Lake Tonle Sap
Tonle Sap is the largest inland lake in Southeast Aisia and can double in size when the flood season comes. Here is the balustrade from a bridge .. the road is totally subnmerged.
Near Siem Reap, this huge lake (almost like an island sea is an important source of food (fish and shrimp) for the local people. These fishermen live in a series of villages which are built on slilts (or are even floating) so they are not affected by the frequent flooding in the area. We went on a boat tour of the village called Kampong Phuluk .. said to be less touristy than the one quite close to Siem Reap. I was surprised at the variety of housing .. some very basic places that hardly appear to be capable of dealing with the heavy rains which hit this coast. Others are quite substantial, modern metal or timber dwellings built on concrete pilings. The one thing they have in common is that they are only acccessible by boat. Part of the village was dry so the temple and some of the houses faced a dry island of land. My favourite thing was the floating pig pens (bamboo boxes supported by oil drums). Alas, they seem crowded and I guess it is not much of a life.
My previous experience with this lake was the frightening boat journey across it to Phnom Pnehn so it was good to have a more positive experience of it.
Near Siem Reap, this huge lake (almost like an island sea is an important source of food (fish and shrimp) for the local people. These fishermen live in a series of villages which are built on slilts (or are even floating) so they are not affected by the frequent flooding in the area. We went on a boat tour of the village called Kampong Phuluk .. said to be less touristy than the one quite close to Siem Reap. I was surprised at the variety of housing .. some very basic places that hardly appear to be capable of dealing with the heavy rains which hit this coast. Others are quite substantial, modern metal or timber dwellings built on concrete pilings. The one thing they have in common is that they are only acccessible by boat. Part of the village was dry so the temple and some of the houses faced a dry island of land. My favourite thing was the floating pig pens (bamboo boxes supported by oil drums). Alas, they seem crowded and I guess it is not much of a life.
My previous experience with this lake was the frightening boat journey across it to Phnom Pnehn so it was good to have a more positive experience of it.
Pigs might float .....
You have to look closely but here are the floating pigs. I described this to a guest at the hotel who had been to the same floating village who swore I must have imagined it ... here's the proof.
Photo Gallery
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