After seeing the remainder of the Cambodian temples, we carried on to see the floating village at Kampong Phluk. After driving all that way, it was some 25 km from Siem Reap ,then having a ticket seller want $30 for a two hour boat trip left me feeling annoyed but did anyway. Really didn’t want to say to the driver forget it!!!
It was not an auspicious start, going from bad to worse down a horrendously dusty, potholed and uneven road for what seemed like an eternity, actually more like 4-5 kms. I found it interesting seeing the rice paddies either side , and the farmers dragging pumped water out of the canal into their crops.
As well as the farmers there were others. who appeared to be net fishing and catching small fish, which were then cooked over makeshift fires or burners.
When we eventually reached the boats and there were a great many. there were buses, tuk tuks, motor bikes, vehicles of every description parked everywhere.
My driver dropped me off to get the boat I was allocated, leaving me to walk the plank to step on to one boat and then on to the next. The men pointed out the cabin with plastic seats and told me to go there. Going through the door way I promptly fell, the step was not really a step . I was not impressed. The boss gave me two life jackets which he placed as cushions to give more comfort on the seats.
Having sat down they started to turn the boat around amidst other boats coming and going. The boats are powered by a very primitive system with a propeller stuck out the back of the boat. I would say at least the driver of this boat tried to keep it on an even keel despite the wash created by others going much faster.
Certainly the village was interesting, even having their own police station and school, the children were out playing games on what little dirt there was beneath the building on stilts.
A small child of about 3 stuck its butt over the edge of a boat and proceeded to use the lake as a toilet. I did notice human waste during the trip just floating in the water. Not a particularly healthy body of water, especially for kids playing in it. The lake is supposed to be the largest fresh water lake in Asia, personally I wouldn’t touch it with a boat pole?
They tried suggesting I should go on a boat trip through the mangroves no doubt for another tourist type price. Further on it was suggested I might like a cold drink also at an inflated price I must have been the worst customer all,day. They have to learn you cannot milk a cow when everything is gone!!! The rip off price they charge for what is a short ride in a less than safe environment is nothing short of a scam in my opinion.
People do need to learn not to kill the tourist market as the country desperately needs the money tourists bring in.
Having done the rounds of the Cambodian village we headed back, passing many boats on the way to the village with visitors.
We get back to where the boat goes and the is an even larger one blocking the way, so the driver just pushes it out the way, no wonder the boats all look in poor condition. Having tied the boat up I managed to get off with the help of my driver , not an easy task.
Back in the tuk tuk we start off only to be stopped by a traffic jam, bus and truck having a problem, by this time there is a queue of vehicles. eventually with help the truck was able to back and allow room for the bus to pass. Janne had given me a mask to wear as the dust was atrocious being kicked up by speeding buses .
The fine red dust, clinging to everything,from the leaves of the trees to houses and vehicles covered with the stuff. Must have been disheartening to be a house proud person.