Tonle Sap River

Last night we sailed down towards Phnom Penh and then turned up the Tonle River. This is a much narrower river than the Mekong. We are greeted with a sunrise at 6 am and green river banks very close to the boat. The trip is amazing so much to take in.
There are only 40 people on the boat which is really nice. There are not many birds around which is a shame but this morning I can see whiskered Terns flying past.

Missed Tai Chi at 6.30 am again. Although we were awake.

We get off the Jayvarman onto Sanpans, flat bottomed boats, and sail around a Vietnamese floating village. We are still in Cambodia and these are immigrants that live on the water here. They settled here in the 1980s

We then get transferred by bus to a small rural village and see a local man climbing up the palm trees to collect sap to make into palm sugar. He is a great character full of smiles and laughter. We also watch a young girl making pots out of clay. She gets paid $6 a day and make 40 pots. Someone not me or even Ian steps on one that she has just made and put in the sun to dry.
Back on the boat and this afternoon we are exploring another village by Ox Cart. Being on the boat is a great way to get about and see different places. Places that you cannot get to by road and not touristy.
It is lovely and cool this morning, this afternoon it is getting warmer and warmer, hotter and hotter. Super fantastic.
This afternoon was very hot as pre-warned. We were transferred to Green School which is financially supported by the Heritage Line. The transportation consisted of a long cart with 20 people on board. It was pulled by a single man on a motorbike. Not sure if we had the fattest people on our cart but the man had difficulty in getting it moving. Just driving on a dust track, dry but well rutted, it was slipping around alarmingly. A steep bank on both sides, we had nothing to hold onto and only a narrow ledge onto which we all perched.
Somehow we arrived unscathed well physically anyway. The children eye us warily, but soon are clamouring for high 5’s. They sing us 2 songs and we play a game with them where we draw pictures and they have to tell us in English what it is. One man drew a train, they did not know what a train was. They showed off their writing skills and talked to us enthusiastically. A very boisterous version of old MacDonald was our farewell song. Then they all came to say goodbye, they wanted high 5’s and hugs. It was so uplifting to see them so happy and so happy to learn.
Ian and I clamber aboard our ox cart for the journey home past rice paddies and lotus ponds

. I am very close to the backside of the oxen, hoping it has had its poo for the day.

Back on board! Cold ginger and honey tea and a snooze in the sun.
We have just docked in Phnom Penh. A full day tomorrow, might be a bit harrowing.
Li Hi for now.