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Life In A Cambodian VillageSpending a day in a Cambodian village is a really cool thing to do while you're visiting Angkor Wat. Not only do you get to do interesting stuff, but you can really get to know how the Cambodia people live. As a matter of fact, it doesn't take long to reach Cambodia's countryside, because the town is rather small. And once you get out of the town, you'll immediately see rice paddy fields and corn fields at both sides of the road. It really is a beautiful sight.
We've seen many rice fields before, but in Cambodia they somehow looked different. Everything was so clear, so crisp. The air so clean, the sky blue, and the sun was shining without any clouds in its way. Everything looked peaceful and as they should be. It was like having a Zen moment. =) Arriving At The Cambodian Village
The ladies were making some snacks and selling food on the side road. Our van driver got a bowl of soup because he missed his breakfast earlier.
It was more like poffertjes actually, and it was delicious - a combination of coconut and palm sugar, hot off the pan. It was very yummy! The Oxen Cart!At long last, the oxen cart came, and clearly it was too small to fit the four of us comfortably. But we packed ourselves in, and endured a 15- It was a rough ride and we were jostled around a lot. Soon, we were complaining and laughing about how we voluntarily and excitedly got ourselves into an uncomfortable ride. Oh, what you would do in the name of getting an authentic Cambodian village experience! =) Working Hard Planting CornWhen we arrived at the field, Lim, our guide, told us that we'd be helping the villagers plant corn and cucumber. I knew this, we all did, because Lim had told us the day's itinerary several times that morning. Still, I was At first I thought that there was no way that we, wannabe farmers, could work the whole area in an hour or two. And that's when the thought came in. An hour or two?! I then realized the irony of it all: we paid money to be allowed to work the field. No, that was not a 'Zen' moment, but it was a realization nonetheless. =). We have been working for a while when my brother came upon a fresh cow dung, which he thought was dirt. So he was mixing the 'dirt' with the fertilizer before realizing it. and we were all having a good laugh about it. Truth to be told, though, I'm sure all of us did the same thing, only without realizing it. We then had a good rest under a tree before trekking across the field to reach the Cambodian village school, where we'd be teaching English to the village kids. Teaching At The School VillageIt seemed that we caught them just in time, because school was over, and they were out playing on the school ground. Our class soon filled up, though, with many other kids watching from the windows and the door.
Boy did we have fun. All the kids were very engaging and active. We had a good time learning the animal names and the birthday song, and after that played rounds and rounds of word games. I thought we spent quite a bit of time with them, and through it all, the children didn't lose any of their energy. It was really nice to see kids wanting to learn, instead of being forced to it.
Lunch With The Host Family
It was really interesting to watch our host family cook, with all the traditional cookery. We ate at the family host's 'verandah', and had Cambodian village food. They were all really good, a fact that I have reconciled with (previously, we kept hearing how bland Cambodian food are). Coconut water was also passed around, but I thought it tasted rather 'off' compared to the usual. Maybe the coconut was a tad too young, or too old? I'm not sure. The sun was too hot to be doing anything but resting. After about 40 minutes of siesta, we said our good byes and thank yous to the host family and the kids. Then, we were off to the Buddhist monastery in the village. Visiting The Village's Monastery
We saw at least several monasteries while in Cambodia, being that 95% of the population is Buddhist. The village temple that we visited has a hall for praying and learning, hall for functions, stupas (a small temple-like structure to keep the ashes of the dead), and the dorms for the monks.
On the walls there were many colorful paintings, mostly recounting the life of the Buddha. At the back of the praying hall also, there was also a big wall depicting the life in hell. The images were very detailed and descriptive. Lim gave us full explanation of the whys of the punishment. The Swimming Pool, aka The BarayAfter we roamed around the monastery for a while, we left the village for our final destination for the day: the baray (reservoir). When we got there, it was obvious that the baray apparently also serves as the swimming pool for the people. We saw many people swimming, boating, and fishing. Basically, this man-made lake is the recreation area for the Cambodia people. This was another part of Cambodian life that we wouldn't otherwise have known about.
Although we didn't swim on the lake, despite Lim's many encouragements to do so, we did sit at the banks and dipped our feet to the lake and splashed cool water around. After that, it was, in essence, more siesta time and just observing the Cambodians. It was an interesting look at their life. Life was slow, there was no hurry in doing anything. As if time will go on and on and on. The lake area was definitely not a foreign tourist spot, because we saw only Cambodia people, and maybe one or two foreign expatriates. It is still a functioning temple, and some locals go there for praying. Lim told us a tale about a princess and her alligator that involves the lake and the island, I couldn't remember how it ended, but it was a tragically funny story.
You'll also see many people selling clams. They came from the Tonle Sap lake, and then half cooked, then seasoned and put under the sun for further 'cooking'. Cambodians love these, and you'll see them being sold everywhere. Too bad I didn't have the guts to try it.
Overall Impression of the Cambodian Village Life?When it was really time get back to the hotel, we were all tired but satisfied. What a day! From tasting Cambodian village pancakes, to the oxen bumpy ride, to corn planting, to mixing cow dung, to exuberant little kids, to a hearty Cambodian village lunch, to the village monastery, to relaxing on the lake, and finally to grilled frogs on a stick. That was one fantastic Cambodian day. Although visiting a Cambodian village is number #5 on our Cambodian Holiday Must See and Must Do list, it does not mean it is less spectacular than the others. This tour is definitely different. It's not about seeing and doing Cambodian activities. Instead it allows you to actually live a Cambodian village life for few hours. And that gives you a closer look to Cambodia people's life, one that you can not get any other way. Nothing can replace the real experience of 'being' there in a Cambodian village. Where To Book A Cambodian Village TourWe found this Cambodia tour package at The Villa Siem Reap, a small hotel that runs unique tours daily. This particular tour is called "A Day In A Life", and costs $30/person. You can contact them directly through their website. The villa is very well run, and we are very satisfied with their services. Return from Life in a Cambodian Villageto Holiday in Cambodia: The Must See and Must Do List, where you see our top five cambodia activities. Kampung Phluk: A Different World Would you like a real and authentic cultural experience while in Cambodia? Kampung Phluk is your answer. Going to this river village by the Tonle Sap lake is like stepping into another world. Number #1 on our list. Beng Melea, A Temple Ruins In The Jungle Beng Melea is the one place for adventure travel. It's not far, it's not hard to get to, but surprisingly there are hardly any tourists. Put on your adventure hat and get lost in the world of ancient temples. Number #2 on our list. Ta Prohm Temple In The Morning Ta Prohm in the morning is totally different from the Ta Prohm in 'normal' hours. This is a great place to have a morning ramble in a quiet temple, with trees towering about you. Magic moments await! Number #3 on our list. Angkor Wat Sunset At Phnom Bakheng Where is the one great place to watch the sunset at Angkor Wat? You will get different answers to this, but one name will come up often, and that is Phnom Bakheng. And we agree, but for a totally different reason than the usual. Number #4 on our list. Return from Life in a Cambodian Village to Holiday in Angkor Wat
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When we arrived in the village, we spent some time with the Cambodian village ladies while waiting for our oxen cart come. 
While we, on the other hand, tasted the pancakes they were making. 
minute ride to the farm field. 
dismayed at the sight of the large field. 
After the lesson, it was finally time to really relax and have lunch. Lunch was another cute affair. 
Lunch consisted of rice, Amok curry, a salted fish dish, raw vegetables, and fruits. There were also sandwiches, as back ups. 
In the middle of the lake, there is a small man made island, where a temple was built. 
Before we went home, we strolled around the fruit and food stands there. There was a grilling place that sold meat on a stick that actually looked really good, until you know what it's made of. 
