Best three-year-old’s birthday party

Invitations to special, private events are a privilege when you are in another country. It’s a little window into a different culture and a sign of friendship and acceptance. So we were delighted to receive an invitation to Sith’s son’s third birthday party. Sith is one of the tuk tuk drivers we know and the Joker occasionally has a drink with him.
We knew it was a little bit fancy because the girls were getting their party clothes on. But we were a little naive about exactly what to expect. It certainly wasn’t a bunch of three-year-olds playing pass the parcel or pin the tail on the donkey. Not even a jumping castle.
In hindsight, the invitation should have been an indication.

We arrived at a dim, gravel road and walked a hundred or so metres towards the lights and the entrance to a massive and elaborately decorated marquee. It looked like we’d arrived at a wedding. Sith and his family formally greeted us at the entrance. The women were dressed up to the nines — long, formal, evening gowns and elaborate hair and make-up. Yeah, pretty happy I decided to wear my sandals instead of the thongs (flip flops for the non-Aussies) that I usually wear. But still, we were grossly under dressed for the occasion.
Thankfully, we joined friends who showed us the ropes and the customs. We were ushered to one of the 20 or so formally-decorated tables, which had cans of beer and soft drink set out and bags of ice to fill the glasses and cool the drinks — yes even the beer, unless you prefer hot beer.

The man next to me instructed me to turn up my bowl and get out my chop sticks and then our friend Dara started dishing food into our bowls. There were roasted cashew nuts and pickled vegetables, followed later by pork (from the inside) — yes, tripe. Roast duck, which was delicious, a cauliflower dish, fried rice and black chicken. I had no idea what this was but finally realised it was the chickens I had seen at the markets with completely black skin. I thought it was something they did to the chickens but it is a particular breed of chicken with all black skin and bones (according to Mr Google there are a few species like this, including the silky). It is considered a bit of a delicacy here.
Many clinking of glasses and churl mois (cheers) were uttered throughout the meal.

And professional entertainers performed on stage, including the man on the right here, who sang in a high falsetto and then interchanged it with deep notes. Word has it, he is only one of two men in Cambodia who can do this but I have been unable to confirm this.

And the less professional, keen to show off their hidden talents, like our friend Marom, who it tuns out, loves a bit of karaoke and any chance to be behind the microphone. A man of many talents.

Of course the highlight of any three-year-old’s birthday is usually the singing of happy birthday and the cutting of the cake. It was quite a spectacle. This is the birthday boy with his mum and dad.

And the beautifully decorated cake.

And the celebration.

It was a great evening with wonderful friends.


In the words of the Joker, it was the best three-year-old’s party we’ve ever been to. We found out later the third birthday is celebrated in this big way for boys but we were unable to determine why.
Many thanks to Sith and his family for the invitation and the hospitality and to wonderful friends for sharing a great evening.