I’m gonna keep this blog post short since the next one is gonna be crazy long.

Side Note : Yes I know this is a lake and the term bay is incorrect, but it’s from a kids song and I’m sticking to it!

Vlog #9 : Contiki Big Indochina Adventure : Siem Reap, Cambodia

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7vnx0CQEB4

Tonle Sap Lake

I rarely like to use the phrase “this is the craziest thing I have ever seen”, since there is no real measurable value to it. What is crazy to some can be normal to others. Either way, I used it today to describe my experiences out on the lake.

First thing you need to note is that the Tonle Sap lake is home to over 3 million people in the surrounding areas, and 1 million on the lake. Second thing, the lake provides over 60% of Cambodia’s  protein food supply. Third, every year the lake floods and actually reverses direction- craziness!

A pen of crocodile which are going to be used as food and skinned. Sad, but I have no doubt since I saw next door what is made from them :/

Now there are plenty of weird things on this lake.  First there are “pirate” boats filled with kids that jump from their boat onto yours trying to sell you soft drinks for $1.

Then there is this: a girl sitting in a bucket holding a snake, trying to get me to hold it for $1. Well, I didn’t hold the snake but I did give her a dollar for letting me photograph her.

I find it rare that I actually don’t have many photos for this day. I do have a somewhat good reason. The intense heat out on the lake made my camera stop working and I nearly had a panic attack. I mean, it’s not that I don’t have any other cameras; I actually have 4 others with me. But, this was my Canon 60D, my pride and joy! Rest assure, after a cool down and some tender care in the hotel room after, all was back to normal.