The annual three-day Water Festival competes with the Khmer New Year for being the most important holiday for Cambodians. The boat races on the Tonle Sap and the carnival atmosphere ashore attract millions of people from all over the country. In Khmer the annual Water Festival is called Bonn Om Toeuk. The Water and Moon Festival ushers in the fishing season. It also marks the reversal of the current in Tonle Sap river. Boat races as well as fireworks displays are held at the river.
More than 400 boats, propelled by precision-trained oarsmen, take part in the annual boat race, the highlight of the Water Festival or Bonn Om Touk.
We elected to stay away from the crowds through the day, but made plans to go in on the last evening to see the fire works and experience some of the festival. After three beautiful days, the skies opened up to the biggest rains we had seen in months and all we got were photos of us in our new raincoats bought for $1 each. We didn’t get out of the Tuk Tuk and ended up back home. Next year!
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