Yeahโผ๏ธ SiennyLovesDrawingย ๐ฉ๐ปย is gonna sharing ๐ฉ๐ปโ๐ป๐ here about her impressive ๐คฉ & unforgettable experience gained from the annualย Cambodianย ๐ฐ๐ญ Water ๐ฆ๐ง Festival ๐๐, Phnom Penh, Cambodia ๐ฐ๐ญ
So, it was all started withย a short queue to get her ๐ฉ๐ป cheap โฌ๏ธ flight ticket โ๏ธ during the AirAsia BIG Xchange & BIG Fest event โค๏ธ in Sept (as shown in the short clip ๐น๐ฅbelow). It was with only a limited choice of destinations๐๐available
She ๐ฉ๐ป has chosen โ for Phnom Penhย ๐ฐ๐ญ under Lane B with a very 1๏ธโฃst intention to meet & visit 1๏ธโฃ of her girlfriend ๐๐ปโโ๏ธ who is working there as an expatriate currently. However, sadly ๐ that her friend ๐๐ปโโ๏ธ wasn’t around โ Phnom Penh ๐ฐ๐ญ during her travel dates ๐ Sigh…From a friend visit๐ญ, then she had it as 1๏ธโฃ of her annual solo travelsss ๐๐งข๐ถ๐
๐ ~ Everything Happens For A Reason ~ ๐
Also initially she ๐ฉ๐ป did plan to let go this solo trip because of a clash to a tourism event ~ MITA Sarawak, Malaysia ๐ฒ๐พ that she ๐ฉ๐ป has always supporting ๐ช๐ปโ๐ปthe tourism authority ๐ in Malaysia ๐ฒ๐พ๏ธ
Guess whatโโ๏ธ
Her trip is gonna be during the annualย Cambodian ๐ฐ๐ญ Water ๐ฆ๐ง Festival ๐๐ย named Bon Om Toukย in local Khmer language ๐ฐ๐ญ from 21 Nov to 23 Nov 2018 ๐๐ It also known as The Pirogue ๐ฃ๐ปโโ๏ธ๐ฃ๐ปโโ๏ธ Racing Festival ๐๐ย or Water ๐ฆ๐ง & Moon ๐ Festival ๐๐ & Boat Racing ๐ฃ๐ปโโ๏ธ๐ฃ๐ปโโ๏ธ
http://cambodia-tourism.org/plan-your-trip/events/cambodian-water-festival/
It was really a coincidentโผ๏ธ Once she ๐ฉ๐ปย has decided โ to stay with this solo travel ๐๐ถ๐งข๐ due to the complicated & difficult flight change ๐โ๏ธย Also this gonna be her 1๏ธโฃst visit to Phnom Penh, Cambodiaย ๐ฐ๐ญ
This biggest celebrationย marks a 12th century naval victory with boat ๐ฃ๐ปโโ๏ธ๐ฃ๐ปโโ๏ธ racing along the Sisowath Quay ๐ฆ๐ง with the boat ๐ฃ๐ปโโ๏ธ๐ฃ๐ปโโ๏ธ racing on the Tonle Sap River, in particular the area stretching from street 104 to street 178 of Phnom Penh city centre ๐ฐ๐ญ
Many hostels ๐ก๐, hotels ๐ข, restaurants ๐ฝ๐ด & bars ๐ฅ๐ป๐ธaround this area ~ Very convenience for all visitors ๐ซ๐ญ๐ฌ
In the morning ๐ ๐ & before the race ๐ฃ๐ปโโ๏ธ๐ฃ๐ปโโ๏ธ starts during this 3๏ธโฃ-day festival ๐๐, the riverside & streets were much more peaceful ๐
Once the race starts around ๐am, the huge crowd ๐ญ๐ฌ๐ซ at the riverside will be observed ๐๐๐ป๐๐ป
However, in 2015 this celebration ๐๐ was cancelled โ due to the low โฌ๏ธ water level ๐ฆ๐ง
Hurrayโผ๏ธย She ๐ฉ๐ป always wanna appreciating & experiencing a country’s tradition culture during her travels โ๏ธ๐๐ถ๐งข๐ย This is just so a lovely ๐ coincidenceย ๐
So, what’s this water ๐ฆ๐ง festival ๐๐ all aboutโโ๏ธ
It’s a 3๏ธโฃ days non-religious celebration ๐๐ & symbolised as an ancient appreciation ๐๐ป for centuries to the river ๐ฆ๐งfor providing a source of livelihood to the farmers ๐จ๐ปโ๐พ๐ฉ๐ปโ๐พ & fishermen ๐๐ฃ
Hmm…It’s a kind of local Khmers ๐ฐ๐ญ๐ซ๐ญ๐ฌ thanksgiving ๐ celebration ๐๐
The Cambodian boat crews ๐ฐ๐ญ๐ฃ๐ปโโ๏ธ๐ฃ๐ปโโ๏ธ were face forward. Many of the boat crews ๐ฃ๐ปโโ๏ธ๐ฃ๐ปโโ๏ธ were complemented with a colorfully-costumed lady ๐๐ปโโ๏ธat the prow dancing to the beat of the drums ๐ฅ๐ฅ
However, from her observation, majority of the boats now don’t really practising this tradition though. Hmm…From her 2๏ธโฃ days visits to the festival, she only noticed for 2๏ธโฃย boats with a colorfully-costumed lady ๐๐ปโโ๏ธ at the front of the boat ๐ฃ๐ปโโ๏ธ๐ฃ๐ปโโ๏ธ
For the 1๏ธโฃst 2๏ธโฃ days, races ๐ฃ๐ปโโ๏ธ๐ฃ๐ปโโ๏ธ are run with 2๏ธโฃ boats ๐ถ๐ถ each, with the big race ๐ฃ๐ปโโ๏ธ๐ฃ๐ปโโ๏ธ happening on the last day, when all the boats ๐ถ๐ถ take to the river ๐ฆ๐ง to compete ๐
There were carnival, rides, traditional music ๐ผ๐ถ๐ต performances, dances ๐๐ป๐บ๐ผ๐ฏโโ๏ธ๐ฏโโ๏ธ๐ด๐ปetc. in the evening ๐๐๐
There were many stall vendors, definitely food ๐๐ฒ๐ฅ๐ฝ๐ด& drink ๐ฅค๐ป๐ท๐ฅ๐ธ๐นoverflow on the streets, Khmer pop bands ๐ผ๐น๐ง๐ถ๐ตentertaining the crowds ๐ญ๐ฌ๐ซ etc.
Personally, she ๐ฉ๐ป was impressed how the local vendors actually earn their living ๐ฐby selling drinks ๐ฅค& snacks ๐ฅก๐ฐ๐ฅง๐ฅช to the huge crowds ๐ญ๐ฌ๐ซ at the riverside during the boat racing ๐ฃ๐ปโโ๏ธ๐ฃ๐ปโโ๏ธ
There were approximately 300 boats ๐ถ๐ถ with 19k pax of boat rowers ๐ฃ๐ปโโ๏ธ๐ฃ๐ปโโ๏ธ Wow!!
Hmm…๐ค How about the huge crowd ๐ญ๐ซ๐ฌattended for this 3๏ธโฃ-day festival celebration ๐๐ in Phnom Penhโโ๏ธ
It was about 4.5million people ๐ญ๐ฌ๐ซ including expatriates, foreign visitors, local Khmers from all provinces etc. as shared at the closing ceremony ๐
Ohh yeahโผ๏ธ This year, 2018 i.e. The 3rd great successfull year with Cambodia ๐ฐ๐ญ has handbuilt the world ๐๐บ ‘s longest rowing boat ๐ฃ๐ปโโ๏ธ at 87.3m long & 1.99m wide with cost of $60k. It was completed successfully ๐๐ป๐๐ป๐๐ป in Sept by more than 14k local Khmers ๐ฐ๐ญ๐ญ๐ฌ๐ซ in 192 days ๐ฒ๐
Guess whatโโ๏ธ
Another Guinness World ๐๐บ Record ๐ won (It’s the 5๏ธโฃth one) by Cambodia ๐ฐ๐ญ as this long dragon boat ๐ฃ๐ปโโ๏ธ is capable of carrying 179 boat rowers ๐ฃ๐ปโโ๏ธ๐ฃ๐ปโโ๏ธ on itโผ๏ธ Wowโผ๏ธ๐ฒ This great ๐๐ป news was anounced on 12 Nov at Prey Veng province of Phnom Penh ๐ฐ๐ญ
From her own experience, a few points ๐๐ to note if you’re interested to be at Phnom Penh or Siem Reap for this great ๐๐ป annual celebration ๐๐
Ohh ya…A pair of comfy shoes ๐ is essentials โ ย because itย was vehicles free ๐ย i.e. No public transport โ๐๐๐ ๐ being available to theย festival ๐๐ ground๐, more details via ๐ 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 ๐ฃ
Yeahโผ๏ธ SiennyLovesDrawing ๐ฉ๐ป got her sun โ๏ธ๐ protection from theย ๐Petal Velvet Sunawayย SPF50 ordered & purchased ๐ฉ๐ปโ๐ป๐ fromย Althea Koreaย ๐ฐ๐ท You must remember to put up your sunscreen to avoid sunburn
Next, do bring an umbrella ๐โ (You may loan it from your hotel, it can be a weapon if needed)/ wear a cap ๐งข
Do dress up in a light modest clothing ๐ to enjoy the boat ๐ฃ๐ปโโ๏ธ๐ฃ๐ปโโ๏ธ race cheerings with the local Khmers ๐ฐ๐ญ๐ญ๐ฌ๐ซ at the riverside under the hot sunny ๐โ๏ธ day
Ohh ya…Do remember your refillable water ๐ฆ๐ง bottle to avoid dehydration ya ๐
She ๐ฉ๐ป was with the local Khmers ๐ฐ๐ญ๐ซ๐ญ๐ฌ on her 1๏ธโฃst visit & then 2๏ธโฃnd visit the next day at the designated area by Tourism Cambodia ๐ฐ๐ญ for the foreign tourists ๐ฌ๐ซ๐ญย (Served with free ๐ flow of drinks๐ฅค๐ฅคavailable)
The riversides ๐ฆ๐ง were extremely packed & crowded ๐ฌ๐ซ๐ญ with both the local Khmers ๐ฐ๐ญ๐ซ๐ญ๐ฌ & foreign tourists to cheering for their favorite โค๏ธ boats๐ฃ๐ปโโ๏ธ๐ฃ๐ปโโ๏ธduring 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 ๐ญ๐ฌ๐ซ
Whyโโ๏ธ
Hmm…You never know whether you will be being targetted by any pick-pockets/ bag-snatchers ๐๐ฟ whom may just roaming around the crowded festival ๐๐ riversides ๐ฆ๐ง& streets. So, even thoughย this festival ๐๐ is a free ๐ celebration ๐๐ , however it can get really expensive if you make a mistake by carrying valuables into the crowds ๐ญ๐ฌ๐ซ
Always better be safe then sorry ya โบ๏ธ๐
There were several types of rowing ๐ฃ๐ปโโ๏ธ๐ฃ๐ปโโ๏ธ styles observed from her visits, i.e. sitting down & manual rowing, standing up & manual rowing, standing up & auto rowing etc. She ๐ฉ๐ป is curious ๐ค how the marks will be allocate within each different styles as well as the determining factors of winning ๐๐ tooโโ๏ธ
Perhaps logically the shortest time ๐ of completion from the start till end time of each boat at the finishing line (The 2๏ธโฃ red โค๏ธ boats ๐ฃ๐ปโโ๏ธ๐ฃ๐ปโโ๏ธ as captured in the photo ๐ธ & vBlog ๐น๐ฅbelow)
There were live announcement during the boat racing ๐ฃ๐ปโโ๏ธ๐ฃ๐ปโโ๏ธ, however in local Khmer ๐ฐ๐ญ language & โ no English translation. It would be good to have a live English announcement in the next year festival onwards ya ๐
The King Norodom Sihamoni ๐คด๐ป, Prime Minister Hun Sen ๐จ๐ปโ๐ผ& some senior officials ๐๐ปโโ๏ธ๐๐ปโโ๏ธ have all attended the closing ceremony on the last day of this festival ๐๐ She ๐ฉ๐ป has observed from the TV screen ๐บ at the foreign visitors designated booth
Ohh ya…She ๐ฉ๐ป has enjoyed the longest & the pretty ๐๐คฉ fireworks ๐๐ so far from the closing ceremony of this water festival ๐๐
Really amazing beautiful ๐๐คฉ & with the boats ๐ถ๐ถ decorated with LED lighting๐ก๐กscreens represented by each relevant authorities of organising & managing this water ๐ฆ๐ง festival ๐๐ e.g. Tourism, Justice, Ministry of Art & Handicrafts etc. to name a few noted ๐
SiennyLovesDrawing ๐ฉ๐ป has captured a vBlog ๐น๐ฅ for sharing here, do click in to enjoy it ya ๐ค
Ohh ya…Some of the eateries ๐ฝ๐ด & shops ๐๐may close โ๏ธ during this water ๐ฆ๐ง festival ๐๐ (All 3๏ธโฃ days) & resume their operation then ๐ค
This festival ๐๐ also ended with lots of clean up & tidy up at the riverside by the local Khmers ๐ฐ๐ญ๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ฌ
SiennyLovesDrawing ๐ฉ๐ป was blessed ๐ that she ๐ฉ๐ป stay with her decision to continue with this solo travel & really enjoyed this water ๐ฆ๐ง festival celebration ๐ ๐ & highly recommended ๐๐ป๐๐ปto all travellers that would like to appreciating & participating local heritage & cultures celebration. Definitely worth your time to learn the unique local Khmers๐ฐ๐ญ๐ฌ๐ซ๐ญ’ lifestyle better
More details,
&
๐ https://publicholidays.asia/cambodia/bon-om-touk/
Also welcomeย ๐คย to check out SiennyLovesDrawingย ๐ฉ๐ปย โs top contributorย ๐๐ปย account viaย ๐ย https://www.tripadvisor.com.my/members/siennylovesdrawingย forย her recent reviews about the Cambodia ๐ฐ๐ญย โs tourist attractions, food & accommodation stay yaย ๐ฉ๐ปโ๐ป๐
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