From Floating Village to Kampong Chhnang Market

From the banks of the river, commerce proceeds up a slight hill to the Kampong Chhnang town market. A motorized belt transports loads from docking boats to the porters who wait above to carry the items to market stalls.

All elements necessary for daily life are available in the market, from groceries [yes, that’s raw meat] to manufacturing facilities to barber services to small eateries.  

Challenges of all kinds require creative problem solving skills, a natural talent among Cambodians.

And, of course, kids are everywhere. We were asked not to give them money when they approached, so pencils became the connection choice. The kids seemed to enjoy the interaction, and we loved it.

The Floating Villages of Kampong Chhnang, Cambodia

Our riverboat anchored mid-stream near this rural port town and we transferred to local motorboats for an excursion to the floating villages. I was unable to swivel my head fast enough to take all the photos I wanted of this incredibly colorful experience. It is clear that all generations are active participants in life on the river. Economically poor? By western standards, absolutely. But in their capacity to create life from whatever is available to them, they are world-class competitors. [More pictures are available by clicking Flickr photos on the left side of the blog post.]