YeahâŒïž SiennyLovesDrawing ð©ð»Â is gonna sharing ð©ð»âð»ð here about her impressive ð€© & unforgettable experience gained from the annual Cambodian ð°ð Water ðŠð§ Festival ðð, Phnom Penh, Cambodia ð°ð
So, it was all started with a short queue to get her ð©ð» cheap â¬ïž flight ticket âïž during the AirAsia BIG Xchange & BIG Fest event â€ïž in Sept (as shown in the short clip ð¹ð¥below). It was with only a limited choice of destinationsððavailable
She ð©ð» has chosen â for Phnom Penh ð°ð under Lane B with a very 1ïžâ£st intention to meet & visit 1ïžâ£ of her girlfriend ðð»ââïž who is working there as an expatriate currently. However, sadly ð that her friend ðð»ââïž wasn’t around â Phnom Penh ð°ð during her travel dates ð Sigh…From a friend visitð, then she had it as 1ïžâ£ of her annual solo travelsss ðð§¢ð¶ð
ð ~ Everything Happens For A Reason ~ ð
Also initially she ð©ð» did plan to let go this solo trip because of a clash to a tourism event ~ MITA Sarawak, Malaysia ð²ðŸ that she ð©ð» has always supporting ðªð»âð»the tourism authority ð in Malaysia ð²ðŸïž
Guess whatââïž
Her trip is gonna be during the annual Cambodian ð°ð Water ðŠð§ Festival ðð named Bon Om Touk in local Khmer language ð°ð from 21 Nov to 23 Nov 2018 ðð It also known as The Pirogue ð£ð»ââïžð£ð»ââïž Racing Festival ðð or Water ðŠð§ & Moon ð Festival ðð & Boat Racing ð£ð»ââïžð£ð»ââïž
http://cambodia-tourism.org/plan-your-trip/events/cambodian-water-festival/
It was really a coincidentâŒïž Once she ð©ð»Â has decided â to stay with this solo travel ðð¶ð§¢ð due to the complicated & difficult flight change ðâïžÂ Also this gonna be her 1ïžâ£st visit to Phnom Penh, Cambodia ð°ð
This biggest celebration marks a 12th century naval victory with boat ð£ð»ââïžð£ð»ââïž racing along the Sisowath Quay ðŠð§ with the boat ð£ð»ââïžð£ð»ââïž racing on the Tonle Sap River, in particular the area stretching from street 104 to street 178 of Phnom Penh city centre ð°ð
Many hostels ð¡ð, hotels ð¢, restaurants ðœðŽ & bars ð¥ð»ðžaround this area ~ Very convenience for all visitors ð«ðð¬
In the morning ð ð & before the race ð£ð»ââïžð£ð»ââïž starts during this 3ïžâ£-day festival ðð, the riverside & streets were much more peaceful ð
Once the race starts around ðam, the huge crowd ðð¬ð« at the riverside will be observed ððð»ðð»
However, in 2015 this celebration ðð was cancelled â due to the low â¬ïž water level ðŠð§
HurrayâŒïžÂ She ð©ð» always wanna appreciating & experiencing a country’s tradition culture during her travels âïžðð¶ð§¢ð This is just so a lovely ð coincidence ð
So, what’s this water ðŠð§ festival ðð all aboutââïž
It’s a 3ïžâ£ days non-religious celebration ðð & symbolised as an ancient appreciation ðð» for centuries to the river ðŠð§for providing a source of livelihood to the farmers ðšð»âðŸð©ð»âðŸ & fishermen ðð£
Hmm…It’s a kind of local Khmers ð°ðð«ðð¬ thanksgiving ð celebration ðð
The Cambodian boat crews ð°ðð£ð»ââïžð£ð»ââïž were face forward. Many of the boat crews ð£ð»ââïžð£ð»ââïž were complemented with a colorfully-costumed lady ðð»ââïžat the prow dancing to the beat of the drums ð¥ð¥
However, from her observation, majority of the boats now don’t really practising this tradition though. Hmm…From her 2ïžâ£ days visits to the festival, she only noticed for 2ïžâ£Â boats with a colorfully-costumed lady ðð»ââïž at the front of the boat ð£ð»ââïžð£ð»ââïž
For the 1ïžâ£st 2ïžâ£ days, races ð£ð»ââïžð£ð»ââïž are run with 2ïžâ£ boats ð¶ð¶ each, with the big race ð£ð»ââïžð£ð»ââïž happening on the last day, when all the boats ð¶ð¶ take to the river ðŠð§ to compete ð
There were carnival, rides, traditional music ðŒð¶ðµ performances, dances ðð»ðºðŒð¯ââïžð¯ââïžðŽð»etc. in the evening ððð
There were many stall vendors, definitely food ðð²ð¥ðœðŽ& drink ð¥€ð»ð·ð¥ðžð¹overflow on the streets, Khmer pop bands ðŒð¹ð§ð¶ðµentertaining the crowds ðð¬ð« etc.
Personally, she ð©ð» was impressed how the local vendors actually earn their living ð°by selling drinks ð¥€& snacks ð¥¡ð°ð¥§ð¥ª to the huge crowds ðð¬ð« at the riverside during the boat racing ð£ð»ââïžð£ð»ââïž
There were approximately 300 boats ð¶ð¶ with 19k pax of boat rowers ð£ð»ââïžð£ð»ââïž Wow!!
Hmm…ð€ How about the huge crowd ðð«ð¬attended for this 3ïžâ£-day festival celebration ðð in Phnom Penhââïž
It was about 4.5million people ðð¬ð« including expatriates, foreign visitors, local Khmers from all provinces etc. as shared at the closing ceremony ð
Ohh yeahâŒïž This year, 2018 i.e. The 3rd great successfull year with Cambodia ð°ð has handbuilt the world ð𺠑s longest rowing boat ð£ð»ââïž at 87.3m long & 1.99m wide with cost of $60k. It was completed successfully ðð»ðð»ðð» in Sept by more than 14k local Khmers ð°ððð¬ð« in 192 days ð²ð
Guess whatââïž
Another Guinness World ððº Record ð won (It’s the 5ïžâ£th one) by Cambodia ð°ð as this long dragon boat ð£ð»ââïž is capable of carrying 179 boat rowers ð£ð»ââïžð£ð»ââïž on itâŒïž WowâŒïžð² This great ðð» news was anounced on 12 Nov at Prey Veng province of Phnom Penh ð°ð
From her own experience, a few points ðð to note if you’re interested to be at Phnom Penh or Siem Reap for this great ðð» annual celebration ðð
Ohh ya…A pair of comfy shoes ð is essentials â  because it was vehicles free ð i.e. No public transport âððð ð being available to the festival ðð groundð, more details via ð https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50551697/city-hall-issues-vehicle-ban-for-water-festival/
In this connection, the only option would be just getting around by your own foot ð£
YeahâŒïž SiennyLovesDrawing ð©ð» got her sun âïžð protection from the ðPetal Velvet Sunaway SPF50 ordered & purchased ð©ð»âð»ð from Althea Korea ð°ð· You must remember to put up your sunscreen to avoid sunburn
Next, do bring an umbrella ðâ (You may loan it from your hotel, it can be a weapon if needed)/ wear a cap ð§¢
Do dress up in a light modest clothing ð to enjoy the boat ð£ð»ââïžð£ð»ââïž race cheerings with the local Khmers ð°ððð¬ð« at the riverside under the hot sunny ðâïž day
Ohh ya…Do remember your refillable water ðŠð§ bottle to avoid dehydration ya ð
She ð©ð» was with the local Khmers ð°ðð«ðð¬ on her 1ïžâ£st visit & then 2ïžâ£nd visit the next day at the designated area by Tourism Cambodia ð°ð for the foreign tourists ð¬ð«ð (Served with free ð flow of drinksð¥€ð¥€available)
The riversides ðŠð§ were extremely packed & crowded ð¬ð«ð with both the local Khmers ð°ðð«ðð¬ & foreign tourists to cheering for their favorite â€ïž boatsð£ð»ââïžð£ð»ââïžduring the races, so suggest you to bring only the bare necessities & hold on tight to what you have. Also being alert with your surroundings too while in the huge crowd ðð¬ð«
Whyââïž
Hmm…You never know whether you will be being targetted by any pick-pockets/ bag-snatchers ðð¿ whom may just roaming around the crowded festival ðð riversides ðŠð§& streets. So, even though this festival ðð is a free ð celebration ðð , however it can get really expensive if you make a mistake by carrying valuables into the crowds ðð¬ð«
Always better be safe then sorry ya âºïžð
There were several types of rowing ð£ð»ââïžð£ð»ââïž styles observed from her visits, i.e. sitting down & manual rowing, standing up & manual rowing, standing up & auto rowing etc. She ð©ð» is curious ð€ how the marks will be allocate within each different styles as well as the determining factors of winning ðð tooââïž
Perhaps logically the shortest time ð of completion from the start till end time of each boat at the finishing line (The 2ïžâ£ red â€ïž boats ð£ð»ââïžð£ð»ââïž as captured in the photo ðž & vBlog ð¹ð¥below)
There were live announcement during the boat racing ð£ð»ââïžð£ð»ââïž, however in local Khmer ð°ð language & â no English translation. It would be good to have a live English announcement in the next year festival onwards ya ð
The King Norodom Sihamoni ð€Žð», Prime Minister Hun Sen ðšð»âðŒ& some senior officials ðð»ââïžðð»ââïž have all attended the closing ceremony on the last day of this festival ðð She ð©ð» has observed from the TV screen ðº at the foreign visitors designated booth
Ohh ya…She ð©ð» has enjoyed the longest & the pretty ðð€© fireworks ðð so far from the closing ceremony of this water festival ðð
Really amazing beautiful ðð€© & with the boats ð¶ð¶ decorated with LED lightingð¡ð¡screens represented by each relevant authorities of organising & managing this water ðŠð§ festival ðð e.g. Tourism, Justice, Ministry of Art & Handicrafts etc. to name a few noted ð
SiennyLovesDrawing ð©ð» has captured a vBlog ð¹ð¥ for sharing here, do click in to enjoy it ya ð€
Ohh ya…Some of the eateries ðœðŽ & shops ððmay close âïž during this water ðŠð§ festival ðð (All 3ïžâ£ days) & resume their operation then ð€
This festival ðð also ended with lots of clean up & tidy up at the riverside by the local Khmers ð°ðð¬ð¬ð¬
SiennyLovesDrawing ð©ð» was blessed ð that she ð©ð» stay with her decision to continue with this solo travel & really enjoyed this water ðŠð§ festival celebration ð ð & highly recommended ðð»ðð»to all travellers that would like to appreciating & participating local heritage & cultures celebration. Definitely worth your time to learn the unique local Khmersð°ðð¬ð«ð’ lifestyle better
More details,
&
ð https://publicholidays.asia/cambodia/bon-om-touk/
#CambodianWaterFestival #WaterFestival #BonOmTouk #PhnomPenhCity #Cambodia #CambodiaTourism #CambodiaTravel #PhnomPenh #travel #travels #travelling #blog #blogger #bloggers #influencer #influencers #siennylovesdrawing #slowtravel #festival #celebration #heritage #culture #cultures #train #railway #Asia #AsiaTravel #MekongTourism #Mekong #SisowathQuay #riverside #TonleSapRiver
