(Nov 1st)
Below are dozens of snapshots of rural Cambodian life along the Sangker river. Throughout our seven hour boat ride, we came across villages of buildings both floating and on land. Groups of liveaboard boats, solo liveaboard boats, and countless Cambodians out and about making their life and living from the river. Some buildings were built solidly and painted brightly, while others were cobbled together of sticks and brush and bamboo and whatever was around. What's common among all the people they say is the critical importance the river plays in their lives. For most families who fish, the river is their livelihood. The river plays many roles: a food source, water supply, transportation system, kitchen sink, playground, swimming pool, wash basin, front yard, shower, postal system and a toilet. It feels a bit surreal putting down the river, briefly transported from our own world right into these Cambodian's front yard.
What follows are dozens of pictures, still frames extracted from the fluid world around the river. We've provided brief captions, but feel free to make your own observations, draw your own conclusions, and write your own stories from the photos.
Elevated house built on stilts over the river bank.
Children along the shore
Repairing a wooden boat
A twin-engine long tail boat. Usually these boats steer by moving the engine shaft. Hopefully the two shafts don't interfere with each other.
Laundry hanging on a clothesline held up by a stick
Ferry boat. Human powered.
An orate temple along the way
Bath time
The children always smile and wave.
What do this man and MIT students have in common? The basket of shower stuff!
Washing the dishes
Fishing with Dad.
Fishing is the occupation of choice here
Many children play in the water
This house, set back from the water, looks quite sturdy
People paddle boats perched precariously on the bow.
Laundry time
Locomotion
This house is on dry land
This kid learns to wave to the daily boat.
Another ferry
Hopefully those clothes actually become cleaner after being washed in the river water.
A load of wood.
This boy works on the shore.
The flooded rice fields create a water world during the rainy season.
Birds sit on a lonesome platform.
Unique platform construction
Blue shutters reflected in the river
Villages built right on the river.
A blue house reflected
Children come home from school. Each school we saw was built on concrete pilings. A cut above other buildings, even in villages where everything was floating.
Children must feel a great sense of freedom with a boat always available.
Floating restaurant kitchen where our boat made a pit stop.
Just like the pharmacy drawer?
Floating toilet. At least it doesn't stink!
The boat crew stops for lunch at a restaurant.
OMG an honest-to-goodness outboard motor!
Relaxing down the river
The adults aren't as enthusiastic as the children towards our passing boat.
The vegetation rolls by as the bilge pump keeps our wooden boat afloat.
Some houses are barely hang in there...
...and some houses are built quite solidly.
A child hangs on the railing.
The fresh baguettes that rode at our seat are delivered to a deserving village.
Kids love boats.
This one is made of grass.
Think someone lives in there?
Children everywhere! Cambodia has the highest birth rate of any country we've visited.
Laundry on a house.
Cruising down the river in a rare fiberglass boat.
A liveaboard cooks on the foredeck.
Rice is unloaded from our boat for a village en-route.
Portrait on the Sangker River
A family along the river
The most important delivery of the day -- Crown Beer!
Unloading beer and hot sauce. It's gonna be a good night in this village.
A helps unload the beer from under our seat
A small tender boat also has the steering column from a car.
A brother and sister play in the river.
Hello!!
They learn to wave at an early age
Wake spray in the sun from a sharp corner.
Zoomin' along. Just like in the whaler.
School bus boat
Rowing Cambodian-style
School
Colorful laundry
Portrait on the Sangker River
Bailing out the boat
Mobile phones keep the village connected. No landlines here.
Each village had a cell tower, complete with concrete foundation, generator, and microwave backhaul.
Chopping the day's catch.
Incredible photos!!! What a gorgeous visual documentary of a different world.
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