Village Market: Final Stroll Before COS

The entrance of the market I daily walked through for vegetables to stir-fry. The rice lady was right at the front so perhaps once a month I’d go by to purchase a few cans of rice. I didn’t eat a lot of rice, but was happy to occasionally treat myself with sticky rice. Close friends knowing that I’m also Lao make fun of me for loving sticky rice. It’s not really made into filler food for Cambodians; more of a snack or dessert is how sticky rice is used.

As you enter the market for the first time, or the last time as it was me (until I visit again years down along the road), you encounter the fish row! Lots of fish, favorite meat of choice for most people: affordable, tasty fried or grilled, healthy. Although sometimes an acquired taste if you begin to account or freak out on the idea that it’s from a rice paddy field vs the sea.

There are always vendors from other villages selling fabric. Wedding fabric materials are cheap around $10, then you have to pay a tailor about the same amount or more if you’re fancy to design and sew it together.

At this stall/home you can purchase some common household goods and packaged junk food I think no one ever buys. I sometimes visit to buy soap or those strings of shampoo packets. They come in a variety of brands and colors.

This is the lane I like to call freshest herbs and most mini veggies I’ve ever seen in my life. I love to buy basil, shallots, small corn and watermelon the size of a baseball here.

At this area, one could purchase PJs (a popular way to dress to go grocery shopping), underwear, bras, and other street clothes. Lots of mud, BTW, but it’s the largest market after Puok Village, when you head west of Siem Reap (capital city of Siem Reap province).

A favorite haunt in my village!!!!! A mini bakery shop. You can find all sorts of tasty treats here, including dumplings, sweet bread sprinkled with shredded pork, and sponge cake. You can purchase these things from $.12 to $.50. Sometimes they close when school is not in session because it’s their main market group.

I was scared to eat breakfast by the fresh killed meat area. The proximity was a bit intimidating for germs, etc. However, after a year, I started eating around there anyways. I figured, if I’ve had a year of baked goods by the meat area, I guess I’m okay. I usually have the best fried noodles around there, along with fresh, cold soya bean milk. If you look far back, it’s the center of the market where meat (beef, pork) is sold. No fish here.

A close up of one’s baked goods options throughout the year. One of the best discoveries walking around the market.

Chinese dough nuts. Love it for pho/noodles chopped up and greasy no matter where you buy it.

It’s kind of funny walking aroudn with a wallet. The smaller it is, the less comments I get about. But sometimes just being a foreigner with a wallet out can get some friendly banter going on: “where are your dollar bills?” or “Wow, you have lots of money.” I usually answer politely and ask about their student – sons/daughters.