We remained docked in Phnom Penh overnight. In the morning a few brave souls accompanied our photographic instructor, Michael Nolan, for a morning stroll to the nearby market, with all returning by 7:30 for our cast off at 8:00 am. The next several hours were spent leisurely cruising on the Tonle Sap River, passing several picturesque villages and fish farms.
At 9:15 a.m. we were given an absolutely riveting lecture by Jean Michel Fillippi on “60 years of Cambodian Modern History” dealing with the enthronement of King Sihanouk to the horrors of the Khmer rouge. After his lecture we were given an interesting guided tour of the ship, including the engine room, by Maarten Perdok, the Jahan General Manager.
At 3:00 p.m. we took sampans to Kampong Chhnang. The name means “Pottery Embankment.” We then transferred to local minivans for a short 20 minute ride to the village cooperative of Aundaung Russey that produces palm sugar and clay jars and cooking ovens for local communities all over Cambodia. We were given a lecture and demonstration on the male and female palm trees. Then we were shown how they make pots in the village. A smiling young woman demonstrated their pottery technique, and rather than using a spinning platform, she herself walked round and round shaping the pot. Next, we were shown how they pounded blocks of clay to make highly efficient and cheap ceramic cooking ovens designed by GERAS, which used much less fuel than the traditional ovens.
With the sun about to set we returned to Kampong Chhnang to have a short boat ride around the floating village. We were told that 80% of the floating village people were Vietnamese and 15% were Cham Muslims. We then returned to the Jahan.
