Cambodian Water Festival 2009

Cambodian Water Festival

1-3 November 2009

Water Festival: The Neighborhoods

Moving around the city, one knows this is a special time. This is a particularly flag-heavy neighborhood.

Waiting for the tourists Relatively far from the river and all the boats, enterprising residents set up small stands offering water and snacks. Tens of thousands of Phnom Penh people will flock to the river as the day grows older, and many, many of them will be walking because they don't have the money to pay the much-increased prices the few remaining tuk-tuk and motorcycle drivers are charging.

Decorations at the general post office The General Post Office, a beautiful colonial-era building sports its own holiday decorations.

Sidwalk vendors They are not near the main action, the sidewalk is barely wide enough for them and their wares, but these women set up shop early in the day in hopes of making a few (literally) dollars from the provincial visitors who will pass by.

Sidewalk vendor These women commandeered the sidewalk in front of a hotel.

Sidewalk vendors Just about anything you want to buy can be purchased on one of the sidewalks of the city during these days.

Honoring the king Perhaps a million or two people from the provinces flood into Phnom Penh for the Water Festival. Many of them without urban friends or relatives sleep on the streets like these people at an intersection leading to the waterfront area.

Police blocking streets Closer to the river, the police have each street blocked to vehicular traffic to allow pedestrians full run of the street--almost, because many VIP and police vehicles continue to honk their way through the crowds with little pretense of courtesy or respect.

Starting the walk to the river This family of four arrives on one motorcycle at a blocked street and prepares to walk the next kilometer to the river.

Parking for motorcycles Some people don't have the right product to sell but happen to live close to the place where vehicles cannot proceed farther and they can provide safe parking for the people who do ride the motorcycles this far. For a fee, of course.

Susan Sporl with her sister and brother-in-law The newest member of the Cambodian Mission Team is Susan Sporl (right) who is enjoying a visit from her sister Mary and her brother-in-law Chuck. They are here preparing to cool off a bit with some ice cream late in the afternoon.

Paragon Hotel The Paragon Hotel on the waterfront, overlooking the river and all the races. Maryknoll Lay Missioner Adel O'Regan generously rents a top-floor room each year and invites all the Maryknollers and other friends to come and spend the day watching the daytime races and then the fireworks and floating barges at night.

Gathering at Adel's party Adel O'Regan (pink shirt) with high-level friends on her fifth-floor balcony near the end of the first day of racing.

Neighborhood guards on duty Meanwhile, back in the 'hood, the guards for the various NGOs and residences—who can't take days off—gather on the street to play cards and eat, far from all the festivities.

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	Moving around the city, one knows this is a special time. This is a particularly flag-heavy neighborhood.
	Relatively far from the river and all the boats, enterprising residents set up small stands offering water and snacks. Tens of thousands of Phnom Penh people will flock to the river as the day grows older, and many, many of them will be walking because they don't have the money to pay the much-increased prices the few remaining tuk-tuk and motorcycle drivers are charging.
	The General Post Office, a beautiful colonial-era building sports its own holiday decorations.
	They are not near the main action, the sidewalk is barely wide enough for them and their wares, but these women set up shop early in the day in hopes of making a few (literally) dollars from the provincial visitors who will pass by.
	These women commandeered the sidewalk in front of a hotel.
	Just about anything you want to buy can be purchased on one of the sidewalks of the city during these days.
	Perhaps a million or two people from the provinces flood into Phnom Penh for the Water Festival. Many of them without urban friends or relatives sleep on the streets like these people at an intersection leading to the waterfront area.
	Closer to the river, the police have each street blocked to vehicular traffic to allow pedestrians full run of the street--almost, because many VIP and police vehicles continue to honk their way through the crowds with little pretense of courtesy or respect.
	This family of four arrives on one motorcycle at a blocked street and prepares to walk the next kilometer to the river.
	Some people don't have the right product to sell but happen to live close to the place where vehicles cannot proceed farther and they can provide safe parking for the people who do ride the motorcycles this far. For a fee, of course.
	The newest member of the Cambodian Mission Team is Susan Sporl (right) who is enjoying a visit from her sister Mary and her brother-in-law Chuck. They are here preparing to cool off a bit with some ice cream late in the afternoon.
	The Paragon Hotel on the waterfront, overlooking the river and all the races. Maryknoll Lay Missioner Adel O'Regan generously rents a top-floor room each year and invites all the Maryknollers and other friends to come and spend the day watching the daytime races and then the fireworks and floating barges at night.
	Adel O'Regan (pink shirt) with high-level friends on her fifth-floor balcony near the end of the first day of racing.
	Meanwhile, back in the 'hood, the guards for the various NGOs and residences—who can't take days off—gather on the street to play cards and eat, far from all the festivities.