Cambodia's Floating Nomads of Tongle Sap

Hundreds of people survive by anchoring their homes and businesses at the migrating shores of Cambodia's largest lake as it's shores expand and contract with every wet and dry season. To give their houseboats a protected anchorage they move their homes to follow the shore and use their smaller boats to head out into the deeper waters of the lake to fish.





Or they build homes so close to the changing shoreline that they build roads on levees and homes on stilts to accommodate the flood waters when they arrive.




They fish during the wet season and farm rice and trade during the dry season when their land reappears. Those without land or houseboat make their living ferrying goods and services back and forth; fish from the lake, fruits and vegetables from the dryer land.





And the road that connects the land and sea supports vendors and craftspeople who offer all kinds of goods and services like small stores, beauty parlors, woodworkers, sewing centers and basket vendors.





Many commercial goods are traded on the road between town and the floating villages. This is what a hardware store looks like here complete with a collection of drills and power tools for sale.





And of course there is the local motorcycle/bike repair shop, complete with a self repair area for after you have bought your parts.





Many people live along the road from Siem Reap to Tongle Sap and make a living very much dependent on the waters of the lake in one way or another, such as this woman who makes a living selling dries fish.





Though children are mandated to attend primary school the lack of teachers and lack of funds available to rural children means most do not attend school but spend their days helping their families or fending for themselves.





As the weather is often hot and humid most homes have large covered porches with hammocks for sleeping and mats for sitting. They are built over rainy season flood areas so they are on stilts and sit at the same level as the roads which are built on raised earthen levees.





People often prepare for the rainy season by collecting and selling firewood




and crops.





And though the area seems awfully dry now,





it won't be long before the rains begin and the lake expands it's boundaries so that crops will have to wait for the waters to recede.





Some Cambodians have solved this problem by giving up the land all together and living on the lake full time.





They live, fish, trade, teach & socialize on the lake, moving with the near shoreline as the waters expand and contract.





The general store where locals meet to buy and sell goods as well and hear the latest neighborhood news.





To supplement their income from fishing many people also grow or make something to sell in town. This family grows flowers off their front porch but others have a separate raft where they grow flowers or vegetables in pots or make baskets from the local reeds.





Some kids enjoy an afternoon swim right off their front porch while the adults hang out and chat next door.





This is a community center where they hold socials, meetings and sometimes services.





And this is what a machine shop complete with drill presses, lathes and a diesel generator to run them all. It seems the Cambodian's on Tongle Sap can do everything they need without ever having to touch land.






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