Travel | Cambodia 2014 - Tonle Sap Lake

After our tour around Angkor Wat our tuktuk driver suggested if we wanted to go the the lake since it was still quite early. We said yes.

As we were heading downtown, we noticed that it was getting far.

At first we were like "this lake is kinda far compared to the map, huh."

and then after a few more miles, where we were driving through started to look really "province-y"

"damn, this lake is far!"

At last we arrived at this pier like establishment. We didn't know that IT was already the ferry terminal to Tonle Sap Lake.

Initially, we planned to go there before the trip but we thought it was too far from Siem Reap so we dropped the idea. but due to our randomness and whatever serendipity coincidence that happened so quickly we were able to go to Tonle Sap Lake without even knowing it! Cray!

After getting ferry tickets, we went down to the docks. I thought it will be like a group tour thing together with other tourists, but no. We got the whole boat to ourselves. hahaha

The driver and the tour guide are both young locals so it felt comfortable and they were funny.

They even let us drive the boat!

Yes that's me driving a motorboat in the middle of Tonle Sap river going to the great lake.

Not bad for a first timer since the maneuver was quite simple and it was thrilling!

The river opens up to the lake and from there you will see the famous floating village.

Part of the long stretch of houses and establishments. They were practically complete with temples, schools, marketplace and even restaurants for tourists.

I am standing in the middle of the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia!

The village has a struggling economy, our guide asked us if we wanted to visit the school and get to mingle with the kids and see their actual daily life and if we wanted to share a little donation. 

This is one of the classrooms we visited with very active kids!

There was no class that time so they were just playing around.

You see that murky water on the side? We saw one kid drank from there like it was the cleanest pond in the woods. It was shocking and troubling. We offered to give them distilled water as donation, it was not much but at least it would suffice for the next few days. They really need clean water.

Don't let go of an opportunity to share.

After the school tour we dropped by a floating market for a quick drink. There were souvenirs and food stalls. but what caught our attention was the live crocodile farm.

Yup a herd of crocodiles just a meter away from where we are standing.

super safe! hahahaha

rawr.

This is us on the boat with the floating village at the back.

It was an amazing and eye-opening experience for the three of us.

This is why we travel.

Tonle Sap Lake and the Floating Village

Cambodia, 2014