Flooding as a result of heavy rain in Cambodia - Siem Reap in some areas flooded by overflowing Siem Reap river

The small Siem Reap river passing through the center of Siem Reap is overflowing and flooding some adjacent roads since a few days.

Traffic in Siem Reap's flooded roads

While there is no exceptional rain, just regular rainy season, the free flow of water is hampered by the artificial city architecture and the overflowing water may do some damage here and there.

Normal traditional Cambodian houses are totally safe underwater. People have learned during centuries and adapted their housing style - Khmer houses are on stilts - because such "flooding" is normal.

Flooded roads in Siem Reap - pictures

Below are a few pictures to give you an idea of what is normal and how flooded roads in Siem Reap look alike these days:

Overflowing Siem reap river

Flood affected businesses along Siem Reap river

Business people appear to be too greedy to learn from past history. Result is that most of their businesses are flat on the ground and thus at least partially flooded as you may seen on the picture above and below.

No more customers in flooded businesses

Wide areas flooded outside Siem Reap city

Many kilometers outside city, the roads still are flooded in may locations. The rice fields are overflowing.

Flooded roads outside Siem Reap city

As you may see in above pictures - my flooded day still was sunny. There is no excessive rain. Just heavy rain now and then a few hours - mostly in night time - as usual during rainy season. I had a beautiful sunny day at Beng Melen Temple, some 75 km outside of Siem Reap. The most important part for me was however the way TO the temple. It all was about Lotus pictures. Any YES ! I found some truly magnificent pink lotus flowers and white lotus flowers on the way to the temple. Most of the pictures still need to be processed. One example for my white lotus series is the new God is Love lotus flower greeting card.

As you may see later when all rainy season photos published, the heavy rainy season in Cambodia is a blessing for the Khmer population. Rice fields are flooded and bring rich harvest. In addition, the flooded ricefields also accommodate huge quantities of aquatic life traditionally used as food by Khmer.

If you want to see some rainy season landscape and sceneries from Cambodia, starting at page 7 of the Cambodia pictures gallery, you'll see some beautiful nature sceneries during the much greener rainy season. In some cases I have displayed pictures from exactly same view during dry season January 2009 vs current ongoing rainy season.

Love and Bliss

hans