Markets in Phnom Penh
City, town, or village, one of the first things I do when I arrive is find out the location of the fresh markets. Most places will have one in the morning and evening. These can be held at the same site or different parts of the town. Typically, morning markets open at before daybreak and fizzle [...]
Noodle Vendors
Walk down any street in Phnom Penh and the chances are it won’t be long before you stumble across a shop, stall or mobile vendor selling noodles. The mainstay of the Khmer diet, noodles provide a quick, nutritious and cheap meal, breakfast, lunch and dinner. Made from wheat or rice flour, they are blanched, fried [...]
Finding Beauty in Detail
I’ve been based in Thailand for the past 13 years and have travelled extensively in the neighbouring countries of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Malaysia. There are many similarities in culture, cuisine and lifestyle. And, of course, to someone has lived in and explored the region for so long, it has all become extremely commonplace. Don’t [...]
Cambodia’s Killing Fields
It is impossible to mention Cambodia without calling to mind the brutal regime of the Khmer Rouge. Two of the most visited places in Phnom Penh are Camp Cheoung Ek, one of many infamous Killing Fields sites, and Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, a former high school that became a torture centre known as S-21. This [...]
Return to Phnom Penh
I have recently returned from a few days in Phnom Penh, the first visit since I was researching my book, the Traditional Ceramics of South East Asia. That was about six years ago, and the city has changed massively. The red dirt roads that once dissected Phnom Penh have been topped with asphalt, the skyline [...]
Yangon Bites
Continuing the foodie theme, here’s a couple of shots of street eats in Yangon. A few more can be seen in the Food Gallery. Burmese food is an intruiging mix of Thai, Chinese and Indian influences, resulting in a distinctive cuisine that is still largely unknown outside the country. To be honest, eating street [...]
Street Eats in Bangkok
Thailand has a stunning variety of street food. Towns teem with stalls serving a bewildering array of culinary delights. Any visitor to the country is strongly advised to occasionally forego the flashy restaurants and opt for a cheap and cheerful street treat. Dining street-side in Bangkok is an extraordinary experience, a feast for the eyes as [...]
