Wet and Wild

Copyright Tan and Trev 2005

These monkeys frolicking in a puddle took advantage of a spot over-watered in the public park.

It made for a handy distraction from the heat of the day.

In the following days, as our tour took us out beyond the city limits of Pheon Pem, the effects of prolonged drought on Cambodia became more apparent to us.

Vast areas of rural areas looked dry and dusty - and farmers were struggling to overcome the two-year drought's crippling effects on their livelihoods.

The Bangkok Post reports:

"Only 1.8 million hectares in Cambodia were planted with rice in 2004, short of the target of 2.1 million hectares due to shortage of rain water."

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on the weekend warned that poor outlooks for the coming farming season (beginning in May) meant the country now needed to prepare ahead for the problem.

"While the government is seeking foreign assistance in irrigating Cambodian rice fields, individual Cambodians should also show their generosity in helping farmers, he said, without elaborating."

Copyright Tan and Trev 2005