Cambodia’s building boom fuelled by property speculation, coupled with increased wealth of locals and their ability to build homes adds to demand for building blocks, keeping villagers busy in factories across the nation.
Workers are drawn from around the country to work, often moving with their families. It’s team work, from small family run sites to the larger scale factories, which invest in machinery to aid production. Bricks have been around for hundreds of years, in many sites the process unchanged. In small family run plants bricks are still extrude and cut by hand. The bricks are then dried for a month or so, removing excess moisture before being stacked and fired in large kilns.
Brick making areas are found in clay rich areas. The village I visit from Siem Reap is locates near Dam Dek, and has been there since Angkorian times. There is a hand made canal that extends to Kampong Khleang, probably made for transportation. Families tell me this was the area where the red bricks of 9th C Angkorian temples were made.
It’s hard work, the temperature can be extreme, yet they work with smiles.
Meet the ladies
A family business
Shaping the perfect brick
The inspector
Grandma
Team work
Ladies, loading the kiln
The perfect stack
Fuelling the fire
End of day smiles
Strike a pose!
Want to know more? We visit this village as part of a photography tour to the Tonle Sap village Kampong Khleang. Why not come along!
2 comments. Leave new
I always like pictures with a story! Well done Darren! A brick factory is something special and the one you visited is still working and accessible. You were lucky! The one I found was empty and in Europe you can`t find this!
A brick factory gives a great opportunity to exercise your ability with your camera: There is interesting light, working people, fire and smoke…. what else you need for an interesting picture 🙂 ?
Cheers Stefan. These places are great for us photographers, but some attract bad working practices, not this one. It is not for everyone, but something I’m sure the right client will appreciate. Maybe something for your next trip?? 🙂