On a non-Angkor Wat day we ventured outside Siem Riep, to a stilt village in the shallows of Tonle Sap Lake. Villagers paddle carved canoes between their homes on wooden pillings and this time of year must also trudge through sloppy, trash filled mudwater that serves as their "main street" just above lake level. It was here that Christy felt the farthest from home that she has on the trip.
As part of our token tour, our motor boatman arranged for a local family to paddle us through the serene maze of mangroves surrounding the village. The Cambodia per capita income is roughly $300 per year, with general living conditions in stark contrast to downtown Siem Reap where hotels can cost that much for one night. Though difficult to comprehend their poverty, this floating village was indeed a more representative glimpse of true rural, poor Cambodia.
P.S. Our Angkor Wat pictures are now posted below the original entry
The village of Kompong Pluk from the water
Post rainy season, "Main Street" is a muddy mess. It looks as if a Tsunami just hit, but its their everyday.
Given how cramped their small homes are, it seems the villagers do a great deal of "living" in their boats- from washing laundry, cooking, and selling cold drinks.
The kids of Kompong Pluk- boating home from school, and just playing in the mud.
The Floating Forest
In sharp contrast to how the poor locals live, tourists enjoy this "bar street" filled with delectable restaurants, several pubs/lounges and luxury boutiques. This canal goes through the center of Siem Reap and is a reflection of the country's French influence earlier this century.
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