There's a recent article in a photo magazine (Shutterbug, Sept. 2012) titled "Middle of Nowhere" where the author talks about searching for "authentic" photos in places that are not touched so much by the modern world.  What he said struck a chord with me:

In these remote areas the gathering place is the market, where individuals and families bring what they grow or make to sell or trade with others who are bringing what they grow or make.  What these markets - and my pictures of them - reveal is the dependence these people have on each other for their needs, and how important it is for each person to be able to contribute, to produce something of value."

I found photographing the markets exciting, and the places where I captured some of the most interesting images.  So I've decided to end the blog entries of the trip where it started ... the first market in Cambodia.  It was in a small village in Cambodia near the "monuments."  This village wasn't isolated, but neither had it been found by the tourists.  We saw two other Caucasians while we were there.

I've condensed the images from that market into three categories.  The first are shots of some of the non-food products for sale.  The second and third entries will include shots of the food items ... some yummy; some not.  And the final two entries will feature the women of that market.  I hope you enjoy these last entries of the trip. Thanks to all of you who stayed with it for so long!

The Cambodian Village Market ... For Sale:

Can you guess what this is?  NO, it isn't what you think!  It is not Johnny Walker Red Label Scotch.  No, it is not cooking oil ... It is gasoline for the scooters and it is sold by the liter.  You're looking at the storage tanks of the local gas station ... all above ground!

Wow, a modern, flat screen TV being carried on the modern equivalent to the horse/donkey of previous times.  I wonder how they get electricity?

Maybe this is the answer ... batteries being charged at a central location in the market.  There were hundreds of them getting new juice.  They may be for all the scooters and bikes in use, but my theory is they are used in the remote locations not yet served by the Cambodian power company.  Electricity by battery to run those items now considered essential in our world.  FWIW, I remember in the 80's driving through a Chinese village after dark and seeing an entire village gathered around the one and only TV ... it might be a little more modern now in SE Asia but maybe not really so much different?  When you are next asked to vote on the development of a power plant of some kind, remember that in our modern societies the consumption of electricity is directly correlated to that societie's GDP.  It is a good proxy for measuring the standard of living of any geopolitical entity.

It is hot an sunny out, and like everywhere in the World, women's clothing is always a seller:

Polka-dots and bright colors seem to be in fashion:

More:

In case you don't want one of the motored two-wheel machines:

No need to read Cambodian to understand this sign:

Oh Yeah!  Good stuff ...

Next up in the SE Asia story shows off some of the food possibilities that can be obtained from the market!

As always, I hope you enjoyed this post, and thanks for looking!

Adam

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