Cambodia: Through the provinces, exploring beyond Angkor Wat
- Wandering clouds
- Apr 29, 2023
- 3 min read
Updated: May 4, 2023
I traveled to Phnom Penh in 2019, even today I find it hard to pronounce this name. I wonder why it is such a tongue twister. Phnom Penh reminded me about the history I had read of the country. A country spent much in turmoil under the dictatorships and a royal palace with its own stories. In hindsight traveling through the country and learning from its people I realized the turmoil had helped the people to survive the worst and adapt to many situations.
Apart from spending time in the capital city of Phnom Penh, I traveled through the provinces of Battambang, Siem Reap (home to the famous Angkor Wat, 'Wat' is referred to a temple in East Asia.
The city is really small and not much to do. One can spend a day strolling around, and my advice will be to avoid the very typical tourist options.
My recommendations will be:
Walk through the Mekong riverwalk pathway, a very pleasant walk and you can see much of the city's landmarks.
The Museum is another place I really enjoyed, it has a small cafe, and a shop which had some very exquisite products made with silk produced in Cambodia.
The grand palace and the temple in the premise is worth a visit and getting a guide is helpful to understand the history.
The silk village across the city is worth a watch especially meeting the weavers, learning the process. You will need half the day traveling to the location and back. There are food options there where you can sit by the Mekong and enjoy the local food.
About the Food , there is a lot I can say about it:
Though the food like most places in East Asia, it's less spicy and simple. The variety of rice found in this region is one of the best I have tried. It has a fragrance and subtle sweetness, it's referred to as the 'Khmer rice'.
The soups and barbecue are among the most popular local food. You will find all parts of an animal are used to make the dishes. I learned during the turmoil people had no food and whatever they could find live or dead was used to feed themselves. Mind you don't be surprised if you find the feet, tail or eyes of any animal in the soup.
The main market in Phnom Penh is a place to be to find all the variety of spices, vegetables, and local food. Its huge and takes a while to walk around if you are into food.
The street food especially the fried bananas, the baked sweet potatoes, and the coconut ice creams.
To the provinces: After a day in the city, hop off to the provinces each one has a story to tell. I found each one distinct from the other. I am sharing a few glimpses from the provinces. I will share a more detailed story on Angkor Wat in a different post.
Battambang is a small town yet seemed very busy. The place has a number of places to eat and the little town is a great place to hang out. Some colorful street arts and old houses adorned with lights and few converted into cafes and restaurants.
Siem Reap is famous for Angkor Wat, which is further from the province. The city has a lot of shops and small markets that are worth the visit. Since, its more of a tourist spot the prices are steeper. A typical artwork here is paper cutwork wall hangings which are in white. You will find them in different shapes and sizes.
As for Angkor Wat you have to get to the location by 4 am, the lines are long for the tickets and it purely depends on your luck to see the sunrise over the temple. It was not my lucky day though the sky did not disappoint with the array of colors early in the morning. More glimpses of my day in Angkor Wat in another post you can check out.
Discovering Cambodia and learning more about the culture gave me an insight into the struggles of the country which is shaping itself to stand up to the East Asian countries. If you are in the region, it's an immersive trip to this country.
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