Sun Sea Sand and Hawkers...

£2.00 bought us a 4hour bus journey to Sihanoukville. The Landscape changed dramatically the further south we travelled. Paddy fields became mountains and roads now have bends in them. The north of the country seems to have been tarmaced by Romans with die straight routes whereas the south follows the topography making for interesting travelling especially when the bus regularly attempted to overtake two or more trucks simultaneously on blind bends or my personal favourite whilst cresting blind summits. Apparently Cambodian vehicles are fitted with an invisible force field which is activated by pressing a button on the steering column making us magically impervious to crashes...where we in the west only have the horn.

We were treated to the usual tuk tuk reception in the wild west town and walked away from the bus station to a local Bavarian bar to let the stalking touts get bored and move on. Damn I knew I should have packed my lederhosen. Once a deal was negotiated with a local driver we were whisked to within an inch of where we asked to be taken and were dropped at a guest house who obviously pays commission.

This sort of scamming is becoming boring and is making travelling tiring.

We walked to the beach and found some pleasant bungalows at the north end of Serendipity beach and broke out the bucket and spades.

We are now lounging, swimming in the sea till late at night and drinking free beer. Hell really.

Day 11

The walk to Otres bech a few kilometres south took up most of day at the pace we achieved. We may move there tomorrow to some wooden beach huts literally on the beach. Nothing much else to report as my brain is now disengaged. Good spring rolls though.

Day 12

A small boat took us to a tiny beach on a south facing island about an hour offshore. The island seems to be inhabited by feral goats and dogs and has electricity for some hours of the day or at least while the generator is running. We had a beach hut which was around 10 feet from the sea at high tide. If a little basic the views over the sea, lack of beach hawkers and huge night sky made up for the lack of creature comforts.

Hammocks and beach combing are the highlights of entertainment. As well as swimming in the sea, having the beach to ourselves and watching sand crabs pirouette along the water line.

Day 13

Hammocks, swimming, hammocks, beachcombing ,clambering over coral graveyards, swimming, hammocks. You get the picture....if not here is one to give you a bit more of an idea

Day 14

The boat took us back to the mainland and dropped us at pedicure beach where everyone wants to give us a foot massage and sell us sunglasses. A brief stop for a coconut and we breezed into town to apply for visas at the Vietnamese consulate. It was shut. Opening again at two O’clock we killed the time at the G’day mate Australian bar.

Visas secure we have now headed down to Kampot for a night or maybe two in a guesthouse on the edge of town. Kampot pepper Squid for dinner perhaps? Hmm...