The Burning of Psar Jah

Phnom Penh city, Cambodia - July 24 2015 - Upon returning to Cambodia I awoke to see through my hotel window that somewhere in the vicinity of Phsar Jas (Old Market) burning, and surely enough: http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/300-stalls-old-market-scorched

Somlor Jaray-ung K'nao

Battambang province, Cambodia - July 5, 2015 - There are many foods and ingredients never used in Western societies in this part of the world that are... for want of a less cliched term... nutritious and delicious. I'll just pretend I never said that. But the facts are that stuff you might think is gross, or discard in the bin as "inedible" is in fact - THE BOMB. This is a less common, homemade Cambodian dish called somlor jaray-ung k'nao, translating to jackfruit rag soup. Bittergourd, morning glory, fresh chili, garlic, and dried fish is simmered with the "rag" of the jackfruit - the part that surrounds the fleshy, readily edible pods within the jackfruit's rugged shell. The two main bowls are same soup, and you can see on the right-hand side that it is served with the incredible ombul bok (see my post on what ombul bok is and how to make it here).

Gauntlet - Coda: Koh Ta Kiev

Koh Ta Kiev, Kompong Som province, Cambodia - 14 August-2 September, 2014 - After sorting some stuff out at home, it was time to relax for a couple of weeks at a very remote, hidden place.

There was a very strange and penniless Englishman on the island making a subsistence living off the land. His foraging skills, however, only allowed him to cruelly roast alive a giant hermit crab. For the sake of his dignity, I shall not post his name or face here.

Upon interrogation the cows told m: "WE RUN DIS BEACH."

Aforementioned Englishmen would also fill his stomach by chasing these small frill-necked lizards around with a machete, brutally hacking them into pieces, and then nibbling on the remnants of their crispy charred skin over the fire.

Best of friends.

See the rest of the our Cambodia/Thailand/Burma/Laos trip:

Episode 1: Pailin, Cambodia
Episode 2: Bangkok, Thailand
Episode 3: Mae Sot, Thailand
Episode 4: Yangon, Myanmar
Episode 5: Bagan, Myanmar
Episode 6: Mandalay, Myanmar
Episode 7: Vientiane and Vang Vieng, Laos

Gauntlet - Episode 1: Pailin

Cambodia, Pailin province - Jun 24-26, 2014 - And so, we embarked on our first travelling trip together. It was to be an emancipatory journey of mutual discovery. However, I have now dubbed it "Gauntlet" because of poorly-planned, nerve-wracking hassle it sometimes ended up being. Luckily, I will endeavour to present the more interesting things I managed to capture on our three week gauntlet through Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos, instead of boring you with any less-than-humorous details of logistical fuckups and whatnot elses. Pailin is a very small province located on the Cambodian-Thai border, wedged in between the Cardomom Mountains in the South and the rice fields of Battambang to the North. Once one of Pol Pot's most infamous strongholds, it's now mainly farmland, as well as an attraction for scientists who are researching a medicine-resistant strain of malaria that has cropped up round there. It is very peaceful and calm in the hills.

Matt's selected readings (Brunner, Lewis, Hesse, Lao-English/English-Lao Dictionary).

Neng's selected readings (Shakespeare, Rousseau, world history, important names of science).

Memoria Palace is a beautiful, quaint little place nestled at the foot of the mountains. At $35 per night in low season, I'd highly recommend it.

There are plenty of geese running around.

And other things.

There is not a whole lot to do in Pailin, but go to fruit farms. These are saomao (rambutan) trees.

Turain (durian).

Delicious lychee-like fruit called ________________ in Khmer. English name unknown.

One of the main crops of Pailin is doh-loang (cassava).

A spot of earth where they dig gems out of. Unfortunately, the machine was not present that rainy day.

See the rest of the our Cambodia/Thailand/Burma/Laos trip:
Episode 2: Bangkok, Thailand
Episode 3: Mae Sot, Thailand
Episode 4: Yangon, Myanmar
Episode 5: Bagan, Myanmar
Episode 6: Mandalay, Myanmar
Episode 7: Vientiane and Vang Vieng, Laos
Coda: Sihanoukville, Cambodia

The Prasats of Battambang, Part II - Snung

Cambodia, Battambang province - January 30, 2014 - Prasat Snung is a small 12th century ruin, making it just post-Angkorian. It lies about forty-five minutes Southwest of Battambang.

Me...

Three stupas behind the pagoda are made of red brick.

My gorgeous sister and some obligatory temple kids.

The ruin at the front of the temple sits directly on the street. It's made out of larger red bricks.

The Prasats of Battambang, Part I - Phnom Banon

Battambang province, Cambodia - February 14, 2014 - This little series is not really to document the prasats, but rather just my trips to them. They can be seen in their full splendour in Cambodia.

Neng.

Small children follow people around with fans for 500 - 1000 riel.

What many people don't know about Phnom Banon is how dangerous it is.

A boy's reaction to my mum doing a drawing up there.

My mother's drawing.

It is on this tree, that by Cambodian legend, you shall ever climb naked if you commit adultery.