After schooling in the morning, we set out to see a floating village. There are three in the area, but we chose Kompong Khleang because it is predominately Cambodian instead of Vietnamese. In addition, the money for the boats to the village goes directly to the village, not private companies.
The drive there was the best part. It was a long, dirt road with stilted homes lining each side, one side with a manmade canal behind that dates back to the Khmer empire (they created it to move sandstone inland), and the other side was bright green rice fields, irrigated by the canal.
This whole area completely floods in the rainy season and the only transportation is by long boats, but it is dry season, so we rode down the dusty road. This village was thriving. People were industrious, homes and streets were trash-free, many homes had flowering pots and planters, everyone smiled and waved. There was so much to see and absorb. We wanted to take a 1000 pictures to try to capture it, but we didn't want to look through our camera! We did get a few sights.
Every once in awhile Geoff asked our driver to pull over so he could take a picture of something, otherwise the pictures were taken from our moving car.
If a family can't afford a male child they'll take him to the monastery where he'll be raised by the monks. Unfortunately, girls are left on the street, and that often leads to slavery.
The village Buddhist temple is in the background, with the monk's housing around it. The monks were repairing the bridge.
We arrived to a cleared area where we got on our boat.
Along the canal the water rises up to the houses in rainy season! And the long boat is how they get around for a few months of the year.
The tower in the background is a spirit house! All of the children here capture my heart!
As we arrived in the floating village we saw small children zipping around in their family canoes.
I thought it would be a floating "island", but instead it was homes lined along the canal that just rise with the water.
Would this be considered living on the outskirts of town?
And the town school.
And then we headed back past the farm fields where the soil is rich from the annual flooding. The farmers rent the land they farm on. They grow green beans and watermelon.
Here is a little farm house. These must be built anew each year, as this is completely covered in water during the rainy season. Notice the mother bathing her little child. They use this brown, gross water to bath in and cook with! We saw several people taking a bath with it by pouring bowls of it over themselves.
A village cemetery at sunset.
The village school.
Geoff walked right up to the classroom and, when seeing it was an English class, walked in asking if he could talk with the children. He had a basic, introductory conversation before waving goodbye.
A school got out!
As we got back on the main road to Siem Reap we saw this familiar contraption, a 2-wheeled tractor.
We stopped at one of literally a hundred stands selling these bamboo cylinders filled with coconut rice and black beans. After roasting over a fire, you peel back the bamboo. A layer of the bamboo remains attached to the rice and I could taste the wood, although the rice and bean mixture was delicious. We didn't each much for fear of, you know, the cha cha chas, but we wanted to try it. It was $ .75.
We went straight to the downtown area of Siem Reap which was a hoppin' place with restaurants and bars and live music to serve the many tourists who come to town. We found a delicious place for dinner and then, at Adele's urging, I agreed to have my feet cleaned by FISH with her and Ceci.
For some reason they really liked my feet! It was super ticklish at first, and then it felt like a little vibrating sensation.
Ceci boldly went in and tried the bigger fish.
How bad could it be? I gave it a try.
It felt like sand paper bites and was uncomfortable enough that I couldn't stand it. Ceci just hung out with those big mouths munching her feet!
Fresh seafood anyone?
We had hoped to make it to the Night Market, but it was late and we were tired. A very good day overall!
The drive there was the best part. It was a long, dirt road with stilted homes lining each side, one side with a manmade canal behind that dates back to the Khmer empire (they created it to move sandstone inland), and the other side was bright green rice fields, irrigated by the canal.
This whole area completely floods in the rainy season and the only transportation is by long boats, but it is dry season, so we rode down the dusty road. This village was thriving. People were industrious, homes and streets were trash-free, many homes had flowering pots and planters, everyone smiled and waved. There was so much to see and absorb. We wanted to take a 1000 pictures to try to capture it, but we didn't want to look through our camera! We did get a few sights.
Every once in awhile Geoff asked our driver to pull over so he could take a picture of something, otherwise the pictures were taken from our moving car.
This is predominately a fishing village. They smoke and dry small fish that last 6-12 months (unrefrigerated) and sell them in the local market. Notice the small child without pants on. Diapers are clearly unrealistic for these people, so small children run around without pants. These are racks of fish smoking.
And here are the fish drying in the sun.
If a family can't afford a male child they'll take him to the monastery where he'll be raised by the monks. Unfortunately, girls are left on the street, and that often leads to slavery.
The village Buddhist temple is in the background, with the monk's housing around it. The monks were repairing the bridge.
We arrived to a cleared area where we got on our boat.
Along the canal the water rises up to the houses in rainy season! And the long boat is how they get around for a few months of the year.
The tower in the background is a spirit house! All of the children here capture my heart!
As we arrived in the floating village we saw small children zipping around in their family canoes.
I thought it would be a floating "island", but instead it was homes lined along the canal that just rise with the water.
A typical store, just floating.
Look at these children playing in the tin tubs like little boats!
Would this be considered living on the outskirts of town?
Here is the view down the canal of the town.
And the town school.
And then we headed back past the farm fields where the soil is rich from the annual flooding. The farmers rent the land they farm on. They grow green beans and watermelon.
Here is a little farm house. These must be built anew each year, as this is completely covered in water during the rainy season. Notice the mother bathing her little child. They use this brown, gross water to bath in and cook with! We saw several people taking a bath with it by pouring bowls of it over themselves.
And back along the road through the village.
A village cemetery at sunset.
The village school.
Geoff walked right up to the classroom and, when seeing it was an English class, walked in asking if he could talk with the children. He had a basic, introductory conversation before waving goodbye.
A school got out!
As we got back on the main road to Siem Reap we saw this familiar contraption, a 2-wheeled tractor.
We stopped at one of literally a hundred stands selling these bamboo cylinders filled with coconut rice and black beans. After roasting over a fire, you peel back the bamboo. A layer of the bamboo remains attached to the rice and I could taste the wood, although the rice and bean mixture was delicious. We didn't each much for fear of, you know, the cha cha chas, but we wanted to try it. It was $ .75.
We went straight to the downtown area of Siem Reap which was a hoppin' place with restaurants and bars and live music to serve the many tourists who come to town. We found a delicious place for dinner and then, at Adele's urging, I agreed to have my feet cleaned by FISH with her and Ceci.
For some reason they really liked my feet! It was super ticklish at first, and then it felt like a little vibrating sensation.
Ceci boldly went in and tried the bigger fish.
How bad could it be? I gave it a try.
It felt like sand paper bites and was uncomfortable enough that I couldn't stand it. Ceci just hung out with those big mouths munching her feet!
Fresh seafood anyone?
We had hoped to make it to the Night Market, but it was late and we were tired. A very good day overall!
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