Foto Walk for Paul and Cheryl

After talking with Paul for several months via Face Book we arranged a date and time to do one of my Foto Walks in Phnom Penh. We had arranged for an early start on the Sunday after their arrival in the city but sadly the weather did no cooperate (rainy Season). It bucketed down for almost 18 hours so the trip had to be delayed. A little rain is usually not a problem but this was torrential and persistent.

We finally got to do the walk today (14/11.06) and the weather was perfect, not to hot, slightly overcast.

We had decided, after discussions on the previous Sunday to begin our walk from an area of Phnom Penh called Toul Kork, and follow the railway line through the slum district that lined the sides of the line. It is not a place the everyday tourist would visit but the people are very friendly and it shows a different side of the way people live and work in PP.

I think Paul and Cheryl were surprised at how friendly the people were and also how tough they must be to live in such conditions.

Fortunately we have had a few days of relatively dry weather and the place was not in its potentially flooded state. When it does flood life is very difficult for the residents who not only live but work on the side of the tracks.

Paul was pretty much an instant success with the locals, who even though they speak little English managed to communicate through laughter and were happy to have their picture taken.

We continued to walk and talk as we went and eventually ended up several miles away at one the the local markets. We had coffee and cold drinks in a local street cafe' and explored the surrounding streets and market.

#pictures #people #photography #asia