Water Day

Water Day. A moped tour to Kampong Phlouk, a place on the Tonle Sap Lake, the largest lake in Southeast Asia. A lake that expands significantly in area and depth during the rainy season. The Mekong River, originating from the Himalayas, does not take in water from tributary rivers during the rainy season; on the contrary, it pushes the water back, causing the water level of the Tonle Sap to rise.

We are stopped. Only by boat can one reach Kampong Phluok. We did not expect this; we go along with it and pay the contribution for the boat tour in the community office, a contribution for the village fund. We are explained: 'there is no road at the moment'. It turns out that we are here at just the right time of the year; we were impressed and excited!

Here are the noteworthy facts😊

Wikipedia: Tonle Sap 1...From the north, the lake is fed by several tributaries. In the south, the lake is connected to the Tonle Sap River, which alternates its inflow and outflow seasonally, and further south, it flows into the Mekong in Phnom Penh.

Every year in June, a unique natural phenomenon of this magnitude can be observed globally. During this time, the Mekong carries up to four times more water than in the dry months due to monsoon rains and meltwater from the Himalayas. As Cambodia is mostly a very flat country, the water from the Mekong forces itself into the Tonle Sap River, which then changes its flow direction. At the end of this process, the masses of water fill the lake basin. During the dry season, it has a surface area of 2,600–3,000 km², until it swells to approximately 10,400 km² (including surrounding river landscapes: up to 25,000 km²) and is up to five times deeper (from 2–3 m to 14 m). The peak of the flooding occurs in September. At this time, nearly one-third of Cambodia's agricultural land is covered by water.

Only in November, when the Mekong again carries less water, does the river change direction again, and the water of the lake slowly drains away. This event is the occasion for the so-called Water Festival (Khmer: Bon Om Touk), which also marks the beginning of the fishing season.

When Thomas, during our river trip yesterday, over the Tonle Sap Lake to Battambang, checks our location on Google Maps, we see how our point moves along a road. This road is flooded several meters deep, and we are on top of it.
Unfortunately, on this tour, on November 6, my phone battery is dead, and the charger along with the power bank is in the big suitcase – which is back at the hotel. We are traveling with light luggage for an overnight stay 😊

The trip to Battambang can be seen with Thomas – it's worth it! vakantio.de/worldwrite