~~~~ lake living

we drive to the remote floating village of 

Kompong Khleang

dusty red roads are replaced with fresh water

teetering homes on stilts

steep steps and high balconies

with dogs, bicycles, clothes and all

manner of things precariously hanging on  

and floating boat houses

there is a class divide

those with floating homes tend to be poorer

everyone is busy

setting nets to catch many of the 200 species of fish

that swim in the waters

nearly half the fish eaten in Cambodia

come from this lake

at 7,400 square miles

the Tonle Sap is the largest freshwater lake

in Asia

green islands of morning glory 

bob and float along the waters edge

tended by their owners

picking the best stems to cook

in Khmer dishes

fishing boats whizz past

young passengers wave

it's a timeless pocket of the planet

we drive onwards to Beng Mealea 

probably the most untouched temple of all

40km east of Angkor

the sandstone walls and carvings

have been left where they fell

twisted vines and tree roots 

carvings of Vishnu being borne by the bird god Garuda

and the Hindu story 

Churning of the Sea of Milk

among the many tumbled stones

that we climb over and think about 

all those people who made these temples

the work, the devotion

Cambodia leaves you feeling very humble