Floating Villages and Night Market in Siem Reap
If the remains of the Angkor Temple represent the splendid civilization that Cambodia once possessed, the floating villages and night markets are the epitome of the lives of ordinary Cambodians.
As the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, Tonle Sap Lake is the mother river of the Khmer nation. There are many floating villages on Lake Tonle Sap, where ordinary fishermen live. They make a living by fishing and wander back and forth on the lake every day. The loud sound of the engine and the waves of the stern were enough to break the calm of the lake, but I could still feel the peace of mind when I sat on the boat, because I was observing their ordinary lives as bystanders.
We met a lot of friendly locals, lovely kids, tired fathers, gentle mothers holding children, and people lying asleep on boats. For them, the boat is not only a means of transport, but also a place to live, because they work every day on board, and even sleep on the boat at night.
Here, visitors can take a boat tour for $20. On the return trip, we happened to meet the students who were out of school.
By this time, the rain had stopped, and on the lake in the distance, the sun’s rays appeared in the dark clouds. Looking at the children in front of me, I saw hope. Education is the right way to change poverty and to achieve national development.
In addition, I would like to mention the international assistance I have seen in Cambodia. Many Korean flags can be seen in Siem Reap, there are many schools built by Korean NGOs, and even a road in Siem Reap has been named the Cambodian-Korean Friendship Road because it was built by Korean government.
Night markets, available in many cities. In Siem Reap, the night market is the best place to eat and shop for us. It’s like a microcosm of Cambodia’s economy. Once a glorious civilization, the country now relies on these historic sites to attract tourists from all over the world to visit and spend.
In the evening, we came to a restaurant called Red Piano and ate Beef Lok Lak for the first time.
Cambodian Beef Lok Lak.
Siem Reap Night Market: Pub Street.
Siem Reap Night Market: A small shop.
