Out and About With Sothai and Long

At least once a week I explore one of several open-air markets in Phnom Pehn. The experience is intense. Most markets are choking with wares and goods of all kinds. People wheeling and dealing, loads of various product - both coming and going - in all directions - through narrow isles, continuously. Each market is divided up by commodity. The smells swing wildly from fresh raw fish, beef, pork to fruit, flowers and spice. Markets here are another example of Cambodia's calm chaos.
Other than fresh fish, there is little, if any, refrigeration in these markets. While repelling to Westerners, there are some sensibilities at work here. First there is the, 'farm to market' factor. Nearly everything is cut, harvested or slaughtered the same day it goes on sale. That's fresh.
Every day at 3:00 AM, the vendors negotiate and take possession of their purchase for the day.
Come 5:00 AM, chefs for rich people (cooker's as they are known here) show-up along with the high-end restaurant folks to take the best of everything - at the highest price of the day.
As the day progresses, prices drop until most everything is sold. By 4:00 PM, the party is over.



Sothai and I have been friends for three years now. Her mother, father, brothers and sisters have been a pleasure to spend time with. Sothai has completed her undergraduate degree in banking from Phnom Penh University and been accepted for their MBA program. Before she accepts this choice, she is attempting to gain entry into one of Australia's MBA programs first.
Accurately, she understands a post-grad degree outside Cambodia is better. She has the grades, let's wish her luck.

Some fresh chicken. Feet on? you bet. One of the ways one can check the health of the bird. Cooked with the rest of the bird and served to staff gratefully.

Beef for trimming and served with rice. Cambodians do not eat slabs of beef. Here it is 70% rice, 20% beef, chicken or fish and 10% sauce.

A load of rolled foam off to market.

Long scanning the landscape with his telephoto lens.

This is the egg department of the market. It's a lot bigger than what you can see here. Chicken eggs, duck eggs, dove eggs. The list goes on.