In 2000 Phnom Penh had the privilege of hosting. Mekong Indochina Hash III from 10th to 12th November. The hosts, Phnom Penh H3 (PPH3), ably misorganised by Flip Flop, decided to host this event to coincide with the country’s annual boat race festival. This ensured that the city was absolutely seething with humanity as an extra one million people from every corner of Cambodia packed themselves into the already overcrowded capital city and most of them seemed intent on begging money from the visiting Hashers every time they set foot outside of Phnom Penh’s traditional watering hole, the Foreign Correspondents Club (FCC), where some of the best views of the racing are to be had (not to mention some of the best cold beers in town). Every district in the country is represented in the races and the contestants carefully prepare their elaborately carved and brightly coloured boats throughout the year for the honour of racing on the Tonle Sap River in front of the King. On the Friday night before the event and, throughout the whole five-day festival, Phnom Penh’s streets become packed with food stalls, puppet shows, musical entertainment, plays and street theatre.
The Hash was notable for its long meandering runs through the paddy fields outside of Phnom Penh and the On On On was notable for Sister Mooner from the Yangon Hash, who helped the YH3 win the prize for the best skit when she ended it with her eponymous trademark.