A Photo A Day For 365

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?

Day 161 - Cambodian faces

This girl was trying to sell me cotton scarves called Krame - A traditional scarf worn by both men and women - probably used to absorb the sweat- Its so incredibly hot here ! I pay for everything here in US dollars, Coke is $1, scarf $1, brass statues $1, lunch around $3.50 per dish. I havent changed any currency into local Cambodiam "Real" yet just not necessary.

Mother and daughter along the roadside...

Brothers

Day 160 - Dragonfly

Since its hot here in Cambodia the insects are everywhere - This dragonfly caught my attention. ... as did yellow the butterfly and colourful blooms below.

Day 159 - Water Buffalo in the Rice Paddy

On the way to the Bang Srei temple the Tuk Tuk travelled along highway No. 6 through small villages and rice paddies.
I stopped to take a few photos of the water buffalo as they crossed the road into a small rice paddy to cool down.

Day 158 - Snake Charmers

Brother and sister share a tender moment - These two little kids use their childish charms to earn money from tourists - They speak just enough words in different languages to let you know that you can take their picture for a dollar.

So why pay them?.. Welll they have this lovely pet snake that makes them a bit more interesting...

They arrive at the floating restaurant by small boat...

Mum encourages them to approach the tourists saying "Snake snake only one dolla"

How can you resist a face like this?...

as she pushes the snake towards your face... you give in and tell her to hold it away while you take her picture -

Her little brother runs around half naked and I worry that he will fall off the edge of the boat into the muddy water, no way of rescuing him if he falls below the floating lilys.

Upond leaving I see that some of the Older kids have learned their trade well and are spreeding off to earn money on their own. Note the snake around the boy's neck.

Day 157 - Boy in the Floating Village

Young boy watches as we pass by on the Tonle Sap River.

Day 157 - Waving Man

This man waves at me as our boat passes his home. Below the window the prow of his boat protrudes from the house.

Day 156 - Kids on a Boat

Elder brother is counting his money and teasing his younger sister while sitting on the side of a fishing boat.
The blue window stands out against the reddish brown of the boat house, while the yellow & red lines of the boat help to draw everything together in this picture. One of my favourites so far for this trip.