In Cambodia, the people have learned to keep moving forward, come what may. Despite torrential rains, monsoon-flooded roads, and the lingering scars of the Khmer Rouge era, everyone shows great ingenuity in making a living. In Ratanakiri province, Sok Veht hauls tons of latex along tracks turned into quagmires—driving makeshift trucks that lack both cabs and windshields. On the Tonle Sap, Southeast Asia’s largest lake, Samat watches the fish stocks gradually dwindle. Like millions of Cambodians, he relies on this vast freshwater expanse, which is now threatened by deforestation, overfishing, and dams built on the Mekong—including those constructed by China. While some fishermen give up, others persevere. One such man is determined to give his daughter a dream wedding—but doing so requires towing a massive, 45-meter-long floating banquet hall to the village using a rather unreliable boat.

Deep in the frozen Altai Mountains of western Mongolia, a nomadic family prepares to face the year’s most perilous challenge: a 120-kilometer migration through snow, bitter cold, and storms. To save their herds from starvation, Bazarbay, Talap, and their relatives must drive nearly 200 animals to their summer pastures. Among them is 7-year-old Daryn, embarking on his first great journey. Devastated after the sale of his beloved horse, the young boy is given a mission by his father: to look after "Doudou"—a frail young calf—and a goat about to give birth. It is a responsibility that will force him to grow up faster than expected.