Comfort Food
December 22, 2008
A few food vendors pass by our office daily, selling their homemade food door-to-door, but the Nam Pachok lady is my favorite. Nam Pachok is a delicious fish curry soup that’s made with lemongrass and coconut milk. She carries all the ingredients, including bowls, chopsticks and condiments on her shoulders as she walks down the street. My mouth watered as she garnished my bowl with bean sprouts, cabbage, cucumber, banana blossom and mint. Next she layered in some fresh Khmer noodle before ladling in the soup. She waited patiently as we all finished eating since she needed the bowls back. I didn’t eat fast enough because eventually she couldn’t wait for me so Miss Kim, our receptionist, gave her one of the bowls in our office kitchen in exchange. This is definitely one my favorite comfort food of all time. Delicious.
Hike to Kbal Spean
November 15, 2007
So after breakfast we drove to Kulen Mountain and started our hike to Kbal Spean. It’s about a 40 minute hike up to an ancient river bed filled with linga carvings that date back to about the 11th to 13th century. The sacred water here irrigates the rice fields below. We stopped to eat our cupcakes and sweet banana rice cakes next to a waterfall.
It’s a beautiful forest trail along a peaceful river that symbolizes health and fertility.
It’s not uncommon for thieves to destroy and steal artifacts from the temples in and around Angkor. Where is Harrison Ford when you need him most? Here at Kbal Spean, a thief recently stole the head of this carving. There isn’t enough money and man power to prevent looting and destruction of priceless Khmer heritage.
Broken Egg Cake
November 15, 2007
On our way to Kbal Spean we stopped for broken egg cakes. This local egg farm in Siem Reap uses their broken eggs to make cup cakes. Click on the video to get a taste of these sweet Khmer treats.
Breakfast
November 15, 2007
On my last day in Siem Reap, Vir planned a hike to Kbal Spean. My return bus to Phnom Penh departed from the Capitol Tours bus depot at 12:30 pm so we had to start extra early.
By 7:30 am we had already parked next to a little village stand along a red dirt road, slurping our hot soup and noodles for breakfast.
Vir warned me not to put the vegetables in the soup. I asked, “But why do you get to to stir them into your bowl?! And anyway, I ate these same vegetables at your home on my first night here.” He was quick to respond, “We cleaned and cooked the vegetables well in my home. And my body is used to it and yours is not.” I looked over at the beautifully chopped lotus stems and almost cried. =(
Alright, I didn’t add the raw lotus stems to my soup but I could not resist the beautiful yellow blossoms and red beans that everyone else was putting into their bowls. Yes, I easily succumbed to peer pressure.
Simmering Volcano
November 14, 2007
All-you-can-cook-and-eat savory seafood and meat for about $3.50 USD per person. I had my last supper in Siem Reap near the river road at Queen’s BBQ. Perhaps tonight is THE night my innards will submit to food sickness? I kept thinking this as I stirred my raw shrimp up and down the volcano hill grill. To be safe, I over-cooked my shrimp. Terry had told me of her food experience the last time she visited Cambodia. She said that even the Imodium could not help her. (Actually she got sick from the raw vegetables so make sure your veggies are cooked!) My doc gave me Cipro prescription tablets just in case. I heard that getting sick from the food is inevitable so I kept preparing my mind for it. Thankfully, this never happened. Queen’s BBQ is a great choice for family style cooking and eating! I think Vir called this method of cooking Phnom Pleung…which translates to “climbing the hill” since the little volcano grill resembled a tiny hill. This would represent our planned climbing of Kulen Mountain the following morning.
L-R: Vir, Mal, Sam and Cham
Cham shared an ancient Khmer proverb with us:
Drink. Drink for drunk. Drink not drunk. Drink for what?
Here’s to your health in the new year! Cheers!!
Dinner with Max
November 13, 2007
I was able to see my friend, Max, in Siem Reap where we met for dinner at In Touch, a Thai-Khmer restaurant. We sat upstairs near a live rock band that had a pretty good size following. I ordered fish amok in coconut curry and Max ordered steak. The last time we had seen each other was two years ago on a small island in Portugal so it was so nice to catch up. He lives in London but we still keep in touch. Usually it’s Max writing to tell me that he just got back from Turkey or that he’s leaving on a jetplane for Belize. He gets over eight weeks per year in vacation time like most Londoners.
We walked around pub street and checked out another pub where we shared a large bottle of Angkor beer. While at the pub, the local kids came around soliciting counterfeit Lonely Planet guide books for $5. I couldn’t tell the difference. The photos looked so vivid and the binding seemed strong. So Max bought one on Malaysia and I bought one on Cambodia.
So glad we got to see each other. Until the next journey and until we meet again, dear Max!
¡Viva Mexico!
November 13, 2007
I couldn’t believe they had tacos (maybe they should’ve been called taco wraps?) in Cambodia. But then again, Siem Reap is a tourist town.
It Doesn’t Hurt to Ask
November 13, 2007
Me: Do they have ketchup?
Dav: This is a noodle house.
Me: Well, it doesn’t hurt to ask. I usually eat ketchup with my scrambled eggs.
Cambodia has some of the best noodle soups but they also have the yummiest French bread. And with this bread must come coffee and eggs. Iced coffee and fresh-baked French bread. Mmmmm.
My first Khmer meal
November 12, 2007
Puthy and Terry’s family in Phnom Penh are wonderful hosts. This is their aunt and cousin, Sam. I can only guess that Puthy and Terry told them of the Khmer food that i like to eat which is namyah (fish curry) and noodles. so they prepared that for lunch and then fried fish, cucumbers, watermelon and papaya for dinner.
I will end now because the rain just got heavier and the shopkeeper will be closing. Server is extra extra slow here so unable to upload photos to Flickr…Hope to keep in touch. Miss you all!
