Cambodia, Siem Reap - Life on the Tonlé Sap

The Tonlé Sap is a huge freshwater lake that connects to the Mekong River via the Tonlé Sap River. The Tonlé Sap is unique in that its size varies widely throughout the year as the rainy and dry seasons come and go. The lake is at its largest size typically during the months of September and October due to the southwest monsoon. Conversely, it is generally at its smallest size at the end of the dry season in the month of April. The difference in the lake's size between these two extremes can be as much as six times.

Life on the lake, Tonlé Sap, Siem Reap, Cambodia (2015)

The lake is home to many people. These folks live on floating houses, studied in floating schools, shop at floating platforms and travel on small boats. The lake is their life and their lives centred around the lake and the Tonlé Sap River. 

This article showcase the lives of the people who called the Tonlé Sap home. As the old saying "a picture tells a thousand words" goes, I will let these photographs tell the story of the people of Tonlé Sap.

Photograph of the lake as my boat makes it way upriver, Tonlé Sap, Siem Reap, Cambodia (2015)

A community centre and a pre-school, Tonlé Sap, Siem Reap, Cambodia (2015)

Kids about to leave school for home, Tonlé Sap, Siem Reap, Cambodia (2015)

Commuting by boat is the way of life here, Tonlé Sap, Siem Reap, Cambodia (2015)

Catholic Church, Tonlé Sap, Siem Reap, Cambodia (2015)

A typical house on the lake, Tonlé Sap, Siem Reap, Cambodia (2015)

No caption needed for this photograph, the English words on the sign explain it all. Tonlé Sap, Siem Reap, Cambodia (2015)

Catholic Church, Tonlé Sap, Siem Reap, Cambodia (2015)

Boat is the only way to travel from point to point here, Tonlé Sap, Siem Reap, Cambodia (2015)

Father and son, Tonlé Sap, Siem Reap, Cambodia (2015)

This young boy was cheering on his friends swimming in the lake (not shown in picture), Tonlé Sap, Siem Reap, Cambodia (2015)

Busy "highway" during peak hour, Tonlé Sap, Siem Reap, Cambodia (2015)

Kids on the way to school, Tonlé Sap, Siem Reap, Cambodia (2015)

Life on the lake is slow-moving, Tonlé Sap, Siem Reap, Cambodia (2015)

"Boatman" as young as 7 or 8 year old were a common sight during my visit, Tonlé Sap, Siem Reap, Cambodia (2015)

A mother and her children leaving home to run some errands, Tonlé Sap, Siem Reap, Cambodia (2015)

Boys playing in the lake, Tonlé Sap, Siem Reap, Cambodia (2015)

A young boy about to take the plunge into the lake, Tonlé Sap, Siem Reap, Cambodia (2015)

A floating provision shop, Tonlé Sap, Siem Reap, Cambodia (2015)

Chilling at home, Tonlé Sap, Siem Reap, Cambodia (2015)

Fishing boats, Tonlé Sap, Siem Reap, Cambodia (2015)

Close-up of a fishing boat, Tonlé Sap, Siem Reap, Cambodia (2015)

This crocodile was a farmed animal, Tonlé Sap, Siem Reap, Cambodia (2015)

View of the Tonlé Sap River, Tonlé Sap, Siem Reap, Cambodia (2015)

A buzz of activities on the lake, Tonlé Sap, Siem Reap, Cambodia (2015)

Young girl and her brother on a disused boat, Tonlé Sap, Siem Reap, Cambodia (2015)

The young girl from the earlier photograph caught me zooming my camera lens on her from my boat and sportingly posed for this shot, Tonlé Sap, Siem Reap, Cambodia (2015)

This pooch called the lake home, Tonlé Sap, Siem Reap, Cambodia (2015)

Crocodile skulls from farmed animals, Tonlé Sap, Siem Reap, Cambodia (2015)

A young boy took the lead to row the boat while his friends sat as passengers, Tonlé Sap, Siem Reap, Cambodia (2015)

Students on a school on the lake, Tonlé Sap, Siem Reap, Cambodia (2015)

Handicrafts made by the students adorned the ceiling of the school, Tonlé Sap, Siem Reap, Cambodia (2015)

After school hours, Tonlé Sap, Siem Reap, Cambodia (2015)

Staying back after school to socialise with friends, Tonlé Sap, Siem Reap, Cambodia (2015)