Feeling like a Time Lord

The flooded forest and floating villages of Kompong Pluk are a kind of portal into another time, and indeed, another world. The people live on, and through, and with the river that flows to Tonle Sap. I felt very much like a colonial intruder, sitting on a loud boat moving in between the homes of these people. Taking photos of children filled me with joy, but the harsh reality is that my camera is worth more money than they would spend in a year. It baffles me that they do not look at us passing through with at least irritation if not anger, but they greet us, without fail, with grins and giggles. The portriats I was able to capture are infintely more potent than those I can get in the rest of Siem Reap.

Perhaps this is because the backdrop of the river life is a representation of their entire lives. Perhaps because children take on adult tasks and homes are not firmly on the ground, but teetering far over the heads of their inhabitants. Perhpaps it is simply because humans are creatures made for land and this semi-amphibian community challenges my preconcieved notions of what it means to have a homeland.

Whatever it is, I feel like I've been trippin in the Tardis.

I hope you enjoy these photos as much as I do. The people really present a window into a world you can only imagine. 

 

Easily my personal favourite.