Floating Villages…Life with Locals in Cambodia

Our last full day of this special journey through an incredible country, Cambodia- a must see place in my book. Especially the day we had today away from normal tourist stuff. 

We were able to sleep in as Mr Kat was arriving at 9 am today, he showed up in a Polo shirt. He is so happy to spend the day with us and share more of his life. Our hotel staff, who all have fake american names, greet us like royalty. We are bowed down to by Chopper- name tag says Helicopter. When I inquired why he picked this name he said he watched on you tube that Americans say, “see you on the flip side” fly in helicopters and he was always at the airport. Super funny. It is the start of rainy season in Cambodia, it was sprinkling when we ate breakfast and a little on the start of our drive. Luckily this Tuk Tuk is tricked out and has zip down shades for cover. The mist of the rain and cloud cover adds a cool breeze to the hour long drive we have in our future. I am constantly reminded of the movie,” Babies “ on this trip, as kids are crawling in the dirt and sitting on the side of the rd with smiles. We Americans use hand sanitizer and are more high maintenance than the people of these places. Its all relative but a serious observation. I think that movie did a beautiful depiction of the difference of cultures raising the young and how everyone really turns out ok, no matter what environment you live in, the sense of joy, peace, and happiness to me is much more powerful in these parts of the world. Not being a part of a rat race, yet very hard workers still to provide for and focus on numero uno, the Family as a whole!

As we make our way to the largest lake in SE Asia, Tonle Sap Lake, we pass by such interesting scenery, heading out to a totally different area than Angkor. Nice modern homes, next to total hut like shacks- some made from thatched wood/bamboo and some tin with wood slabs, a place filled with sewing machines in the middle of the jungle, older ladies sewing away, Im so curious how electricity is out in the middle of nowhere, again skinny cows wander, stray dogs, chickens with baby chicks, school children on bicycles and scooters- they all wave with the biggest warm smiles. Its a more industrial area we passed through too, We are no longer in Kansas 🙂 totally in the middle of nowhere on a remote dirt road.  If any day of our trip I felt the need for a mask , it was today. So much dust and exhaust fumes in our face and eyes, although not many wear masks here. Thankfully our savior Mr Kat has an endless supply of the cold menthol wash cloths. I put it over my face as we drive and the coolness of the menthol made the breathing feel that much better, as well as keep the dirt out of my eyes. 

We are approaching the destination of the day, Kompong Pluk, Mr Kat has learned my love and obsession with babies and children that he brought us a package of note pads to hand out. I ended up buying more as there were so many kids in my future. We stop at the ticket spot for the boat to hire for the day, came with a woman driver- these cambodian woman may be skinny and small but they are powerhouse strong and the hardest workers. As we continue the drive on a real desolate dirt road with brown water on each side, my comedic travel partner who continues to make me laugh, starts singing a song she made up in her head about Malaria….a had to be there moment. I’m a worry free girl with cleanliness , all is for the good attitude and she is the medically prepared a bit freaked out by what we signed up for brown water, yet a total trooper along for the ride with proper precautions. I think the elephant poop water in Thailand has numbed me, lol. Just know WE both LOVED this insanely unreal day, which I will try to explain with words. We had seen signs regarding a crocodile farm and inquire to be sure no crocs live in the water we are getting ready to enter. We boarded the colorful wooden boat, the 3 of us with our skipper 🙂 heading out in the not so pretty in color waterway that fyi, when its not rainy season no water exists and you could drive in this space. Water level is approx only 2 meters. Life jackets on board , but no need to wear. As we get to the main part we see these stairway homes, basically built on stilts high up as to avoid floating away. This is called the Floating village. Some people that cant afford housing in the main town get to live in this area free or for subsidized housing by the government. As well all the people who work, give a % of $ they make to the community to be sure all are cared for, help thy neighbor politics. Example, our boat driver will keep 60-70% of her pay and donate the rest to the community. I said oh, its like the democrats and the concept of helping everyone. Me like this place 🙂

If you were to build one of these colorful tin/wooden houses it would cost $5000-$6000, hard earned $ in this Country. We learn that Mr Kats dad was from a floating lake community and Kat lived like this until age 5. It was truly like nothing I have ever seen or knew existed in my life. Fascinating way of life, 7-10 people live in one house, its a large open space suspended over water in the middle of this lake. Hammocks hang inside and most people sleep on a hammock as their bed or a mattress if the floor. Stand alone fans are spaced out through the house. Kids galore, many are hand washing clothes in the water, hanging to dry, helping with work on the house, planting beautiful flowers in pots for decorations. Its like we are cruising through a majestic swamp land, if you can try to imagine. Im gonna try to post photos seperatly as an individual post and connect link🙏🏻 They have restaurants, schools, pagodas with churches and cemetery’s,  a crocodile farm for the tourists with snakes and bunny’s. No thank you, I peaked but did not stay close. We than are dropped off at the next dock for a much smaller fishing boat now rowed by 2 ladies. Fyi…..bathrooms out here are much to be desired. I opted not to drink water today to avoid having to use a toilet. Rachel was much braver than me. On this dock they are playing Khmer rap music, Rach breaks out in dance and again hysterical laughter, high energy in the mangrove forest by the silly Americans. No wonder Mr Kat loves us so much, he is used to old people tourists.  We are fun peeps to hang with for days in a row 🙂 

As we climb on to this small boat, you must sit indian style and balance carefully not moving. You don’t want this to tip into the water. We are being rowed in the middle of swamp land with 1000’s of trees that its like a maze to get through. Its serenity and peaceful with total quiet besides the sounds of nature. The water is calm, not one ripple, yet we pass by a few other sightseeing boats. Even out here in the Mangrove jungle they try to sell you stuff, locals approach in their own boats with squid/shrimp/crab flavored chips, lychee canned juice, cold soft drinks and water, cakes, hard boiled eggs in baggies(yuck), Oreos, notepads and pencils, etc. The pregnant sales lady gets me, as I want to help her. I buy notepads and pencils for the kids we are getting ready to visit. There was another local lady in a boat breast feeding a newborn baby, its like sailing around an even more remote land similar to Gilligan’s Island with way more trees. We are in awe, snapping photos and videos non stop. I start asking my typical Laurie questions, need to know more about these locals. We learn the driver/steerer of this boat is 28 and has lived in the Lake all her life, her 10 yr old Niece is rowing the back of the boat, she just got here as the aunt is able to provide her with a better life out here as opposed to her parents in the city. Apparently she can get a better education and life is good here for them. We learn that 4-5 months out of the year they cannot offer this tour and the community suffers without the water for boats rides. Rach try’s to do some matchmaking with Mr Kat and our boat driver, I’m hysterical. He shares with us that he went through a sad heart break as he dated a girl for 6 years. From the story you have to have a certain amount of $, like similar to a dowry in the Indian culture. After 6 years of dating her family decided he couldn’t provide enough for her and the relationship ended. She has 2 kids and is married now so clearly it has been some time. Sounds like she was his true love and now he feels he needs to focus on his business and working a lot to have more $ so when he meets the next girl he will be ready. It was a sad but realistic story. He has such good morals and values, he really shared his feelings with us.

We are delivered to a dock where our big boat driver is waiting. She will take us by the school and temple out here next. Okay….. this is where it gets good and is one of my favorite moments/experiences of this grand adventure. First we walk through the temples where Rach chooses to sit and meditate a bit. It was like a big open gymnasium, woman sitting on the floor on mats, with a huge golden shrine at the front of the room. Real pretty. We exit and go down stairs to where would be the school and a dirt rd that has houses similar to the stair house but no water around. Approx 20 kids are playing in the dirt, actually gambling for real money playing a game with a shoe in the dirt, kicking it. Another pregnant lady is selling pencils and notepads. I buy some and all of a sudden become famous. I’m being attacked like paparazzi, I feel as if I am a Chicken with my baby chicks all flocked around me.  Everyone wants a notepad and pencil. They are grabbing and slapping my legs and stomach to get my attention. I feel like a famous lady and try to gather some control over my flock, rewarding the better behaved kids. We have the best video footage. I try to talk to these kids, some know little english, we are stunned by one girl who speaks perfect English at age 8, full sentences and totally proper. I say she will go far places. They all learn to swim by age 5 since live surrounded by water basically. They thrive on the tourists and get SO excited to be given gifts. Some run the items home for safe keeping, one boy had a backpack filled with his collection of treasures. It was like a scene from a movie, or how I have imagined the peace corp, I got to hold some babies and take photos. One baby was my friend all happy and smily while another was petrified by me and started to cry immediately, I handed him back to his sister asap. They were all so happy and content with this life as in my mind they know nothing different. One kid had a picture book and showed me a photo of The Statue of Liberty as he wanted me to know he knew I was American. I couldn’t get enough, we high five them, shook their hands, took photos, handed out many gifts, and Rach gave some candy out. The candy was a hit and she got knocked over with their excitement. They would always bow with hands together in appreciation after receiving , but would beg for more so fast. I was like,” no you cant have another someone else deserves one”. No understanding of fairness as they just wanted more. Once we were done , they still hand interest in being with us. Its like we were the entertainment for them. Once we said our good bye’s they went back to playing in the dirt. One sweet girl was a hugger and my absolute favorite. A once in a lifetime experience like nothing I had ever had before, priceless!!!

As we exit the big boat at the dock where we initially boarded, we are greeted by a kid who has our photo, Rach & I posing as we boarded the boat framed in a wooden frame that is colorful with all Cambodian sites. We are stunned, on this dirt road they have a shack set up with a laptop, color printer, and have created this while we sailed in the river. I’m like, a total sucker and for $5 that is a great keepsake. Rach requested one too , they whipped it out in seconds. She was telling them what a smart enterprise this concept is in the world. Third world has serious sophistication and abilities. We board our Tuk Tuk and ride back on the remote dirt rd with a total blue sky and white fluffy clouds, not a sole is in site….we are out in the middle of nowhere with total peace. I have decided the Cambodian people are very similar to the balinese. They are beyond gracious, trusting, kind, respectful, happy/ content, and very hard workers. Mr Kat takes us to a beautiful restaurant overlooking a river, you can sit regular at tables or choose japanese style dining on the floor or lazy eating while laying in a hammock. We sit at a table, we have invited Kat to join us as we want to do something nice for him, we tell him, its his birthday lunch. We had more great chats, and surprised him with a dessert with a candle in it with birthday sining. He didn’t know he was with 2 people who love their birthdays. Im not known as the Birthday Fairy for nothing 🙂 

We drove by the local market and some nicer hotel area he pointed out and than it was a farewell to our new friend. The emotional girl that I am, got tearful and started crying as we had to say bye, this trip is coming to a close and truly Cambodia was the BEST part. He made it so special for us! I was seriously moved. The welcome from our hotel staff was again over the top. We changed into suits and jumped in  the pool for our end of day swim and cocktail, this has become the ritual after sweating. 

We are scheduled for a 4 hands massage at 6 pm , as our last pampering for nothing. Yes, this is a massage from 2 people at the same time. Heaven is the best description. This was amazing…….and only $26, WOW!!

After we came back to life we managed to walk to the corner restaurant for dinner. This is rainy season here and we sat outside under cover watching a major torrential tropical down pour. People still walking the streets like the rain didn’t faze them. Made our way to check out the Art Exhibit Night Market. Home to bed……I saved this post to write today. One more post will come about today…..one day behind and need it all documented for me. 

Hugs and Kisses…..see you all real soon
Love you 
Love Laurie Sue