The biggest highlight of our trip to Cambodia was the Rana homestay. We stayed at home of Don and Khean for 2 days. Don is former US army guy and Khaen, his wife, is Cambodian. They have two kids. They knew perfectly English, so we could talk about life in Cambodia.

Huts where we slept on the left, toilet and shower on the right.

First day, we arrived at about lunch time. They don’t have electricity, so they have to store all food in a box with ice and buy everything fresh almost every day.

Khaen took us on a walk around village. We saw villagers, we could talk to them and they could talk to us through Khaen. They usually have houses on the sticks. In the past, it was protection from wild animals, nowadays it is more part of their house, they cook under the hut, they take a shower there and in the night, cattle sleeps there.

Then she took us to the lotus field of her mom. She explained what the lotus is used for. They eat roasted seeds or when it’s green they eat it raw. It tasted like fresh peanut. We continued our walk to lonely home on a small peak. It was just a roof and under that one bed, they basically live outside. The family has 5 kids, all of them grown ups and already left their house. 

Adel and local villager in their kitchen. She is in her fifty.

In the afternoon, Khaen’s mother came to talk about Khmer rouge period in 1975 – 1979, when extreme communists took over the country, cancelled money, split families, expelled people from cities and made most people to work 16 hours a day. There were many spies that were looking for people that talked against the regime and if they found someone, those people just disappeared. They had to eat where and when they were told, and no one could buy anything. The regime was ended when Khmere rouge attacked Vietnam and Vietnamese forces stricked back and deposed the regime.

Second day we took bicycles and went around the village and to the temple that was opened just a day before. We had a chance to talk about marriages, most of marriages are agreed by parents in advance. Boy or boy’s family has to pay money to girl’s family for the marriage. If a couple wants to see each other, they have to get married soon, otherwise it is perceived bad by the community and brings bad luck to the family. There is almost no divorces, but if it happens, it is perceived as girl’s fault and she and whole her family has to live outside the community.

Farmer collecting the lotus seeds.

In temple there was 2-day opening celebration, people had shelters there, brought food that shared with monks. When one becomes a monk, he gives away all his property and depends just on gifts from other people. Many kids drop school as there is a bad education system, and parents don’t see the benefit of the education as most of them don’t have education either.

The salaries in state positions are bad paid, for example teachers have abou 150$ per month but their expenses are higher, so they have side jobs like selling food to kids during breaks. Also police has about 120$ per month and that’s why there is huge corruption in tehe country.

The next day we had just breakfast and then we said good bye to Khaen and the whole family, it was amazing and informative experience.

The brick factory. They often employ children although it is against their law.

They are always happy and smile.

Did you know how cashew grow?

Ripe lotus.

During rain season the fields are flooded with water and the only way of transportation is boat.

Kitchen.

Where they sleep.

Their bathroom.

He is collecting rocks for his house.

Nice sunset over the rice field.

We heard “hello” from every house.

A lot of children, not surprised when we found out that avg family has 8 – 11 kids.

There were holes around the temple. They threw money into them and there was a string from each hole leading to the main hole inside the temple. After the ceremony, holes will be buried.

Palm sugar

New temple

Ferry wheel and garbage everywhere

They are small