There are many odd festivals that we don’t celebrate in the Western World in Cambodia. For a start, their New Year is in April. We will guide you through them as the year progresses and so, if your next holiday is at the same time as one of these, you’ll have an idea what to look out for! Or just maybe, you will make your holiday coincide …
We have a specific page on the Khmer New Year and another on traditions
Halloween, of all the odd festivals, seems to be the most celebrated in Siem Reap. There will be a number of parties around the town – we’re adding them to our calendar (click here for full calendar) as they come in. Most notable would be the Fright Night Parade, organised … Read More →
Imagine Cambodia is an innovative way for you to get involved with the Angkor Photo Festival. It’s supported by them and organised by the Shinta Mani Hotel. All the details are on the Shinta Mani Facebook page, but to help you click here I’ve not attached any photos from the … Read More →
The Angkor Photo Festival is a major event in Siem Reap. It starts each year on the first Saturday after the water festival, so this year it is from the 23rd to 30th November. I met with Jessica and Regina, two of the team of organisers, who told me about … Read More →
Pchum Ben is a festival particular to Cambodia. It is a fixed 15 day period, starting on the 20th September and ending on the 5th October. It has its main days at the end – 3, 4 and 5 October. These are National Holidays. The first 14 days are also … Read More →
Highway 6 goes right past the Royal Palace and crosses the river at this point. On the Palace side of the river are two shrines. One is in the middle of Highway 6 itself, and we will come to that soon. The one on the North side of the road, … Read More →
If you walk around the streets of Siem Reap around 5pm, you are bound to see groups of youths, standing in circles or in pairs, kicking something between them. This is SEY. Known in other countries by other names – Hacky sack, kikbo, kebane, chapteh or a host of other … Read More →
Fancy something a little different to eat? Fancy, shall we say, destination dining Khmer Style? Where the meal is not the point of the evening, it’s going to the place with a good group of friends and having a good time? Try a Khmer Bar be que. But try one … Read More →
Theravada is the dominant form of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Cambodia, Burma (Myanmar) and Laos. Theravadins combine observance of Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and death into one holiday, called Vesak, Visakha, or Wesak, and sometimes Buddha Day. Vesak Puja is the most holy day of the year for Theravada Buddhists, … Read More →
“Running amok, sometimes referred to as simply amok (also spelled amuk, from the Malay meaning “mad with uncontrollable rage”) is a term that is used for a sudden outburst, usually aggressive or violent, and is preceded by a dissociative episode of brooding over some perceived wrong towards a person or … Read More →
Today was the second day of the Khmer New Year. We decided to go to Bakong. My friend said there usually was a party there. He was not joking! Although he said there were notably fewer people than normal, it looked pretty packed to me! He thought the “do” at … Read More →
- Journey to the Back of Bayon I like catchy subtitles. I was thinking about the Back of Bayon all the way home. OK it’s trivial of me. Never (I am sure) in the last 700 years has the back of Bayon seen such a party! I was amazed. Not … Read More →
Maybe you’ve noticed, but as the Khmer New Year approaches, every house and business in Siem Reap gets a “star” hung outside it. These vary in size and are made of a wire frame, with coloured cellophane stretched over it. The outer circle is decorated with tinsel. The legend is … Read More →