Street Vendor in Phnom Penh

Water Festival of Cambodia

In the mid-November, Phnom Penh gears itself for the Water Festival. This is one of the most important events of the year. 

Illuminated Boat - Cambodia Water Festival

First, it is also the Moon Festival, a thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest. In 2016, it so happened that around Water Festival, November 14, the Moon was at its biggest since 1948. 

On this Water and Moon Festival or Bon Om Touk as the Khmer call it, offerings of flowers and other products as well as the lighting of candles and incense are made in villages. The wax from the lighted candles on this celebration is considered predictors of the year's climate and harvest. The more wax drops, the more rain and, thus, good harvest.

In the ceremony usually presided by the King of Cambodia, the different Provinces are represented each by a candle so predictions are made for each Province as well. For the people of Cambodia, this is part of their tradition which they cherish until now.

The Tonle Sap River also reverses its flow at this time, a natural phenomenon celebrated during this festival. As part of the celebration, a boat race is held for 3 days. Around 259 boats participated, many represented some of the villages. The cheering is loud for those whose villagers come to support their oarsmen.

Boat Race - Cambodia Water Festival 2016

Every night, fireworks light up the Phnom Penh sky around the riverside. Illuminated boats slowly parade in the Tonle Sap River giving magic to the celebration. Concert sites entertain the crowd of about 3 million. It is Phnom Penh in its full display. 

Illuminated Boat - 2016 Cambodia Water Festival

What I love most is watching the locals in the parks, enjoying with their families on spread mats and munching on their favourites: fried tarantulas, barbecued chicken, pork, fish balls and frogs, shellfish, noodles and eggs.

Snacks at the Cambodia Water Festival

Time your visit to Phnom Penh for this festival and celebrate with the locals.

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Water Festival of Cambodia 

5 Top International Travel Tips from Road Warriors

Ever dreamt of going places? Travel to far shores? Or are your fears of the strange and unfamiliar make you hug the shores of your familiar 9-9 existence?

There are now so many places to visit as easier access and technologies have moved them closer. Information abound even about places we have not heard of in history classes. CNN and BBC are every day competing to rum them through our senses.

Antelope Canyon

Now, the problem is not just fear of the unfamiliar but the too much information that make us fear. 

The "what ifs" of fear utterly defeat the "what could bes" of dreams. 

For those who still dream of the cedars of Lebanon, the silk of China, and the maharajahs of India, this lens will offer you tips coming out of your yin yang. 

But hey, don't just disregard them.

Good trip preparation and planning cannot just be taken for granted. Get those stickies ready and post them on your fridge. Your trip success begins there.

1. Luggage
The self-destroying suitcase! The handle-less handbag!! The splintered hardshell! The 20-Kilo-when-empty mega-case! The one-trip-wonder! Haven't you had one of these? Funny to frustrating. And today, you undoubtedly have bags that don't make sense anymore in the new travel environment.

The concept of luggage has evolved. Quantity is still an issue...but today it isn't "How Much"....but "How Little". This really affects your choice of luggage. The search for that magic bag starts with looking for the lightest you can get at the perfect size to give you enough carrying space without taking you beyond the airline weight limits. Of course, weight is not the only concern when you choose your luggage. You probably have seen your luggage cracked or its zippers burst or probably gone with all your things placed inside the airline plastic bag.

Know that the soft-sided ones are the most expandable. The hard-sided cases protect fragile items that you might carry with you. However, hard-siders are sometimes heavy and can be cracked and shattered when handled in airports as most likely they will not be handled with care.

Nylon  (the ballistic one used to cover bullet-proof vests are the most tear-resistant) and polyester are the best materials as they are much lighter and can be treated to make them stain-resistant. Go for brightly coloured luggage as it is easier to pick out as it circles around the carousel. Forget leather...the baggage guys won't be impressed! Don't forget the packing cubes to go with your luggage.



2. Travel Insurance
You hope nothing will happen, but and if the husband and kids are with you, too, you are really tempting fate. At its most basic, it provides you with professional advice in case of illness abroad, covers all your expenses or reimburses you for part of them, anyway.

However, lots of travel insurance today covers more than that. It depends on what you buy. Some have a trip insurance provision as well.....lost or delayed luggage, delays and disruptions of your schedule, emergency medical evacuation and repatriation, unauthorized use of your credit cards, the financial collapse of travel agencies, and even cover your pets.


3. Travel Documents
Make sure your passport has more than 6 months validity from your planned date of return just in case you are delayed or rerouted. Get the necessary visas for your destination as well as other places of transit. Carry extra passport-size photos just in case you need to get visas for other places on the way or your passport needs to be replaced.

Moreover, get copies of all your important documents (passport, visas, credit cards, bank cards, travellers cheques if you still use them, travel insurance, contracts, travel itinerary, hotels, medication prescription) and have a set with you in a bag separate from your originals and another set with someone at home. I know, I know. Too much hassle but just do it. You will be relieved when you lose one of those.

If you're married, bring your marriage certificate. Sometimes, hotels in some conservative countries will not give you one room if you can't show proof that you're married. 

Don't forget to check travel implications if you happen to have dual citizenship and are regarded as a citizen of the country you are visiting.

It is now easy to register your travel with your embassy. This way, they will keep you updated and will have you on the list when something happens in your country of destination and you may need evacuations which, of course, we hope will not be necessary for your trip.

Don't forget to check your embassy's latest advisory on your destination. Better to be prepared.

In some countries, specific requirements around health may be be necessary or some medications may be considered illegal so it is important to check these with professionals or with your travel insurer or your embassy.

4. Travel Accommodations 
Check the stars! Most of us look at the stars when we want to book a hotel to get some sense of what might happen. And now some of the top-enders have gone to diamonds to rate their properties in an escalation of exaggeration that is almost heroic. Don't bother about those 5 stars or diamonds..or half-moons that many should use. What about the no stars boutique hotel that is a one of a kind? Blinded by choice?

First, ask your family or friends' recommendation. Surely, they will be honest with you. They will also know some of your likes and dislikes so can recommend better choices.

Check out reviews. I read through many reviews before I make my decision.

Check out the price range you are comfortable with. Maybe there are top-rated hotels you might want to be in but these may make you empty the bank account. No. Enjoy yourself. This is your holiday.

If you are going for business, it is another story. make sure you book one close to where most of your meetings are. Better, choose one where you can walk to your meetings. With unpredictable traffic, this is key.

If your stay is longer, book a hotel for a few days and give yourself options to try out other hotels. It is fun. With travel now limiting your luggage, you will not be hauling suitcases anyway.

Be clear about charges. If you have kids with you, find out what the hotel's policies are. You might have to stay in different rooms. Some hotels offer to provide extra beds for free. Others, for a price so check this out. Other hotels offer free breakfast with your room, others don't. Make sure other alternatives are there for internet connections if they are not free and for meals. Eating in hotels not only leave you with bland palates but deprive you of the hustle of eating places outside. Unless, of course, the hotel has the big M. Check out taxes and other occupancy fees that might be charged to your room as well. Keep the surprises to a minimum.

5. Travel Transport
No lectures required about carbon emissions, aircraft or the environment. Let's get right to how you can be a little more comfortable with your carbon footprint:

• Trains instead of planes. 

You will see a lot more of the countryside. In Europe, North America, some of Africa and some of Asia, you can book sleepers and travel overnight. You can save hefty hotel bills if you schedule your trip right. And here is the kicker....you usually end up much closer to downtown...often next to a subway...so you really reduce overall travel time if you plan carefully.

• Planes, at the speed they are travelling, add tons of carbon emissions. 

But for long-distance travel, there is no choice. So, buy carbon offsets. Some airlines offer these and even calculate the percentage allotted to you as a passenger in a particular flight. Carbon offsets are usually simply donations to support eco-friendly programs.

• Planes burn more fuel in take-off and landing. 

The fewer connections you take, the lower your carbon footprint will be. Of course, many times, airlines love bringing you to hubs and many of the direct flights are more expensive. Sometimes, we just have to swallow the price for something we value more.

• On shorter routes, check to see if there are turboprop aircraft (with propellers) working for the airline. 

You might see the word "Dash" in front of their numbers. These use much less fuel and the airline industry seems to be rediscovering them. They are nearly as fast (on short routes), quiet and sometimes go into downtown airports and save even more time.

• Go to your gate on time. 

It is not uncommon for airlines before take off to be calling for one or two passengers who have checked in but have not yet shown up at the plane's entrance. Maybe, that bargain is just too good to miss. Know, though, that the less time the plane spends idling on the ground, the less carbon dioxide emissions they put out.