Despite everything that the Vietnamese and Cambodian people have been through in the last 60 years, their resilience shines through in their welcoming smiles as they share with you their home and lifestyle that they’ve built for themselves.
We visited the small Cambodian village of Konpong Louang on a beautifully sunny day. That morning, I’d returned to my Panorama Suite after breakfast to watch 20 farmers pull up one-by-one alongside the ship with their ox and cart – an unconventional vehicle, but one with 360 degrees of the lay of the land as we made our way along the dusty road through the village. It’s a fascinating journey and these local village visits give a very real insight into the Cambodian way of life. Most of the small houses are built on stilts above the river and only have one open-plan room which is their combined bedroom, kitchen and living area. Some families are lucky enough to have a TV.
Along the way, a young Cambodian girl walks beside my ox cart and we start to chat about our families, favourite colours, her favourite subject in school, and what she wants to be when she grows up (a teacher). She even breaks into song and gives me her best rendition of “You are my sunshine” and “If you’re happy and you know it”, plus a flower ring woven from a flax-like plant.
We pull up outside the house of the matriarch of the village. You can tell that her family is wealthy in the small details – the metal stair railing outside her house, the two cows (a sure sign of wealth by Cambodian standards) in her backyard, and her expansive outdoor kitchen. Our knowledgeable Local Guide, Sukhon, acts as translator and introduces us to the lady of the house. They strike up a lively conversation as he talks us through her family’s lifestyle. She is only 67 and runs the household, while her husband (aged 69) looks after the livestock. She has two children and five grandchildren, one of which she is carrying while the other grandchildren watch on nearby. Her house is just one-level but raised on stilts with a series of hammocks set up underneath to relax in when the temperatures rise. She kindly invites us in for a tour. There’s a separate room where her daughter and son-in-law sleep, but both this and the main room are minimally furnished. We all receive a warm hug from her as we depart and wave goodbye.
When we first met Sukhon, he emphasizes to us how much Avalon want to treat their guests as travellers, not tourists – and this rings loud and clear throughout this journey down the Mekong River. It’s incredibly humbling to learn about and, more importantly, see how the locals live and their lifestyles. It’s such a different world to the one we live in and is a huge eye-opener. Both Vietnam and Cambodia have amazing sights to see, and delicious food to try, but the best parts are the locals you meet and the stories you hear. This trip is filled with so many heartwarming memories – from helping Cambodian children with their English at school, to receiving a special water blessing from two young monks at a hilltop temple.
