A photo of Siem Reap’s lotus fields in full bloom and the story behind it.A photo of Siem Reap’s lotus fields in full bloom and the story behind it.

It’s lotus season in Cambodia, and here in Siem Reap the lotus fields are in full bloom. Visitors can show up and pick their own lotus heads, which is what we did this morning. Once you’ve finished, you pay for what what you pick, much like raspberry farms or apple orchards in the States. In Cambodia, locals eat the stem, seeds, and roots of the lotus plant. I had never been very impressed with the lotus seeds I’ve bought on the street, but eating them fresh from the plant was a completely different experience.

The photo opportunities at the lotus fields were fantastic, but I, like the lotus-eaters of yore, mostly squandered any chance of accomplishing anything due to the heat, the glare, and the endless supply of lotus seeds. I got a few good snaps, though, and I like this one because it hints at how vast the fields are, all filled with blooming lotus flowers.