Siem Reap: Old Market & Pub Street

QY and I stayed at HI Siem Reap (it's a hostel) which was conveniently located a stone's throw away from the Old Market and Pub Street.

To be frank, I'd say that there's not much to do at Siem Reap other than to partake in the touristy things that the locals have nicely set up to cater to the crowds that go there to explore Angkor Wat.

Walking from HI to Old Market and Pub Street, you'd cross some sort of "cultural centre", where they sell souvenirs, screen documentaries about the history of Siem Reap and Angkor Wat, have a couple of bars and cafes, and also put up daily traditional dance performances. There are many talented painters as well, painting scenes of the river and Angkor Wat.

Old Market is like a pasar malam, where each store sells more or less the same stuff - silk goods, t-shirts, temple pants etc. I got a hammock and a pair of temple pants (which were really comfy, but the dye came off onto my legs when I wore them to Angkor the next day and left me rather smurfy :<).

Look out for good food around Old Market though! Street hawkers sell the most tasty stuff that satisfied our tummies after the long, grueling journey from Bangkok (that I shall blog about another day).

fried instant noodles - the best meal we had in Siem Reap

USD$1

this dumpling thing. I have no idea what it is. It's like a huge dumpling that's filled with chives, and swims in a salty-sweet broth. SO GOOD. We tried looking for the street vendor again the next day but to no avail. apparently he starts selling 'em early and retires early for the day as well.

le vendor.

Pub Street's a lot more modern, and very obviously catered to the tourists. It's teeming with pubs and restaurants that offer local and foreign cuisine, which try to outdo each other by offering free wifi and beer promos. Also massage places, spas, steamboat restaurants... and tuktuks.

Being the tourists that we were, we decided to go all out to try the Khmer steamboat. They offer you an assortment of exotic meat... we tried frog's legs, snake meat, crocodile meat and, to be safe, beef.

pre-cooked meat

Don't know if we weren't cooking it right, but the snake meat, crocodile meat and frog's legs were hella tough and not very appetizing. The soup was nice and sweet from all the veg they provided though.

washed it all down with an Angkor!

tried Cambodian beer as well -

here's us all eye-baggy after a long day of exploring Angkor.

dessert? freshly made banana and chocolate pancakes :)

loads of fish spas, if you're up for it!

We didn't spend a lot of time at Pub Street because we were so exhausted from the trip there, and effectively only had one day to explore Angkor (exhausted after as well!). It looks like a convenient and chill place to relax with a drink after a long day of exploring temples though. Don't expect dirt cheap prices! Because of that I'd recommend getting your meal from a street vendor if you're game, then chilling with drinks at Pub Street after.