Old Market, Siem Reap

December 21st, 2008 - 12:33am

Shopping in the Old Market at Siem Reap, Cambodia.

The Old Market at Siem Reap is both a tourist market and a functioning local market. Shops along edge of the market complex, on the busiest main street are almost exclusively tourist shops. However, if you venture further in or around the corner, you’ll see shops still catering to locals.

Food stalls are contained mostly in the centre, and on the first visit the smell is nearly overpowering; rotting vegetables, meat and other less-easily identified odours force themselves upon you.

The market is like a rabbit warren, further inside it is dimly lit and wares are piled in a ramshackle manner to the roof. Stallholders often climb upon piles of their wares to get to other items higher up.

Coupled with calls of “Hey Mister, you buy, you buy?”, “Buy something OK?” and similar requests make for an intense, dizzying and interesting experience.

Tags: asia 2008, cambodia, food, market, old market, photoblog, siem reap