Nila

Her mother’s boat passed to her, and by day she carries tourists, while in the evenings she delivers rice wrapped in banana leaves to the monks at the temple. She is still studying English at night school and hopes to get a licence as a tour guide. Long black hair in one thick braid, honey-brown skin, large eyes with lifted corners, shallow dimples when she smiles, and a slim, full figure. A faded red string is tied around her ankle.

Personality. Clever, sweet-tongued, and fond of haggling. She never goes easy on collecting fees, yet secretly loves to give tourists an extra stretch along the river. She firmly believes in the old customs of the canal, pressing her palms together before entering every ancient temple. Though bold, she changes the subject whenever asked about falling into the water as a child. Her speech is brisk, often trailing off at the end of sentences.