. I was born in a middle income family in Battambang. I have three younger brothers. One brother is living in Siem Reap. My parents are both sellers in
the central market in Battambang. In 2005 October, I moved to live and work in a backpacker hostel in Siem Reap. I was willing to do anything when I first arrived in Siem Reap. Many people said to me if you could make it to Siem Reap your life will be improved. For this reason I wanted to find work in Siem Reap and experience life by myself. So I came to Siem Reap and found some work in a guesthouse.
At first, I was doing many things without having to ask the owner of the guesthouse such as being a waiter, bringing guests and their bags to their room and being a receptionist. Furthermore, I used to take tourists on tour to Angkor Wat temples. I was also a motor taxi driver, which enabled me to earn a little bit of money for living expenses and going to computer school in Siem Reap. I was so happy that I could finally earn a little bit of money. That was my first time in 2006 when I was just 17 years old.
I was at last gaining some hope and living with confidence that I could manage my future well to reach my goal little by little. In 2007, I was still working in the guesthouse as a manager and I knew that at the time, I was improving myself a lot and I felt that I can do better because I was in a position of leading others. While I was working in the guesthouse, I met a man called Bob from Australia who sponsored me to a good professional Hotel and Hospitality School for 1 year.
I enrolled to study the ‘Front Office’ course. That was my favourite course because I like working face to face with guests, learning to understand about their needs and feelings. I learnt a lot of useful knowledge that is very importance for my career and field. During my one year tutoring in the school, I was sent to work and train in the big five star hotels in Siem Reap, and this training course made me understand about the difference between guests in a VIP five star hotel and backpacker guesthouses. They are quite different, backpackers are easy to make friends with, but VIP five star guests often do not want to talk to you or make friends with local people.
In 2008 I completed the Hotel School and continued working in the same guesthouse because I like working with and meeting backpackers rather than guests in five star hotels. I was always hoping that one day I will open my own guesthouse in Siem Reap, and run it by myself for the tourists. I had my ambition and was prepared to work hard. I vowed that one day I would have my own guesthouse. As a result, I am now able to take this chance.
In 2011 I am 23 years old and Hak’s House is open for everyone, tourists, backpackers and friends to come and stay, enjoy and share new experiences of life with me. I decided to name it Hak’s House because I think there are too many guesthouses and hostels with the word Ángkor’ in the name. Staying in Hak’s House you will feel at home and even closer to my family as well. My Dad and Mom, my brother, me and I also employed 2 staffs as well from the village will be willing to work hard to make sure your stay at Hak’s Happy House will be enjoyable and happy.
From now, I will continue to do my best to have Hak’s House remain as a guesthouse in Siem Reap forever. I will bring my family to work with me and my relative who has no work to come and work with me so they can have a job do too. At the end of my brief real history of how I could start this hostel, I would like to say big thanks to all my friends who always support me and encourage me to start Hak’s House. I would like to thank to all the costumers who always trusted and support my hostel as well. I (Hak) and my family are looking forward to have chance to serve you with my family hospitality during your visit to Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia.
