The river that runs through Siem Reap has returned within its banks but is still quite high
Many of the village roads, like the one leading to Savuth's village, are still in many places under a bit of water. Although not entirely unusual during the rainy season, it is a sign that the ground is still pretty water logged and can't take much more rain without a new threat of flooding
You can never tell where there may be a deep pothole when there is this much water covering the road. The ride was quite bumpy and at one moment of dreamy, or perhaps sleepy, lack of attention I almost bounced right out of the tuk tuk.
In the middle and right, Savuth's two youngest kids. The girl on the left is a neighbour. If you've been in a Cambodian village you know that a camera draws kids like the Pied Piper.
Three of Savuth's four kids plus two friends.
Savuth's oldest daughter really enjoyed "The Cat in the Hat".
With "The Alphabet Book" in hand I was demonstrating the concept of "small, bigger, biggest."
We had a short violent thunderstorm which this time of year is not unusual but I noticed several people keeping a wary eye on the clouds as a return to sustained heavy rains could mean new flooding given how waterlogged the ground remains.
The rains that worry the parents are a fun time to run around outside for the kids.
After hours of playing, running around, opening gifts, singing the alphabet song and walking through the village the kids were down and out. About 15 minutes after taking this picture, I was also sound asleep next to these two angels.
I still find it difficult and uncomfortable to see this cock fighting arena in the house next door.
In the villages around Siem Reap you can come across beautiful palatial homes right next door to leaky ramshackle thatched huts.
Being a home owner I know a fair bit about residential real estate but wonder how things works here. Does this poor thatched hut bring down the value of the villa next door or does the villa next door raise the value of the land this hut is on?
Savuth proudly shows me the 144 square meter plot of land he bought behind the villa. Like most of the land in the area it is under 20 cm of water at the moment. Since most of the land is still used for rice that's not such a big deal. But it will be now that the land owner is trying to sell it all for building. The first task when the dry season arrives will be to spread out about 28 dump trucks of dirt according to Savuth's calculation to raise the land above the flood level.
The area around Savuth's land is still mostly rural and pastoral which is a plus. But there are development plans that over the next five years or so could mean an accelerated appreciation in the land's value which Savuth is also happy about.
I'm not sure if this one cow has ever seen a caucasian so close up.
The huge market on highway 6 just outside of the center is still underwater so many of the stalls have been temporarily moved to the side of the road.
Ever wonder where all your satellite TV comes from in the hotel? A lot of it from the RSC Cable TV company.
I have always loved roasted corn on the cob since my childhood days growing up in rural Massachusetts in the USA.
One of the country's oddities is the juxtaposition of these traditional gas stations where you buy gasoline by the liter bottle and the quite 'western' and modern gas stations like the one 100 meters further up this road and in the next picture.
I wonder which gas stations do more business.
A group was starting their practice season for this year's Water Festival and boat races. First there will be a regional competition in Siem Reap (as in all provinces) towards the end of October. Then there's the huge national Water Festival celebrations and boat races in Phnom Penh on November 1 - 3.
The water festival marks the reversal of the water flow in the Tonle Sap river each year.
Across from the guesthouse is this cool place where lots of mostly young people gather every night to watch five or six movies and karaoke music stations, all at once.
