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.
