In this video we will explore Kompong Khleang, the largest floating village in Cambodia, located on the shores of Tonle Sap Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia.
And we'll also explore one of the most visited cities in this region: Siem Reap! This city is known worldwide for being the gateway to the Angkor temple complex, including the iconic Angkor Wat.
This tour took place on March 28, 2024.
--------------- Video chapters:
0:00 Summary
0:26 Kompong Khleang
5:42 Wat Bo Pagoda in Siem Reap
6:20 Phsar Chas
7:22 Angkor National Museum
8:15 Les Artisans d'Angkor School
8:48 Pub Street
9:27 Angkor Night Market
9:57 Highly exotic food
------------------ Places visited on this tour:
KOMPONG KHLEANG
Kampong Khleang is the largest floating village in Cambodia, it is located on the northern shore of Tonle Sap Lake, about 55 km east of the city of Siem Reap and has more than 10,000 residents.
Due to seasonal flooding, all the houses are floating (through the use of gas tanks as buoys) or on stilts, hence the name “floating village” because they literally appear to float for part of the year. Water levels drop several meters from December onwards and in the last part of the season (end of January/February - June) you can see the stilt houses, where the houses stand, which rise up to 10 meters.
During the rainy season, water rises up to one meter from houses.
Kompong Khleang is a permanent community within the lake's floodplain, with a fishing-based economy and surrounded by flooded forest.
Despite challenges such as seasonal flooding and limited access to basic services, Kompong Kleang residents develop a strong sense of community and have a deep relationship with the lake that sustains their lives.
LAKE TONLE SAP
The Tonle Sap, which means Great Lake, is a system of lakes and rivers that stretches across Cambodia, forming the largest lake in all of Southeast Asia. It is of utmost importance to Cambodians as many live on it and make a living through the lake, including the residents of Kompong Khleang. It has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its ecology and local flora and fauna.
Currently this lake is threatened. Overfishing has decimated local species and many of the fish caught today are extremely small. Human-caused pollution has also wreaked havoc on the lake, forcing dolphins and other rare fish and mammals to converge on smaller, cleaner spots. After being designated a world heritage site, there have been many improvements and both the Cambodian government and local NGOs are working to conserve the biological diversity, landscape and ecosystem of the Tonle Sap.
WAT BO PAGODA
This 18th-century temple is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Siem Reap.
There is a school, living quarters for the monks, beautiful gardens and some nice places to sit and relax.
Although Wat Bo is a Buddhist pagoda, some of the wall paintings depict famous Hindu stories.
OLD MARKET / PHSAR CHAS
The Old Market is Siem Reap's oldest Khmer market, where fresh produce and household items can be purchased as early as 7am. It is one of the city's main attractions. Also known as Phsar Chas, here we can also buy clothes, jewelry and shoes. The look is a bit chaotic, but it's worth the visit.
PUB STREET
Pub Street is not just one street, there are several! Where there are the most relaxed restaurants, the most underground parties, street food and even the most elaborate dishes. Beers cost US$0.50 and a meal rarely exceeds US$4 or US$5 in a good restaurant.
ANGKOR NATIONAL MUSEUM
The Angkor National Museum was opened on November 12, 2007. Here we can learn about the history of the Khmer Empire, the civilization that dominated much of Southeast Asia between the 9th and 14th centuries.
LES ARTISANS D´ANGKOR - CHANTIERS ECOLE
Les Artisans d'Angkor - Chantiers Ecole works towards the development and promotion of traditional Khmer art and crafts, for the benefit of rural communities. The school offers young Cambodians solid craft training and revives artistic traditions in the villages.
The project has already created more than 1,000 jobs, including 624 artisans and artists who formed an association known as “Khmer Crafts”.
ANGKOR NIGHT MARKET
The best place to get “lost” in shopping is without a doubt the Angkor Night Market. Excellent for those looking for local crafts or any type of souvenir.
It goes without saying that the prices initially requested by the seller are far from corresponding to the real value of the product. That's why haggling is imperative. The final price may be 1/5 (or less) of the initial price. It will largely depend on your negotiation “skills”.