Somehow, every year I get surprised by the Chinese NY. I have known for months that Chinese NY will be celebrated on and around Feb 8 this year. However, yesterday I am surprised that my usual beerseller doesn't have my usual beer. She apologizes but doesn't say why, just tomorrow ok ? (Maybe.) Go next door to buy the same brand of beer and they ask $2 more per case. A third shop want $1.50 more, but we negociate that down to $1. That's $12 a case, which is not a rip-off but is more than the usual price in my neighbourhood.
Then, duh, the penny drops - it's Chinese NY ! Yes, I know it isn't yet, but it's never too soon for a holiday price increase in beer. This has happened before when we were running a bar and there would be no more of X-brand of beer to be had in the whole town. Either that, or the price increased by 30-40% . So, more fool me. It just didn't occur to me that this nonsense would start so early.

All this to say that Chinese NY is not an official holiday in Cambodia, but there are usually price increases in beer, transport and accommodation, so prepare yourselves. Also, from past experience, some places will be closed over this weekend, including Monday of course - Khmer-Chinese shops(eg, Lucky Drink), travel agencies (Lucky Lucky), moneychangers, and a lot of the market stalls will also be closed.
I'm staying home and stocking up on beer. Happy New Year !

Anchor Moy wrote:Somehow, every year I get surprised by the Chinese NY. I have known for months that Chinese NY will be celebrated on and around Feb 8 this year. However, yesterday I am surprised that my usual beerseller doesn't have my usual beer. She apologizes but doesn't say why, just tomorrow ok ? (Maybe.) Go next door to buy the same brand of beer and they ask $2 more per case. A third shop want $1.50 more, but we negociate that down to $1. That's $12 a case, which is not a rip-off but is more than the usual price in my neighbourhood.
Then, duh, the penny drops - it's Chinese NY ! Yes, I know it isn't yet, but it's never too soon for a holiday price increase in beer. This has happened before when we were running a bar and there would be no more of X-brand of beer to be had in the whole town. Either that, or the price increased by 30-40% . So, more fool me. It just didn't occur to me that this nonsense would start so early.

All this to say that Chinese NY is not an official holiday in Cambodia, but there are usually price increases in beer, transport and accommodation, so prepare yourselves. Also, from past experience, some places will be closed over this weekend, including Monday of course - Khmer-Chinese shops(eg, Lucky Drink), travel agencies (Lucky Lucky), moneychangers, and a lot of the market stalls will also be closed.
I'm staying home and stocking up on beer. Happy New Year !

Not an official holiday here , but 90% of the businesses are Chinese run (ancestry) so what do you expect? They ran away for a reason you know.

Yes that's right not public holiday but this become habit.

My landlady has a fruit stall out the front and she was practically cackling over her coming financial boom. Hopefully everyone's stocked their shrines up already, getting a banana or some langans is going to be pricey, too.

i was ready this year. I treat it the same as I treat Mardi Gras when I'm back home. Stock up, stay home, drunken FOOLS be everywhar.

^^^ Mardi Gras back home? Are you from N'orleans?

Many friends are coming. Will Central market and Russia market open on Chinese new year?

Cant wait till till celebrate the Thailand New Year.