Up the Sesan River

Nov. 6 - Today we drive about 45 mins. And then board a long wooden boat.  The driver takes us up the Sesan River for about an hour.  Sitting cross legged for an hour is a reminder why I should do yoga!

When we get to our destination it is to visit a remote tribe.  They have just recently allowed tourists to visit in exchange for money which is really kind of sad.  Some of the elders don't look happy to see us but the children are curious.  

Taking pictures can be tricky.  After walking around the village we take a path leading deeper into the rain forest.  Thank heaven there aren't any Mosquitos. We are told by our guide that the people are suffering from disease from the Mosquitos and also something from the water which leaves red spots on their skin.  They use the river for everything!  Washing, drinking, washing the buffalo, etc.  what a hard life!  As we go deeper into the jungle we are shown several Chinese burial sites.  Since this area is close to Laos and China you see these ethnic people that come from other countries but have settled in Cambodia.  We leave the village and make one stop on the way back to visit a Loatian village and a Chinese village side by side.  These people are definitely better off than the first tribe we visited.  School is a problem in these remote areas as teachers do not want to go there.  They would rather live and teach in the larger cities.