Markets and food

After my last very confronting blog it's back to the fun stuff for a while. While in Phnom Penn (apparently pronounced plompen or similar) we visited a few of the local markets. The first one was the night market. No photos I'm afraid but this one can be missed. To begin the night there was major traffic. I love the police here, one was standing on a quietish corner blowing his whistle and waving his arms about, another had barriers blocking a major intersection with cars,bikes,tuk tuks going in every direction. The police man at that location was sitting on a bucket playing with his phone and ignoring the traffic chaos. I spotted another sitting down apparently completely occupied with checking his pens worked. Fantastic, I'm taking some of these ideas home.
The market itself was very busy and I mean really busy. Apparently all the locals go here for dinner and to buy new clothes. There were mats laid out and families sitting down together. Very few foreigners.
The next day we headed off to the Russian Market and central market. Both of which I can recommend.
Anybody want some pork?



Everything is set out in groups so all the stores selling clothing are together, then the souvenirs and the motorcycle repairs, the fruit and veg. It's just beautiful. We were there early so got offered 'best price' cause we were 'first customer' Yeah Right!
Haggling is not as easy here and the prices are not pushed up. They are very good at placing another item with yours then charging a little more but really it's a few bucks. Great T-shirts for about $7 and much better quality than Thailand.



In the centre at the Russian market is a number of food vendors who speak no english.



So Sue and i tried to see how we would go getting some Khmer noodles. I pointed to a woman sitting and said same. The vendor held up a tin of something with a questioning tone so I said yes.
The best Khmer iced coffee was given to me. The tin was condensed milk and she thought that is what I wanted.
Next Sue pointed and we were given Khmer noodles!
Spectacular!






The lady next to us giggled when I took a photo of my food! crazy tourists! The noodles were wonderful and we felt immersed in the market. Fish was being smoked in front of us. A woman was cutting up jack fruit. The market was vibrant and alive.



The central market is much bigger and we both bought rip off sneakers and some other cool clothes as well as Cambodian scarves. No doubt there will be more market visits before we leave.
Dary our tuk tuk driver dropped us at the foreign correspondence club for happy hour and dinner overlooking the Mekong.



While the crazy traffic goes by,including a huge political demonstration for their upcoming elections.



We have now left Phnom Penn electing to take the bus to Siem Reap. Quite a beautiful trip through the countryside. Next blog will be about the Peace Home we have sponsored and now helped build.

Uke complete me!

Location:20 osaphear,Siemreab,Cambodia