Last updated: 28 January, 2026 | Inspired by nownownow.com

I’m Ramon Stoppelenburg, a Dutch writer, translator, tour operator, and digital pioneer currently based in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. This page gives you a snapshot of what I’m focused on right now.

🇳🇱 Dutch version

📍 Where Am I Now?

Phnom Penh, Cambodia – my creative and spiritual home base since 2010.

🐱 Meet My Cats

Fifty Shady (12 years old, adopted 2014) and Chickpea (1 year old, adopted 2024) keep me company. Here’s Shady:

💼 What I’m Working On

Writing & Journalism

  • Essays & columns for leading Dutch newspapers de Volkskrant and NRC
  • Writing in progress:
    Het Laatste Hostel (The Last Hostel) – exploring digital identity, performative freedom, and the search for authenticity in an always-on world in Dutch;

    Always Almost There: A Memoir – a brutally honest and darkly funny English memoir about chasing geographical solutions to existential problems, only to discover that everyone else is running toward their own version of “elsewhere.” Based on my time in Tbilisi and Casablanca in 2023;

    Eat Out, Lose Fat – my book about building a healthier relationship with food without sacrificing the joy of dining out;

    NEW: The Phnom Penh Survival Guide – a comprehensive life manual for anyone thinking about coming to Cambodia

Translation & Language Services

Current clients:

Available for freelance projects on Upwork

Business Consulting

I help SME entrepreneurs in Cambodia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Portugal optimize their operations – from hotel management to restaurant efficiency and memorable events. Smart strategies that don’t break the bank.

🚀 Current Projects

Creative Works

  1. 📚 Eat Out, Lose Fat – Final drafting phase of this English book about building a healthier relationship with dining out without sacrificing joy;
  2. 📖 Het Laatste Hostel – Dutch novel about digital identity and what remains when you go offline;
  3. 📖 Always Almost There: A Memoir – A brutally honest and darkly funny memoir based on my time in Tbilisi and Casablanca in 2023;
  4. 📘 The Phnom Penh Survival Guide– a comprehensive life manual for expats and visitors to Cambodia;
  5. 🎬 Undertow – Four-part limited drama series (Isle of Man, UK) pitch under development;
  6. 🎬 Flagged – Eight-part limited crime thriller series (Thailand/Australia setting) pitch under development;
  7. 📰 The Quiet Reader – Literary magazine I founded in 2020;

Business Ventures

  1. Expedition Kilimanjaro – the tour company I’ve directed since 2008 (17+ years of getting people up that mountain!)
  2. Lord Penh – the no-frills event guide for Phnom Penh (+5000 hits per day), now expanding with multiple services:
    • Phnom Penh Passport – compact discount and benefits passport launching February 2026
    • Tuktukvertising – accessible outdoor advertising on tuktuks, now accepting clients
    • Toiletvertising – smart advertising in restrooms, currently rolling out frames across town
    • Loyalty Cards – digital and physical loyalty programs for bars and restaurants
    • Lord Penh Emergency Card – essential medical and contact information plastic card for expats in Cambodia
    • Lord Penh Connect – launching April 2026 with regional eSIM service covering 14 countries

🎯 Current Focus

Right now, I’m laser-focused on the Phnom Penh Passport launch: finalizing venue partnerships, perfecting the design, managing the publication process, and setting up distribution channels with hotels, guesthouses, and hostels throughout Phnom Penh.

🌴 On My Bucket List

Palawan, Philippines – Craving the blue waters, lagoons, and beaches of El Nido and the Calamian Islands for some fresh travel inspiration.

🌐 Find Me Online

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