Kampong Tralach & Koh Oaknha Island, 3/15/2018, The Jahan
Aboard the
The Jahan
Vietnam & Cambodia aboard The Jahan
It was an exciting start to the day as we boarded our traditional two-wheeled oxcart and traveled through rice paddies stopping to inspect a lotus flower field. We then piled into a remok (a type of people carrier) and took a short journey to the local grammar school where we were able to interact with teachers and very enthusiastic students.
After lunch we visited a Theravada Buddhist Pagoda and we were able to ask the local Buddhist Monk a variety of questions. We then jumped into a tuk-tuk and rode through the countryside to visit a small silk farm.
Martin grew up in Melbourne Australia playing cricket and Australian Rules football. While growing up, to his parents’ dismay, Martin brought home and kept a menagerie of wildlife including frogs, lizards, turtles and even poisonous snakes!
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After a few days exploring traditional villages, today we visited the capital of Phnom Phen. Our day started out with a cyclo ride, human-powered bicycle transportation that provided us with a tour of the city. It’s a colorful place and our excursions emersed us in the everyday city life, as well as allowing us to visit some of the landmark destinations, such as the royal palace. It was a full day of excitement which also included some sobering moments when we made stop at the high school used by the Khmer Rouge to torture the citizens during the reign of Pol Pot.
Our day began before sunrise along the banks of Kampong Tralach on the Tonle Sap River. The morning was cool and humid, with a faint mist veiling the distant fields. With makeshift steps carved into the clay, we climbed the embankment and met up with our morning transportation – a column of ox carts to take us for a ride through the rice fields. Like rice agriculture, these utility vehicles are an enduring part of Khmer agrarian life. When we arrived at the Green School, we learned how this community organization is empowering rural youth with English language and computer skills. And we had fun and games along the way! As the day continued, the Jahan headed further upstream through narrow side channels of the river. We passed fisherman, farmhouses, ferries, and irrigation pumps. The afternoon saw us pulling ashore at Kampong Leaeng, a district which is partially inundated during the wet season. Temporary shelters are erected along the river, where freshwater fish are caught, processed, and smoked. During our afternoon tuk tuk ride through the countryside, we learned about two more timeless rural traditions – earthenware pottery production and the harvesting of juice from the sugar palm.
Our first morning on The Jahan commenced early with tai chi on deck as we cruised along the Mekong River. After a hearty breakfast, we disembarked and, led by our Cambodian guides, wandered through the remote village of Angkor Ban. Our walk through this village was truly fascinating. We saw locals going about their day-to-day life and managed a brief visit into one of the wooden homes. Back on board, we participated in a Buddhist monk blessing in the lounge, learning all about the culture and traditions of Theravada Buddhism. In the afternoon, we explored Prek Bangkong by tuk-tuk and visited a traditional silk farm and the residence of the architect for the Cambodian royal family.
