Sixty-five percent of the population of Cambodia is under 35 years old, and it was this warm and welcoming segment of the population that stole our hearts today in Angkor Ban. As we walked through the streets of town, anytime we met children we were greeted by huge smiles, shouts of “hellooo”, and in one case, a pint-sized body-slam bear hug.

The town of Perk Bangkong is known for its silk production and we were walked through the steps of this craft with a spinning and weaving demonstration, including a look at a few silk moths scurrying about. The intricacy of unspinning a cocoon is assisted with the thorny side of an eggplant leaf to catch the beginning strand.

For sundown, we turned from the Mekong and started our navigation north up the Tonle Sap River. The Russey Keo suspension bridge was lit up in neon rainbow colors and added to the colorful evening sky.