July
2007 - Old Market, Siem Reap, Cambodia
|
 |
The
Nikon DX 12-24mm lens is really great for this kind of stuff. This
stall is in the Old Market itself, or rather on the outer edge as the
inside is pretty dark. I am not sure what kind of meat they are selling
in this shop, I assume it is mostly beef and pork, but dog is a pretty
popular among the locals and the stuff just below the baskets looks
like dried fish of some sort. I kind of like how the motorcycle handle
bars balance out the baskets in this picture.
|
|
I
bought a really nice cotton kama (general purpose scarf) from this lady
for US$ 3.00. I didn't have any dollars when I visited her shop so gave
her 100 Baht, pretty much a straight exchange at this point. When I was
younger I used to haggle a lot but now if I find something I really
want and it is worth it to me I tend to just pay the price, if it isn't
I just walk away.
|
|
The
pile of small checked scarves in the center of the picture is the one I
bought, I had been looking for a basically black and white scarf for
quite some time and could not find it in this shop but got it in the
shop above later. I had not had one of this particular type of scarf in
quite a few years but used to wear one just like it when I was working
in this area close to 30 years ago. At that time all Cambodian people
used to wear one all the time. Now you hardly ever see anyone wearing
them at all, too old fashioned I guess, really kind of a shame because
they are incredibly useful in this hot sticky weather.
|
|
I am not sure if
anything found in these shops is every a genuine antique, but I think
it is best to assume that it is not and pay a price that you consider
reasonable for an interesting fake. Before coming to Cambodia (or
anywhere in Asia) it is probably also a good idea to go to a
handicrafts store (like Pier 1) in your own country and check the
prices of items that look interesting to you. Many of the items found
in the handicrafts and antique markets of Asia are actually
manufactured for export and may actually be less expensive at your
local Pier 1.
|
|
|
This
money changer at the Old Market was very nice but gave me only US$
28.50 for 1000 Baht. In Thailand I would have gotten US$ 33.00. I
should mention, that almost everything in Siem Reap that has to do with
tourists is more expensive than it should be, there are exceptions but
they are few. I can eat for whole lot less in Thailand than in Siem
Reap. I can also get ripped off in Thailand (mostly by hanging out in
tourist spots) but it is easier for me to avoid, probably because I
know Thailand better and I speak Thai.
In Siem Reap the most commonly used money is US dollars, I also use
Thai Baht but there tends to be a pretty lousy exchange rate (as shown
above). The small change is given in Cambodian Riel (shown in the
display case above), there are approxmately 4,000 Riel to a dollar and
you are given 1,000 Riel notes for change. Restaurant menus are in
dollars so if something costs US$ .75 you will be given one 1,000 Riel
note for change from a dollar. In the confusion, the shopkeepers tend
to make out like bandits.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Please bookmark this page, more
pictures tomorrow.
|
| Adobe
Photoshop
Lightroom (& Photoshop CS3) - eBook project |
|
|
