A Walk Through A Khmer Psah

Psah means market in Khmer.

Located roughly mid way between Angkor and the remote jungle temple of Beng Mealea, and far from the tourist heart of Siem Reap, is one of the largest Psah’s in the area, where villagers from surrounding hamlets buy and sell produce.

No sign of tourist tat here, no souvenir T shirts or statuary. This was pure village barter. Of mostly fresh produce, ranging from vegetables, molten jaggery and tamarind, to fish paste and lotus seeds!

But most captivating of all were the people. Simple, happy rural folk, who seemed totally amused by my curiosity and apparent delight.

Take my advice, skip the night market in town….this is the original Psah.

Don’t believe me? Come see for yourselves…..

Village market, Siem Reap
Fish vendor
Village market, Siem Reap
Fish Paste Vendor
Village market, Siem Reap
Shy casava and fruit seller
Village Market, Siem Reap
No this one was not for sale, or I would have snapped him up 🙂
Village market, Siem Reap
Buying fish
Village Market, Siem Reap
tiny clams ‘cooking’ in the afternoon sun!! I believe they are eaten straight from that tin sheet!!

 

Village Market, Siem reap

Village Market, Siem Reap
Pork stuffed crepe….I forget the name.
Village market, Siem Reap
Pretty lotus seed seller

Until next time………..happy travels, no matter where life takes you 🙂

 

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Madhu is an Interior designer turned travel blogger on a long sabbatical to explore the world. When not crafting stories on The Urge To Wander, she's probably Tweeting @theurgetowander or sharing special moments on instagram.com/theurgetowander

40 thoughts on “A Walk Through A Khmer Psah

  1. Reblogged this on World Changing for Optimistic Dummies and commented:
    This is beautiful. I think sometimes we forget that it’s ok to live simply. Simplicity doesn’t always equate to unhappiness or poverty. We can try to fix the world, but that doesn’t mean that we need to impose with our Walmarts and MacDonalds.

  2. Wow the colors are so inviting and vivid. Everything looks yummy especially that cute baby in the basket LOL! 🙂

  3. Amazing photos – loves this market atmosphere and lacks a similar sentiment in Europe – where it often becomes too cold not cool factory-like – excellent captured… 🙂

  4. I’ve not visited Angkor – on my “to do” list.

    Love to visit a raw village in action – barter? That would be fun.

    Thank you Madhu,
    Eric

  5. We love to peruse local markets and this one looks fabulous. Your photos have definitely captured the flavor of the area Madhu. Your new header photo is quite lovely.

  6. Love these shots Madhu – each one so vivid and full of life! I can almost imagine the sounds and smells you encountered inside the psah. That pork-stuffed crepe looks very similar to what I had in Vietnam; I think the Cambodians call it ‘bahn chao’.

  7. What can I say…. your pics are worth a thousand words…. and these, they climb right out and sink into my heart like a wish…. beautiful post… again!

  8. I have to say, of all the pictures of markets in the world, the eastern markets are my favorite. There is just something about them that isn’t like any other place. These are wonderful photos Madhu. Thank you for sharing them!

  9. I think markets are the best way to get a sense of the people and culture of an area – your photos capture the colour, feel and sense of this area beautifully.

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