From April 14-16 it is the Khmer New Year (KNY) so I couldn't have picked a better time to come not only to travel, but also to celebrate. When my friend and I were exploring the temples, we also sighted people setting up chairs, tents, stages, and much decor and festivities for the upcoming new year event. We were also told the streets were more decorated than usual as well. Like Chinese New Year, it's a huge deal and Cambodians share these New Year dates with bordering Thailand (Songkran) and Vietnam as one of the major holidays of the year. This may also be the only week or two of holidays the Khmers receive in a whole year.

Initially I had wanted to do a half day tour to the Kampong Phluk Floating Village, but the downside to coming new year is that most companies offering tours were closed for the three days of KNY. So it didn't work out, but the day went better than I had originally planned anyways. 

Somehow in divine ways, a group of five of us from the hostel had decided to check out some festivities that were going on not too far. We were the fantastic travelling five consisting of a Canadian (myself), a Pakistanian working and based in Thailand at the moment, an American who moved to work in Singapore, a Philippian whom was on holiday, and a German who was on a gap year. We joked we represented the world and we tuktuk-ed to the nearby area to see if we could join in the Khmer fun. Siem Reap is the first and maybe one of the few countries you will find travellers starting their day early due to the popular early temple tours, but even then I think us being ready to go at 10am was quite impressive. However, as local Khmers don't come out until later as you've been enriched by me to know, we were way too early for any excitement. However, the fantastic five of us had amazing map readers whom lead us to a temple as some of us had heard there may be some kind of New Year ceremony we could watch.
We navigated ourselves to a traditional Buddhist temple where a lineup of monks were sitting and eating their meals. Some locals had been preparing the food and were also there to give thanks as it was New Years. Imagine the sight of five foreigners walking into such a local place, all eyes turned though nothing was said as they just observed. When the monks finished their meal, two of them kindly approached us while the locals kept giving us food to eat. I didn't touched anything as personally I didn't want to eat food that may have been worshipped as I'm a Christian, but my group mates enjoyed the abundance of food laid out upon us. The two monks were also very kind to engage in conversation with us, educate us on the history and background of Khmer, tell us about their decision and lifestyle as a monk, as well as took photos with us! I really felt naive and dumbfounded as many things they told us about being a monk was quite a shocker to me, such as how they are allowed to be on Facebook and I'm even Facebook friends with one of them now (I find this hilarious). One of them even had a nicer phone than I did-I guess they need to be "in" with the times like they've mentioned. 

This use to be a brothel, now a shelter
In the afternoon, I had arranged a tour by Ron Carter, the Public Relations Officer of New Hope Organization. Why I had planned this visit so far in advance to this NGO was because initially I had wanted to do some volunteering while travelling, but due to my itinerary I wasn't able to commit. Secondly, I heard about New Hope while researching about my travels and had stumbled upon it through GAdventures (who is a sponsor of their restaurant program). Last but the best reason of all, I had watch the Nefarious documentary about sex trafficking (with one of the focus being child prostitution in Cambodia) last year and that left an ingrained sadness in me to learn and know more (you can read about more about my thoughts here).
Village of Mondul 3

 Basically New Hope was started by a local Khmer 6 years ago to provide education for kids living in poverish villages. It started out from a burdening heart as many kids in Cambodia aren't able to afford schooling, and rather, even have to work to earn money for their families, and the founder was one of these kids himself when he was younger. From a humble beginning of teaching kids from home, he has expanded it to an abandoned brothel to shelter moms and their kids from abusive husbands, and now renting a property with their own building inclusive of a health clinic, classrooms, office, restaurant (recommended on trip advisor!) and soon to be boutique selling the textile goods they make on site (there as a sewing room-imagine how giddy  I was). They now school 1200 kids from local villages with a growing waiting list. They've also have had over 600 volunteers walk through their doors, fundraising, and making a big difference with what skills they have. Hearing the founder's biography was touching and being educated on the unfortunate incidents that led Cambodia to this state left my heart breaking. It's so true you don't completely grasp the concept of poverty until you see it. Though you may think what's portrayed on TV commercials are a guilt trip of exaggeration, it's beyond true. Yet, the most amazing part is that when we went to the villages the people were so kind and happy. They have only each other, but the kids would run up to us wanting to play, the families would greet us and share their joy just as they are. 
I knew from the start Cambodia was a special place on my itinerary, but now it has become a special place in my heart and I know I want to return some day to give back and volunteer. The fantastic five not only bonded in a days time of sharing, learning, eating, and exploring, but our hearts left burning for justice and desiring for more change to come as our friendship bloomed.
a kindergarten classroom

the sewing room
If you are interested in volunteering, I highly recommend New Hope. They are doing everything right as an NGO (where many others have failed), and the money you fundraise or give to them as a requirement to volunteer all goes to the local Khmer wages whom have had lives transformed through these jobs.

As for New Year events, we didn't get to partake in much, but most people said the highlight is always outside of Angkor Wat (you don't need a temple pass as it is after closing hours), however, like any New Year, traffic is horrendous so go early to avoid traffic jams.

Cambodia does live up to its name as the Land of Smiles.