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Reality Check No. 1: Gem Shopping

After looking at stone temples and stone carvings for several days, I decided to look at other stones. That is, gem stones.

While waiting for Padma’s plane to arrive, Toe took me to the Russian Market. According to Toe, tourists and foreigners living in Phnom Penh shop at the Russian Market because the vendors speak English. Other than gem stones, export overruns clothing, silverworks, wood carvings and other Khmer products are also sold in the Russian Market.

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Toe and her husband, D, are diplomats who, at the time we visited Cambodia, were assigned in Phnom Penh. You can read more about Toe, her Cambodian experience, her kuro-kuro at iba pa by clicking on this. 

When Toe found out we were going to Cambodia, she and D graciously extended us an invitation to stay at their place.  I wanted to get Toe and D something special. As I was not quite sure of what they needed, I e-mailed Toe to get a sense of what she wanted. Of course, Toe asked for the impossible. She wanted Kentucky Fried Chicken!  Since Siem Reap was our first stop, I could not conceive of a way of keeping fried chicken edible until we get to Phnom Penh. It therefore came as a relief when Toe later told me to bring Purefoods Corned Beef instead. Apparently, this is D’s favorite. So I arrived in Phnom Penh with my overnight bag stuffed with several cans of Purefoods Corned Beef and my special surprise for Toe and D – Poppycock and chocolate covered potato chips. (more…)