| The Mekong River, one of the most famous of all | | | | an assorted mix of unrecognizable bugs and slugs for |
| the rivers in the world, starts off in China and makes | | | | the hungry, to balloons and toys for the kids. |
| its way through Laos and Vietnam; but for Cambodia | | | | The rain fall in the monsoon season is so heavy that |
| it is many things including a sense of wonder as the | | | | it overwhelms the rivers ability to drain into the |
| Mekong goes in two directions every year. When the | | | | ocean, so it backs up and fills up the Tonle Sap Lake, |
| Moon is right, and it reverts to behaving like a regular | | | | which is in a very real sense the heart of the |
| river, they have the biggest party of the year in | | | | country. The Tonle Sap becomes one of the largest |
| Phnom Penh, the water festival. | | | | fresh water lakes in Asia, and if full of fish, which |
| The main attraction is the boat races. This year 400 | | | | accounts for 60% of the protein consumed in |
| teams competed for bragging rights and a small | | | | Cambodia. It is also an amazing aviary with 300 |
| purse. They come from all the provinces and cities | | | | species of birds and some very exotic and |
| and it is a right of passage for many towards being | | | | endangered animals like the Irrawaddy Dolphin, one |
| accepted as a man in the local village or province. The | | | | of the two fresh water dolphins species. It also |
| boats are long low and fast with up to 50 oarsmen | | | | contains the humongous Mekong Giant Catfish of |
| stroking steadily to the thump, thump, thump the | | | | which experts say only a few hundred might exist |
| coxswain demands at the front. | | | | today, which can grow to almost 3 meters long and |
| For most holidays in Cambodia the people leave | | | | way more than 400 lbs. |
| Phnom Penh but for the water festival they all come | | | | Held during the full moon in November it makes the |
| to Phnom Penh this year an estimated 3 million people | | | | beginning of the dry season in Cambodia which goes |
| attended and like the boats they come from | | | | from roughly Oct 15 to April 15. The beginning of the |
| everywhere in the country. Near the palace it is | | | | monsoon is celebrated by Khmer New Year another |
| nearly impossible to walk as the streets are so | | | | major event on the Khmer calendar and another |
| crowed with revelers. Street vendors do great | | | | countywide party that you might want to put on |
| business selling everything from corn on the cob, to | | | | your party schedule. |