More life along the Tonle Sap River...

Thought I'd share a few more pictures to give you a glimpse into the basic life of the people who live on the Tonle Sap River in Cambodia. Again, this is the dry season for them and they live in floating homes. When the rainy season comes, the Tonle Sap floods to a depth of over the tree line and these people are displaced. We didn't quite get a good answer from our tour guide as to where they go during this rainy time when they are forced off the water, so I'm sorry to say I'm not sure. If the homes leading to the river are any indication, the conditions are just as bleak.

Homes leading up to the river:
Tree line along the river:

Homes on the river:


A church:

I have to admit that at times I felt a huge sense of guilt. Guilt that I was basically a voyeur into their misery so to speak. Here I was, a "wealthy" American (in their eyes), and I'm coming to sort of peer into how they live. I felt bad. How do they feel I wondered to myself, knowing that we don't share the same type of existence in this world. These people have very little in the way of the basics of life, they don't have educations, money, and sometimes food. There are no grocery stores or convenient stores for them to pop over to and pick up a gallon of milk. They don't have refrigerators or pantries to hold food and snacks. I watched as many of them washed their clothing in dirty river water using a stone to bang against the fabric. Most of the children don't attend school. There are a few schools here and there but they cost money to attend. I think about the children in our own United States who complain about having to go to school (my own daughter included), they don't understand what a gift it is for them and that they get to do it for free and are required to have an education. Many of the children who try and sell you stuff ask for the money so that they might one day be able to go to school. How do you, as an individual, ever change your existence or station in life if you have no chance at an education? How do you ever get out of your poverty if you can never better yourself? How sad to know that most of the people I saw, will live like this the rest of their lives and that the cycle will continue as they bring children into the world they live.

I saw smiling faces on people. Many waved to us as we rode by. I know that happiness is not measured by what you have in life and maybe these people don't look at their lives and feel sorrow, maybe you don't miss what you've never had? I don't know, I don't have answers, but I do know that I will never look at my life the same way again. As I climb into my warm bed tonight, after having had a drink of clean and safe water, I will reflect and be thankful for all that I have, and pray for those that do not.

Until next time,
Blessings!