by

The Floating Markets

Floating markets can be found in many Asian countries, such as Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and India. Their presence can be explained by the existence of large rivers and lakes that support the livelihoods of the people who resides along those water bodies. In the case of Cambodia, three million people live around the dumbbell-shaped Tonle Sap Lake, which is the largest freshwater lake in South East Asia.

Tonle Sap Lake is actually a floodplain that expands and contracts twice a year. During the monsoon season, the lake swells up to three times its size, which can be as big as 12,000km2. This is almost the size of the state of Connecticut! The swelling is caused by heavy rainfall and water overflowing from the mighty Mekong River to Tonle Sap via a connection between the two water bodies. However, during the dry season, the lake shrinks and the water level drops several meters to as low as 1m in depth. This hydrological cycle has brought an abundance of sediments to the lake and evolved into a rich ecosystem. In fact, Tonle Sap has been inscribed as a UNESCO biosphere in 1997.

The villagers have cleverly adapted to the ever-changing water levels as a way of life. Some live in floating houseboats and some have permanent homes that are built on 10m high stilts to accommodate the rising water level. And depending on the seasons, others live in thatched huts that can be dismantled and moved. At the lake, people socialize, fish, and trade. The amount of fish caught is so large that it accounts for more than 50% of the country’s supply. Hence the fishermen not only sell fish to the local villagers, but also bring the surplus to markets throughout Cambodia. Other types of produce are transported from the mainland by boats and sold at¬¬ the floating markets or open area along the lake.

While the river and lake are essential to the villagers’ livelihoods, the floating markets have become a key tourist attraction. Chong Khneas is the most accessible village from Siem Reap town, making it the most frequently toured floating village. Tourists can travel on either slender, manually rowed wooden boats or bigger, motor-driven tour boats. Although a typical tour is about one to two hrs, a foreigner can easily feel the pulse of the place. Despite the years of struggle and poverty that Cambodia has gone through, the floating markets epitomize the ever-hopeful youths of the nation. For instance, a young child will paddle around in his tiny tin boat to sell souvenirs or refreshments to the tourists onboard can be observed every once in a while. Along the edges of the lake, even more children can be seen waving enthusiastically to foreigners, welcoming them. For the visiting urban dwellers gliding through the waters of Tonle Sap, it is always a wonder to see how uniquely people can adapt to their surroundings – villagers going about their everyday lives, supported by amenities like floating schools and gasoline refilling stations.

Through these boat trips, tourists not only witness the daily lives and business transactions of the Khmer and Vietnamese villagers, but also appreciate how humans and nature can co-exist seamlessly for decades.Tonle Sap MapFloating Market 01Floating Market 02Stilted Housing

References:

trifter.com/asia-pacific/floating-markets-in-southeast-asia/

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonle_Sap

www.holiday-in-angkor-wat.com/tonle-sap-chong-kneas.html

indietravelpodcast.com/article/floating-fishing-village-tonl-sap-lake-2/

www.peaceofangkorweb.com/TonleSap.htm

http://www.canbypublications.com/siemreap/srtonlesap.htm

lifeislikethat.com/?p=2603

http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Cambodia/North/Siem-Reap/blog-316430.html

Kai Seah and Stella Chen

2,315 thoughts on “The Floating Markets”

  2. Wso55 Situs Slot Gacor Terpercaya Dapatkan fitur yang di sediakan oleh permainan slot mahjong ways 2 yang terkenal dalam memberikan kemenangan dengan mudah kepada para pemainnya , SCATTER HITAM juga tergolong dalam situs slot yang aman dan terpercaya di tahun 2024 sehingga situs slot scatter hitam menjadi situs favorit oleh para pemain slot di indonesia.

  3. Raden138 Situs Slot Gacor Terpercaya Dapatkan Fitur Terbaru 2024 Scatter Hitam.
    Fitur terbaru dari slot Mahjong Ways, yaitu Scatter Hitam merupakan inovasi terbaru dari penyedia game PG Soft. Fitur ini terintegrasi dalam permainan slot Mahjong Megaways dan telah menjadi daya tarik bagi para pemain. Situs link Mahjong Ways dengan Scatter Hitam telah menjadi viral akhir-akhir ini karena kesuksesannya dalam memberikan kepuasan kepada para pemain yang baru mendaftar.

  13. If you’re in need of top-notch assignment help in England, look no further than My Assignment Help. Our experienced team provides tailored support to ensure you achieve academic success. Discover why My Assignment Help is the go-to choice for students seeking the best assignment help in England.

  16. Certainly a terrific effort! It is encouraging to read such smart and well-presented opinions. It was both entertaining and well-written. What is SEO provides additional resources and professional assistance.

  25. gg winner stands out as a premier destination, delivering an extensive range of thrilling games and diverse betting options for passionate gaming enthusiasts.

  32. 为了保障您的隐私和安全，我们采取了严格的保密措施，确保您的个人信息和订单细节得到最大程度的保护。我们明白作业代写对于您的学术生涯至关重要，因此我们努力提供可靠、高效的服务，让您从繁重的学业压力中解脱出来。

    选择我们为您代写作业 https://www.12y.org/ ，意味着您选择了卓越、可靠和安全的学术支持。无论是研究作业、学士作业还是硕士博士作业，我们都有经验丰富的写手团队为您提供最优质的作业代写服务。让我们成为您学术成功路上的得力助手，放心交给我们，取得优异的成绩从容不迫。

  35. This article truly makes a good point! It was successful for the author to present the information in a way that was both clear and easy to understand. Buaya4d is a very helpful tool for writers to connect many concepts that they may not have thought of otherwise, making their work more relevant and interesting overall.

  38. چرخ خیاطی آرمان دوخت
    چرخ خیاطی‌های خانگی به چهار دسته اصلی تقسیم می‌شوند:

    مکانیکی: با دست یا پا کار می‌کنند و برای دوخت‌های ساده مناسب‌اند.
    الکتریکی: با برق کار می‌کنند و قابلیت‌های بیشتری دارند.
    کامپیوتری: دارای صفحه نمایش دیجیتال و برنامه‌های دوخت متنوع هستند.
    سردوز: برای دوخت لبه‌های پارچه و جلوگیری از ریش‌ریش شدن استفاده می‌شوند.

  39. WSO55 merupakan situs slot gacor dan taruhan online terpercaya dan menjadi salah satu rekomendasi kami sebagai agen yang sudah lama berkecimbung dibidang game online.

  40. Raden138 merupakan situs slot online gacor hari ini dengan rtp slot tertinggi mencapai 96,5% dan terpercaya di indonesia yang mudah jackpot hingga maxwin.

  44. Absolutely thrilled with the content here! Before my recent engagement, I discovered SEVlaser, and it’s been an amazing experience. I was so impressed by the positive feedback from others and knew I had to share my joy too. If you’re considering Laser Hair Removal in Brooklyn, look no further. I’m reserving some time as a gift for you—it’s truly worth it! The team’s expertise made my special time even brighter. Cheers to all who’ve shared their great stories here!

  49. 24 k bet offers a luxurious betting experience with its high-stakes games and premium features, catering to those looking for top-tier gaming and substantial rewards.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *