A Tasty Treat

Tarantulas - A Tasty Treat

28 Jun 2013 | From Elma of Cambodia

POSTCROSSING SWAP

The postcard shows "taranchalas", a regional exotic delicacy in Cambodia, covering the shirt of a Khmer girl in Skun, Kompong Cham Province, Cambodia. 

The spiders are a species of tarantula called "a-ping" in Khmer, and are about the size of a human palm. The snacks cost about 300 riel each in 2002, or about US$ 0.08. 

The taste has been described as bland, "rather like a cross between chicken and cod", with a contrast in texture from a crispy exterior to a soft centre. The legs contain little flesh, while the head and body have "a delicate white meat inside". Elma added that she have never tried it, but have seen a lot of people eating it.

A Sacred Destination

Bayon Temple, Siem Reap

5 Jun 2013 | Isabel Reyes of Philippines

Here's another souvenir postcard from Isabel - a postcard showing the Bayon Temple. Bayon Temple is the spectacular central temple of the ancient city of Angkor Thom. The complex is located just to the north of the famous Angkor Wat.

It was built around 1190 AD by King Jayavarman VII. Bayon is a Buddhist temple but it incorporates elements of Hindu cosmology.

'Must visit' in Cambodia

The Angkor Wat

5 Jun 2013 | Isabel Reyes of Philippines

Isabel, a friend and former colleague, gave me this postcard as souvenir from her recent trip to Cambodia.

The postcard shows The Angkor Wat of the Siem Reap Province, Kingdom of Cambodia. Siem Reap, located in northwestern Cambodia, is the gateway to the world-famous Angkor temple complex, which includes the magnificent Angkor Wat. The province also contains a vibrant capital city boasting many luxury hotels, beautifully-aged colonial buildings, a buzzing Pub Street, silk farms, markets, and much more.

My first postcard from Cambodia

The Bayon Temple

13 Mar 2013 | From Elma of Cambodia

POSTCROSSING SWAP

Elma is a Filipina postcrosser from Cambodia. She's been living in Cambodia for a while now with her German husband. I'm so grateful that she decided to do this swap with me.

Angkor Thom was built as a square, the sides of which run exactly north to south and east to west. Standing in the exact center of the walled city, Bayon Temple represents the intersection of heaven and earth.

Bayon is known for its huge stone faces of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, with one facing outward and keeping watch at each compass point. The curious smiling image, thought by many to be a portrait of Jayavarman himself, has been dubbed by some the "Mona Lisa of Southeast Asia."