Page 11 - Cambodia Destination Guide - Alluring Asia

SHOPPING Words of Wisdom-Buyer Beware Sculptured Reproductions Bring your purchases home with you. Unless you are prepared to wait a prolonged period of time, do not have it Cambodia has excellent reproductions and shipped -- not even by air freight. copies available at reasonable prices. The intrinsic skill of craftsmen – using the same Do not purchase expensive goods of supposed high quality locally mined stone used to build the ancient unless you are absolutely sure of what you are buying. temples – produces sculptures of such quality that, with artificially induced weathering, have Unless you are an expert in gems, antiques, artifacts, etc., you even fooled some experts. There are also should not assume that it is of the highest quality or value. bronze copies of small statues, Buddha figures, heads and apsaras for sale. These can be exported freely, but if you pass through Always take the time to read the charge slips for credit card purchases before you sign them. This may seem obvious; but Thailand on the way home, remember that the in the excitement of making a foreign purchase, travelers export of Buddha figures from that country is sometimes overlook this and are unpleasantly surprised not allowed. when they return home and are billed by the credit card company. Taking a few moments to review the charge slip The Krama before signing it (and computing the exchange rate to be sure The krama is the typical and ubiquitous locally you are charged the right amount) can save you headaches worn chequered scarf. Uniquely Khmer; later. inexpensive, and immensely practical. Weaving Silk Weaving Silk in Cambodia is still handmade using traditional methods with the pattern dyed into the threads before the silk is woven, thus the task of dying and weaving a single piece can take several weeks. Older silk pieces (pre-1970) are increasingly prized. Weavers can be seen in action at the historic silk centre of Koh Dach outside Phnom Penh. Some nice handiwork comes from Kompong Cham, Takeo and Kandal provinces. Wood Carving A traditional, if sometimes heavy, addition to your baggage allowance are carved wooden apsaras (nymphs), and a variety of other attractive and decorative wooden items, including furniture, which can be shipped home. Since the quality and maturity of the wood dictates its value as much as the handiwork, care in selection is needed, especially for more expensive items, so shop around.