Where we started (and why we moved)
If you’ve followed us for a while you probably know the whole Indonesian backstory. We started out as this crazy little backpacker hub in Malang, East Java. Honestly we just wanted to help people see Mount Bromo without getting totally ripped off. And maybe show them what actual daily life in an Indonesian neighborhood looks like while we were at it.
We always believed the best stuff happens in the kampong. Not the polished tourist traps. The real villages.
The whole “Kampong” thing
So “kampong” (or kompong depending on who you ask) just means village. In both Indonesian and Khmer. It’s the community. It’s where the aunties gossip and kids run around chasing chickens and life just sort of… happens. That unscripted energy has always been our vibe.
Trading volcanoes for floating villages
A few years back we packed up and moved across the map to Cambodia. Siem Reap, specifically. We traded the volcanic ash of Java for the massive, muddy waters of Tonle Sap Lake.
Why? Because the floating communities here just blew our minds. The way people live on this water is incredible.
Now we just focus on one thing. Ethical boat tours to Kampong Phluk and Kampong Khleang. No giant crowded boats. Just real connections.
Why come with us?
- We actually care about the locals: Look, mass tourism on the lake can get gross sometimes. Boats just blasting past people’s living rooms while they’re eating dinner. We don’t do that. We try to bring money into the local economy without treating the floating villages like a human zoo.
- Our guides know everyone: Same as our old Malang days, our Cambodian crew knows these waterways blindfolded. You get the real stories from guys who actually grew up around here. Not some rehearsed script.
- It’s just wild to see: I want you to see how people adapt to a lake that literally changes size so drastically every season. The towering stilt houses are insane. You’ll get it when you see it.
Come hang out
So whether you’re an old friend who remembers drinking Bintang with us back in East Java, or you’re just passing through Siem Reap looking for a proper boat tour… hit us up. Let’s go see the real Kampong.
Kampong Tourist. Siem Reap, Cambodia.