*[Picture numbers according to the slide show at the bottom]*
Driving into the village (in Kampong Cham) it wasn't exactly what I was expecting... sort of better in some sorts. It wasn't too far from the main road (I timed later, 6 minute drive from the paved road to the village). There was also a sort of dirt path that went through the area and acted as their primary route of transport (even though that was generally by foot) The houses, elevated-wooden-generally-one-room-houses, were also much nicer than I thought they would be.
We stayed in two houses that were right next to each other [picture 1]. They belonged to families in the village who were willing to (very kindly) give up space to accommodate us. The girls’ house, also referred to as the luxury house, was, well to put it simply, amazing. It was the only house in the village to have electricity (they just installed solar panels, so there were two light bulbs dangling from the ceiling that we could turn on at night) and it was also by far the biggest. At the bottom of the stairs there was a small manual water pump [picture 3]. As you went up the stairs and pass through the house entry you arrive at a small sort of porch. This is actually just a little room with the fourth wall half missing (open to the outside air). This is where we will be eating most of the meals we will be having in the village. Opposite this sort of window-without-glass there is a little door that leads into the main room [picture 4]. When the house owners stay here this is their equivalent of a living room with chairs and a small low table as well as a sewing machine. But we moved all the furniture and put thin mattresses on either side of the room with mosquito nets overhead and turned this into our sleeping quarters [pictures 5 and 6]. Opposite the door through which you entered there is another door leading to a sort of back room [picture 7]. This room has windows and I’m not sure what they usually use the room for, but we moved the furniture from the other room into here. Off to the right there is also a little entrance to the bathroom [picture 8]. This consists of a “squatty potty” and one big tiled square with water in it (and a big spider on the wall that didn’t move the entire time we were there). This water is used to flush the toilet as well as for our bucket showers. This house is also so luxurious because it’s the only one in the village to have an indoor bathroom; all the other ones are located under the house [picture 2].
Since, obviously, there isn’t any running water, we had to shower, if we did shower, using a bucket and this big basin of water. To give a quick explanation, you fill the bucket and pour it out over yourself onto the bathroom floor and then the water will drain out and drip down the side of the house. A couple of buckets full of water later, you’re done with your shower.
So, there were seven of us in this house (including the two female staff members) and the house next door had the 5 guys (2 group members, 2 staff members and our van driver). Their house was a lot more typical and more like the other houses in the village. Their bathroom was under the house and was the same things as ours except just a bit smaller. Once you go up the stairs and turn through the doorway you are in the only room of the house that had several windows along the walls. They set up their mattresses and nets here.
Both houses are made of wooden planks that were placed fairly far apart to allow wind to come in and make the room feel cooler (which was very helpful when we were trying to fall asleep at night). Both also have a variety of different animals below the houses including cows, frogs, cats, dogs, pigs, goats, chickens, roosters, and there were also some bulls and water buffalos roaming around. Under the houses is also where all meals will be made. You start a little fire on the dirt and cook everything in big metal pots over your fire. We’ll see how good it is.
The village consists of just under 300 families or about 700 people. We will be staying for 5 days before moving on to the last part of our trip. All in all the conditions aren't so bad, so I really think that I will enjoy myself here and I am anticipating what will be coming next.
Driving into the village (in Kampong Cham) it wasn't exactly what I was expecting... sort of better in some sorts. It wasn't too far from the main road (I timed later, 6 minute drive from the paved road to the village). There was also a sort of dirt path that went through the area and acted as their primary route of transport (even though that was generally by foot) The houses, elevated-wooden-generally-one-room-houses, were also much nicer than I thought they would be.
We stayed in two houses that were right next to each other [picture 1]. They belonged to families in the village who were willing to (very kindly) give up space to accommodate us. The girls’ house, also referred to as the luxury house, was, well to put it simply, amazing. It was the only house in the village to have electricity (they just installed solar panels, so there were two light bulbs dangling from the ceiling that we could turn on at night) and it was also by far the biggest. At the bottom of the stairs there was a small manual water pump [picture 3]. As you went up the stairs and pass through the house entry you arrive at a small sort of porch. This is actually just a little room with the fourth wall half missing (open to the outside air). This is where we will be eating most of the meals we will be having in the village. Opposite this sort of window-without-glass there is a little door that leads into the main room [picture 4]. When the house owners stay here this is their equivalent of a living room with chairs and a small low table as well as a sewing machine. But we moved all the furniture and put thin mattresses on either side of the room with mosquito nets overhead and turned this into our sleeping quarters [pictures 5 and 6]. Opposite the door through which you entered there is another door leading to a sort of back room [picture 7]. This room has windows and I’m not sure what they usually use the room for, but we moved the furniture from the other room into here. Off to the right there is also a little entrance to the bathroom [picture 8]. This consists of a “squatty potty” and one big tiled square with water in it (and a big spider on the wall that didn’t move the entire time we were there). This water is used to flush the toilet as well as for our bucket showers. This house is also so luxurious because it’s the only one in the village to have an indoor bathroom; all the other ones are located under the house [picture 2].
Since, obviously, there isn’t any running water, we had to shower, if we did shower, using a bucket and this big basin of water. To give a quick explanation, you fill the bucket and pour it out over yourself onto the bathroom floor and then the water will drain out and drip down the side of the house. A couple of buckets full of water later, you’re done with your shower.
So, there were seven of us in this house (including the two female staff members) and the house next door had the 5 guys (2 group members, 2 staff members and our van driver). Their house was a lot more typical and more like the other houses in the village. Their bathroom was under the house and was the same things as ours except just a bit smaller. Once you go up the stairs and turn through the doorway you are in the only room of the house that had several windows along the walls. They set up their mattresses and nets here.
Both houses are made of wooden planks that were placed fairly far apart to allow wind to come in and make the room feel cooler (which was very helpful when we were trying to fall asleep at night). Both also have a variety of different animals below the houses including cows, frogs, cats, dogs, pigs, goats, chickens, roosters, and there were also some bulls and water buffalos roaming around. Under the houses is also where all meals will be made. You start a little fire on the dirt and cook everything in big metal pots over your fire. We’ll see how good it is.
The village consists of just under 300 families or about 700 people. We will be staying for 5 days before moving on to the last part of our trip. All in all the conditions aren't so bad, so I really think that I will enjoy myself here and I am anticipating what will be coming next.
LM
