Psar Chaa (the Old Market) in Siem Reap is good for buying jewellery, clothes, handicrafts and gifts for home and while not as good as the Central Market in Phnom Penh for seeing local produce, still well worth a visit. It’s also close to Pub street if you want to combine a visit with a meal.
It’s fun to try the street food in Cambodia and Siem Reap is a good spot to do it. Team up with an organised tour like Intrepid’s Siem Reap Street Food By Night Tour Urban Adventure or do it yourself, just keeping a few tips in mind.
Like Romdeng (and Friends) in Phnom Penh and Makphet in Vietianne, Marum is a Friends International training restaurant. Like the others, it has a lovely setting, creative, beautifully presented and delicious dishes that innovatively blend Cambodian cuisine with western expectations. Do not miss eating here if you are in Siem Reap. (Tip – the desserts look beautiful, but the drinks are more amazing!)
Lotus, jackfruit and coriander hummus with toasted baguette $3.75 US
Smokey eggplant dip with Indian crackers $3.75 US
Coconut beetroot and young bamboo salad with pumpkin seeds and basil dressing $4 US ( nice dressing but otherwise mainly just leaves)
Fresh rice paper rolls with grilled peppers, goat cheese and tamarind chiili dip $4 US
Khmer pork salad with fresh mint and lime chilli dressing $4.50 US
Stir fried tree ants with beef, lemongrass and chilli $6 US (excellent)
Crips and creamy silk worms with spicy green mango salad ( excellent!) $4.50 US
BBQ pork ribs with apple be radish salad $5.50US ( not the best pick)
Pumpkin and roast duck courgettes with hoisin sauce ( a bit bland)
Stir fried beef with Khmer rice wine on local greens $7.50
Heart of Banana with Chive, Bean Sprouts and Spicy Galangal Dressing $4 US (not the best pick)
Grilled Beef fillet with jack fruit, Green Pea Mousse, Wing Bean salad and Kampot Pepper Sauce $7 US (excellent)
Kampot pepper and chocolate cake with passionfruit sauce $5.50 US ( a good pick)
Coconut crème brûlée with kafir lime and cashew nut shortbread ( perhaps the best pick) $4.25 US
Banana fritters with palm sugar caramel and lemongrass galangal ice cream $4 US
Coconut tart with chilli icecream and fruit compote $4.50 US
Beetroot, Pandan and Coconut Rice Cake with Chocolate Sauce $3.50 US (good pick )
Makphet’s watermelon and citrus freeze $3.25 US (excellent)
Irresistible strawberry shake with green peppercorns $4US (not the best pick)
Pomelo and Citrus Freeze $3 US (good)
Banana and Jack fruit milkshake $3.75 US (excellent)
Tamarind and Pineapple Daiquiri $4.25 US
Green apple and mint shake $3.25 US (good)
Young coconut and lime smoothie $3.25 US
The annual Water Festival (October/November) is a great time to visit Cambodia.
While it makes it busier on the streets, it is so lovely to see everyone so excited and enjoying simple pleasures like picnic dinners.
The build up is also good as people prepare for the festival, practising for boat races, visiting fairs and eating at the many food stalls set up for the occasion.
Even in small towns like Banteay Chhmar it’s lots of fun, but for the full experience head somewhere bigger like Siem Reap where lots of the action happens along the river.
Local restaurants and hotels set up outdoor kitchens selling everything form stir fries to BBQ.
Food stall Somadevi
Banteay Chhmar Temple is not worth a special visit in its own right (when there are so many amazing temples close together in Siem Reap), but it is well worth including as an activity if visiting Banteay Chhmar for the community based tourism home stay program.
Like everything in Banteay Chhmar, it’s a chance to do the ‘local thing’ and unlike the Siem Reap temples, Banteay Chhmar Temple is peaceful and quiet, in think lush vegetation with few other tourists. You will need a guide to show you around but visits can be arranged and for around $6-$10 US depending on the size of your group.
You can have a picnic dinner or lunch at the temple. (The one shown above is a very expensive option, but there are other more casual, inexpensive options through the home stay program.)
The best times for picnics are December to May when it’s dry and insects are not a problem.
The Bateay Chhmar Community Based Tourism (CBT) Homestay Program in northern Cambodia, close to the Thai border is well worth considering for your Cambodian itinerary.
This innovative and entrepreneurial initiative offers visitors a chance to really interact with locals who are just so friendly and welcoming that it’s worth visiting just to experience such while community hospitality. It’s amazing value and all profits are shared amongst the local community.
While homestay arrangements are basic, and would be very hot in hot weather, meals are good and it’s great fun to wonder and ‘chat’ to locals.
$7 US a night gets you a bed with a mossie net in someone’s home, a simple bathroom and electricity in the evening. Showers are cold, toilet can’t take paper, and best to brush your teeth outside. (A torch is essential for navigating the stairs and bathroom in the night.)
Homestay Khoeun Sreymom is a good pick if you have a choice as the CBT co-ordination Mr Sopheng speaks good English.
His wife and daughter are delightful. There are also hammocks for relaxing.
The corner shop sells great Khmer cakes at around breakfast time. The gelatinous rice cakes with palm sugar and coconut are wonderful.
Meals can be eaten at the CBT restaurant and it’s possible to watch it being prepared, and even help.
Lunch ($4 US)
Soup with vine growing green Stir fry with chicken
Dinner ($4 US)
Tom Yam Soup Stir fried pork and cauliflower
Flattened rice with banana and with sugar and coconut
Breakfast ($2 US)
Stir fried noodles and pork Fried/steamed rice and omelette
Grilled pork and rice
Visits to the Banteay Chhmar temple can be arranged and for around $6-$10 US depending on the size of your group, you can have a picnic dinner or lunch at the temple. The best times for picnics are December to May when it’s dry and insects are not a problem. You can also hire a bike for $1.50 a day.
Visiting around the time of the Water Festival in October/November is fun as teams prepare for the boat races and families enjoy the local night festival. Pick ups from Battamband and Soen Reap can also be arranged.
To book email:
info@visitbanteaychhmar.org
visitbanteaychhmar@gmail.com
or phone:
+855 (0) 97516 5533/+855 (0) 12435660
In a poor country, you need to make the most of all sources of nutrition!
The best are the silk worms and red tree ants, the worst is the deep fried frog, which is full of small bones.
Country rat
Snake
Quail
Silk worms
Quail eggs
Duck eggs with duck embryos
Deep fried frogs
Minced frog kebabs
Deep fried tarantulas
Sticky rice in bamboo, roadside
Red tree ants
A variety of insects
A ‘don’t miss’ activity in Battambong, is a ride on the Bamboo train.
Taking about 30min and costing $10US, or less if more than one person, the train travels at around 14km per hour through lush vegetation and rice paddies to a small village and back.
Sunset rides are popular, stopping at a bridge to take great sunset photos.
Great interaction with local villages.
A great experience while in Battambong, is a home cooked meal at the Sambath’s.
For $10US the delightful Mr and Mrs Sambath host you to a delicious three course Khmer meal.
Deep fried eggplant ( a favourite)
Banana flower and chicken salad
Khmer Chicken curry
Mixed vegetable Stir fry
Fish amok in banana leaf
Pumpkin with baked custard Baked tapioca custard ( delicious)
To book:
email sambath_9@yahoo.com
Phone: 012639350/098639350
Cooking classes also available.
The Stung Sangke Hotel in Battambang is a business style hotel catering for groups.
(For some boutique hotel ideas see the May 2014 Delicious Magazine article)
It’s strengths are a lovely pool, great value massage at $6 per hour, good Khmer coffee at breakfast and rooms of good size.
Room 318
It’s weaknesses are the lack of a room safe and a breakfast buffet that isn’t so tasty ( omelettes or eggs cooked to order are the best option).
Fine Eating 