Waterlogged

What at first was perceived as exciting and adventurous, has turned into a national natural disaster, as the aftermath of the typhoon which hit the Philippines, has hugely affected the area in which I am currently based.

While pulling my feet through drifting muddy water in the streets of Siem Reap, attempting to keep the flip-flops on,  locals smile and laugh. Three girls sit elevated on piles of bags encasing stone chippings, which attempt to prevent the overflowing river from penetrating their quay-side home. Stalled cars are pushed onto side walks, while pick up trucks tear through the knee high floods making the  water lap onto sidewalks. Kids jump off bridges and drift down the river; while others use a single flip-flop to swipe water away from their parents’ local business. Locals continue with their daily chores, food shopping and trading in the spared market; risking their sole source of income driving their tuk-tuks and motorbikes through knee-high water ferrying tourists about town; while continuously donning smiles, exuding enthusiasm and simply getting on with life.

It feels as though we’re in a bubble, as the hostel staff are unable to respond to our queries or verbalise the gravity of the situation which lies at the doorstep to the city. Over breakfast, I encountered a teacher who works for the British International School in Siem Reap. I pounced at the opportunity to ask him the many questions milling around in my mind. He confirmed that a few villages have been wiped out; flood plains have merged into one and that anyone cycling, should wait at least 3-5 days before attempting the road that heads to Phnom Penh…

Over a bowl of chicken- pumkin, curry soup the Cambodian retaurant owner, who had grown up in France, confirmed that this is the first time that the river has broken its bank, sweeping century-old trees down stream. As the level of the water continues to rise gently throughout the city as  it persists on running down from the northerly mountains; thankfully the rain turned to drizzle around midday, and by late afternoon a patch of blue sky was visible.

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