25 Mar 2025 - Life On The Tonle Sap River
On the Mekong. Chris started the day with Tai Chi and then after breakfast we sat up on deck for an hour or so before getting off at 8:30 am.
First stop was a Silver Smith business, but actually seemed to be more of a Copper Smith. We watched them beating out the copper and producing intricate articles and then went round their shops where they were also thousands of silver rings, bracelets necklaces etc, which we were told were produced in the same village. I was doubtful.
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Then by coach to a temple complex which was very, very impressive. It was at the ancient capital of Cambodia, Oudong and was called Vipassana Dhura Meditation Centre. Here we went into the main temple and were told about meditation and had a brief period doing this.
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Then another 30 minutes or so on the coach to some Bullock Carts, five carts which transported the nine of us the short distance back to the boat. We were not so excited by this as the bullock cart that we had enjoyed in India a few weeks earlier, as here we were looking backwards and there was not very interesting countryside as we went along. Also as we dismounted the driver touted for a tip which we do not think he should’ve done.
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After lunch we sat up on deck for sometime and then went at 3 pm into the saloon lounge for a showing of traditional Cambodian clothing. This turned out to be marriage clothes for a couple which looked quite magnificent on the two crew members chosen to exhibit it. But then the passengers were coaxed to be the models themselves which rather spoil it for us but Shane and Daisy did consent to do it.
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We also gathered that there would be audience participation when we had Cocktails ashore at 6 pm in a village. At 4 pm we climb the banks of yet another stopping place for a tour through quite a poor traditional farming and fishing village and found this very interesting.
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Back aboard we enjoyed a fresh orange juice and then at 6 pm I went ashore with the other passengers for cocktails just opposite where the boat was moored. To my disappointment there was no traditional Cambodia music but western Karioke music put on by one of the passengers. Nick singing karaoke to this: surely not a highlight for Pandaw. When he had finished local children swarmed around the fire and invited all of us up to Dance which I refused. But the others seem to enjoy it.
We continued having our separate table for two at dinner yet again , before watching the first half of the “Killing Fields “ in the cinema.