Late last night our home here in Cambodia, the river ship Jahan left the might Mekong River to venture up the Tonle Sap River towards our morning destination at Kampong Tralach. Most of us were in for a lifetime first here in this small village as we boarded a method of transportation that has not changed in this region for years, decades, centuries, and perhaps millennia. What dear reader might this method be? Why, in an ornate wooden cart being pulled by a team of ox! The sun was just rising as our beast of burden slowly wound around rice fields filled with lotus blossoms and workers harvesting rice.
Our wagon train eventually entered into Kampong Tralach for perhaps even a bigger surprise than our expedition leader Tom O’Brien had anticipated. We knew that local teachers and school children in this tiny village had planned to meet us and to show us around their schoolyard and classrooms, but what we hadn’t anticipated was a ribbon-cutting ceremony and dedication for the newly completed library on the school grounds. This project has been the vision of Tom for several years now, and with the financial help and support from Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic guests, as well as the school principal, teachers, and community leaders, the vision has become a reality! Now children can utilize the facility during daylight hours, and adults can come to learn to speak English from all around the surrounding community at night! The obvious pride and joy was evident in the faces of the teachers and students alike and this project will have a significant positive impact on the lives of many folks in this small community for years and decades to come!
Afternoon found us literally tied to a tree and temporarily beached along the Tonle Sap River just outside of the fishing village of Kampong Chhnang. A local boat ride across the river allowed us to board small buses for a short ride to Aundaung Russey Village, where we were shown how local woman hand make and fire Khmer-style pottery. One of the highlights of the afternoon was to watch 64-year-old Mr. Ry climb a sugar palm tree in flip-flops and no safety harness to collect palm sap from the flower of several palm trees towering over our heads. Quite the showman, Mr. Ry made the whole thing look easy, returning safely to the ground with bamboo jars full of sap to be turned into either palm sugar, or a very potent 70 proof alcohol that he distills right here at his home.
We completed our afternoon by cruising amongst the floating houses and barges that people here call home. Brightly colored and decorated craft of all shapes and sizes are anchored in place along the river in what look like an aquatic housing development. Here life on the river was on full display and we were afforded a look into everyday life on the Tonle Sap River. Tonight we head for the capital city of Phnom Penh so stay tuned for more adventures!
