Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
for the betel nuts, phials for the leaves and paste, and
cutters - a bit like small shears - for slicing the nuts.
There are plenty of
religious artefacts
available too,
from wooden Buddha images and other carvings to
brass bowls and offering plates.
You may occasionally find antiquated traditional
musical instruments
, such as the
chapei
, a
stringed instrument with a long neck and a round
sound-box; and the
chhing
, in which the two small
brass plates, similar to castanets in appearance, are
played by being brushed against each other.
Compasses
used in the ancient Chinese art of
feng shui can be bought for just a few dollars; they
indicate compass directions related to the five
elements - wood, fire, earth, metal and water. You
might also be able to search out
opium weights
,
used to weigh out the drug and often formed in
the shape of small human figures or animals.
Cambodia's ancient temples have suffered
massively from looting, and although it's unlikely
that you'll be offered ancient figurines (most of the
trade goes to Bangkok or Singapore), many other
stolen artefacts - such as chunchiet funerary
statues from Rattanakiri - are finding their way onto
the market. To export anything purporting to be an
antique you'll need the correct paperwork, so check
the dealer can provide this before agreeing a deal.
Also be aware that Cambodians are expert at artifi-
cially ageing their wares and be sure that you want
the item for its own sake rather than because of its
alleged antiquity.
are used to measure out portions of rice but are also
useful back home for storing fruit and vegetables.
Silver and gold
Most
silverware
in Cambodia is sold in Phnom Penh
and produced in villages nearby, particularly
Kompong Luong. The price will give you an indica-
tion of whether an item is solid silver or silver-plated
copper - a few dollars for the silver-plated items;
more than double that for a comparable item in solid
silver. Small silver or silver-plated boxes in the shape
of fruits or animals make terrific, inexpensive gifts.
Considerably more expensive are ceremonial plates
and offering bowls, usually made of solid silver and
intricately decorated with leaf motifs. Silver
necklaces, bracelets and earrings, mostly imported
from Indonesia, are sold only for the tourist market
(Khmers don't rate the metal for jewellery) and go for
just a few dollars in the markets; modern silver
designer jewellery is also available in the NGO-run
shops and boutiques of Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.
There's nothing sentimental or romantic about
the Khmer obsession with
gold jewellery
. This is
considered a means of investment and explains the
hundreds of gold dealers in and around markets all
over the country, where it's not unusual to see local
people negotiating to trade in their jewellery for
more expensive pieces. Gold is good value and
items can be made up quickly and quite cheaply to
your own design, and even set with gems from
Pailin and Rattanakiri.
Woven baskets, rattan and
bamboo
A versatile fibre,
rattan
is used to produce furniture as
well as household items such as baskets, bowls and
place mats. In Rattanakiri you can find
khapa
, deep,
conical rattan-and-bamboo baskets fitted with
shoulder straps so that they can be worn on the back;
they cost around $10 and are still used by the
chunchiet to carry produce to market. Everyday items
made from rattan and bamboo and available in the
markets can also make interesting souvenirs,
including noodle ladles and nested baskets; the latter
Travel essentials
Climate
Cambodia remains consistently hot year-round
- seasons are defined principally by rainfall rather
than temperature (see box, p.42). The
dry season
runs from November to May, subdivided into the
so-called
cool season
(Nov-Feb), the peak tourist
period, and the slightly warmer and more humid
hot
season
(March-May). The
rainy season
(roughly
June-Oct) is when the country receives most of its
annual rainfall, although occasional downpours can
occur at pretty much any time of year.
TOP 5 MARKETS
Angkor Night Market, Siem Reap
See p.154
Banlung market
See p.228
Central Market, Phnom Penh
See p.75
Psar Chas, Siem Reap
See p.154
Russian Market, Phnom Penh
See p.90
Costs
Cambodia is one of the cheapest Asian countries to
visit, and although prices are starting to creep up,
the country still offers outstanding value.
