They possess an uncanny ability to regurgitate memorised lines in multiple languages in an effort to squeeze out a few laughs and perhaps a few dollars from besieged tourists, but without the basic fundamentals of a quality education, it's questionable how far these street smarts will take Cambodia's kids.

On a recent trip to Cambodia, my travelling partner and I were constantly harassed by street kids trying to sell tacky trinkets or squeeze us for a few dollars. Sure, we felt like grazing gazelles on the African savannah being constantly stalked by hungry hyenas, but it was hard not to succumb to the street kids' wily charm.

After chatting with a few of these little guys, we discovered that they were full of untapped potential, and we're sure if given half a chance they'd have bright futures. Shame is those opportunities rarely arise. Here's a little snapshot of our experience:

As our motorboat skips along the river surface past the floating village of Chong Keas, a group of skinny kids joke around on the steep muddy banks, dive-bombing into the thick, brown water below. As they swim through the water, it's as if they're splashing about in one of Willy Wonka's chocolate streams while their Oompa Loompa-sized mothers hop up and down on wooden houseboat patios, calling them to do their chores.

Located a short tuk-tuk drive from the northern Cambodian city of Siem Reap, which is famous as the launching pad for trips to the ancient temple city of Angkor Wat, Chong Keas is one of the less known tourist destinations in the area.