Cheung Prey District
Encyclopedia
Cheung Prey District is a district (srok) of Kampong Cham Province, Cambodia
. The district capital is Skuon
town. This busy market town has grown up around the intersection of National Highway 6
and National Highway 7
. Skun is around 49 kilometres east of the provincial capital at Kampong Cham
city and 75 kilometres north of the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh
.
The district capital of Skuon is also known as "Spiderville." The town has become famous with both locals and international visitors to Cambodia for its fried spider
s. The spiders are either captured in their burrows or bred for sale. First the venom is removed and then the spider is killed by squeezing the thorax. The spiders are then fried whole with garlic and salt. The practice of eating spiders in Cheung Prey began under the Democratic Kampuchea
regime in Cambodia. Eating spiders and other insects helped locals starving from the harsh policies of the Khmer Rouge
. Now that local residents have acquired the taste, the fame of the crunchy spiders has spread and people travel from Phnom Penh
just to sample the deep fried arachnae. International visitors also travel to Skun to see the spiders, but most are content to take photographs rather than sample this unusual delicacy.
of Kampong Thom Province to the north and the district of Prey Chhor to the east. To the south of Batheay is Kang Meas District and Batheay District forms the western border.
) and 74 villages (phum). According to the 1998 Census, the population of the district was 74,859 persons in 14,562 households in 1998. With a population of over 70,000 people, Cheung Prey is one of the smallest districts by population in Kampong Cham province, after Koh Soutin and Kampong Cham
districts. The average household size in Cheung Prey is 5.1 persons per household, the same as the rural average for Cambodia. The sex ratio
in the district is 95.5%, with more females than males.
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
. The district capital is Skuon
Skuon
Skuon is the district capital of Cheung Prey District, in Kampong Cham Province, Cambodia. This busy market town has grown up around the intersection of National Highway 6 and National Highway 7. Skuon is around west of the provincial capital at Kampong Cham city and north of the Cambodian...
town. This busy market town has grown up around the intersection of National Highway 6
National Highway 6 (Cambodia)
National Highway 6 or National Road No.6 is one of the national highways of Cambodia. At long, it connects the capital of Phnom Penh with Banteay Meanchey....
and National Highway 7
National Highway 7 (Cambodia)
National Highway 7 or National Road No.7 is one of the national highways of Cambodia. With a length of 509.17 km it connects Skuon with Trapeang Kreal, international border checkpoint with Laos...
. Skun is around 49 kilometres east of the provincial capital at Kampong Cham
Kampong Cham (city)
Kampong Cham is the capital city of the Kampong Cham Province in eastern Cambodia. It is the third largest city in Cambodia with a population of 63,771 people and is located on the Mekong River. Kampong Cham is 124 kilometers northeast from Phnom Penh and can be reached by either boat or by...
city and 75 kilometres north of the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia. Located on the banks of the Mekong River, Phnom Penh has been the national capital since the French colonized Cambodia, and has grown to become the nation's center of economic and industrial activities, as well as the center of security,...
.
The district capital of Skuon is also known as "Spiderville." The town has become famous with both locals and international visitors to Cambodia for its fried spider
Fried spider
Fried spider is a regional delicacy in Cambodia. In the Cambodian town of Skuon, the vending of fried spiders as a specialty snack is a popular attraction for tourists passing through this town. Spiders are also available elsewhere in Cambodia — in Phnom Penh for instance — but Skuon, a...
s. The spiders are either captured in their burrows or bred for sale. First the venom is removed and then the spider is killed by squeezing the thorax. The spiders are then fried whole with garlic and salt. The practice of eating spiders in Cheung Prey began under the Democratic Kampuchea
Democratic Kampuchea
The Khmer Rouge period refers to the rule of Pol Pot, Nuon Chea, Ieng Sary, Son Sen, Khieu Samphan and the Khmer Rouge Communist party over Cambodia, which the Khmer Rouge renamed as Democratic Kampuchea....
regime in Cambodia. Eating spiders and other insects helped locals starving from the harsh policies of the Khmer Rouge
Khmer Rouge
The Khmer Rouge literally translated as Red Cambodians was the name given to the followers of the Communist Party of Kampuchea, who were the ruling party in Cambodia from 1975 to 1979, led by Pol Pot, Nuon Chea, Ieng Sary, Son Sen and Khieu Samphan...
. Now that local residents have acquired the taste, the fame of the crunchy spiders has spread and people travel from Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia. Located on the banks of the Mekong River, Phnom Penh has been the national capital since the French colonized Cambodia, and has grown to become the nation's center of economic and industrial activities, as well as the center of security,...
just to sample the deep fried arachnae. International visitors also travel to Skun to see the spiders, but most are content to take photographs rather than sample this unusual delicacy.
Location
Cheung Prey district is in eastern Kampong Cham Province. Reading from the north clockwise, Cheung Prey shares a border with Baray DistrictBaray District
Baray is a district within Kampong Thom Province, in central Cambodia. According to the 1998 census of Cambodia, it had a population of 159,586.-References:...
of Kampong Thom Province to the north and the district of Prey Chhor to the east. To the south of Batheay is Kang Meas District and Batheay District forms the western border.
Administration
The Cheung Prey district governor reports to His Excellency Hun Neng, the Governor of Kampong Cham. The following table shows the villages of Cheung Prey district by commune.| Khum KHUM KHUM is a commercial Freeform music radio station in Ferndale, California, broadcasting to Humboldt County, Mendocino County, as well as Eureka, California, Arcata, California, and Humboldt State University on 104.7 FM. KHUM also broadcasts on translator K282AD 104.3 FM... (Communes) | Phum (Villages) |
|---|---|
| Khnaor Dambang | Roveang, Knaor Dambang, Veal |
| Kouk Rovieng | Kouk Rovieng, Totoul, Ba Krong, Chhuk |
| Phdau Chum | Phdau Chum Lech, Phdau Chum Kaeut, Chheu Teal, Cham Neang |
| Prey Char | Pnov Lech, Pnov Kaeut, Prey Char Leu, Siem Bay, Bati, Prey Char Knong |
| Pring Chrum | Pring Chum, Trapeang Tuem, Trapeang Ph'av, Ta Ni, Kaoh Champa |
| Sampong Chey | Chambak, Trapeang Sla, Trapeang Trom, Ampil Tvear, Kakaoh, Bos Ta Mom, Trapeang Chhuk, Pou, Bakham, Sampong Chey, Svay Meas, Komar, Doun Tao, Sandaek |
| Sdaeung Chey | Pongro, Sdaeung Chey, Pra Boeng, Khnar, Sangkae, Kdoy, Damnak Ampil |
| Soutip | Pana, Skon, Thmei, Ta Saen, Ngang, Doun Dom, Boeng Chrouy, Sou Tip |
| Srama | Sram Lech, Sram Kaeut, Sram Cheung, Thmei, Srama, Sangkae Pong, Pra Khnor, Kralanh, Pra Theat, Trapeang Tmat, Srah Angk Kam, Andoung Treang, Trapeang Snao |
| Trapeang Kor | Trapeang Thma, S'ang, Ang, Pra Ten, Tumpoar, Tnaot Bak, Kandal, areaks, Trapeang Kor, Kngaok |
Demographics
The district is subdivided into 10 communes (khumKHUM
KHUM is a commercial Freeform music radio station in Ferndale, California, broadcasting to Humboldt County, Mendocino County, as well as Eureka, California, Arcata, California, and Humboldt State University on 104.7 FM. KHUM also broadcasts on translator K282AD 104.3 FM...
) and 74 villages (phum). According to the 1998 Census, the population of the district was 74,859 persons in 14,562 households in 1998. With a population of over 70,000 people, Cheung Prey is one of the smallest districts by population in Kampong Cham province, after Koh Soutin and Kampong Cham
Kampong Cham District
Kampong Cham District is a district of Kampong Cham Province, Cambodia. Kampong Cham is considered an urban district. The provincial capital Kampong Cham City is located in this district. The city is located on National Highway 7 124 kilometres by road from the capital Phnom Penh...
districts. The average household size in Cheung Prey is 5.1 persons per household, the same as the rural average for Cambodia. The sex ratio
Sex ratio
Sex ratio is the ratio of males to females in a population. The primary sex ratio is the ratio at the time of conception, secondary sex ratio is the ratio at time of birth, and tertiary sex ratio is the ratio of mature organisms....
in the district is 95.5%, with more females than males.