The poverty in these area's is unbelievable, certainly to us it was an eye opener, yet everyone we met including the children, were happy and constantly smiling. It seems to be a case of "what you don't have - you don't miss", But you do have to be very careful not to think of or compare western 'standards' when visiting such an area.
This first image is of one of the walls of a home we visited ..... it was made of palm leaves:
This next one was like a mansion!
this is a kitchen, they cook here and prepare the meals.....
here are the front steps into a home where you are made to feel very welcome....
cooking is also done outside......
here are a few young men having lunch:
we walked away from that village with heavy hearts but open eyes.
If your schedule allows, set aside a day or three to get out of the Siem Reap Town/main temple area and into the countryside.The vast majority of Cambodians live and work in the rural countryside and a countryside tour or even a day trip to a remote temple ruin can provide a glimpse of ‘real Cambodia’ - picturesque, bucolic scenery, rice paddies and water buffalos, countryside pagodas and little villages filled with traditional stilted houses... And there are a number of ways to see it: by 4WD or dirtbikes, ATVs, bicycle, ox cart and more.
Our tour guide (Ly Heng) took us to a rural village not too far from Siem Reap. The following websites will give some more insight into Cambodian Village life.
http://www.wildboarcreek.com/village/index.shtml
http://www.angkor-guides.com/siemreap/foundation
http://ki-media.blogspot.com/2006/06/rural-life-in-cambodia-chili-pepper.html
2 comments:
It really puts things in perspective to see how other people live...I like what you said about "heavy heart, but open eyes." So true.
It really puts things in perspective to see how other people live...I like what you said about "heavy heart, but open eyes." So true.
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