This week’s Sunday Stamps bring us to the picturesque rural Cambodia. My feature is a First Day Cover from the Khmer Aspect series.
The FDC captures a common scene in the countryside: a farmer and his cows ploughing a rice field or transporting rice harvest and other agricultural produce. The palm trees complete the idyllic rural landscape. This simple image speaks volumes about the importance of agriculture in Cambodian life. Rice is a staple food source, and farmers play a vital role in making sure that everyone has enough to eat. (Years ago, my first job was with a Swiss International NGO working on food security in Cambodia. I met some amazing, resilient farmers (men and women) in four different provinces who were in our program. While I’m not a farming expert, I helped tell their stories and the challenges they faced.)
Something that surprised me (coming from another Asian country with carabaos, or water buffalos), was seeing cows used for ploughing. Apparently, it’s been a tradition in Cambodia for ages. Even though modern machinery exists, traditional methods are still used. Maybe it’s a simpler way of life, or maybe the farmers just haven’t gotten that fancy tractor yet.
Have you ever been to Cambodia?
Visit Sunday Stamps for more features of countryside stamps.
I have never been to Cambodia, or any other nearby country, and I really like the way you tell stories with each of the stamps and postcards.
Thank you, you are so kind. I’m glad that you enjoy the stories I tell through the stamps and postcards. Maybe someday you’ll have a chance to visit Cambodia, or another Asian country. There’s so much to learn!
That is certainly a country view, not like how I’m used to it. I suppose using cows may be simpler for small scale farmers. I don’t know, just a guess! I also guess rice takes a lot of space. I know how large the areas are in California where they grow rice.
You’re right, rice fields are huge! In the Philippines, where I’m from, carabaos (water buffalos) are the traditional choice for ploughing. Here in Cambodia, cows are more commonly used, especially for smaller farms. I didn’t know rice is grown in California!
Never been to Cambodja, and never seen carabaos or water buffalos in person. Oxen or mules ploughing would sound more close to my childhood experience, although now everyone use those fancy tractors.
Cows and oxen are definitely more commonly used in Cambodia than in other Southeast Asian countries. It’s true that tractors are increasingly being used now, but it’s always nice to see traditional methods still being used.
Sadly I’ve never been to Cambodia either. I’ve never associated cows/bullocks with plowing but certainly they would have low impact on the soil, as well as delivering free fertilizer:) Lovely mini sheet.
You are right about the low impact on the soil – that’s a big advantage! Free fertilizer is a nice bonus, too. Cambodia is definitely worth a visit, but there are so many other incredible countries nearby too – Thailand, Vietnam, Laos… Have you ever considered travelling to any of them?
Wow, that’s a stunning FDC.
Thanks! So glad you like it!
It’s a beautiful stamp and certainly different from the view of oxen in the country that I’m used to see