Written on June 30, 2012 at 5:32 pm by Christine Ka'aloa

9 SurprisingThings about Khmer Lifestyles in Phnom Penh

Filed under Interesting People of the World, Phnom Penh, Photo Essays {12 comments}

A city is interesting when you walk it’s streets. Phnom Penh coal seller

As a tourist and traveler, I find it occasionally frustrating to view the inner antics and life of city from a bus or tuk-tuk enroute to another destination. I may see something culturally peculiar or fascinating, but only get a fly-by record of it.

But before I can raise my camera, the event is gone…

Before I can sniff the scent of it’s natural air, I’m inhaling exhaust.

I believe you need to be in the streets in order to truly get a better sense of a place or culture.

The streets are the veins, which make up the body of a city and a place can look very different, when you’re walking through it. The streets tell you that there’s a richer story to be told about its people and it’s more than just famous landmarks, historical museums and amusements..

In my last post, I uncovered a lot of cool places that weren’t listed in my guidebook, simply because I decided to see the city by foot.

Here’s a few more things about Khmer folk you’re gonna love…

Khmer people & their jobs

bike washers . Moto parking attendant for the mall … motorbike valet service? . barber Street barbers . food market Market sellers . phnom penh Khmer craftspeople, making and selling items for religious purposes. . Girl offers service to seal protective covers over iPhone & mobile phones (a popular service for the youth with technology)

Status

As you may have guessed, the majority of the population gets around by way of motorbikes, so much of the lifestyle revolves around motorbike culture. Only the wealthy own cars and ironically, SUV’s are the vehicles with seemingly the highest status in Phnom Penh.

But they’re not just any SUV; their names are emblazoned on the side of the doors to show their brand.

… & bike washes! customers wait for their bikes

SUVs for the wealthy

Food

If you’ve read my post on Fear Factor Foods in Cambodia, you’ll get an ample eyeful of things I’ve collected from walking the streets of Phnom Penh. It’s enough of a culture shock to make you question Cambodian food. Rest assured, Cambodia has many restaurants and foreigner-friendly food too. By why take pictures of that?

Poultry sellers (Not quite ‘free range’, but not caged either) . . Khmer craftspeople and sellers Produce sellers . crabs Preparing and cleaning crabs on the street near my guesthouse . bananas Bananas anyone? . Street food cafes

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Health Services

(Above) Khmer Doctor/Medical Service ; . (Below) Dentist
Pharmacy store
pharmacy southeast asia

Transporting Goods

They certainly aren’t as creative as the Vietnamese, with stackable items all perfectly balanced on a motorbike. Phnom Penhers are much more chilled out. Still, here’s a couple of interesting means of moving things around.