[Day 7] Exploring the Central Market and the Surrounding Areas in Phnom Penh!

Featured image

It was a bit challenging to sleep today, as we went to sleep at almost 5 AM. Just beside our room window, construction work is taking place. All kinds of noises that make it harder to sleep well. In the end, we woke up at 2 PM. Construction work taking place just beside our guesthouse.

Construction work taking place just beside our guesthouse.

We decided to ride to the Central Market, the biggest market in Phnom Penh. It is located inside and on the outskirts of an X-shaped building that looks simply majestic! It's like a little city inside.

You can find fresh food, clothes, jewelry, accessories and more things of your liking. I presume that you could spend an entire day at the Central Market and still not see everything on offer. The exterior of the Central Market.

The exterior of the Central Market.

Inside the Central Market.

Inside the Central Market.

A wonderful sculpture stand.

A wonderful sculpture stand.

As we were very hungry, we were mainly looking for food. We found a little stall that was making some killer baguette sandwiches with papaya salad and skewer beef meat. You can also make the sandwiches yourself. Delicious!

After devouring the Num Pang sandwiches, we set off on foot to find someplace to drink coffee. Delicious seafood is everywhere!

Delicious seafood is everywhere!

But, I prefer grilled beef and pork skewers inside a sandwich!

But, I prefer grilled beef and pork skewers inside a sandwich!

Beautiful ladies making the Num Pang sandwiches.

Beautiful ladies making the Num Pang sandwiches.

More meat for all you meat lovers!

More meat for all you meat lovers!

Oh, I almost forgot! On the way to the Central Market, Antonio and Darian got pulled over by the police for speeding on the red light. In Vietnam, this wouldn't be a problem. Apparently, in Phnom Penh, traffic laws are reinforced if not for a sweet little bribe.

The police officer asked the guys 10$ each and let them go. Cruising around Phnom Penh on foot is highly enjoyable. Of course, you need to watch out for numerous tuk-tuks breezing through the streets, but the vibe is extremely relaxing. Feels a lot like Vietnam, but noticeably more undeveloped. A very busy intersection and a crumbling building.

A very busy intersection and a crumbling building.

Motorbike riders waiting for that green light! Yes, people here obey by the traffic rules much more than in Vietnam!

Motorbike riders waiting for that green light! Yes, people here obey by the traffic rules much more than in Vietnam!

A huge building towering above the chaotic street.

A huge building towering above the chaotic street.

The garbage situation is no different. There are walls of garbage in some streets, and the waste disposal infrastructure is flawed at best. In the end, this garbage gets dumped near the Mekong or gets burned at designated places. Not the best way to go. After a long walk, we finally managed to find a coffee place, where we sat down and learned a few Khmer phrases.

Here are some of them:

  • soos-a-day - hello
  • lee-hi - goodbye
  • sai-koo - beef
  • sek-muan - chicken
  • bai - rice
  • aw-kon - thank you

Riding back to the guesthouse, it was already rush hour. And I must say, the traffic is crazy during this hour. Lots of cars and tuk-tuks make for some skill development in maneuvering through the labyrinths they make. The traffic doesn't flow like in Saigon because of that. We relaxed at the guesthouse a bit, then walked to the Happy Pizza place, this time, full small pizza for everyone! Fun times! A Cambodian young man smiling for the camera!

A Cambodian young man smiling for the camera!

Sunset in Phnom Penh signalizes the rush hour.

Sunset in Phnom Penh signalizes the rush hour.

Tomorrow, we will check out the National Museum and Wat Phnom.

To get up to date, check out the previous chapter!

Liked the post? Follow our adventures on Instagram and Facebook!

 

Related Posts

Write Comment

Thank you! Your comment has been sent!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the comment.

No comments so far