Is the Water Festival dying?

This is where our community discusses almost anything! While we're mainly a Cambodia expat discussion forum and talk about expat life here, we debate about almost everything. Even if you're a tourist passing through Southeast Asia and want to connect with expatriates living and working in Cambodia, this is the first section of our site that you should check out. Our members start their own discussions or post links to other blogs and/or news articles they find interesting and want to chat about. So join in the fun and start new topics, or feel free to comment on anything our community members have already started! We also have some Khmer members here as well, but English is the main language used on CEO. You're welcome to have a look around, and if you decide you want to participate, you can become a part our international expat community by signing up for a free account.
User avatar
Bitte_Kein_Lexus
Expatriate
Posts: 4421
Joined: Sun May 18, 2014 7:32 pm
Reputation: 1325

Re: Is the Water Festival dying?

Post by Bitte_Kein_Lexus »

As John said, I think the stampede and the resulting cancellations basically killed it. It's much more tame now, but I also think modernization played a role. Fewer Khmers enjoy being around hoards of people now, and many (city dwellers) would prefer to go abroad or somewhere else anyways. It's interesting to read old French accounts about it from the late 1800s though. It's still basically the same, from the paddlers and dancing guy at the front of the boat, to the rampant prostitution once on land.
Ex Bitteeinbit/LexusSchmexus
User avatar
Duncan
Sir Duncan
Posts: 8149
Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2014 8:22 pm
Reputation: 2357
Location: Wonder Why Central

Re: Is the Water Festival dying?

Post by Duncan »

Duncan wrote: Mon Nov 11, 2019 7:02 am Water Festival 10-12 November 2019


Lets comment on the Water Festival crowds AFTER it's finished.

OK, It's over. . Now,,, was the attendance crowds smaller this year. With my small view of it, the crowds were smaller for the first days, but yesterday late afternoon and night the crowds were big , although not quite to the peak of those 5 or 6 years ago.
Cambodia,,,, Don't fall in love with her.
Like the spoilt child she is, she will not be happy till she destroys herself from within and breaks your heart.
User avatar
Arget
Expatriate
Posts: 3259
Joined: Sun Aug 20, 2017 7:44 am
Reputation: 2416
Location: Phnom Penh
Contact:
Australia

Re: Is the Water Festival dying?

Post by Arget »

I can only speak for the traffic on street 172 and the numbers were very much smaller than last year by half.
User avatar
Nicolas
Expatriate
Posts: 286
Joined: Sat Aug 17, 2019 6:08 pm
Reputation: 140
France

Re: Is the Water Festival dying?

Post by Nicolas »

Duncan wrote:
Duncan wrote: Mon Nov 11, 2019 7:02 am Water Festival 10-12 November 2019


Lets comment on the Water Festival crowds AFTER it's finished.

OK, It's over. . Now,,, was the attendance crowds smaller this year. With my small view of it, the crowds were smaller for the first days, but yesterday late afternoon and night the crowds were big , although not quite to the peak of those 5 or 6 years ago.
Last night the crowd was quite big for the concert. But definitely not the crowd nightmare before the ban. Maybe this festival can be more tourist oriented in the futur, and less province mass. A great opportunity to promote Phnom Penh at the international market through a cultural event.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
King Keil
Expatriate
Posts: 746
Joined: Wed May 28, 2014 11:47 pm
Reputation: 240
Armenia

Re: Is the Water Festival dying?

Post by King Keil »

Image

It was absolutely packed on the riverside around 8. Didn't feel good and I left. Nice atmosphere but I am absolutely not into crowded places anymore.
User avatar
Ravensnest
Expatriate
Posts: 773
Joined: Sat Dec 29, 2018 6:42 pm
Reputation: 318
Contact:
United States of America

Re: Is the Water Festival dying?

Post by Ravensnest »

My related family and friends in a province did not come because of fear of SR showing up and some type of war popping off. same with my wife's friends, fear of SR showing up. I am a teacher and most of my students' parents stocked up on supplies so they would not need to leave their house during the festival. There was a lot of fear. It's a shame these people will not stand up.
I noticed the surge in population last night too. I credit that to the realization that SR was not coming.
Still here, in country...
User avatar
Duncan
Sir Duncan
Posts: 8149
Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2014 8:22 pm
Reputation: 2357
Location: Wonder Why Central

Re: Is the Water Festival dying?

Post by Duncan »

I am just wondering [ which is easy to do in the KOW ] if next year they could promote the Water Festival as being Eco Environmentally Friendly.

The reason being,,,, I think of all that sand that was not dredged up by those sand barges and used for reclaiming wetlands while they were sailing up and down the riverfront with lights blazing.
Cambodia,,,, Don't fall in love with her.
Like the spoilt child she is, she will not be happy till she destroys herself from within and breaks your heart.
Mishmash
Expatriate
Posts: 1949
Joined: Tue Nov 14, 2017 7:34 pm
Reputation: 1151
Cambodia

Re: Is the Water Festival dying?

Post by Mishmash »

Duncan wrote: Thu Nov 14, 2019 1:16 pm I am just wondering [ which is easy to do in the KOW ] if next year they could promote the Water Festival as being Eco Environmentally Friendly.

The reason being,,,, I think of all that sand that was not dredged up by those sand barges and used for reclaiming wetlands while they were sailing up and down the riverfront with lights blazing.
Are you calling the King's boat a 'sand barge' :beer3:
User avatar
Duncan
Sir Duncan
Posts: 8149
Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2014 8:22 pm
Reputation: 2357
Location: Wonder Why Central

Re: Is the Water Festival dying?

Post by Duncan »

Mishmash wrote: Thu Nov 14, 2019 1:25 pm
Duncan wrote: Thu Nov 14, 2019 1:16 pm I am just wondering [ which is easy to do in the KOW ] if next year they could promote the Water Festival as being Eco Environmentally Friendly.

The reason being,,,, I think of all that sand that was not dredged up by those sand barges and used for reclaiming wetlands while they were sailing up and down the riverfront with lights blazing.
Are you calling the King's boat a 'sand barge' :beer3:
It's definitely not a Sand Castle.
Cambodia,,,, Don't fall in love with her.
Like the spoilt child she is, she will not be happy till she destroys herself from within and breaks your heart.
Post Reply Previous topicNext topic
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Khmu Nation, Ong Tay and 1321 guests