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South East of Siem Reap on the banks of Tonle Sap is the fascinating community of Kompong Khleang (KK) one of the largest towns on the lake with a population of about 30,000. The town can be reached by road in the dry season. Drive to Damdek about 35 kms from Siem Reap then turn right, the road is paved to about 2 kms from the town, and the remainder of the road is pot holed and difficult, but worth the effort. If you go there in the rainy season you may have to take a boat for the last 2 kms. I was the only tourist in town the day that I visited; there are no tourist facilities, so you see an authentic, unspoiled community. I took lunch for me and the driver, which is recommended as the sanitation there is not good. At the end of each rainy season the water flow in Tonle Sap changes direction and instead of flowing from the Mekong river into the lake, it begins to flow outward again into the Mekong. This change of direction of the water signals the start of the fish migration and work and food are plentiful. Because of the change in water levels the houses in KK are build on stilts to allow for the 8-9 meter rise in the water level during the rainy season. You need to ask around to find a boatman willing to take you out for a 2 -3 hour sail on the lake ($10 - $20). Boats are primitive, so, expect to sit on the floor and jump out of “beached” boats if you visit any of the fishermens' homes further out on the lake. The view of the stilted town from the lake in the dry season is amazing. Leave a Comment
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 Backpacker journeys to
Cambodia by nickyte
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27 pictures Leave a Comment
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 river life from another time by richiecdiscLeave a Comment
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Beng Mealea is about 60 kms NE of Siem Reap; it was cleared of mines in 2003 by the British Halo Trust, however, take care not to stray beyond the perimeter. On the drive there I saw a mine explode less than ¼ of a mile from the road. The Road from Siem Reap is good and passes through some very interesting villages, which provide great photo ops. This temple is a true jungle temple, I was the only one there during the time that I visited and found one of the guards willing to act as an informal guide. Believed to have been built in 11th and 12th centuries the temple is badly dilapidated but has some great apsaras and naga balustrades. There is a 45 meter wide moat now filled with all kinds of vegetation surrounding the temple whose site is about 1 square klm in size. Huge trees grow from the temple walls, and in one gallery with an intact roof it is rumored by locals that tigers lived there until a few years ago. People should be fit to visit this temple as a lot of scrambling over stones and climbing sometimes unstable steps is involved. The locals told me that about 10 - 15 tourists per day visit the site; it is very tranquil and leaves one with a feeling of wonder and discovery. Some experts believe that Beng Mealea was the precursor to Angkor Wat. I was told that apart from some work to prevent further deterioration this temple, like Ta Prohm, will be left in its natural state. Leave a Comment
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 small town life made even
smaller by richiecdiscLeave a Comment
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 Gardening by bkoon
As we approached the group of students, the rest of the students rushed out of their classrooms and all gathered there. The kids were just so cute and they really the most wonderful brings on earth. Always so curious. Leave a Comment
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 The School looks like this. by bkoon
The school was build on a plot of empty land right smack in the middle of a village. It has a big compund and it is brand new. When I went, the official school term had not started and kids were already going to school every day. Leave a Comment
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 Sok Thy and Us with His
Motodup by bkoon
I will be describing more on the village in the next few tips. Leave a Comment
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 Sok Thy's Youngest Son by bkoon
OBSERVATIONS
Very young children and toddlers do not have the luxury to wear new clothes in Cambodia. They generally do not wear anything on the "lower part of their bodies". That is, they do not wear panties when wearing a kid's dress for girls and no pants for the boys. Strangely enough, I noticed that kids' dresses were worn by boys too.
APPEAL
Hence, my appeal to you is that, should you have old clothing, please do not hesitate to send them to the unfortunate ones in Cambodia. (Or any other 3rd World country for that matter.)
NOTE : They were so poor that even a normal bottled drinking water (not minieral water) was a luxurious item for them. I noticed that when Sok Thy's kids were snatching the bottled drinking water when offered to one of his boys. They drank the water as if it was something special. Leave a Comment
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 Fetching Water by bkoonLeave a Comment
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