Cambodia 3 - Circus, Dancers and a Fishing Village




Cambodia and Siem Reap are justly famous for the Angkor Wat area.  This is the main reason tourists come, and is the driving economic force for the area.  There is also some nightlife (of course)

Aptly named Pub Street


At some point however it is nice to see some other aspect of the Cambodian scene.  Enter the circus.
Phare Circus is a total treat of a circus with an amazing back story.  

It started many years ago (1994) as a small group coming home from a refugee camp for children after the Kymer Rouge regime.  They had been helped to heal by art classes, specifically drawing.  They in turn set up a program in Battambang with an art school.  Recognizing that while drawing helps, physical activity is also needed, they set up a circus school.  A public school was added and now the school teaches some 1200 students and 150 leave the school as professional circus performers.  They perform all over the world.




https://pharecircus.org/


We went for broke and got the best seats and were happy with the front row centre result.  The performances relate to specific Cambodian stories, and the performers were great.  It was kind of a Cirque du Soleil type vibe.

The strength!



After viewing the carvings of Asparas in the various temples, we simply had to see some live dancers too.  Dinner theater to the rescue.  There are a couple of venues in town to see the dancing with a meal.  The beauty of the dancers as they so specifically placed each portion of their bodies was lovely.  The focus on hands and feet extended back (toes up, fingers pulled back) was remarkable.  A lifetime of practice must be required because my hands certainly do not flex that way.


Bokator Fighting

Classic dancing with leader and subordinates, identified by costume


Finally, on our last day, we decided to forgo temples and check out a fishing village.  For this we booked a tour and traveled in a small group with a couple of visiting American professors who work in China (and their children) and an Australian mom travelling with her twin sons.  A very pleasant group.

We hopped on a boat – and ended up sitting on the roof for the best views. 



The tour headed first to a mangrove swamp where we met up with a group of canoes powered by older women.  These women paddled, poled and generally steered us through the mangroves.  




After this it was back on the boat and off to the village.  Water was low and the houses could be seen perched on their stilts high above the waters edge.  



During the rainy season the water level increases tremendously and covers the stilts so the houses appear to float.  Firewood is stashed in a number of handy nooks in the stilt structure now, but will have to be relocated as their storage areas become water logged.  


Street behind houses on water edge



The number of children in this community was unbelievable.  The school apparently ran in two shifts in order to accommodate everyone.

And of course a beautiful temple


A very interesting trip indeed.


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