Phat Sanday floating village of Tonle Sap (III)

My previous two articles mentioned about floating village around Tonle Sap aka Great Lake of Cambodia.

• Floating village of Kompong Khleang (I) (Siem Reap)
• Floating village of Kompong Pluk (II) (Siem Reap)
• This article, I want to talk about another floating village named Phat Sanday (III) (Kompong Thom). I showed one photo here before.

This floating village can be reached through Kompong Chhang province along national road #5 to Battambang province.

Local lives are unspoiled and living differently from the above two villages.

House structure:

• There are not stilt houses in this village. 
• The houses are totally floated by the plastic containers beneath the house.
• There are no structured houses, except the commune hall, and school.
• Villagers' house moved along the water. 
• village is getting bigger in rainy season and getting smaller in dry season.
• The village is located on the lake (biosphere of Tonle Sap)
• Same as other floating villages, main livelihoods of the locals are fishing.
• Boat can be transport or houses.
• Everything is on floating on the water, including pharmacies, shops, dairies shops, constructions and mechanic houses

Electricity and clean water:

• No electricity, solar and battery is popular here
• People are living on uncleaned water, bath, brush teeth, washing dishes and clothes, using the river water - all the same.
• Drinking water: boiling water or pure drinking water.

Raising baby:

I am amazed how ones can live there, let alone raising the baby on the water?

• Small babies are kept at home, using the block at the door so they don't go out.
• Bigger babies are brought along with parents on the boat, no wonder 4-6 years old babies from this village can swim very well!
• Rumors have it that parents throw their babies into water so they already start to swim at early age.
• Many Cambodian babies are afraid of water and do not know how to swim, babies here are champion and pro!

Wedding:

I have never met such a celebration while I visited the site but I heard that:

• They still celebrate it cheerfully like on land, but they do it differently on the water, especially the marching ceremony.
• They would tight the houses together, people carry cakes, fruits and sweets and stand on those tightened houses, marching towards the bride's house.
• The wedding reception - they use the bigger hall like commune hall so people can come and eat at one place.

Have you ever experienced living on the water before?

During the day, people go fishing, to market and do whatever by boatThe commune hall by strong postsPharmacy are also on the waterThe office is also on the waterThe boat that sells things - transport during day and accommodation during night