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| By
: H. Rajana. |
Souvenirs.
In Cambodia, the choice seems endless. How
can you decide? Where should you go?
From woodcarvings to silverware, paintings
of the magnificent Angkor Wat Temple or statuettes
of Cambodia's celestial dancers, the Apsara,
the array of potential gifts is endless. The
Khmer people of today are masterful creators
of handicrafts and arts. The textiles of Cambodia,
such as the beautiful silk available at almost
any market in Phnom Penh, are also renowned.
Leather goods, gems and paintings are other
items that prove perennially popular with
tourists from all continents. Bas-relief carvings
in wood, silver or stone are also much sought
after.
There are hundreds of places just in Phnom
Penh for tourists to explore for that perfect
memento besides the few major "duty-free"
shops usually promoted by tour and travel
agencies. Although most of these places may
offer somewhat similar products, some of the
shops do have some unique items |
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Souvenirs. In Cambodia,
the choice seems endless. You can buy it.
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T-shirts, bags, sarongs
and bolts of fine silk are just some of
the items available for souvenir hunters
at most Cambodian markets.
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brought
to them by villagers from distant province.
Some of these products are unique and typical
of the place where they come from. For example,
fine silk pieces with motifs of little elephants
are typically from the province of Takeo.
Artistic miniature earthenware is uniquely
the product of Kampong Chhnang. These make
good souvenirs to take home for friends.
Below are a few good places in Phnom Penh
to visit for souvenirs:
-Psar Thom Thmei (New Grand Market) is commonly
referred to as the Central Market.
The front entrance to this amazing structure
is flanked by legions of souvenir shops selling
a daunting array of goods to suit almost any
budget and taste. In the middle under the
central dome are shops selling diamonds, precious
stones, watches and gold and silver items.
The eastern section of the building houses
stalls offering silver and woodcarvings of
various patterns and designs ranging from
likenesses of mythical characters of Khmer
legend to statues of the Buddha or the Lord
Vishnu.
Here, one can also find silk products like
the sampots (Khmer skirts) and krama (the
ubiquitous chequered scarf of Cambodia) as
well as fresh flowers. The western side of
the building is where locals would go to when
shopping for household pots and pans, shoes
and ordinary clothes. The other sections sell
fresh produce, fish, pork, groceries, fresh
fruits, potted-plants - even pets!-Psar
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The vendor is happy to
make a sale, the tourist is happy to have
a fine item as a souvenir, and the artist
who created it is encouraged to produce
more fine works of art for the arrival of
the next visitor
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Olympic
(Olympic Market) is basically a wholesale
market, but tucked away on the second floor,
one can still find gold jewellery, diamonds
and wide range of precious stones. There are
rubies, sapphires, emeralds, jade pieces and
more. The prices for rubies and sapphires
from the Pailin region of western Cambodia
are a little higher than those imported from
Thailand, Vietnam or Burma. This is because
the colors of these stones are said to be
more radiant and the quality better.
-Psar Tuol Toum Poung (Russian Market) has
been known by its incongruous English name
since the 1980s, probably because there were
many Russians and Russian goods alike then
at this covered market south of Mao Tse Tung
Boulevard. Now this market is the best place
in town for souvenir hunting. Especially on
weekends, it is crowded with more foreigners
than locals, bargaining for everything from
clothes to shoes, silks sampots and handbags,
woodcarvings, compact discs, antiques or pottery.
There are plenty of bargains to be had and
a few genuine antiques to be found. Genuine
Gap clothing and other
well-known labels abound at prices that must
be the cheapest in the world. |
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Silver trays, jars, jugs
and bowls, betel boxes, belts, statuettes
in silver and more can be picked up relatively
inexpensively at antique shops about 100m
north of
the Royal Palace along Sotheros Boulevard
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-Art Galleries: The bulk of these are situated
on 178 Street, between the National Museum and
Wat Sarawan. When rolled up, paintings are light
and easy to transport home for friends.
-Antique Shops: About l00m from the Royal Palace
and towards the National Museum on Sothearos Boulevard
are a scattering of "antique shops".
There bargain hunters can find silver trays, betel
boxes, belts, old coins, silver statuettes and
Pursat marble carvings.
Purchasing a souvenir from Cambodia means that
traveler takes a memory of the Kingdom of Cambodia
with them to keep forever. Every item sold encourages
local artists to keep producing their fine work
for the next tourist to purchase and enjoy. Bargain
firmly, but always with a smile, and shopping
in Cambodia can be one of your fondest memories
of a friendly, easygoing country.
Welcome to Cambodia.
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Next Article
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Suite
B8, Regency Square, InterContinental Hotel, 294 Mao Tse Toung
Boulevard,
Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia.
Tel: (855) 23 213 133 Fax: (855) 23 213 033
E-mail:
editor@leisurecambodia.com |
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