Going to a Cambodian wedding Of all the hospitality that might be extended to visitors in Cambodia, an invitation to a wedding is probably the most special. Wedding parties usually take place in street-side yellow and pink marquees by the family home, or in a hall at a specialist wedding venue. Put aside thoughts of formal speeches and hours of photographs: you're most likely to receive an evening summons to party. Now all you have to worry about is what to wear, what to bring as a gift and how to behave. Dress code For the ladies, there can never be enough make-up or sequins. Khmer women really go to town in peacock-coloured traditional silk skirts, beaded bodices or bling ballgowns. Join in the fun with a pre-wedding package at a Khmer salon -- you'll be crimped, primped and sent on your

Respect for King Norodom Sihanouk The death of former King Norodom Sihanouk, aged 89, on October 15 during the Pchum Ben festival is being mourned by Cambodians. Increasingly frail, the King Father's last visit to Cambodia from his home in China earlier in the year proved to be his last. His death has saddened but not surprised Cambodians, who are paying their respects in different ways. Local television channels are showing old films of Sihanouk in his prime, with plenty of focus on independence from the French in 1953, probably his finest hour; the 1950s and 1960s are remembered by many as Cambodia "golden era". These broadcasts are worth tuning into for their historical context, even if you can't read the French subtitles. Sihanouk abdicated in 2004 in favour of his son, Norodom Sihamon

Pchum Ben: Ancestor's Day in Cambodia We're in the middle of one of Cambodia's major holidays right now, although if you're visiting, you might not have even noticed. Pchum Ben is one of Cambodia's most important Buddhist festivals . It lasts 15 days determined by the lunar calendar, with the formal name for the last day of the festival called Prachum Benda. Most Khmers call the entire festival by its colloquial name, Pchum Ben; in English, it's called Ancestor's Day. Pchum Ben is an exclusively Cambodian religious festival, based on their belief in karma and reincarnation. Although most people are believed to be reincarnated at death, those with bad karma can be trapped in the spirit world, unable to be reincarnated. At Pchum Ben time every year these souls are released from the spirit wo

Cambodian table manners Travellers often worry about what to eat when they arrive in a new location, but considering how you eat can be just as important. Habits you take for granted could be offensive to those around you. Here's our introduction to appropriate behaviour in a typical Cambodian eatery , whether it be a Phnom Penh restaurant or a Siem Reap streetside joint. The first challenge is cutlery. There will be an array of implements in a glass of water on your table, which can be cleaned by a simple wipe with a paper towel . What you won't find, however, is a knife. Cambodians generally eat with a spoon and fork, unless there's a bowl of soup in front of them, in which case it's a spoon and chopsticks. It's impolite to put the fork into your mouth - instead use it to push food onto

Happy Khmer New Year! For the third time in four months, preparations are underway to bring in a new year in Cambodia. International New Year is an excuse to party with the rest of the world and Chinese New Year has been adopted as an unofficial holiday. But Khmer New Year still stands apart as one of the major festivals in the calendar. Officially running from April 14 to 16, there's plenty of fun to be found, but visitors should be prepared for busy roads, closed banks and increased interest in their personal belongings. Khmer New Year celebrations begin with a rush to the countryside. Families pack their SUVs and shared minibuses full to bursting with tinselled presents, pagoda offerings and new clothes to return to their home province for three days of celebrations. On village roads, b