How to catch Khmer fish

Cambodian's main food is rice and fish. Especially Tonle Sap, "the great lake" located 20km south of Siem Reap, the largest body of fresh water in Asia, brings the highest number of fish caught in the world. The monsoon weather keeps the lake (and all the water system all around the country) furtile and rich, there is literaly a jungle growing at the bottom of the lake.

okay, so how do they catch the fish? it's middle of day when the heat is at it's peak, the school breaks for three hours from 11 to 2. Poum Steung (means River Village) is by the river, where dozen of adult villagers and teachers all go in the water. hey why not, i go in too. i never see any fishing rods, they HAND-FISH in cambodia, with use of large fishing nets.

bottom of the river is mud and tree brunches, you net off some section so the fish won't escape, then we all start sccoping the mud from the bottom. in handful of mud and twigs and brunches, small fish are caught flipping. after a couple of hours of scooping you bring the net all together and you can see big ones in the net(we caught 5-6 fish that are at least 30cm long!)

you grill the small fish right at the river bank, put some salt and chili and eat with hand, with some rice wine and mangos (yummm, just remembering it makes my mouth watery and wet!) but that's just the snack. as the whole net is lifted, gradually the women and children of the village start gathering with small basckets, take whatever they want and go home to feed the family. yes, this much of fish are caught everyday in this village but not for sale. the village is binded between the river and rice field -completely self sustained life style.

Sophat, Chey (I'm skipping Mr. from now because we became friends) and me and other teachers are invited to nearby house's 'dining backyard' where they pan-fry the biggest four fish for us -also freshly caught wild ducks. bon apetite! never tasted such fresh fish like these.
Two children of Mr. Thai also get their snack. Happy afternoon.