Siem Reap Village Tour!

Vantha pickd us up this morning for a ride in a remork for this portion of the tour.  He took us out of the city and into a nearby village to see how the neighbourhood market works where there are no tourists.  He showed us some totally tasty snacks and treats to try, explained about the variety of spices and meats for sale and the local vegetables.  The marketplace had a VERY different feel from the market place here near the hotels in the city.  For starters, we were the only non Khmer people there.  The children were enthralled with us, and a couple of older ladies asked Vantha where we'd come from.  It was  pretty nifty.  

Our remork and remork driver

Vantha and Josh (who asked if he could drive the remork...)

Monks, chillin in the village.

We look odd, but that's not our fault.

It rained the night before... A LOT.

Our future home in Siem Reap!

Nice barbed wire fence.... 

This lady made the cakes we ate, but also, check out her waffle irons!  We need those for Camp!

This woman made us grilled banana in sticky rice inside a banana leaf.  Super sweet and tasty!

I am drinking sugar cane water in a bag.  Beverages in a bag.  For real.

The main street of the village.

Vantha leading the way to the Buddhist Pagoda.

We got a tour of the grounds of this village Pagoda and had some of the practises of the people explained.  we met some nuns, too... and they were just as awesome as the monks!

A ceremonial building.

Holy flowers used for healing and health during and after labour and delivery!  

A wee house out in a partially dried up lake, in front of a gorgeous field of lotus flowers.

Welcome to the Jetty for the floating village!

Our driver and his assistant, backing us out of the jumble of boats!

Here we go!!

Looking back at the jetty.

The fisher-people of Siem Reap live a completely nomadic lifestyle in homes that float!  They pull them with motor boats in and out of the lake, according to the wet/dry seasons.

Floating grocery store.

Floating school.

A motorboat dropping people back at home.

Omg, PIRATES!!

This is actually a floating pig pen.  THIS IS A FLOATING PIG FARM!

It's tough to see, but there is a small boy holding a basket of soda on the boat... his father caught up to us and the kid jumped aboard, trying to sell us stuff.  Uh... no thanks, wee pirate.  Get off our boat, m'kay?

Chillin' on the front steps of their floating homes.

Okay, so you know how Josh asked to drive the remork?  Well, he also asked to drive the boat... to which the driver replied, "Out in the lake, you drive."  So Josh plunked her down and tore off into the open water once we passed the village!  Go Josh!!

Captain Wong!! (as you can see, Vantha is amused)

Big floating restaurant.

Floating bar!

There are no toilet facilities on these floating houses... drop, squat, splash.

Me, chillin' with the baby kitten who lives at our hotel.

Kids enjoying the massive puddles in town on our walk to the market place. 

Today was our last day in Cambodia and that makes me incredibly sad.  I have LOVED it here.  The people are amazingly friendly and happy.  The food is amazing.  The weather is enjoyable.  But mostly, the people make this place feel like home.  Tomorrow morning brings us to a long bus ride from Siem Reap to Bangkok, where we will finish out our amazing Asian adventure!