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Kampot
Charming square in Kampot.Kampot was how I had imagined Cambodia to feel, sleepy and quaint. It was rewarding to get away from the hum of city life in Phnom Penh, and breathe fresh air. Everything in our hotel was huge. Huge rooms, with high ceilings, winding staircases and a large terrace overlooking the square below. Took a day trip to see the local sights, the dilapidated seaside town of Kep, Rabbit Island and a pepper plantation. Trips to plantations always puzzle me, as there really isn't an awful lot to see, the pepper plantation was no different. Rabbit Island was nice enough but the boat ride over was more exciting to me than lazing around on the beach.
Boker Hill Station is one of the strangest places I've ever had the privilege of visiting. Built in the 1920's as a cool mountain getaway resort for French officials and guests. Years of abandonment have left the collection of once elegant buildings (Grand Hotel, Casino, Church) prone to the elements and are now eerie reminders of a bygone era. If ever a building were haunted, or had the expected feel of a haunted house then look no further than the Grand Hotel. The church sits
on one of the highest hills touching the clouds as if reaching up for forgiveness or salvation. The Khmer Rouge used Boker as a base in the 1970/80's, and their presence can almost be felt as the wind rasps through the windowless buildings. Even in the daylight traversing these buildings alone is an unnerving experience. The views from the back of the hotel are breathtaking, and I don't mean figuratively either. All four of us upon seeing the view stopped talking and just sat, shaking our heads in wonderment. In the distance you can see the coast, but before that miles of untouched dense forest. Above this thick cloud formations, through which the sun penetrated, casting otherworldly-like light beams down below. The photographs really can't do this sight any justice at all.
One day in Kampot we decided to hire bicycles and go exploring off the beaten track. The route we randomly chose proved fruitful. Passed through rice fields, set against a backdrop of hills and mountains. The villages we rode through were a taste of real rural Cambodia, villagers waved as four out-of-breath, red-in-the-face westerners, rode on by.
Really enjoyed Kampot and our visit to Bokor, but
Man on bike
A man cycles past on his bike on this quiet leafy lane. it was time to move on. The next destination was Sihanoukville. This beach resort was such a dive I have no photographs to show nor fond memories to recall. A few days back in PP then our group split up. David and Liz were starting their respective jobs in Thailand, and me and Chelsea made our way into Vietnam.
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