Welcome to the A to Z Challenge, an initiative that invites bloggers to post an alphabet-themed post every day (excluding Sundays) during the month of April.  As part of this challenge, I’ll be sharing some of my travel memories to known and unknown places in the hope to inspire your travel dreams.

T is for…Tonle Sap (Cambodia)

Tonle Sap is more commonly known as the floating village outside of Siem Reap in Cambodia. After several days of touring the ruins of Angkor Wat, we headed out for something a bit different. A visit to this floating village is fascinating and worth a detour from the more well known sites of Siem Reap.

The entire village’s community lives on the water – their shops, the schools, everything is done right here on the water. Taking a boat through the area you will see women doing laundry, or cooking on their floating houses. You will see kids running and playing outside of their school. And of course you will see the men out fishing.

Most people make a living by fishing, which in turn accounts for almost 16% of Cambodia’s GDP! This fresh water later lake/river is vital the the economy, food source and livelihood of so many in this area. Unfortunately, they are also some of the poorest in Cambodia.

It’s fascinating to see the circumstances humans are able to survive and often thrive. But it’s also hard to imagine one spending most of their lives on the water. Check it out if you are near Siem Reap.

Other posts in the A to Z Challenge:

Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Belchite, Spain

Czesky Krumlov, Czech Republic

Devi Garh Hotel, Udaipur India

Emeishan, China

Flores, Guatemala

Gimmelwald, Switzerland

Highway 1, California

Istanbul, Turkey

Jaisalmer, India

Kashmir, India

Lily Beach Resort & Spa, Maldives

Machu Picchu, Peru

Niraamaya Retreats, Thekkady Kerala India

Okonomiyaki in Hiroshima Japan

Perhentian Islands, Malaysia

Queso – all over the world

Red Square, Moscow Russia

Sagrada Familia, Barcelona Spain