On our final morning in Cambodia, our tuk tuk driver took us out of Siem Reap and down a motorway of sorts. In a tuk tuk, this was a rather exhilarating experience. Top tip--keep you mouth closed. Flies zipping by at top speed hit the back of your throat before you have a chance to react.
We then reached a nondescript junction and then ventured far along a dirt path, another daunting feat. We passed Cambodia's 'premier alligator farm' and a petrol station--really a lady selling bottles of petrol out of water bottles in her front garden before reaching our drop off point. We were then shunted through a 'pay station' and into a boat located on a narrow, narrow canal. This turned out to be part of the floodplain which, in the rainy season, is completely underwater.
From there, our boat driver motored us through and around the floating forest. Not floating at all, just a forest of trees submerged, little broccolis sticking out haphazardly in a sea of sauce. Our driver knew where every root, rock and branch existed.
Further on, we passed the community of Cambodians who live in houses on stilts. I've never quite seen anything like it, particularly when some of the houses had stilts so high the water levels would be unbearable.
Our driver and little boat dared to take out the merging Tonle Sap river delta and only turned around when he saw me clutch the boat with intense fear. And thus, our time in Cambodia ended.
No comments:
Post a Comment