Shopping
Encouraged by the government and aid organisations,
local people are rediscovering their natural talent as weavers
and craftsmen.
A number of rehabilitation
programmes have sprung up since the eighties, such as the
gift shop at Wat Thanh in Phnom Penh, a co-op that trains
Cambodians disabled by land mines in making attractive items
out of silk and cotton fabrics, rattan, bamboo, wood and clays.
The result is a pleasing selection of purses and handbags,
clothing, furnishings, paintings and many other items.
 Markets
- Designed by a French architect, the bustling art-deco style
Central Market opened in 1937 and is a famous city landmark
offering a wide range of goods, including souvenirs, jewellery,
silks, electronic goods, stationery, second hand clothes,
and bric-a-brac. The Russian Market is good for souvenirs
such as objects d'art, trinkets, coins, miniature Buddhas,
etc. The Olympic Market is a three story covered market near
the Olympic Stadium which was upgraded and reopened
in 1994 and now specialises in wholesale items.
Weaving - Silk in Cambodiais still handmade using
traditional methods with the pattern dyed into the threadsbefore
the silk is woven, thus the task of dying and weaving a single
piece can take several weeks. Older silk pieces (pre-1970)
are increasingly prized.Weavers can be seen in action at the
historic silk centre of Koh Dach outside Phnom Penh. Some
nice handiwork comes from Kompong Cham, Takeo and Kandal provinces.
 Silver
- Was prized in the 11th century for religious
and ceremonial purposes. With tourism expanding, numerous
silver shops have sprung up in Phnom Penh, selling carved
decorative and practical items. Other outlets are in village
centres such as Tul Mau, roughly 30 km north of the city.
The normal working material is an alloy containing 70-80 percent
of pure silver, and prices are based on a combination of weight
and artistry, which puts bargaining skills to a good test.
Basket weaving - Carried out mainly by women, many
of whom cultivate and harvest the reeds by themselves. It
is also an important aspect of rehabilitation programmes for
victims of landmines and the dexterity of the local people
is beautifully reflected in products of all kinds, including
baskets, bowls, plates, and many other useful items.
 Antiques
- The sale and export of registered antique pieces is strictly
forbidden. This, alas, has not prevented thousands ofpriceless
artifacts from Angkor being stolen over the years, and sold
overseas. You are however unlikely to come across genuine
antiques openly on sale in Cambodia
Sculptured Reproductions - There are excellent reproductions
and copies available at reasonable prices. The intrinsic skill
of craftsmen - using the same locally mined stone used to
build the ancienttemples - produces sculptures of such quality
that, with artificially induced weathering, have even fooled
some experts. There are also bronze copies of small statues,
Buddha figures, heads and apsaras forsale. These can be exported
freely, but if you pass through Thailand on the way home,
remember that the export of Buddha figures from that country
is not allowed.
 Wood
Carving - A traditional, if sometimes hefty, addition
to your baggage allowance are carved wooden apsaras, and a
variety of other attractive and decorative wooden items, including
furniture, which can be shipped home. Since the quality and
maturity of the wood dictates its value as much as the handiwork,
care in selection is needed, especially for more expensive
items, and it pays to shop around.
Custom Made Tailoring - Following the lead of Bangkok's
ubiquitous and often over-persuasive purveyors of made-to-measure
clothes, ready in a day or even less, there are now many tailor
shops opening in Phnom Penh. Tailors will happily copy from
a photo or from a sample in your suitcase.
 Betel
nut boxes - These cute containers once reflected the status
of their user according to its size, design and the material
from which it was made . Mostly of silver, many carry ornate
designs, and are often crafted into animal shapes. Originals
usually contain a higher quantity of silver, but the newly
manufactured varieties are still handmade, and a careful choice
can provide you with attractive souvenirs or thoughtful lightweight
gifts.
Gold and Gems - 24-carat gold is used for most pieces
in the Chinese tradition with prices fluctuating with the
daily market value. Jewellery tends to be simple and unsophisticated,
and although locally mined precious stones - especially rubies,
sapphires and emeralds - can make excellent buys, beware of
increasing numbers of fakes.
Lacquerware - Most pieces originate in Vietnam, or
are made locally by expatriate Vietnamese craftsmen. Local
markets normally have a good supply, and the prices are often
more competitive (with suitable bargaining) than in the markets
of Vietnam.
 Rice
paper prints ("Temple Rubbings") - A lightweight,
decorative, inexpensive and attractive buy, made by placing
rice paper over a mould taken from a bas-relief carving from
one of the Angkor temples and lightly rubbing over it with
soft charcoal. When framed and suitably illuminated, they
can look superb.
Cotton T-shirts - Some very cheap and amusing designs
are available, which make excellent small gifts or souvenirs.
The Krama - The typical locally worn chequered scarf.
Uniquely Khmer, inexpensive, and practical.
Eating
 Cambodian
cuisine is similar to but not as spicy as Thai and Lao cuisine.
Sweet and sour combinations, curries, stir-fries, rice, noodles
and soups predominate, flavoured with coriander, lemongrass
and mint. Locally caught fish is also plentiful. Dishes worthy
of note include Khao Phoun (rice noodles in a coconut sauce),
Somla Chapek (ginger-flavoured pork soup), Somla Machou Bangkang
(spicy prawn soup), Trey Aing (grilled fish), Char Marteis
(beef with green chillies) and Trey Chean Neung Spey (fish
fried with vegetables).
Drinking
 Tek
Tnot made with the juice from sugar palm trees makes a refreshing
drink.
Tea, beer or water is taken with meals.
Angkor, the local beer, is made
and bottled in Sihanoukville.
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