Full Moon Cambodia

[Heartbreak Writhe]

Muchlike their Southeast Asian neighbours Thailand and Vietnam, it is home to a dazzling array of colourful and dynamic celebrations with a distinct cultural identity that are waiting to be unearthed by the uninitiated traveller.

Throngs of Cambodians from across the country flock to the river banks of the capital Phnom Penh as schools are closed and workers down their tools. Excited celebrants hurry to find a spot along the river from where they can eat and drink with friends whilst still witnessing the grand boat races.

Clad in bright uniforms which run the gamut of the rainbow, the crews operate long and slender dragon boats which can seat up to 80 rowers at a time. The beating of drums echo across the water to mix with the roaring cheers of the crowds, as the oarsmen strive to keep time and win the race, ensuring themselves a moment of local celebrity.

However, the rowers are not the only stars of the race, as seated at the bow of many of these powerful dragon boats are beautiful dancers dressed in traditional garb and versed in the ancient arts of Khmer dance. Snaking through the waters of the Tonl Sap, these ornate vessels with their piercing painted eyes, massive crews and fervent fanfare are a striking sight, reminiscent of the ancient Khmer war fleets of old.

These thrilling boat races, which take place throughout all three days of the festival, can be traced back to the reign of King Jayavarman VII, under whose command a fleet of Khmer ships ousted the invading navy of the Champa Kingdom in an intense battle on the Tonl Sap in 1177 AD. Thereafter, using the festival as a chance to train the fearful Khmer navy to prepare for any potential threats, a tradition which has been passed down to the modern day in the form of these electrifying boat races.

As the excitement of the day winds down, the sky darkens and the evening encroaches, events on the river begin to take on another rhythm. Small handcrafted boats sailed by people from across the provinces dot the lake, their quaint hulls illuminated by the lights of hundreds of floating candles. Alongside these simple vessels, float grand boats sponsored by various government institutions bearing the bright colours and neon-lit patterns of their patrons.

Overhead, the night sky comes alive as a flurry of spectacular fireworks signal the end of the first day celebrations, their technicolour sparks reflected in the dim waters of the Tonl Sap. On land, the people enjoy a medley of tasty food served by local vendors whose stalls line the streets, while music both traditional and new resounds throughout the capital.

On the final night of the festival under the light of a full moon, Sampeas Preah Khe, loosely translated as the Salutation of the Moon, takes place. This Bhuddist ceremony consists of praying and the making of offerings to the Moon, which the Khmer people believe to be responsible for good fortune and a bountiful harvest.

The highlight of the ceremony is perhaps the eating of the traditional dish Ambok. With the paddy fields finally ready to harvest, the locals take some of the rice crop and flatten it into flakes which they then mix with fresh banana and coconut to make this special treat. Ambok is so popular that in the 2019 festival nearly 2 tonnes of the dish were prepared by the local authorities to give out freely to residents and tourists alike.

Ambok is not made just to fill the stomachs of the festival-goers, but is also offered to the moon in a ceremony known as Ork Ambok. This reverence of the moon stems from an old legend which claims that a Bhudda reincarnated as a rabbit became part of the moon following a life of religious devotion. The Khmer still believe the legendary rabbit can be seen etched into the face of the full moon today and will happily point out the contours of its leporine form.

The Khmer people have weathered some difficult times in the last century and the country has experienced some truly seismic changes, but the merriment and spirit of the Khmer remains unbroken. From the sandstone sailors in the timeworn bas-reliefs of Angkor Wat to the men and women of flesh and blood navigating the waters of the Tonl Sap today, the Khmer people are a testament to the importance of tradition. A tradition which can only be understood by experiencing it yourself. From the isolated floating villages of Kompong Phluk to the idyllic seaside retreat of Kep, Cambodia is a diverse and thriving country on the rise. So what are you waiting for? Visit Cambodia today.

Officials representing the National Museum of Cambodia in Phnom Penh and the U.S. Embassy in Cambodia unveiled the museum's display of the "goodwill" moon rock on Monday (June 18), following an extensive effort to determine its origin.

"Last fall, the National Museum approached the U.S. Embassy to investigate the background of this unique artifact," said Michael Newbill, Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy. "The history and background remained a mystery until after six months of research with NASA, the U.S. National Archives, the U.S. Library of Congress, the Cambodian National Library and Archives and the Center for Khmer Studies library." [Should We Open Some Sealed Apollo Moon Samples?]

Before they became the final two humans to depart the moon in December 1972, Apollo 17 astronauts Gene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt paused their exploration of the Taurus-Littrow lunar valley to dedicate one particular moon rock as a symbol of "peace and harmony" among countries "throughout the world."

On July 19, 1973, a month before the U.S. ceased bombing Cambodia as part of "Operation Freedom Deal," an expansion of the Vietnam War and Cambodian Civil War, U.S. Ambassador Emory Swank presented Cambodia's piece of the moon to the country's education minister, Keo Sangkim, in an official ceremony.

"The program and gift that your excellency has just given to the Khmer people is a symbol of the sincere desire of the United States of America to promote peaceful cooperation among the nations of Earth in order to achieve eternal peace on our planet in general, and a stable peace in Southeast Asia, in particular, a peace to which the Khmer people aspire," wrote Lon Nol, the then self-proclaimed president of the coup-founded Khmer Republic, in a letter to Nixon in July 1973 (translated from French).

But with the overthrow of the Khmer Republic two years later and the rise of other conflicts in the four decades since, that "most precious" moon rock was separated from its plaque, remounted to a nondescript stand and at some point, hidden away in storage at the National Museum in Phnom Penh. [Moon Memories: Thousands of Apollo Photos Released Online]

"It was not immediately clear this was a moon rock, although its appearance was quite similar to pictures from Apollo 17 lunar samples," Davis told collectSPACE.com in an interview. "Usually moon rocks from the Apollo 17 mission came with a plaque with a flag and quote from the president. This one had a different wooden podium and therefore we were not sure if this was an original moon rock or not."

In order to confirm its authenticity, Davis contacted the Apollo lunar sample curator at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Referring to photographs of the lucite-encased rock, the curator said that he was "99 percent certain" that it was the Apollo 17 goodwill sample. (He would need to run tests to be 100 percent certain.)

At the same time, the U.S. Embassy conducted extensive research in the National Archives and Library of Cambodia, the U.S. Library of Congress and U.S. National Archives, the U.S. State Department, the Nixon Library, and the Center for Khmer Studies. After six months of searching, they were finally able to find old U.S. State Department cables about the gift as well as an article from an August 1973 edition of the "Khmer Republic" magazine about the presentation of the moon rock to the Cambodian government and the circumstances of that ceremony.

The rediscovered moon rock's exhibit is part of the upcoming 100th anniversary of the National Museum of Cambodia to be celebrated in 2020. It is also a symbol of the United States' longstanding goodwill to Cambodia and its people.

"This small moon rock is a symbol representing the knowledge shared by men of science and technology over the centuries, and their search for knowledge," read a 1973 cable from the U.S. State Department. "Perhaps the spirit of Apollo, which surmounted the barriers of deep space for man, can eventually help eliminate the barriers between nations."

"The Embassy has prioritized Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) outreach and programs in order to further Cambodia's development. We hope that visitors will be inspired to pursue a STEM career by observing a successful STEM project like the mission to the moon," said Davis.

"Visitors to the National Museum's exhibit will also gain a better understanding of the amazing challenges the astronauts on the moon mission had to overcome and how they broke the limits of what humanity once thought was possible," she said.

The festival is celebrated over the span of three days and commemorates the end of the rainy season,[1] as well as the change in flow of the Tonl Sap River.[2] The festival attracts several million people each year.[1][3] Some activities that take place at the festival are boat races along the Sisowath Quay riverfront, fireworks, and evening concerts.

The festival's celebrations occur over the span of three days, with the Royal Boat Race taking place on the first day. After the boat race, large lanterns are released as part of the "Bondet Bratib" ceremony at 6:00 pm as representatives from national institutions pray for peace from Preah Mae Kongkea or the Goddess Ganga. Each ministry has its lantern adorned with colorful lights and sets off fireworks to celebrate the river's rich glory.

The goddess originates from Hindu mythology surrounding the Ganges river in India. There is no Ganga river in Khmer,[4] but the goddess is viewed as the mother of seas, rivers, streams, creeks, and lakes. She protects and provides the water for human and animal husbandry as well as the flow of sediments and fish. Cambodia also has a sacred river, the Tonle Sap, and festival goers communicate their love and respect for nature to the goddess through prayers of gratitude for her compassion. Prayers give thanks for happiness and for fruitful fishing in daily life.

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