SURVIVING ON THE RAILS. Hundreds of families live alongside Phnom Penh's railway tracks in self-built shanties, usually no bigger than a single room. The people here are some of the poorest in the city. Despite the hardships, a small community has developed complete with mini-kiosks selling food and goods. Amazingly some merchants and inhabitants still manage to provide alms to the monks.

Because of the lack of space, the residents spread out over the train tracks during the day. Daytime trains are rare, but if they hear a train, they quickly gather their cooking utensils, chairs, and children to clear the track. Just seconds after the freight train has passed, the railway track becomes their center of life again.