Bonn Om Teuk

Last week my Mom and Dad came to Thailand. Then the next day we went to Cambodia. We arrived in Cambodia on a major holiday known as Bonn Om Teuk. For my Thai friends, they have the same holiday in Thailand only they call it Loy Gratong. This is basically a holiday to give thanks for water and the rivers. I found it interesting because this holiday differs a bit in Cambodia than it does in Thailand. First you go and buy, or make, a floating basket that has incense, candles, and maybe candy or coins in it. In Cambodia they are made out of plastic, Styrofoam, or paper....and in Thailand they are made out of banana leaves and flowers. Then you light the incense and candles and you take it down to the river and say a prayer for thanks. Then you give it to a child that is waiting and they swim the basket out to the middle of the river. This was really fun to watch because in Thailand you just set the basket on the river by yourself. The kids really seemed to enjoy this! By the end of the night the river is covered with lots of floating luminaries going down the river. Its truly a wonderful and stunningly beautiful holiday.