Maybe there are foreigners participating every year in Cambodia's Water Festival Boat Races, but I've never noticed that, if so.

A group of expats look to be planning a team this year, although they seem unsure if foreigners have been banned from the races or not.



"Hello all

I'm trying to find people who might be interested in organising or joining a dragon boating team to race during this year's Water Festival.

For those of you who don't know during the Annual Water Festival celebrating the end of the wet season there is an annual dragon boat race on the Tonle Sap River during the 3 day national holiday (Nov 21-23).

Boats race down from the Japanese Bridge to just in front of the Royal Palace. It is mayhem as hundreds of boats compete in the races but it is a hell of a lot of fun.

The last time I did it was way back in 2005 it was really awesome fun. We weren't very serious (we totally got our arses kicked), it gave the Khmer crowd something laugh and cheer at and you got to be part of something uniquely Khmer.

On the organising side I have no idea where to even begin to organise something like this (especially sourcing a boat) so if anyone out there has experience or know how in organising, your assistance would be most welcome!

So if you are interested in joining the team or helping me in organising please PM/email me or if you know of other people who might be interested please share/forward this to them.

Also if anyone has links to volunteer or intern programs (e.g. AVI, UN/ECCC interns, peace corp,VSO, fellowships etc.) could you please forward this email to them as in previous years volunteers/interns were very interested in participating.

Thanks in advance.

Kind regards

Justin"





Some comments from others:





Borrowing or renting a boat (that floats) will be the toughest part. The boats are hangared at pagodas, start looking and asking.





Are foreigners allowed to take part? If they are, I'm in.





Justin-Im interested-keep us posted with what you find!





Hey, I took part in the water festival 2 years ago on 'team barang' which was organised by SRIS (siem reap international school). They seemed to have borrowed a boat and we had 2/3 khmers with us who could actually row. I would start by contacting the school. also, this was in SR so maybe rules are more lax there. However, if this thing gets going i'm in!





This is a very good experience. I did it in 2009 in Siem Reap. One of the most memorable times.

Yeah, barang have competed in these races before. A few lost their lives some years back, iirc.