![[2025-03-Floating_Villages - 1_web.jpeg]] Kampong Kleang Eco-community in Siem Reap. Tonle Sap Lake. ![[2025-03-Floating_Villages - 3_web.jpeg]] On the way to the first boat tour we drove through and stopped at one of the villages built on stilts. They are built tall due to the water level rising so high, covering the roadway we took for periods of the year! ![[2025-03-Floating_Villages - 2_web.jpeg]] Dried and smoked fish are a mainstay of their local economy, harvesting it for both the family's personal use as well as selling. ![[2025-03-Floating_Villages - 4_web.jpeg]] The small fish are skewered together into these plank-shaped bundles. ![[2025-03-Floating_Villages - 5_web.jpeg]] About ready to push off from the dock. ![[2025-03-Floating_Villages - 6_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Floating_Villages - 7_web.jpeg]] Our captain piloting through the shallow muddy waters toward Lake Tonle Sap. ![[2025-03-Floating_Villages - 8_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Floating_Villages - 9_web.jpeg]] Floating villages have floating schools! ![[2025-03-Floating_Villages - 10_web.jpeg]] The first community we visited was very small -- only a handful of floating houses off the edge of Tonle Sap. Back to shore we go! ![[2025-03-Floating_Villages - 11_web.jpeg]] Buddha waiting for us back by the dock. ![[2025-03-Floating_Villages - 12_web.jpeg]] The next day we hop in the van again and head toward the next destination. ![[2025-03-Floating_Villages - 13_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Floating_Villages - 14_web.jpeg]] Another long trek through shallow, muddy waters. The low water level meant we actually needed to drive further toward Lake Tonle Sap than we would during other times of year. ![[2025-03-Floating_Villages - 15_web.jpeg]] Fishing nets and supplies along the water. ![[2025-03-Floating_Villages - 16_web.jpeg]] The next village we got off the boat and visited a floating tourist shop, complete with its own attraction... ![[2025-03-Floating_Villages - 17_web.jpeg]] Alligators in a pen! ![[2025-03-Floating_Villages - 18_web.jpeg]] Three or four were hanging out on the lower level, and another few in the water. I stayed safely on the upper level. ![[2025-03-Floating_Villages - 19_web.jpeg]] The area is known for their birds, too. ![[2025-03-Floating_Villages - 20_web.jpeg]] Two kitties hanging out at home, we also saw a handful of family dogs. ![[2025-03-Floating_Villages - 21_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Floating_Villages - 22_web.jpeg]] This young guy was rinsing off their haul of the tiny fish, getting them ready to process by the others inside. Chop-chop-chop... ![[2025-03-Floating_Villages - 23_web.jpeg]] Water Buffalo checking out us boat-dwellers. ![[2025-03-Floating_Villages - 24_web.jpeg]] The monastery near our launch point for the journey was very quiet, so we took a look around. ![[2025-03-Floating_Villages - 25_web.jpeg]] Beautiful details wherever we looked. ![[2025-03-Floating_Villages - 26_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Floating_Villages - 27_web.jpeg]] Inside the dark monastery. ![[2025-03-Floating_Villages - 28_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Floating_Villages - 29_web.jpeg]]