Introduction to today's journey
Today's journey takes me from Siem Reap to the nearby lake of Tonle Leap which is still very full from the monsoon season. There we board a longboat and cross the rough windswept water before reaching the mouth of a river up the other side. From there we head upstream to a floating village on stilts before continuing upstream until eventually reaching Battambang. There we explore the French city before taking the Bamboo Express through the surrounding countryside.
Today's Journey
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Departing the busy Siem Reap in the early monring heading towards the jetty at Tonle Sap. |
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Crossing the very choppy waters of Tonle Leap in a small covered boat. The lake is still flooded from recent monsoonal weather. It takes about an hour to cross this corner of the lake to the mouth of the Sanger River. |
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Houses float on rafts on the flooded lake. During the dry season they sit on the ground, but the lake rises about twelve metres each rainy season requiring houses to sit on floating rafts. |
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Following the Sanger River upstream as we start passing houses standing on stilts above the flood water. They will stand high above the dry ground during the dry season. |
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We continue following the Sangker River upstream for several hours, passing many houses and seeing a lot of people fishing in the muddy water. |
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We eventually reach the French colonial town of Battambang where we visit a rice paper making factory. |
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Visiting a nearby farm where we sample deep fried snake. |
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Riding the bamboo express near Battambang. These trains were initially set up as minesweepers, but now used to carry produce along the fragmented railway lines. |
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Whenever two trains meet the smaller train needs to be dismantled to allow the other one to pass. Here one train is being reassembled once ours has passed. The track is very bumpy and noisy. |
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The view is amazing though as we head back towards Battambang. |
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