Cambodia - Kampong Kleang

Kampong Khleang is located on the northern lake-edge about 35 km east of Siem Reap town, more remote and less touristed than Kampong Phluk. Visitors to Kampong Khleang during the dry season are awestruck by the forest of stilted houses rising up to 10 meters in the air. During the wet season between May to October each year, the waters rise to within one or two meters of the stilt homes. It is a permanent community within the floodplain of the lake, with an economy based on fishing. But Kampong Khleang is significantly larger with near 10 times the population of Kampong Phluk, making it the largest community on the lake. All lake regions dry up in dry season and flooded in rainy season as of the Mekong River phenomenon. During the dry season when we visited, we were able to taxi through the village to the ferry terminal. For US$20, we commandeered a ferry for a two hour tour on the Tonle Sap. We were met by friendly lake dwellers who smiled or waved everywhere we looked. During the dry season where the lake is caked with clay and a lack of fish. Women, men and children roam barefeet on both the hot bitumen and on the lake surfaces. During the wet season, water level rises to almost 10m above ground level. Villagers are greeted by water at their front door of their stilt homes. Here, out of the necessity for survival, babies learn to swim before they can walk.

Rice is spread out on the ground to be dried.

Part of the lake filled with lotus flowers.

The tide is low and the motor sometimes gets caught in seaweed and clay.

Salted shellfish drying out in the sun.

Barber shop at the ground level under a stilt house.

A little 5 or 6 year old girl who followed us the moment we stepped off the ferry. She and a bunch of kids scored a soft drink from us.

Through our driver's translation, we learned that she was the youngest of 5. She had walked three kilometres in the hot 40 deg heat, barefeet and in a tatty old skirt that was almost threadbare. Topless because she didn't have a top to go with it. We learned that she has never had a new clothing item in her young life.

We took her to a clothes seller at the market. The lady boss of the stall was only too happy to help us pick out an outfit for this gorgeous little girl.

Then it was time to get rid of that tatty old skirt. The shopkeeper lady helped this little gem out of her skirt and lo and behold, not an underwear in sight.

And with that beautiful smile, off she went happily into the sunset. Best makeover I've ever had the pleasure to be involved in. I was sad thinking of the abundance and the waste in the societies of developed countries when even the most basic of needs of these children here are not even met.  My only regret was not buying her a whole new wardrobe... including underwear.