In Southeast Asia, traffic jams exist everywhere – even far from the beaten path or any type of highway. Today we took what should have been a very short trip up the Siem Reap river to the floating village of Chong Kneas. The trip turned out longer than expected due to a traffic jam on the river. It is currently the dry season in Southeast Asia (January-June) and river levels are very low. That doesn’t stop people (lots of people) from trying to use the waterways for transport and travel anyways. We were stuck for about an hour waiting for a very large boat to wiggle itself free from the silt. The long delay made for some interesting people watching and the boys didn’t mind stopping to watch the water buffalo along the river bank.
On the way to Chong Kneas we stopped at some lotus fields and had our first taste of lotus fruit. The boys loved it; I did not. It is a strange mix of nut, vegetable and fruit.
The village of Chong Kneas is located at the mouth of the Siem Reap River where the river meets Ton Le Sap lake. The village was settled by Vietnamese refugees during the Vietnam War and has become a popular spot for tourists. During the rainy season the houses, restaurants and stores all float on bamboo rafts. During the dry season most of the houses are sitting on the ground atop their bamboo foundations – but still surrounded by fairly deep water. There are many floating villages on Ton Le Sap lake. Some may be considered more “authentic” than Chong Kneas. Personally, we really liked Chong Kneas – its close and easy. It does have a few tourist trap locations (including a crocodile farm and souvenir shop) but you will get a sense of how the local village people live along the lake. Chong Kneas is a good, short trip if you happen to be traveling with kids (even if you end up getting stuck unexpectedly – as we did).
Overall, it was a nice final day in Cambodia. Jack was excited for the boat ride (he hates being in the hotel room). Chong Kneas was a good trip that allowed us to see a little more of Cambodia. Now, it’s time to get home!
Will Travel with Toddlers 