Wednesday, 18 December 2013

Day 10 (13/12): Kampot & Kep, Cambodia

Day 10 (13/12)

We're staying at 'Samon's Village' a short drive out of the town of Kampot, right on the river. This was Seb and Anja's second choice because the guesthouse next door was booked out. Wonderful serendipity: we've found a place even better for us. Next door is ex-pat owned and has a party scene, Samon's is Khmer-owned, is quiet and tranquil and very friendly. We're staying in wood and grass bungalows which are set in a garden of coconut palms. The bar juts out over the river, and the opposite bank is undeveloped.

We hire scooters and make the half hour ride out to Kep (where I will be spending Christmas). I quickly get used to riding the manual scooter, and the road isn't too shabby as far as Cambodian roads go, and it's a pleasant ride with little stress. But as an Australian guy we meet later in the evening can attest, it's very easy to get injured on one of these scooters, so I am always cautious.

Kep is known for its seafood, especially its crab. We eat crab looking out over the water in Kep. I had never eaten from the shell before now. It's superb.

Kep used to be the resort town in Cambodia, but has gone very quiet. Sihanoukville is the new Kep. You can still see the derelict old French colonial villas dotting the hillside. I didn't take any photos but I will be sure to do so over Christmas.

Back in Kampot, it's around 5 pm, and the fishing boats chug along the river out to sea to fish all night. The bar provides a great view of this. They all go out together, like cavalry to battle, or tanks through the streets.

We head next door - to 'Bodhi's' - to drink long necks on the pontoon. The bar fills up quickly and it's heaving, and people dance, and scream, and drink, and smoke. The others go to bed, Seb and I stay up a bit longer, gyrating our hips on the dance-floor and probably scaring a few people off.

We swim in the river before bed.

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