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By
May Titthara.
Photos by: Bobby Viceral. |
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Sothearos Boulevard in
front of the Royal Palace.
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While tired bargain hunters may think
they've exhausted all their shopping possibilities
by nightfall, a cluster of night vendors working
outside Orussey Market may change their mind. At
the end of a busy workday, businessmen and women
pack up their wares and seal their day stalls to
make room for night sellers, already unpacking small
bags of snacks for hungry passersby.
Folks tired from a long day at work or school often
answer the call of a hungry stomach by stopping
for a taste of noodle soup with beef, baby duck
eggs, a mixed fruit shake, mixed sweet bread with
meat or Chinese rice soup with pork. These foods
and more can be bought from mobile venders crowding
Phnom Penh's city streets, as well as in the provinces.
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The city offers countless sites
for hungry travelers to stop for a rest and a
bite to eat. Vendors crowding Charles De Gaule
Street and Monivong Boulevard often cater to theatergoers
after a night at the cinema. And both budding
couples and long-term loves often take advantage
of these moon-lit food stalls, transformed by
the glittering street lights into romantic dining
experience.
The warm night air often proves to be too uncomfortable
for Cambodians to enjoy an open-air dinner, sending
many to seek shelter in an air-conditioned market.
Wealthy Khmers and foreigners make frequent trips
to supermarkets like Pencil, Lucky or Big-A to
pick up needed groceries, buy presents for friends
or simply peruse the shiny new items put on display.
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The sparkle of street
lights transform the dark Cambodian night
into a dream-like fantasy land.
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Sisowath Quay on the river
front.
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The price of products sold in these
modern supermarkets is more expensive than those
for sale in ordinary markets, yet shoppers still
flood the narrow aisles in search of up-to-date
items in a comfortable and clean setting. Many folks
heading to Lucky or Big A want simply to try something
new. A taste of a fast-food Lucky burger or a cake
and fried chicken from BB World may be old news
to travelers, but are new and exciting to Cambodians.
The Soriya Mall and the Parkway Square Center also
offer comfortable shopping experiences, providing
high quality items in an air-conditioned environment.
Watch out for the prices, though. They can reach
as high as the tall ceilings if you do not bargain.
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The riverside makes for a beautiful
backdrop to a night stroll following a memorable
sunset. The fresh air blowing over the Tonle Sap
cools even the sweatiest brow, as does a drink
of iced coffee sipped while writing home at a
local Internet shop.
Vendors also flock to this riverside area, as
well as to the Royal Palace front. More brave
diners can sample the fare here, where Cambodians
enjoy eating Lot Cha, cane juice, creepy insects
and other delicacies including worms, grasshoppers
and water beetles.
A new development near the Naga Casino has recognized
the riverfront's potential for growth.
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Sisowath Quay on the river
front.
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Considered an attractive gathering
ground for families and friends, the large expanse
of green stretching from Independent Monument
to the casino often is crowded with fresh mangos,
lotus fruits and rambutans, as well as people
to eat them. Young couples also like to sample
more personal treats, experimenting with a peck
on the cheek or a handholding session.
As the sun sets on Phnom Penh, don't let darkness
blind your vision of all the city has to offer.
Under the twinkling of stars and streetlights, memories
are to be made eating local food and falling in
love- with Cambodia. |
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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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