Groceries and a haircut: the typical Cambodian market
Siem Reap is probably the most touristic city in Cambodia. There are several markets with little trinkets and cheap t-shirts where foreigners flock to get souvenirs. This is not one of them. This is an authentic Cambodian market, off the tourist path, where no one speaks English and all you can get are groceries and a hair cut.
Vendor crouches on the table with the vegetables she is selling, waiting for customers.
Vendor feeds her son under a fan in the humid and extremely hot market.
In most Asian countries, fair skin is considered a standard of beauty. In an attempt to look prettier, women use make-up to make their skin lighter. It's not unusual to see women that take it a bit too far.
The market had a very strong smell and the floor was wet and full of fish water.
Woman gets her hair done in the market while they watch a soap opera online on the computer. Every single market I went to had a hairdresser.
The Krama is a traditional Khmer garment. It is multi use scarf. Men wear it like a bandana, while women use it like a hood. It can also be work as a belt or just to wipe sweat of your face. You can go to the market and just pick your favorite pattern and size and the vendor will cut the fabric on the spot.
It is not uncommon to see children helping their parents in the market or just playing and running around the stalls until the day ends. As it happens in many countries in Asia, working hours are extremely long in Cambodia for those who run a small business and parents have no option but to bring children to their workplace.
Sitting on the same platform she cuts meat on, woman selects produce to sell to customers.
Mother and son entertain themselves on their smart devices while waiting for customers. In her hand, the woman has a stick with a plstic bag on the end to swat flies that are all over the place. In Asia, smartphones are slowly replacing television sets and are the main way for most of the population to get online.
In Cambodia there are no coins. All money is paper. The smalles denomination is 100 Riel, equivalent to 0.02 US dollars. This woman is handing over 3000 riel for her groceries.
Vendor pour water on her vegetables as her booth neighbor takes a nap on the hammock.
Long work hours, hot day. Nothing better than a nap in the afternoon.
Leaving the market, this little kid put her hands together as a way to say thank you and goodbye.