Cambodia – Siem Reap – November 12 – 17, 2002

The Standard Angkor Wat Photo

The dancers were very young, most under 20, and these kids were probably 14 or 15.

The photographs from Angkor are all remarkable. The light and shadow are unlike anywhere else we have been. Bill has over 100 photos today alone!

L These famous faces are everywhere, on the gares, on the temple roofs and on the statues. .

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The public school system is very primative. Some of the kids are eligible for school at the monasteries, but very few go. There are a few others that are free, but most are pay-for-school. At USD10 per month, most rural families cannot afford to send their children, with the result that most will remain uneducated. With 50% of the population under 15, the literacy rate runs around 30%. So the children in the photo above are probably the lucky ones – they are learning a skill that is in demand, and are earning some money for their families. The official story is that the average wage is USD350 per year. In fact, the rural population earns maybe half that, while the city people might earn USD1500 or more per year. Over 80% of the population is rural.

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