Original reports from Phnom Penh
23 November 2007
Cambodians inundated the capital this week to partake in the annual Water Festival, a celebration of a topographic occurrence that causes the Tonle Sap River to change its course.
The annual shift is typically marked in November with boat races, an illuminated night regatta, concerts, galas and other events. Phnom Penh authorities said the number of visitors this year set a record. During the festival, Cambodians give thanks to the water, especially fishermen and farmers, and commemorate the period of Angkorian naval power, festival organizers said.
"This year, we're all happy," Tourism Minister Thong Khon said. "The size of the boats is thrilling. Talking about the local tourist, it's about more than 1 million on this occasion. There is an increase of 20 percent in international tourist flow to the country to welcome the festival, thanks to our timely publicity through the Internet."
The Water Festival marks in part the end of the rainy season, when the upper Tonle Sap Lake drains southeast into the Mekong. As the lake loses water during the ensuing dry season, the river will revert to its northwesterly flow.
Part of the celebration includes three days of continuous boat races. This year saw 432 boats entered.
"It's very interesting to see so many boats and so many people, and the people are very friendly," said David Keller, a Swiss resident who has worked in Cambodia for almost a year and witnessed the event for the first time.
Along the riverfront, from the Japanese Friendship Bridge to the Royal Palace, a mass of whistling, cheering Cambodians and tourists greeted the racers.
"Each boat consists of either more than 70 people, 60 people, 50 people or 40 people," said a 76-year-old racer from Kampong Cham province. "We have both sitting and standing paddle-boats."
The annual shift is typically marked in November with boat races, an illuminated night regatta, concerts, galas and other events. Phnom Penh authorities said the number of visitors this year set a record. During the festival, Cambodians give thanks to the water, especially fishermen and farmers, and commemorate the period of Angkorian naval power, festival organizers said.
"This year, we're all happy," Tourism Minister Thong Khon said. "The size of the boats is thrilling. Talking about the local tourist, it's about more than 1 million on this occasion. There is an increase of 20 percent in international tourist flow to the country to welcome the festival, thanks to our timely publicity through the Internet."
The Water Festival marks in part the end of the rainy season, when the upper Tonle Sap Lake drains southeast into the Mekong. As the lake loses water during the ensuing dry season, the river will revert to its northwesterly flow.
Part of the celebration includes three days of continuous boat races. This year saw 432 boats entered.
"It's very interesting to see so many boats and so many people, and the people are very friendly," said David Keller, a Swiss resident who has worked in Cambodia for almost a year and witnessed the event for the first time.
Along the riverfront, from the Japanese Friendship Bridge to the Royal Palace, a mass of whistling, cheering Cambodians and tourists greeted the racers.
"Each boat consists of either more than 70 people, 60 people, 50 people or 40 people," said a 76-year-old racer from Kampong Cham province. "We have both sitting and standing paddle-boats."
4 comments:
Yay! and the amazing thing is the storm just stop moving toward us and our celebration and start weakening. It feel as though we are blessed with this great festival from above. I am not surprise at all because We (Khmers) worked so hard this year for the good of our nation and everyone, and they deserved every drop of it.
Chey Yoh, Kampuchea!
Record-breaking - 2.4 mil illegal immigrant yuons are carrying Khmer id issued by puppet government
Nope, those were Ah Khmer-Yuons trouble makers, but we'll take the ID back soon and passed on to real yuon Hanoi instead. At least, they are hard working people and don't steal land from government like Ah Khmer-Yuon does.
Yes, now the computer model projected the storm is moving back east and continue to weaken as expected.
http://www.nrlmry.navy.mil/tc_pages/tc07/WPAC/23W.HAGIBIS/ssmi/gif/full/Latest.html
However, rain will persisted in Vietnam for another day or two.
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