There is some excellent shopping to be had in Cambodia, particularly in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. As well as the inevitable range of souvenirs, there are many high-quality handicrafts made to support disadvantaged groups in Cambodia.

Antiques

Cambodia has a reasonable range of an¬tiques, although a lot disappeared or was destroyed during the war-years. Popular items include textiles, silver, swords, coins, ceramics and furniture, but when buying antiques be very careful of fakes - they are extremely common in this part of the world. If the prices seem too good to be true, then they usually are and you'll end up with a well-aged, modern copy. This is particularly the case with 'old' bronzes from 'the time of Angkor' and a lot of 'ancient' Chinese pieces. It is important to remember that ancient sandstone carvings from the Angkorian or pre-Angkorian periods can¬not legally be taken out of the country.
For those coming to settle in Cambodia for any length of time, there are some very nice pieces of antique furniture available in markets and shops in Phnom Penh, with Chinese, French and Khmer influences all evident.

Bargaining

It is important to haggle over purchases made in local markets in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, otherwise the stallholder may 'shave your head', the local vernacular for 'rip you off. Bargaining is the rule in markets, when arranging share taxis and pick-ups and in cheaper guesthouses. The Khmers are not ruthless hagglers, so care should be taken to not come on too strong. A persuasive smile and a little friendly quibbling is usually enough to get a good price. Try to remember that the aim is not to get the lowest possible price, but a price that is acceptable to both you and the seller. Remember back home, we pay astro¬nomical sums for items, especially clothes, that have been made in poorer countries for next to nothing, and we don't even get the chance to bargain for them, just the opportunity to contribute to a corporate director's retirement fund. At least there is room for discussion in Cambodia, so try not to abuse the situation. And remember, in many cases a few hundred riel is more important to a Cambodian with a family to support than to a traveller on an extended vacation. After all, no-one bargains over a beer in a busy backpacker bar, so why bargain so hard over a cheap bottle of water?

Artwork

The choice of art was, until recently, limited to the poor-quality Angkor paintings seen throughout the country. However, the selection is improving in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Psar Chaa in Siem Reap and the art shops in Phnom Penh are good hunting grounds, and there are a number of upmarket galleries in hotels in the capital.

Clothing

Many international brands are made in factories around Phnom Penh, including Colombia, Gap, Levis and Quiksilver; there is a lot of leakage, with items turning up in Psar Tuol Tom Pong in Phnom Penh at very reasonable prices.

Sculpture

The beauty and intricacy of Cambodian sculpture is evident for all to see around the temples of Angkor and in the National Museum in Phnom Penh. There are many skilled stone carvers within Cambodia today and replica sculpture is widely available in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Popular items include busts of Jayavarman VII and statues of Hindu deities such as Shiva, Vishnu and Harihara. Do not attempt to buy ancient stone sculpture in Cambodia: looting is a huge problem in remote parts of the country and it would be grossly irresponsible for any visitor to add to the problem.

Silk ft Textiles

Cambodia is world renowned for its exquisite silk, much of which is still tradition¬ally hand woven and dyed using natural colours from'plants and minerals. The best silk comes from Kompong Cham and Takeo Provinces, but not all the silk sold in Cam-bodia originates here (some is imported from China and Vietnam). Concerted efforts are underway to reintroduce mulberry trees and locally cultivated silk across the country. There are silk farms in Stem Reap and some of the other provincial centres renowned for silk. Some of the best places to buy silk include Artisans Angkor  in Siem Reap, which also operates branches at the international airports, at recommended shops in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap that support disabled and impoverished Cambo¬dians, and at Psar Tuol Tom Pong in Phnom Penh. In the provinces, there are several high quality silk operations, including Mekong Blue  in Stung Tr&ig and Joom Noon  in Tbeng Meanchey.

Silver

Cambodian silver is valued overseas for the detail of hand-carving on most of the pieces. However, not all silver has that much silver content, so it is important to be careful what you buy. Cambodian silver ranges from copies with mo silver, to 50% silver alloy, right up to pure silver. Reputable establishments will often tell you die purity of their silver, but market sellers might try to pull a fast one. The easiest way for novices to determine the quality is to feel the weight. Pure silver should be heavier than alloys or plate.

Woodcarving

Woodcarving is a rich tradition in Cambodia and there are many wooden items that make nice decorative pieces. Reproduction Buddhas are very popular with visitors and there is no restriction on taking Buddha images out of the country. There are also wooden copies available of most of the principal Angkorian sculptures, as wefl as finely carvedanimals. Weaving wheels are quite popular and are often elaborately decorated, making nice wall mounts. Betel nut boxes are plentiful, as are jewellery boxes inlaid with mother of pearl, lacquer or metalwork.