This is a trip that is definitely for the adventurous traveler! It started with a dusty tuk-tuk ride down a pot hole filled road to a long open boat on the Tonle Sap lake. One of the things that make Asia so unique and special are the floating villages and markets you find on most lakes and rivers. Each floating village is quite unique with its own character and atmosphere created by the people.
The boats we were travelling in were very basic, the small pillow didn’t quite cushion the hard seat but who needed luxury when on an adventure.
My mom and I were super excited about visiting the floating village on the lake as we have heard a lot about it and it was mentioned to us by our fabulous tuk-tuk driver. He drove us out to Tonle Sap lake and helped us arrange this Floating Village tour.
This was very tranquil on the lake and we were getting a glimpse of a unique lifestyle. As we floated past people would wave and some would even pose for a photo ot two. To think they spend most of their time on the water, fishing or living in a floating house. Even their shops and schools are built to float around on the lake.
As we approached the village we were again reminded that we were outsiders observing this unique way of living. There were floating pigpens, flower markets and villagers going about their everyday life. On the river bank all the homes were built on stilts, and most had decks outfitted with container gardens with Lemon grass, herbs, vegetables and ornamental flowers.
Our first stop was Chong Kneas floating village which featured absurdities such as small kids sporting huge water snakes and so-called crocodile farms which in reality are small ponds where dozens of crocodiles are crammed together.
Young children in small canoe like boats paddled past us and smiled broadly for photos, posing with their snakes. Women with small boats filled with fruits and vegetables docked next to the floating restaurant trying to sell their produce.
Not only was there a floating restaurant but also a local temple and schoolhouse that one could visit. The floating restaurant was very basic, it had drinks and cooked shrimps for sale for very little money so this is where we had our lunch before continuing our adventure.
There were no postcard pushers as in the city and all the other usual tourist sites, just village people going about their daily life in this tranquil setting.
We floated past Kompong Phluk a small village which is truly authentic. Thanks to its low number of visitors. It felt genuinely untouched and peaceful.
I’d recommend this as a nice restful break between temple visits if you ever have the opportunity to visit Siem Reap.
Janaline's world journey 
This was a highlight of my time in Cambodia 7 years ago. Thanks for bringing back great memories with your awesome photos.
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Thank you!! It is such a special thing memory to have!
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What an amazing place! Thanks for sharing 🙂
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Thank you! It was definitely one of those places you will never forget.
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Amazing, I would love to do this too, I like adventure! Great post and amazing shots….very interesting place! 🙂
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If you ever get the chance you definitely should, it is such an interesting experience,
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I will for sure!! 🙂
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Great post with interesting pictures. I loved pics of those kids holding their snakes.. Adorable it is..!!
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They are definitely very adorable and were quite happy to pose with their pets.
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Reblogged this on Hadel and commented:
YIKES!
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A huge thank you for the re-blog!!
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Hi, you are most welcome.
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How beautiful! I love the colors in the first photo, and then the village Kompong Phluk – so amazing, the different lifestyles around the world.
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Such an interesting way to live and I am so glad that I had the opportunity to see these strange and unique houses.
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Looks interesting. I am wondering whether they have a floating school as well.
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They do Colline, and even a floating church!
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Great post. When I was there a few years ago, it was the rainy season and most of the floating villages in the area of the tour I took were tied up along the shore instead of out in the lake. It is nice to see how they should have looked.
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I never knew they were toied up during rainy season, but then it does make some sence otherwise they would all float away. We were there during their winter so were quite lucky to see them in the middle of the lake.
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Just a wonderful post. Thanks for sharing!
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Thank are welcome!
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Such an eye-opening adventure! I wanted to visit a floating village when I went to Cambodia last year but heard mixed reviews. But looks like you had a great time!
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It was a lovely experience. It is something you have to see and experience for yourself as reviews often depend on the persons mood when they were on this adventure.
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I must go there one day… After I finish exploring India!
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It is a must….as is India which is very high on my travel-wish list….
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Great photos! This brought back lots of memories of my time in SE Asia. Visiting the floating villages in Siem Reap was definitely a highlight!
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Thank you! It is such a memorable adventure!!
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How amazing are your photos? Great grabs of the kids with snakes! Super stuff!
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Thank you!! They were so sweet and the snakes looked bigger than them, personally I waouldnt hold something that might end up eating me for lunch.
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The water world.. 🙂
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It is such a strange and wonderful world to explore
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Nice photos; the kids holding the snakes are cute. Do you know if those are their pets or were they trying to sell them?
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I think hey were pets as they were posing for photos with the snakes and I didnt see them try to sell them
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