During a private day trip to Cambodia’s Tonle Sap Lake, the author and his partner first encountered a raw, bustling local market where fish, frogs, and even snakes were sold amid chaotic scenes of daily life. Along the way they saw crocodile heads for sale - a stark glimpse into local farming practices. A scrappy, retrofitted boat carried them out onto the lake where floating vendors sold coconuts and bananas. Touring the floating village of Kompong Phluk revealed homes on tall stilts, children playing in the water, and life shaped by the lake’s seasonal rhythms - an unforgettable, eye-opening experience.