Cambodian Water Festival 2014

Cambodian Water Festival is a big ceremony among several others celebrated each year for three days from the 14th to the 15th of the waxing moon and the 1st of the waning moon of the month of Kadek (November) in Chaktomuk River in front of the Royal Palace. Traditional boats racing celebrated each day following by Bandet Pratip (illuminated boats) at around 7 pm and fireworks. Ak Ambok Ceremony (eating the pestle new special rice with banana or coconut juice) is celebrated at mid-night of the second day of the festival.

Bon Om Touk (Boat Race) was celebrated since 12th Century in the Angkorian Era of King Jayavarman VII, the greatest king of the Khmer Empire, in order to dedicate to our brave Khmer Navy for the victory of the naval war over the neighboring Chams who invaded Angkor.

Ak Ambok Ceremony (eating the pestle new special rice with banana or coconut juice) and Sampeah Preah Khae Ceremony (Moon Salutation) are conducted in order to dedicate to the Great Buddha who was once born as a Rabbit and offer his flesh as the food to an old Brahman by leaping himself into flames.

Bandet Pratip Ceremony (Illuminated Boats) is to dedicate to the Gods of Water and Earth that have given to the people prosperity and agricultural crops for their living.

The Cambodian Water Festival this year consists of 248 boats and 17,421 crews registered for the race. It is hugely reduced if comparing to the festival in 2010 in which 421 boats attended the race.

Followings are some photos of the festival that I caught on the site.

Pearl Harbor, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

Kahalu'u, Hawaii

Kahalu'u is a residential community and census-designated place in the City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii, United States, in the District of Koolaupoko on the island of Oahu. In Hawaiian, kahalu'u means "diving place".

Bubble Light: Playing with the City Light

This is one of the photography tricks which I used the city lights to capture this stunning photo.

Kualoa Beach, Hawaii

Zebra Dove

This zebra dove was photographed in the University of Hawaii.

The Zebra Dove (Geopelia Striata) also known as Barred Ground Dove, is a bird of the dove family Columbidae, native to Southeast Asia.

The First Level of Kachanh Waterfall, Ratanakiri Province of Cambodia

It's in the dry season, so there is a little water flowing)

The Harvest in a Rural Area of Cambodia

Old Buddhist Temple

Daily Life of the Rural Cambodian People

Waimea Bay at the North Shore of O'ahu Island, Hawaii

Waimea Bay, Hawaii

Waimea Bay is located in Haleiwa on the North Shore of O'ahu in the Hawaiian Islands at the mouth of the Waimea River. Waimea means "Red Water" in Hawaiian.

Abstract Photography, Waimea Bay, Hawaii

Hukilau Beach, Hawaii

A Girl in Shadow

The sun shining its golden ray.
The waves rippling so rush to the bay.
A girl sitting on the concrete rim quietly.
She's blowing her emotion very far over the sea.

Who knows what she is thinking?
Though the photographer is just wondering.
He can only take a shot instead of asking why.
So the viewers can guess for a try.

Magic Sky

The sky in Kratie province of Cambodia. It's a few minutes before rain.

Ancient Lion Statue in front of Bayon Temple, Cambodia

Tree Roots in Angkor Area

Angkor Wat at Dawn, Cambodia

Angkor Wat is the largest first Hindu, and then Buddhist temple complex and the largest religious monument in the world. The temple was built by the Khmer King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century in Yasodharapura, the capital of the Khmer Empire.

Angkor Wat lies 5.5 kilometers north of the modern town of Siem Reap of Cambodia, and is one of the most famous and attractive tourist destinations of Cambodia. 

Hanauma Bay, Hawaii