Travel Professionals International - Barb's Quality Travel: Oddities

There were two major sights we saw regularly in Cambodia, among the many super, interesting, other things. One were the fabulous and wondrous UNESCO temples and the other, various markets-floating or otherwise.

I think we all appreciate that everyone needs a place to shop and that local cultures dictate different types of both needs and provisions. However, the abject poverty we saw in Cambodia coupled with the amazing markets filled with every type of produce, agri-product, animal, fish or craft you can think of was astounding.

Our first experience of this was in Siem Reap, before we even got to the Mekong River. The Siem Reap market was very "close" and vendors were eager to show, share and sell their "wares". In addition to the numerous food stalls selling raw meats and fishes, vegetables and fruits, there were many more selling fabrics (AKA silk and cotton), dolls, ceramics, tourist trinkets, gold and silver jewellery, fans, shirts, blouses, purses, shoes and more.

This particular stall was actually quite spacious, airy and well lit. Many were half the size and in the interior of the market place - much stuffier, close quarters and very hard to clearly see what was for sale.

Just outside the market, you can see the myriad of choices for local transportation - motorized tuk tuks and the like. At night, this became quite a thoroughfare and not many had lights!

I have already shared with you the road side market we encountered as we drove to the Mekong River the next day - that's the one with the bamboo rice sticks and the fried spiders and crickets. (check another post!) But what I want to show you today was the amazing variety of flowers, rice, fish and other edibles that we came across at the Sa Dec market. There must have been over 100 sellers and truly - absolutely anything for sale! You can see the many stalls here, along the riverside.