These pictures were taken in the morning when it was still possible to walk freely. By mid afternoon, the crowds are shoulder-to-shoulder.

Vendors selling all sorts of food, hats, souvenirs, and drinks set up early in the day. Usually they are family affairs, with the children helping the mother.

The races are one of the most well organized activities in the country, with boats coming down the river every 90 seconds all day long for three days.

Two boats, the wind at their backs, pass the midpoint boat anchored in the middle of the river on their way to the finish line at the Royal Palace.

After a preliminary heat, one of the crews takes a break. Many crews sleep in the parks during the festival.

The boats race down the middle of the Tonle Sap River and then return to the staging point along the shores.

In some boats the crew sits or kneels. In this class of boat, they stand to row. Some boats have a crew of 20, others 40,60, or more.

Clean up crews began early in the morning to pick up trash along the waterfront. This may have been a new addition this year as the city tries to improve its image.

  

Ways to motivate the crew vary from boat to boat. Many use drums to help the rowers keep the pace while others go a little more high-tech for getting the message to the crew.

  

Other boats have a uniformed captain or a pretty girl on the bow. Almost all will have some sort of spirit offering, fruit and incense, to invoke all the help possible.