Humility - Cambodia

I've decided to pack my bags and head off to Cambodia with my colleagues from PwC. We have been working in an long hours audit and thought we really needed a break.

A trip to Cambodia can be interesting yet emotional. The population has lived in poverty for so many years, overshadowed by their gruesome past. Pol Pot during his 4 years reign as the prime minister of the Khmer Rouge empire has slaughtered nearly 25% of Cambodia's population through a series of execution, forced labour and malnutrition. The 'killing field' in Phonm Penh is part of the testament to Cambodia's shuddering history.

Kids with their pet snake asking for money when tourists try to take picture with them.

Cambodia's glory lies in the past as it is one of the earliest civilisation in South East Asia. The Angkor Wat, built majestically in the fields of Siem Reap, is one of the icons of Cambodia and is one of the 7 wonders of the world. Angkor Wat is huge and is divided into a few sites. Walking from one site to another can be tiring especially due to the humidity and the heat. Entrance fee is USD 40 which left us wondering why is the country still poor given the amount tourist and money generated.

Angkor Wat at sunrise

Corrosion

Cars, bikes and pedestrians sharing this narrow entrance into the site

Vandalism or corrosion? There has been plenty of cases where statues were stolen and smuggled out of the country for sale in the black market. Some statues have missing arms or heads while some are totally damaged.

 Trying to be funny. Smelling the lion's ass.

Trees surrounding the side of the moat

Despite the beauty of the relic of Angkor Wat, the streets of Cambodia are still lined with poverty. Kids selling postcards to tourist when they'r suppose to be studying at school. Beggars lining the entrance of tourist attraction. Eating in restaurants has never been worse when you can see kids peering through the window with their hunger face looking at the food that you're eating.

Things in Cambodia aren't as cheap as i thought it would be. Most of business dealings are dealt in US dollars and a bowl of noodle can cause USD 2 which is appoximately the same price as a bowl of soup noodle in Malaysia.

Cambodian's tonic

We took a trip down to the Tonle Sap lake, the largest fresh water lake in South East Asia. Some facts about the lake: during rainy season, the lake expand and floods the Mekong delta through the Mekong River while dry season causes the water to discharge from the Mekong River back into the Tonle Sap. Along the bank of the Tonle Sap, residents live in floating houses that have sticks planted deep into the riverbed. This is to hold the house and prevent the house from being carried away by the tide during the dry season. The living conditions there is appalling with no proper basic necessity such as clean water and electricity. Many drink from the river water in which they wash their clothes and do their 'toilet business'. Government has been trying to create awareness by setting up booth to distribute clean water. Not sure to what extent the effectiveness of the campaign. Residents there generally work as fishermen although many recently complain that there are less fishes nowadays due to over-fishing. Some who can speak basic English works as tour guide in the area. While the men go out to work, the women takes care of house chore and the kids go to a floating school (how cool is that!). It's practically a floating village there. 

A typical floating house

Layout is pretty much like a small house with a common area, kitchen and toilet

Floating church

Notice the stick sticking out at the side of the house. 

Floating school

Drinking water station

Tonle Sap!

So here's my post about Cambodia, away from the much talked-about Angkor Wat to a glimpse the life of the people in the Cambodians' floating village life.