Angkor Sangkranta 2015

You probably have seen or heard about “Cambodia Kingdom of Wonder” on CNN TV commercial, YouTube or multiple travel websites on the Internet. It is a promotional campaign used to preach about tourism potentials in this country. Cambodia does not have complex high-end subways, jungles of skyscrapers or giant shopping malls that other developed countries have, but the richness in our culture, the long history of tradition, our friendliest people, thousands of ancient temples, most beautiful bays and islands and the amazon-like forests are what make Cambodia a wonderfully unique Kingdom.  As a Cambodian, I cannot be proud enough to be born in such a beautiful country despite the fact that I used to feel self-pity for being a Cambodian myself. Not until I have chances to explore Cambodia through family trips, trips with friends, volunteer programmes, youth camps and stuff, I cannot help but fall in love with my country and my people even more deeply. Earlier this year in April, I had chance to volunteer in Angkor Sangkranta 2015, the celebration of Khmer New Year in Siem Reap Angkor, the most visited place in Cambodia. There were a lot of sub-programmes in this three-day festival, namely, ritual offerings, latten floating, star-studded concert, Guinness-World-Record-breaking Madison Dance, Khmer traditional games and many more. My role was to facilitate in Khmer traditional games—Kleng Chhab Kon Mon—in front of Angkor Wat Temple, the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The game was about an eagle trying to catch chickens. A group of about five to ten people queuing and holding each other’s waist with a person in the front as a mother chicken trying to protect her children from being caught by the eagle played by the other person. The game is quite physically challenging, but it’s worth playing since it brings about team spirit and leadership skills. Not only did I facilitate in the game, but I also enjoyed wandering around to see other festivities. There were cultural exhibitions organized by youths from ten ASEAN countries and other parts of the world, which helped me to meet my good friend from Brunei. We first met in Malaysia in ASEAN Youth Volunteer Programme. That makes me realize how small this world is and how well connected we are as ASEAN community. Aside from the exhibition, I went to the Fantasy Village, where lives during Angkor Empire were astonishingly displayed by the small clay puppests of ancient Khmer people doing their day-to-day activities. There were a lot more to see and do during the event but I was not able to. Out of those activities, what captured my soul the most was Cambodian traditional dance since I was so into dancing. Everyone was welcomed to join and got lost in the excitement from the loud music. We danced; we played; we celebrated our New Year as one big family full of loving brothers and sisters. Three days of work ended with just a blink of an eye. It did not seem to me as work but a busy holiday, which made me a little exhausted but overjoyed with the unforced smiles on the faces of thousand people I saw. It was the platform where friendships were made among my fellow volunteers, where I was inspired by open-hearted people I encountered with and where my volunteerism spirit was valued. Mission accomplished!!!