Tonle Sap Lake & Siem Reap

This past weekend, we had the opportunity to visit Siem Reap. Siem Reap has millions of tourists each year, due to its proximity to Angkor Wat, the cultural heart of Cambodia. Many say that you have not visited Cambodia, unless you visit Angkor Wat. Well, we made it to Siem Ream, but we didn’t have time to go to Angkor Wat.

Siem Reap is a nice town. It is much smaller than Phnom Penh, and it also much quieter. Our purpose for going was to go to the Tonle Sap Lake. The Tonle Sap is the largest lake in all of Southeast Asia. It is about the size of Lake Erie. In addition to the people living along the lake, there are four very large boat villages. These floating villages are primarily Vietnamese. Many of these people will be born, live, and die, on the lake. There are schools, churches, restaurants, stores, and motor mechanics, on the lake. The poverty is alarming. Even though they live in poverty, they smile. It is amazing. The children still laugh and play. At the Vietnamese school, we found children on the “playground.” They were running and chasing one another. Some were playing a modified game of marbles.

There is a great need for medical care on the Tonle Sap. Partners in Progress is planning to put the Ship of Life on the lake, during the rainy season. The changing size of the lake is quite interesting. During the rainy season, the Mekong River swells to such an extent that it actually pushes water back up the Tonle Sap River. The Tonle Sap River runs backward and fills the Tonle Sap Lake. The Ship on Life only has access to the lake, during the time that the Tonle Sap is deep, running backward.

The pictures below are scenes from the Tonle Sap Lake.

Lake general store

housing along the canal

mechanic shop

partial view of a lake village

Vietnamese school on the lake

boys playing on the school "playground"

On Sunday morning, Debbie and I were privileged to go with Bill and Marie Claire to the Siem Reap Church of Christ. It was a great service. There are two capable men leading the work, there. The Bible class was totally in Khmer. While I had no idea what was being said, I was impressed with the conviction of the Chan, the teacher. Chan is one of the leaders. Debbie and Marie Claire chose to go to the children’s class. There were many young children in the class, and Debbie fell in love with them all. But, there was one small boy who she held throughout the class. If there weren’t laws prohibiting the adoption of Cambodian children, we would be going home with a child!!!!

Marie Claire with one of the little girls

children singing Father Abraham

A young man, a preacher school student (I think), delivered the sermon. It was translated by Panat, the other minister. It was a very good lesson, and he preached with commitment. There were many young men involved in the service. It was so encouraging to see them actively participating. The church is relatively young, but strong.

One treat while we were in Siem Reap was dinner and a dance show, at a local restaurant. The dinner was a wonderful international buffet. There was great Asian food, as well as some western food. I have always viewed an all-you-can-eat buffet as a challenge. They tell me, “you can’t eat all that you have paid for.” I feel compelled to prove them wrong. But, due to the heat of the day, I wasn’t playing my A-game. Don’t get me wrong --- I ate my share, but I think they won!

The entertainment was great. The performance included the elegant Apsara dancers. It is amazing to watch their hands and graceful movements, as well as their keen balance. We also enjoyed the traditional folk dances. Most of the folk dances dealt with the relationship between young men and women. They were lively and fun.

Apsara dancers

Folk dancers

Siem Reap and Tonle Sap Lake were a tremendous treat. We saw a new side of the Khmer culture. The one constant is the tremendous people.