Lianne Milton

Projects: Bonn Om Teuk

The Bonn Om Teuk, Cambodia's three day annual boat festival, celebrates the reversal of the water current in Tonle Sap river, with boats races. Over 400 boats from all over the country fill the river ,and the capital nearly doubles in population. In 2009, the water festival coincided with the full moon of the Buddhist calendar month of "kadeuk", which Cambodians believe that a full moon promises a bountiful harvest. Special food is prepared for this occasion - fruits, vegetables and fish amok, a unique Cambodian speciality. Candles are lit, incense burnt and offerings made.

An oarsman waits for his crew on the slope of the Tonle Sap River, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009.
   
Fishermen watch the race from their boat along the Tonle Sap River, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009.
  
Oarsmen depart the shore and head to the start of the race, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009.
     
  
An elderly man waits with hundreds of other oarsmen for their turn to race in the water festival, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009.
  
A Cambodian man sells trinkets along the shore of the Tonle Sap river, during the annual water festival in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009.
  
A monk chants a prayer surrounded by buddhists, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009. This year the water festival also coincide with the full moon of the Buddhist calendar month of "kadeuk", which Cambodians believe that a full moon promises a bountiful harvest. Special food is prepared for this occasion - fruits, vegetables and fish amok, a uniquely Cambodian speciality. Candles are lit, incense burnt and offerings made.
     
  
Fishermen eat lunch during the water festival, in their boat on the Tonle Sap river, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009.
   
Women sing and dance along an old ship docked at a pier, during the first day of the three-day water festival, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009.
  
The streets of Phnom Penh becomes congested with food venders, motorbikes and tuk tuks making it nearly impossible to cross the street or maneuver traffic, in Cambodia, on Sunday, Nov. 1, 20
     
  
Children watch boat floats lit up with bright lights of dragons along the Tonle Sap River, during the water festival, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009
   
The streets of Phnom Penh becomes congested with food venders, motorbikes and tuk tuks making it nearly impossible to cross the street or maneuver traffic, in Cambodia, on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009.
   
Cambodians watch fire works light the night sky during the annual water festival, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009. The streets of Phnom Penh becomes congested with food venders, motorbikes and tuk tuks making it nearly impossible to cross the street or maneuver traffic, in Cambodia, on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009.