Siem Reap, Cambodia is a tourist trap, offering a smattering of touristy goods and services to the traveller. Signs on shop windows tell you that so and so is ‘highly recommended’ by lonelyplanet/TripAdvisor/etc. A variety of cuisine: local, foreign or mashed-up line the streets while peddlers sell their wares by the roadside. Motorcycles zoom pass you every which way, and locals go about their everyday business, having adapted to tourists.
Sotong Brand Street Cart
A recent trip to Cambodia brought me, and 27 others, to the very centre of this wayfarers’ hub. While we were given little time to take in all the sights and sounds, to really experience and ‘live’ the place, I tried my hand at travel street photography. Here, then, is my first attempt at travel photo-writing-interpretation-thing. Hopefully it doesn’t come off as complete s****.
Monk on a Bicycle
Siem Reap is the gateway to the famous Angkorian temples. A law exists where all buildings located with the region cannot be built any higher than the Angkor Wat, resulting in low-rise shops and houses, with little to no ‘mega office blocks’ that are common with modern cities. In fact, describing Siem Reap as a ‘modern city’ may not be describing it at all.
Man Sharpening Knife
Street peddlers thrive along with tourist-trap storefronts on the streets of Siem Reap. A central market offers a variety of wares to locals and tourists alike. Tuk-tuks line the streets, calling tourists to take a ride as they show them their town. You can never go 20 paces without someone asking, “tuk-tuk, sir?”. Cars and motorcycles line the streets as their owners do their daily shopping while catching up on the latest gossip. Peddlers sit on their tables chatting about whatever it is people chat about.
Fruit Sellers in the Central Market
Motorcycles are the primary form of transport in Siem Reap, most likely followed by bicycles. Cars too, are cheap, as evidenced by the many Lexuses (Lexii?) on the road. Standing on a corner, one can see motorcyclists transporting everything and anything (well, anything that is possible) on their bikes, from pets to small appliances, to bicycles. The roads can be quite chaotic during rush hour, as all forms of vehicles try to go in all possible directions. Nothing compared to Vietnam, however.
Bike on Bike Action
Cambodia experiences two seasons, the wet and the dry. We arrived just in time to experience the start of the wet season as our days there were showered with blessings from above sometime around midday. The locals too, have their ways of adapting to rain, specifically when on their bikes. Raincoats are common, so are umbrellas. Some might take shelter, others brave the rain to reach their destination. One used a plastic bag.
Somewhat Functional Helmet
I haven’t the slightest inkling how to end this post. Hmm.
Dogs on a Motorbike
…And now, for something completely different.
We Don’t Use Piranhas. Trust Us.
The Wall 