Day 2 started quite early as we only had the whole day left to go to the infamous Angkor Watt before taking our bus back to Phnom Penh the same night.
Before reaching Angkor Watt, we stopped by at Chong Khneas, a floating village on the Tonle Sap Lake, which is the largest freshwater lake in South East Asia. We made our way down to the pier, paid around 5USD for the boat fees, boarded a small boat (fits around 10 people) that took us through a canal and through the floating village.
It was a bit touching seeing how the villagers live their life dependently on the river. Most of them have never ventured out and will grow old the same way they grew up. The tourism industry actually helped the villagers live a better life. It created job opportunities, new infrastructures. The village now boasts floating schools, a floating church, a floating mosque and even a floating futsal court.
Putting the touchy feelings aside, after passing through the village, we were soon greeted by a vast scenery of endless water. No end could be seen from where we were standing. On the lake itself were other floating houses, fish farms, restaurants, and even a crocodile farm. I shit you not! Hahaha! It was quite stunning just sitting at a floating restaurant and admiring the beauty of the Tonle Sap Lake.
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| breeding crocs like a boss |
After touring the lake for a while, we headed back down the canal and to the pier to continue our way. It was time for Angkor Wat.
