It’s about 32Km from Siem Reap to Kompong Phluk, on road about 45 minutes, if there is no traffic jam. Kompong Phluk is a commune and village in Siem Reap built on Tonle Sap.
It’s named as “Harbor of the Tusks” The community is depended on fishing for survival but when it turns to the dry season (November-April) as the river due to receding water, many doing farming to support their income. There are a lot of tourists visit the site of Kompong Phluk as it’s growing part of the local economy. I have been visiting Siem Reap for uncountable but I missed the chance to see there, this October the rains keeping still, it’s appropriated time to see floating houses at Komphong Phluk, plan is not the plan we’re accidentally crossed by it and decided to spend half day there before we headed to PP. we used [Waze app] to guide us there many local boats machine, the price depends on how we do negotiate with them, for example they asked for USD25 for round trip, you can make a deal with them only USD15, yeah it depends on the peak or low season.
The small boy ages about 10-12 years old, but he looks very skillful, the boat brought us to see the life on the floating, fishing, doing business on the boat, school, government offices are floating.
It was amazing that many littles kids they are so good in swimming, playing in the water with 5-6Meters depth down when I cannot even swim. There are many tourists on the boat and waving to us, they look really enjoy the trip, also has their community to take care and manage the tourist. If you want to take a small boat to see the monkey and bird you have to buy the ticket at the counter of the community costs USD2.5 per person, the small boat without machine has brought us to the small water path with a lot of trees, enjoying the sound of birds, sound of the water wave hit the boat, put on the life jacket all the time if you are not good in swimming, you are at your own risk.
I have bought some snack for kids, they just made a little money for their family, here don’t give them money is not a good habit, buy them stationaries or hygienic stuff they need it. We spent about one hour seeing the sceneries, then they took us back to the floating restaurant, there are snake, crocodile menu is available here, I was surprised that people have even eaten the crocodile meat, but it is better to try, one dish was cost USD10, other foods on menu was about 4 to 6 dollars, beers is USD2-3 for one bottle, under the restaurant is crocodile pool. I got boat sick when a lot of big boats was passing by us and the big wave hit our boat, bumpy and bumping, I couldn’t stand for it then I just throw up. The half day was full of memories and fun I highly recommend for local and tourist don’t miss Kompong Phluk is just along the way to Siem Reap, it will make your day. Anyways you can enjoy your trip and at the same time helping the community to make more extra income to add on their living.
