Cambodia Photo Journal: Remote Community Near Siem Reap

“Once in a while it really hits people that they don’t have to experience the world in the way they have been told to.” - Alan Kneightley

Hand-carved boats sitting in storage.

Believe it or not, our first day in Siem Reap was not spent at the ruins of Angkor Wat. Whenever John and I embark on a new journey, we each make a list of things we want to do and places we want to go to in a certain area. This system works really well for us because we both have such different tastes in terms of what we want to see. I tend to be the culture vulture, while John enjoys making excursions to historic sites and indulging in his fondness for ultra-modern architecture.

We made a traveling pact a long time ago on our first trip. Our first rule of travel is to accept any and all opportunities that present themselves, unless they seem dangerous of course.

So when we were approached about making a special trip to the remote fishing village in rural Cambodia by Dave Perkes, owner of Peace of Angkor, we jumped at the chance. As a long term resident of Cambodia and professional photographer, Dave has been visiting the fishing village of Kompong Khleang for several years.

Three can ride.

Our first exposure to a fishing village in Phang-Nga Bay in Thailand demonstrated the simple pleasures to be seen on remote waterways. Villages like these haven’t changed much in hundreds of years. Although I admit, consumerism and brand labels have also made their way to this corner of the Earth. I was a little startled to see warm Sprite and Coca-Cola bottles glistening in the sun, Jack Daniels bottles being re-used as gas containers and boys sporting Westlemania T-shirts.

A women at home in her thatched house on the riverbank.

Kompeung Kleang is rural Cambodia in the truest sense of the word. It is considered to be a wealthy and successful fishing village by most means. 20,000 people making their livelihoods on the fish and waters of Ton le Sap.

Untouched and rarely visited, life in Kompong Khleang continues as normal with no fast touristy gimmicks. Curious locals made their way out to see us as we passed in our flat-bottomed boat. As we made our way through the waterways towards the lake, we were greeted with shy smiles and friendly waving hands. Homes in rural Cambodia draw their own water. Only a very few have generators to power television. Livestock live beneath homes or in pens suspended over the water. The lives of these people are completely and utterly enmeshed with the river. It’s hard to imagine one without the other.

Thousands of thatched homes on stilts line the banks of causeways and rivers in the Ton le Sap area. Some of these stilt homes are perched ten meters above the riverbanks. During the rainy season, the entire lake doubles in size. The Ton le Sap river system is 160 km long and over a 100 meters in width. June marks the beginning of the rain season. The lake will double and triple in size, flooding forests and rice fields. Ton le Sap lake allowed the Khmer Empire to flourish with an abundance of fish and fertile rice patties.

A stranded boat waits in the dry heat and bakes. When the rains come, it will be freed from its land mooring.

This journey to Kompong Khleag was particularly important to me and was high on my list of things to do in Cambodia. Throughout our travels in Cambodia, we stayed on back roads and endured some hard traveling to get to places a bit more off the map. What we experienced that day was rich in culture and history.

A spectacular setting sun provides a warm glow as a fisherman returns home for the night.

In the last remaining moments of daylight the family of this floating gas station and fish market loads and sorts their last catch of the day.

A fisherman waits patiently with his family as his catch is sorted and tagged.

A great catch.

Two children paddling home on the still waters of the lake.

Villagers come out to yell and wave good-bye as we make our way home.