Cambodia Siem Reap Old Market

The old market is where you do most of the shopping and bargaining. The market sits on a triangular piece of land and surrounded by shop lots. You can find all sort of things to buy in the market.

The most prominent stalls are the souvenir stalls as they occupied the outer perimeter lots (1st and 2nd bottom). However, if you take a step inside, then you'll find a stretch of wet market stalls selling vegetables, chickens and fish. Watch your steps here as the path is muddy and wet especially if it just rained. Just around the corner are shops selling gold and silver accessories like earings, bangles etc. They are cheap although I cannot tell if they are legit.   

If you're hungry, there are stalls selling food and drinks in the old market as well. Most common on the menu is fried rice and noodle and they usually costs you less than USD2 depending on the variety. The surrounding of the old market is interesting too. Some of the unique decorations that can be seen around the old market (Bottom). The infamous "Red Piano restaurant and guesthouse" is also within sight (2nd bottom). The Red Piano is of course the place where Angelina Jolie and her Tomb Raider crews stayed and dined. In fact, you can even order a cocktail named after the movie in the restaurant (3rd bottom) which is what I did.

The back alleys of the shop lots surrounding the old market (1st bottom). Don't you just love the quaintness and tidiness? Bars are abundant here in Siem Reap so no worries about getting your pine of beer after a hot day out at Angkor. I found one Irish bar just around the corner (2nd bottom).

For the less faint-hearted, not far behind me just across the bridge is the new market of Siem Reap (1st bottom). The new market is mostly for the locals so this is were you should go if you are interested to experience the real cambodian lifestyle. In this market, you can expect things like fried cockroaches purchasable as snacks. However, if you feel you had enough of exploring for the day and would like to go somewhereelse, don't fret because getting a tuk-tuk is just as easy as waving your hand (2nd bottom).