In Cambodia, to go from Siem Reap to Battambang one can take the bus but it would be to miss an enchanting trip: the crossing of the Tonle Sap Lake
It’s a tourist trip if you take the boats made for them. All along the shoreline, comfortable boats in bright colours await their passengers and the ride is fast and very formatted.
This is a much more unusual trip if you board the boats used by Cambodians. It is long long long long slow slow, but what a crossing!
The boat stops to pick up passengers in the floating villages, it slaloms between the fishermen’s boats and makes frequent stops to deliver parcels of goods to the shops.
The inhabitants of the lake greet travellers without any ulterior motives, children sitting in a bucket paddle from one house to another and there is plenty of time to get to know the neighbours.
It’s uncomfortable, it’s hot and when the lake level is at its lowest, you have to get out of the boat to push it. You have been warned, but a trip like this, it is worth it!
