APAD 207: Secondhand
When I was single and living by myself in Phnom Penh, weekends are the most dreaded part of the week. This was the time when the blues set in. When you’re alone in a foreign country, there’s no escaping this. So what to do?
I discovered the joy of thrift-hunting! I went to secondhand stalls in the market, scouring items from shoes to gadgets to home decors and what-have-yous. This secondhand stall is located inside Psah Thmey (Central Market) in Phnom Penh.
Lots of secondhand stuff are for sale in markets in Phnom Penh.
This stall sells beddings and stuffed toys and women’s lingerie (across). While I enjoy thrift-hunting, my purchases are limited to clothes (especially vintage), decors and kitchen items.
APAD 079: Overloaded
This is how we roll in rural Cambodia.
A jampacked taxi (van) and romorque and a moto.
When I used to work in one of the rural towns in the southeastern part of the country, the sight of jam-packed vans, pick ups and remorques (a motorcyle pulling a long cart) overloaded with goods and people is a common sight. With no transportation provided for project staff like me, I experienced squeezing myself and my luggage in an already full mini-bus. On some days, the overhead compartment were crammed with bags of rice and other produce, sometimes there were also live chickens tied together, or even a squealing pig or two bagged inside a sack, all on their way to the markets in Phnom Penh. Oh, one of the fun times I had back then.
APAD 073: Ambulant sellers
They are your friendly basket-sellers. I took this photo while we were driving to Kep one weekend. They are a common sight in the countryside but don’t be surprised to see them in the city, too. Ambulant sellers like them are still plying their trade in this manner despite the emergence of new markets and air-conditioned malls.
It’s a lot of hard work but it’s a job to do and earns them money for their families.
These baskets made from indigenous materials found in their villages are most likely made by the village women and sold to other places.
APAD 036: Pretty Cambodian silk scarves
Locally-made scarves and other products made from Cambodian silk are best-sellers in markets like Tuol Tompong. They come in gorgeous colours, patterns, and textures that appeal to a lot of tourists. Some are silky smooth while others have the roughness of a raw silk.
You can find these scarves, and more souvenirs, at Tuol Tumpong market. It is also known as the Russian market.
Cambodia’s silk is amongst the best in the world and the tradition of silk production can be traced back during the great Angkorian times. However, this industry was destroyed during the long years of war, particularly during the reign of the Khmer Rouge where everything was demolished due to “cultural cleansing”. These days the silk industry is being revived and millions of dollars were pumped into this but it is still struggling due to a lot of factors.
APAD 294: Of shapes and colours
For me, public markets are one of the best places to soak up the local culture. Psah O’Russei, or O’Russei Market, is a sprawling multi-level market building with a parking area (hotel, restaurant and a spa) on the top floor.
A view from the top of O'Russei Market
This is where I like spending a little bit more time, just looking at the skyline or at the sight below. It’s amazing that there’s always interesting things you can see from the top floor.
Psah O’Russei
Street 182
2 blocks east of Monivong Boulevard
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