But does champagne have a real season; do we have to have a reason to drink it? Most of us will relate champagne to a special event, a birthday for example, a celebration of success, the joining of two people’s lives or perhaps the start of a new year.

Indeed here in Cambodia we’re able to enjoy not one but three new years, Western, Chinese (a three-day celebration that finished just before we went to press) and of course Khmer (Chuol Chnam Thmei), another three-day event that takes place in the middle of April. New Year’s resolutions are made, promises with the right intentions about the future are kept with hopes and dreams, which in turn motivate us to keep going in our lives. For some the New Year is a fresh start, with a clean slate, and a chance to experience something new. For others it is a time to plan ahead, set goals and reflect on the last year of our lives, while looking for a sense of accomplishment or relief from our mistakes and achievements.

There is a bright future ahead for Siem Reap in the year 2008. Businesses will be booming, the population will be expanding and tourism, the city’s lifeblood, is set to increase virtually by the day. Some people will move here permanently, some may move away while others will be passing through, but despite the change or the people, development is something that is inevitable. We can expect new shops, restaurants, spas and leisure activities to appear, giving people more to experience other than just the temples of Angkor, as majestic as they of course are.

As in 2007, we can also look forward to a variety of events and festivals during the year. As we went to press, for example, the Spotlight Festival was just drawing to a close, with disabled and able-bodied artists from across Asia engaged in performance, film, music and visual arts to highlight the abilities of all people. The festival coincided with the annual Puppet Parade, a colourful night in which children from local communities paraded through the town with the magical creations that they had spent the past few weeks creating.

Choul Chnam Thmei (Khmer New Year) in the middle of April is one event in particular to look forward to this year in Siem Reap. The town virtually shuts down for a week, fireworks of all colours light up the night sky and smiles, singing and dancing fill the streets. The occasional water fights can still be witnessed, in many cases a welcome relief from the searing 40 degree heat, but be careful that your mobile phone and camera don’t get waterlogged if you find yourself caught in the crossfire.

For those of you wishing to add a bottle or two of champagne to your own celebrations, events or festivals, there are two businesses in particular that should be able to help. Celliers D’Asie has been supplying most events and businesses in town for the last fourteen years and has a good range of champagne available along with other wines from around the world. A more recent alternative is Open Wine, based in Phnom Penh but also able to supply Siem Reap, with a similar range of fizz available.

So with two new years already here and plenty of holidays (Cambodia has an enviable 25 public holidays each year), events and festivals to look forward too, let’s start the year as we mean to continue it, and celebrate for no particular reason.