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Another long school holidays week-end....another week-end on the road! This time, we are heading on the road all the way to Cambodia...
As you are aware, Thailand is under a military...you call it the way you want. No real signs of it in Bangkok beside the curfew which has now been relaxed from midnight to 4am.
We first took the bus from Bangkok to Trat at 3.30pm just after school. Busy bus for 5 hours and half ride to Trat. We were stopped only twice by military check-points, all went nicely and smoothly. In Trat, we jumped in the back of an open taxi for the 50km south in the direction of the Cambodian border....direction, two nights at the Centara Trat Baan Talay resort. The place is truly in the middle of nowhere....if you stay here...you stay at the hotel, there is strictly nothing around.
For just 140usd per night, I have a huge suite right on the beach for 3 adults and one kid. Yes, Leslie now count as an adult...not really sure he behaves as such, but that's something else. That means also a nice breakfast, a huge terrace and
even a Jacuzzi on the terrace. The same thing in Phuket is at least 3 times the price...and not sure you have such an access to the beach!
We spent a full day and two nights at the Centara. On top of that, even with slow service at the restaurant, the food was pretty amazing and cheap....not a bad place if you like doing strictly nothing and have a nice beach not that far away from Bangkok....these things do disappeared fast!
Next morning, it's adventure time to the East, we are heading for Sihanoukville, some 250km away to the East. First, the local van to the border, just a 45 minutes ride from the hotel, with two more military check-points. The border has the reputation to be pretty "corrupted", speaking of the officials manning it. Crossing the Thai side went pretty fast and without any trouble, than came the Cambodian site.
They first stop you for a temperature check at a quarantine station...than the lady asked for 20b per person...sure...where is this written, do you have a receipt to handle to me...oh no...sorry than, no receipt...no money. Second, applying for a
visa...easy, I had the pictures...and USD....it takes just 10 minutes to get the visa...than when you ask the price....1000b Sir....sure, I'll give you the money in USD, and that's 25usd per person....more like 815b currently. Crossing the border didn't take more than 45 minutes....easy job...done, with a one month visa! Than, came the shopping for a taxi to Sihanoukville, 220km away from the border.
I did my homeworks...as usual....seems the price should be around 80usd...I started at 60usd, they started at 110usd...we settled for 85usd....not sure it was a great deal, but there is not much competition here, and really nothing to do at or around the border.
The road to Sihanoukville is beautiful, crossing few national parks, but not really anything worth to stop for a picture. Sihanoukville, we arrived at 4pm...first stop, sorting out the diving and snorkeling to Koh Rong Samloem early the next morning. Downtown Sihanoukville reminded me a lot of Vung Tau in Vietnam. Nothing much to write about, or even to see....but good point, the roads in Cambodia are now pretty good, making cruising from one city to the next pretty easy.
We are staying
at Tamu, a new little hotel on Otres 2 beach. The beach is 15 minutes out of Sihanoukville...not a bad beach, but I wouldn't fly around the world for such a beach. Tamu has only been opened from October last year and is run by a Parisian couple. Not a cheap place, but a very trendy one right on the beach. No real neighbors for the moment, but I'm not sure I want to come here in a few years time. We still managed to get some time for the swimming pool....and great food every night!
Next morning, early morning wake up call...breakfast on the tuk tuk on our way to the Dive Shop in Sihanoukville. I haven't dived in Cambodia...had to do it. They have more fishes than in Nha Trang (Vietnam), but 2 dives in a day is more than enough for my diving experience in Cambodia. Diving Cambodia, done....thank, I won't do it again. Took us 150 minutes slow boat to reach Koh Rong Samloem....the visibility under water was anything between 10 meters to 15 meters. Look at the pictures, that's the best I could get out of two dives...not great..not great, but nice
people to dive with! Log day, nice day, happy to have another nice dinner at Tamu on our way back.
Next morning, it's back on the road...for our next stop...to the North!
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D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley
Diving Cambodia
Sorry the diving wasn't more interesting. Sometimes the best sites are above water.