Angkor, where I learned aw chah
(Khmer for mysterious)

overnight on the floating village of Chong Khnies, Tonle Sap lake, Cambodia

attempts to capture the insanity
of Phnom Penh traffic
are fruitless:
just hang on

Aboard the Paris One
we sail the four arms of the Mekong
curving east, toward fishermen
and houses decked with laundry,
keeping our balance while sampling water
with a distant memory of China.

Then sleepy with too much sun, we slide back into port
next to oarsmen flush with calls to triumph
in the festival races

Kayaking with Kunthy and Dinis to hunt the elusive wetland plants of Cambodia...

one side of the bridge it's water hyacinths for miles
the other clear but for giggles and diving bravado
unseen since the flying Wallendas

Mekong River floodplain, Kean Svay, Cambodia

The village highway sees everything:
clouds of bicycling women
rushing toward the garment factory,
cows being led on their final trip
into town,
sweethearts on motos at sunset.

Sunday morning it breathes in shadows
as everyone rests but two mischevous pedalers.