E1. Cambodia: Unshakeable smiles
Jul 31, 2026 · 52m
In Cambodia, the people have learned to keep moving forward, come what may. Despite torrential rains, monsoon-flooded roads, and the lingering scars of the Khmer Rouge era, everyone shows great ingenuity in making a living. In Ratanakiri province, Sok Veht hauls tons of latex along tracks turned into quagmires—driving makeshift trucks that lack both cabs and windshields. On the Tonle Sap, Southeast Asia’s largest lake, Samat watches the fish stocks gradually dwindle. Like millions of Cambodians, he relies on this vast freshwater expanse, which is now threatened by deforestation, overfishing, and dams built on the Mekong—including those constructed by China. While some fishermen give up, others persevere. One such man is determined to give his daughter a dream wedding—but doing so requires towing a massive, 45-meter-long floating banquet hall to the village using a rather unreliable boat.
