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Published: February 21st 2013
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We said goodbye to Phnom Penh and started our drive out to Sihanoukville. Once on the toll road it was very smooth and we quickly travelled in to the country. Unlike Vietnam there was little ribbon development probably because there are less people here. There is a wide variety of crops grown not so much rice as Vietnam although they do export rice, however more fruit and vegetables.
We stopped at a cafe for a drink but decided peeled oranges were best. There were Buddhist monks outside with their bowls, all we had were sesame seed crunch which we gave away but they did not look too pleased to receive it. Continuing for about two more hours we then came to the river estuary and boarded a boat with the park ranger. This was the heart of the Ream National Park. It was a low tide but after getting in to the water the ranger and the driver managed to push us off. We saw sea eagles soaring and white Cranes feeding in the shallow water. There were a few houses built at the side of the estuary but not many. People were ducking low in the water and fishing out
oysters, others were bent double catching shrimps by hand. Normally we would have walked over the hill to the beach however the water was calm so we continued to the beach by boat. As we did this a shoal of flying fish emerged from the water, frightened by the sound of the engine they propel themselves in to the air.Getting out of the boat was a major challenge for me but with everyone's help I ended up knee deep in the warmest sea water I have been in for a long time, I so wanted to swim in this sea but how? The sand was white, the sun was shining the beach almost deserted except for the Chinese restaurant and 3 holidaymakers. We ordered some seafood fried rice then got into swimming costumes and headed for the sea. Steve went for a swim but all I could do was wade in holding my arm. It was so amazing we both wanted to stay there.Lunch was ready so we walked to the table soaking wet we didn't care and neither did anyone else. A little relax on a bed then into the sea again. This time I tried to float and
it was working but then a wave came over my head and I reacted hurting my arm again, I felt such an idiot. We came out and showered and on our way back a large black gibbon looking monkey ran across the road that was a nice surprise. arriving at the White Beach Hotel it looked good on the outside and had a lovely swimming pool and great view from the room but that's about the best I can say for it. we showered again and got ready to go out and took a romo ride (tuk-tuk)to the next beach where western food was available and got talking to an American girl working there, lovely food and its so nice to eat outside in the warm. Another ride back, Romo's are great you get the breeze and you see everything as it doesn't go too fast and they are not expensive. Found it difficult to get to sleep as my arm was really hurting hope I haven't done too much damage.Next day we ate breakfast overlooking the sea and I did sleep a bit last night and my arm feels much better this morning, but I am going to take
it easy.We were picked up at 8.30 and driven to Bokor Mountain. This was about an hours drive up the mountain side and the first stop was a hillside station the Kings summer villa. This was abandoned in the 1950's and is just a shell of a building and in poor condition. This was also the scene of extensive fighting with the Khymer Rouge so probably much damage was done then. A huge statue of Mao sits opposite and was covered in mist at this time. Our next stop up the mountain was a brand new hotel/ casino which was massive. The whole area is being developed as a resort by Sot Kong a wealthy Cambodian, and is attractive as the weather is cooler here, also you can get a great coffee here. At the top of the mountain is the original French built casino which opened in 1924, a beautiful old building currently being restored and offering outstanding views across the countryside to the sea, 1800m below us.We then drove to our hotel in Kampot about an hour away for a bit of a relax before heading out on yet another boat ride.We took a walk in the local
area and its quite sad, baking hot day and there's a little boy with his Dad collecting plastic bottles from waste bins. It wouldn't have been so bad but he had no shoes on and the streets are so hot and filthy. He did at least have a hat on and seemed happy enough to help his Dad who was pushing the cart.We walked to the river which was clean and a lovely place to sit as there was a breeze . The boat ride was just so relaxing, Steve and our guide each had a beer as we were motored along the Kampot river. There were bungalows either side and people were swimming in the river and fishing, the water appeared to be very clean and there was no rubbish. We returned as the sun was setting and went in to a restaurant called Rikitikitabi, lovely place to sit an idle a few hours away watching the final rays of the sun disappear. A tuk-tuk ride brought us back to the hotel.
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