I just got home after going down to Wat Phnom again for the second time during the holiday, seeing as though tonight is the last night, and it was just as incredible as it was on Sunday when I went. Probably even more so. Difficult to tell if there were more people or not, there seemed to be an uncountable number of people on both nights I went.

I didn't think I'd enjoy it as much as I did on Sunday - been there done that kinda thing - but again, very surprised at how enjoyable the whole event was. If there's one thing Khmers are very, very good at, and that's letting their hair down and throwing a good old party. Atmosphere was just as excellent, if not better. Just thousands and thousands of people out to have a really good time. Smiling, laughing, dancing, singing, modern pop music as well as some traditional Khmer, and for me as Brit, most importantly, not even the tiniest whiff of aggro anywhere whatsoever, which is a welcome change to how these types of events tend to play out in the UK, London especially.

In the UK, the closest you could compare it to would be the Notting Hill Carnival, I think it's held on the last weekend in August, and I believe it's either the biggest, or one of the biggest street parties in Europe, but it is well known for crime - muggings, drug taking / dealing, stabbings, fights, drunken, loutish behaviour, you name it. I mean, it's safe for the overwhelming majority of people, many people take their families, but there is that ever-present undercurrent of crime and anti-social behaviour that goes along with it.

However, none of that whatsoever in Wat Phnom, or, I would safely assume, any of the major KNY parties anywhere in Cambodia. I'm sure the odd crime does take place from to time, but the hugely positive atmosphere means you don't give it a second thought, unlike it always being in the back of your mind at the Notting Hill Carnival.

I have mixed feelings over the banning of water guns and talcum powder. Firstly, I think we all know it would be impossible to implement. These have become such an engrained part of the event, I think people would largely simply ignore the law. Remember that time when they tried to make it law that men couldn't go shirtless outside in public? How's that one going? I know that water squirting and powder throwing can, and does, occasionally lead to some pretty unpleasant unintended consequences, but sometimes, y'know... shit happens.

This is the first KNY I've spent in Phnom Penh, (I usually go to Kampot or Siem Reap) and I was expecting the most boring week ever, as I don't usually go to the water throwing parties, but it's turned out to be the best KNY I've had since moving here, and am very much looking forward to the next one.

Definitely one of those times when you take a step back and remind yourself why you love living here so much. For me, at least.

One of the best parts about Songkran in Thailand is reading the tales of woe of all those farang moaners who hate every minute of it. Yet fail to book a short trip to Vietnam, or wherever, year after year.

Reading some of the comments on here by their barang equivalents in Cambodia has been amusing in just the same way.

Now that it's over, we can look forward to the next installment for almost an entire year. Cheers!

I’m disappointed that work keeps me away, once again.