Don’t go converting your dollars just yet! Many restaurants, hostels, drivers and tourist sites accept payment in United States dollars (UDS). Currently, one USD is equal to 4,069.18 Cambodian riel.
A small 11.2-ounce bottle of water costs 1017.29 Cambodian riel, or about 25 U.S. cents.
My friends and I decided to go to a performance of Apsara dance, a classical Khmer dance. Before the performance, a beautiful buffet laden with traditional Cambodian dishes greeted us with a savory aroma. Unable to resist the delicious smells, we grabbed plates and began to sample the dishes. We quickly escorted our brimming plates back to the table and began sampling the local cuisine: fish amok, a bite-size aromatic custard-like fish dish steamed and served in banana leaves; savory kuy teave noodle soup prepared with egg noodles, meat and greens, and num sang khya L’peou, a sweet pumpkin custard. Hidden amongst all of these tasty dishes I found a new favorite, lort cha, short thick noodles garnished with bean sprouts and topped with an egg.
I was listening to Carvan Palace, an electro-swing band from France.
I really enjoyed visiting the Tonle Sap Lake’s floating village. I loved floating along the river, lying on the prow of the brightly-colored boat as we drifted by families preparing for meals, washing clothes and watching their children play in the water.
