THURSDAY, JULY 8 Breakfast, a short drive by van, and then another by boat brought us to the floating villages of Tonle Sap Lake, a lake that swells five fold annually from the waters of the Himalayas. Millions of Cambodians make their living here from fresh water fishing. Everything floats there: the school, medical centre, gas station, even a karaoke bar; all floating securely on their foundations of bamboo logs.
A brief trip to the general store and a return trip by boat preceded our journey to Kampot in a rather rough ride as we made our way through two provinces travelling along highways # 6, 5, 4 and 3. We passed through a number of one-street market towns, places where locals sell their produce and wares. In one such town, a land mine victim with one leg was stretched out in the middle of the street, his hands and eyes raised in prayer. This was a dangerous manoeuvre, but a fitting expression of the desperation of his life and an appeal to drivers to respond to his need.
We passed through a low mountain range where the vegetation, especially the tress, were lush and beautiful. Highway construction, newly constructed railway lines, the salt mine and numerous two wheel tractors with either rubber or steel wheels spoke of Cambodian industry. En route to Kampot, we picked up Soratha, our DPA interpreter for tomorrow. By 9pm, we had finished our supper, a delirious experience of shrimp, crab and ginger chicken, thus bringing to an end our challenging seventeen hour day.
by Bert Pitzel
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