From the Lotus Lake, we continued to our main place to visit.... TONLE SAP.
v) Boat Cruising Tonle Sap
We arrived at the Chong Khneas boat dock which is located about 15 km from Siem Reap at about 5 pm. Not much people at the parking area, which was a huge field... like a desert.
The parking area only filled with one tourist bus and van.
While waited for Kassim to buy us the cruise's ticket, we went to one shop nearby the parking area. Who could resist the temptation of cold ice-cream during this hot and dry weather right? Mind you, due to the influx of tourists here in Cambodia, there are lots of children who will follow the tourists to sell souvenirs. I found that it happens normally in tourist areas, where the kids are often encouraged by their guardians to do so.
We also experienced one here... when we sat on our Tuk-Tuk and savouring the ice-cream. Few kids came closer to us and stared on our ice-cream, the kind of look like they never taste it for their entire life and their utmost desire to get a chance to taste it. Honestly I was really uncomfortable with that kind of situation, people looked at you while you were eating, so I gave mine to one of the kid. It was actually not a good decision, as the other kids started to point at my friend's ice-cream and forced them to give their ice-cream too! It turned out from being generous to being forced... we gave it just to avoid the kids. It was only when Mama Mas being firm on not letting go her ice-cream and scolded them, then the kids ran away.
I learned one thing here. Tourists should never give money to child beggars we meet abroad. Not even the cute ones. Not even the disabled ones. Not even the ones who want money for school. Don't give them money, or candy, or pens. It's not generous. In fact, it's one of the most harmful—and selfish—things a well-meaning tourist can do. It’s not because the kids will crowd you once you start buying or giving money (which they would) but there are negative social impacts as well. Why we shouldn't give money or things to them? Well... this kind of act (even in good intention) actually will encourage the children to become beggar. We pampered them and their parents too as they know that they don't have to make any effort to improve their life status. It's like manipulate and make use of these children. And because of that, we perpetuate a cycle of poverty and give children a strong incentive to stay out of school. Giving candy to this children also actually causes enormous suffering since many communities do not have the resources to treat tooth decay. But the reasons to never give to child beggars go much deeper than that. Organized begging is one of the most visible forms of human trafficking, and it's largely financed and enabled by good-hearted people who just want to help like us. So remember, if we wanted to help the children, we should transfer to the correct body like a school or any organisation that give proper education to the children.
So back to our trip, Kassim then came to us and handed us the tickets. We paid USD 10/person for the cruise trip.
Halal Wall ice-cream in Cambodia.
With the tickets.
Next, Kassim brought us walking down the walkway towards the Tonle Sap boat terminal.
Walkway and stairs leading to the boats below.
There were many boats docking here!
When we reached below, there were many boats waiting there. Kassim also joined us and being our tour guide along our boat cruising. As there were 7 of us (including Kassim), we got one boat just for us. We then got onto the boat with two boatmen.
View of the boats from the dock.
Off we go. Cruising along the lake was fun! However, I had to be careful not to let the water from splashing onto my camera!
Inside the boat.
The ocean may be the body of water that defines many South East Asian nations, but not this one. Cambodia is dominated by another feature, a great lake - The Tonle Sap. It is the largest freshwater lake in South East Asia. The name Tonle Sap literally means large fresh water river. It is actually a combined lake and river system which connects to the mighty Mekong River and the Tonle Sap River.
It is however, a rather unusual lake as its flow changes direction twice a year. During the dry season from November to May, the water in the lake drains into the Mekong River at Phnom Penh. The lake shrinks in size during these months. But during the wet season from June to October, water is pushed up from Mekong River into Tonle Sap Lake, expanding its size enormously from a mere 2,700 square km during the dry seasons to a whopping 16,000 square km!
The lake serves as the home, livelihood, and source of food for countless Cambodians. Nearly half the fish consumed in Cambodia come from this very lake, which holds over 200 species. Most famously it is home not only to wildlife but also to enormous communities that take residence in floating villages and stilted homes. More significantly, it is a large source of income for fishing villages living within these waters.
Leaving the dock.
The sand bed is red in colour so the water is also a coffee colour.
It such an under statement to call it a Lake... look at the size. Its nearly like a river to me!
There were other boats which also brought tourist like us so we waved to them everytime when we met them.
After about half an hour cruising down the lake, we soon reached a floating village. The “Floating villages” consists of the homes and schools and other buildings built on top of the waters.
All the floating houses were made of wood and they were tied to a kind of structure to prevent them from being washed away by the river water.
The floating village also came with a school to educate their children, a church and market for the daily life business. It's really an experience cruising down the floating village. The water looked pretty dirty to me but the people living in this village used this water to bath! If you are one who always complain about the slightest discomfort in your modern daily city life, visiting this place will make you think twice about complaining in future.
After seeing all those floating houses, we soon reached to one floating house somewhere in the middle of Tonle Sap Lake.
We soon found out that this place is actually two big floating houses connected to each other. You would need to walk on the wooden plank to get across from one floating house to the other. Do not slip or miss a step or you would end up in the water!
Closer to the floating house. Wait a minute... what is that coiling around the little girl's neck??
Owh my... again. Another scene of children being used as a beggar. As sick as it may look in the eyes, the sick I felt more in the heart to see a kid to be treated like that. The python was as big as that little girl's thigh. Nothing I could do just pray for her best future.
This floating structure is actually meant for tourists like us. There are souvenir shops and snack shops, and even a mini crocodile farm!
I wonder if crocodile meat is one of the dishes...
Our tour guide let us off at a mini crocodile farm and it's store. There is a small area where a lot of crocodiles are placed together. The shop has lots of tourist souvenirs as well as wallets, purses and other items made from crocodile skin.
Owh U can't fool me. I knew all of you actually just pretended to sleep...
Don't worry - the area is fenced up so even though you watch the crocodiles from above, you will not be in danger of falling down and become crocodile's dinner! Unless of course, you decide to climb over the fence and jump down! (Which definitely very stupid)
The fence as safety. Crocodile kat bawah tunggu masa mangsa jer tu.
Exotic items..
There are steps going up to a higher platform, where people were enjoying the view of the lake and the floating village.
Lots of people climbed up to the top platform to catch up the sunset.
We stood here enjoying the wind and waiting for the sunset.
As the wind blew strongly, the Cambodian flag waved proudly at my back.
After waited for some time, we caught the beautiful sunset.
Here are some pictures of the sunset.
Floating Village at sunset.
Serene...
Lovely isn't it?
Our last look at the lake before returning to shore...
Soon, it was time to depart back to the mainland. On the way back, I took few more photos.
View of the top platform.
Spectacular perfect gold sunset on horizon.
I think the stack of woods in the picture used as a fish trap.
The gold reflection of the sun on the water was magnificent.
Why so lonely... One single tree stood there in the middle of the lake.
Back on the shores. It was nearly dusk... the sky had turn purple and orange which gave such a dramatic view.... what a beautifull evening.
This was another visit that made me felt gratefull for what I have. Seeing those people in the floating village, I really don't know if I can ever live in such a condition, but that's how these people live everyday. I must be thankful always for leading a more fortunate life. Syukur Alhamdulillah.
