Andy Brouwer's Cambodia Tales

Noung's Scrapbook

A picture from 1997, taken on the shore of the Western Baray. Noung gave me this picture of herself on our first meeting.This photo was taken 5 minutes after our first meeting at Angkor Wat in March 1998Noung in front of her stall at Angkor Wat in March 1998.

Noung, close to the edge of the waterfall at Phnom Kulen in early 1999.December 1999 - Noung selling her souvenirs on top of Phnom BakhengNoung enjoying the waterfalls on Phnom Kulen in early 2000.

December 1999 - Noung and her elder sister, Sokchata at Banteay SreiDecember 2000 - Noung and her sister Sokchata, her mum and friends, Phalla and RiengDecember 2000 - Noung at the Western Baray.

One of the most rewarding things about returning to a country like Cambodia is meeting up again with people you've formed friendships with on a previous visit. One such individual is Noung, who I first met when she was a 13 year old souvenir seller, in the corridors of Angkor Wat in March 1998. She was and still is, a bright and bubbly young girl, one of many vendors who eke out a living for themselves and their families amongst the main temples in the Angkor Park. Noung's family has a couple of stalls on the northern approach to the central sanctuary at Angkor Wat, where they sell the usual array of t-shirts, silk sarongs and kramas and other trinkets, as well as refreshing ice-cold drinks. The whole family get involved in the business with Noung, her elder sister Sokchata and younger brothers helping out their parents at different times of the day and in different locations. For her part, Noung has become a consumate saleswoman and is able to close a deal in at least four languages. The family live in fairly basic conditions in a small village near Srah Srang lake, have all become good friends of mine and have made me very welcome at their home on many occasions. Getting to know them has given me a window into the daily challenges they face in making a living from the souvenir business. For example, there is constant talk of moving all of the souvenir stalls out of Angkor Wat and I'm never quite sure they'll still be there when I return on my next trip. However, one face who will be missing on my next visit will be Sokchata, who married her Japanese husband on 31 December 2000 and has now moved to live in Japan. The photos above are a selection of pictures of Noung taken since our first meeting [click on any picture to view a larger version].

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