The Cambodian Fruit Seller

Cambodian Fruit Seller and Culinary Delights

 

Having just returned from a truly amazing trip to Cambodia and Vietnam, I would like to invite you to share with me some of the magic that we encountered along the way.

We arrived In Siem Reap, Cambodia which is the base for exploring the fabled temples of Angkor, the ancient capital of the Khmer empire.  We then travelled a five-hour journey by road  to Cambodia’s capital,  Phnom Penh.    Along the way, we saw countless paddy fields, water buffalo, cows and houses built on stilts to protect the homes in the rainy season.

Phnom Penh is said to be undergoing a modern renaissance and it was a  stark contrast to the quiet country life we encountered along the road.   Steeped in charm, beauty and a rich culture of ancient Khmer history,  its  people smile with a gentleness that appears unbowed  by the  wars,  genocide and  poverty that has besieged their country.

Irish Art -The Cambodian Fruit Seller
The Cambodian Fruit Seller – Oil on board 18 x 24″

This is my first painting reflecting my travels

Cambodian Fruit Seller

 

 

It is so commonplace to see the street traders selling their wares, hoping to catch your eye, hoping to engage   –   a sale, a dollar!

Fruit and Vegetable vendors on the streets of Cambodia
Going to Market

In Phnom Penh, we came upon many food markets.  These were a feast for my eyes with a humming energy ever-present. The colours, the textures, the smells of fish, fruit and fowl all mingled together to create a pungent aroma. Chickens squawked, frogs leapt and fish squirmed while underfed cats came to see what  offerings could be had.

Cooked Snakes on Skewers to eat
Crispy Snake for Sale

All kinds of food was on offer with fruits I’d never seen nor heard of before.  My imagination was rather more stretched when I saw such things as spiders being served as a delicacy.  Tourists gathered round and dared each other to taste the culinary delights.  I played my role through “observation” only!

Spiders to eat in a Cambodian Market
Spiders – Roasted n Toasted!
Crickets for sale in a Cambodian food market
Crickets ‘n all !
Suckling Pig
Suckling Pig

Crystallsing the palm sugar

The palm tree is very interesting because of how useful it is.  Every part of the tree  has a purpose,  even the roots of the tree play their part.  In this photograph, the girl is cooking the sap from the palm tree and stirring it until it crystallizes.  It is then wrapped in palm leaves and sold for cooking purposes.  This is a high quality 100% natural food product.

We also tasted some palm sugar wine and needless to say, it was delicious.

Check back soon to see my next posting on Asian charm and my next painting.

Market Day in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Market Day in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
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4 thoughts on “Cambodian Fruit Seller and Culinary Delights”

    1. Marina, looking at them was hard enough, thank you. They were huge! I did however witness a few guys eating the crickets and they told me that they tasted just like chicken. ‘Think I’ll stick to chicken!

  1. Pingback: Stairway to Heaven and Angkor Wat | Donna McGee Fine Art

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