Many of us started the day off in a way that seems to get better as we travel further along the Mekong, watching the sunrise. Either from the top deck, from a balcony or simply by looking out the window, there is something magical about being aboard the Jahan and watching that pink ball of flames rise above the horizon each morning!
After a delicious breakfast we set off to visit Angkor Ban. Here we were able to really get “behind the scenes” and see the traditional way of life of these Cambodian people. By way of a miracle this village wasn’t changed during the Khmer regime, giving us the opportunity to see how life has been for generations in this region. Many photos were taken and many moments were had connecting smiles with locals young and old alike. For some connecting with the locals of the cattle kind was irresistible, it’s pretty hard to not fall in love with these peaceful looking beasts of burden and their playful calves. We all walked away with special memories from this small town, be it watching traditional woodwork, watching a garden being built by human hand and horse drawn cart, or seeing the beautiful temples and the surrounding statues dedicated to Buddha.
After our return to Jahan, we were lucky enough to have some local Buddhist novices visit us. They blessed the expedition and its travelers with prayers in the form of traditional chanting. After we were able to ask them questions, they gave us all a “good luck” bracelet and left us to continue on with our journey.
Later in the afternoon we were able to catch a bus and head towards Wat Nokor. It was amazing to see a temple that was originally built in the 12th century being adapted for use as a Buddhist monastery. The ruins and new age use of the temple made for a fabulous photography opportunity. We also got to visit a nearby bridge that is rebuilt every year and taken down in accordance with the monsoon season.
Although we still have a ways to go on our journey, we’ll leave Jahan behind tomorrow, so we had a farewell night with celebratory dancing and a slideshow of our best photos.
