Siem Reap Vistior Guide 59th

phnom penh

97

The Knife Shop Handmade knives and samurai swords

1372 Lady Penh (Yea Penh) fished a floating Koki tree out of the river. Inside the tree were four Buddha stat- ues. To house the Buddhas, she built a hill (‘phnom’ means ‘hill’) and a small temple (wat) at this site. Later, the surrounding area became known after the hill (Phnom) and its creator (Penh), hence the name of the city ‘Phnom Penh.’ The current temple was last rebuilt in 1926. The tower- ing stupa contains the remains of King Ponhea Yat (1405-1467) who moved the Khmer capital from Angkor to Phnom Penh the early 15th century. Look for the altar of Lady Penh between the great stupa and the main tem- ple. She is said to be of particular help to women. There are dozens of travel agencies in town, most offer- ing a wide array of ‘walk-in’ services, many located in tourists areas such as the riverfront. ‘Walk-in’ services usually include air ticketing, tours and guides, bus/boat tickets, car rental, hotel reservations, passport services, visa extensions and foreign visas. Asia Exotic Tours Walk-in, Outbound, Inbound, Air, bus, boat tickets, car rental, visas, guides, courier service. #141 Street 598 Tel: 012-898838 sales@asiaexotictours.com 078-820840 www.asiaexotictours.com Domrey Travel & Tours Half day bus tour to two historic museums - S21 and Choeung Ek Memorial, “the Killing Fields.” Price includes English speaking tour guide, audio tour, intro- ductory documentary, wifi available on the bus and com- plimentary drinking water. Museum entrance fees not included. Itinerary available on website. www.bustourkillingfields.com Tel 070-745284 Cambodian Silks Cambodian silks are prized by collectors the world over. Most of the silk available in Cambodia is hand-loomed using the traditional ikat method of dying the threads and looming in the patterns. Both raw and fine silks are avail- able in the form of bolts, sarongs, clothing and various handicrafts. For those with a special interest in silk, con- sider a day trip to Silk Island where much of what you find in the shops is loomed. Fashions Cambodia-based and local designers are producing a wide range of clothing and accessories, bringing a mod- ern twist to traditional Khmer designs and patterns. From bags created from the ubiquitous Khmer krama or stylish dresses patterned with the Cambodian ikat, check out the clothing and fashion boutiques. Foods Cambodia produces some of the finest black pepper in the world, amongst other spices and food products. Cambodian and Southeast Asian coffees and teas, palm wines and spirits all make interesting, useful sou- venirs of Cambodia. travel what to buy

Whether you’re looking for a superior slicing addition to your kitchen, or for an authentic Cambodian sou- venir, the Knife Shop caters to a wide variety of shop- pers. Praised for its excellent customer service and selection, this boutique shop specializes in Citadel knives, machetes and samurai swords, which are handmade by skilled artisans in Cambodia. Old school craftsmanship combines with new-world technologies to make products that are not only gorgeous to look at but have a quality appreciated for generations. Silverwork Silver areca containers are long popular traditional souvenirs. These pounded silver containers are usual- ly shaped as animals, fruits and vegetables, and are used in ceremonial and everyday life to hold dried areca, (aka 'betel nut,') a mild stimulant chewed as one chews tobacco. You may notice some older women with teeth stained black from years of chewing. Statues, Puppets & Traditional Art Amongst the handicrafts, statues and carvings of tradi- tional subjects are particularly Cambodian souvenirs. Leather shadow puppets, musical instruments and bas- ketry are all handmade and are also popular. Available at the traditional markets and souvenir shops.

Smateria Bags & Accessories

1) #8E0 Street 57, near St 278, BKK1 2) #7 Street 178, near the riverfront Tel: 012-647061

Smateria 's collection transforms everyday objects into beautiful bags and accessories. Whether it's a diary made from used milk cartons or purses cro cheted from discarded plastic bags, Smateria 's line of hip recycled products will surprise you with its ingenuity. Smateria specialize in bags, from trendy clutches to roomy totes and even a few especially for men. www.smateria.com Space Four Zero "A hip, must stop shopping destination" Voted Best of Phnom Penh Gift Guide and featured in The Wall Street Journal. A Unique Pop Art gallery/Music Emporium specializing in handmade limited edition Sticky Fingers Prints, which have exhibited in USA, Australia, China, Europe and SE Asia. We also fea ture Original paintings, rare Vinyl and CD's, Pop and Rock Art, Vintage posters and collectibles. Worldwide shipping available. http://spacefourzero.com Pop Art Gallery/Music Emporium #40 Street 118, near the riverside Open Daily 10AM-7pm / Tel: 069-571100

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