Day 162 - Village People

The Tuk Tuk driver took me to a small "illegal village" in the city of Seam Reap. These people are extremely poor, but some of them do have electricity. Unlike India where the electric power is stolen from overhead powerlines these people have to pay. Men work as labourers and with the economy down many remain at home waiting for better times.

While it looks depressing these people are welcoming and happy to see visitors. A few water pumps have been donated by foreigners for the village and in the countryside I noticed a number of houses have been paid for by overseas charities.

The Village

People wash here - fully dressed in a Sarong the ladies and men wash themselves under this pump donated by a USA Charity - "See a problem - Solve a problem".

Clothes hang out to dry

While the village street is dirty and rubbish is all around, people do keep their homes surprisingly neat and tidy.

The local shop-

Mothers gather in the village street - My Tuk Tuk driver was handing out some pictures  that previous tourist had taken of the village, the villagers were eager to see their photos.

A typical village house - this one is cleaner than most and better than many of the homes along road.

Boy plays with a plastic car at his doorstep

Now that the scene is set,... have a look at some of the people that live in the village and judge for yourself if they are happy or not.

So what do you think?...... are these people happy ? ....are they poor?

Looks to me like they are they are rich with family, and as happy as the rest of us.

Makes you think - doesn't it?