Feb 13, 2011 - Kampot & Kep (Cambodia)

We arrived in Kampot on the south coast of Cambodia, by bus from Phnom Penh. Kampot, and it’s neighbouring town Kep, are former French colonial towns. But years of neglect and the Khmer Rouge, many of whom were based here during the Pol Pot years, have taken their toll. Despite that, glimpses of their former glory can be seen, albeit that the buildings and architecture are being replaced in favour of more modern and less interesting buildings. Kampot, 150km from Phnom Penh, is famous for its pepper (white, black and green) which sells for...

Jan 19, 2011 - Rural cambodia

Before we left Battambang, we made an excursion with our tuk tuk driver to Phnom Banan, about 18 km south west of the town to visit the Prasat Banan, said to be the prototype for Angkor Wat. 358 steep stone steps up a hill. Great views, very old ruin, extremely romantic. On our way there we passed about five wedding parties; big colourful tents, lots of people, very very loud music, we could hear them from afar. Sed our tuk tuk driver explained to us that it's wedding season in Cambodia, because people now have time and money after the rice...

Jan 13, 2011 - Sihanoukville

I found my Austrian friend Verena whom I met in Phnom Penh when I arrived. We had booked into the same guesthouse which was pleasant surprise. Sihanoukville is beautiful however it has been infested with fancy resorts, private beaches and tourist. the infrastructure in new fancy resorts taking place all around indicts the future of this place. Walking down the main beach where all the tourist hang out, it could easy be forgotten that you are even in Cambodia. There are backpackers from everywhere on Serendipity beach, outnumbering the...

Jan 9, 2011 - Closing the Cambodian Chapter

SiThe Sights, Sounds & Smells of Cambodia Sights *monks wondering around, requesting funds, wearing their saffron robes and carrying matching umbrellas *the school children donning their pristine white and blue school uniforms *whole families riding on small motos *laden down bicycles sharing the roads with motos, trucks, cars, tuk-tuks and pedestrians *rice paddies, rice paddies, rice paddies *deep family bonds evident when witnessing groups of Cambodians together *the heavenly sights of the temples in Angkor *pictures of the King of...

Jan 6, 2011 - Kampot-home of unidentified floating river objects

Our second day trip to the beach in Sihanoukville had to be handled more strategically. We couldn't go back to the "busy beach" and be swarmed by more beauty teams, fruit sellers etc.... Our hotel told us of another beach- Outres - about 20 bumpy minutes away by tuk-tuk. We went and spent a MUCH more relaxing day there. We read and swam and walked and returned home to our hotel for another great meal and a movie night with our inhouse DVD player. "Bucket List". We cried. The Next Day - it was off to Kampot to a riverside hotel called Les...

Dec 22, 2010 - Sihanoukville

Arrived 22nd December Departed 27th December Decided to head straight to the beach ready for Christmas to ensure we had somewhere decent to stay!! Night one = disaster! We checked into what can only be described as a hell hole! It was awful, called Utopia! We were literally in the garage! Several Angkor beers at Sessions Bar on the beach was the only way I could get Vicki to return and it was pretty late by that point! We slept for about 3 hours then made a hasty escape… Big Comfy beds, Air con, TV, hot shower… Come on, it is Christmas!! We...

Oct 20, 2010 - Phnom Penh & Kampot

Having arrived in Phnom Penh my first priority was to organise a 3-month multiple entry visa at the Vietnamese embassy, so I can catch up with Agnes, Henrik and Marianne later in my trip. I got there just after opening at 08.30am, expecting long queues and lots of administrative work, only to discover that I was their first customer that they would be able to issue me with the visa by the end of the day, all be it for a fee of $ 110. This simplified things for me considerably meaning that I could move on from Phnom Penh much quicker than...

Sep 11, 2010 - Kampot

Kampot war unsere letzte Stadt in Kambodscha, in der wir dann sogar nochmal eine Woche verbracht haben. Frueher war die Stadt beruehmt fuer ihren tollen Pfeffer, der in keiner guten Kueche von Paris fehlen durfte. In der Umgebung gibt es noch einige Pfefferplantagen und Kampot Pepper ist wohl das gaengigste Mitbringsel aus der Stadt, die auch bei eher wenigen Touristen auf der Reiseroute liegt. Schade eigentlich, weil die Stadt selbst wirklich gemuetlich ist, man, mal wieder, sehr gut essen kann und in der Umgebung zahlreiche...

Sep 5, 2010 - Badeparadies???

Sihanoukville, eigentlich eine unglaublich haessliche und voellig durch den Tourismus zerstoerte Stadt, aber letzten Endes haben wir dort mehr Zeit verbracht als irgendwo sonst. Das koennte daran liegen, dass wir zum ersten Mal am Meer waren und so aetzend die Leute auch sein moegen, wenn man einen schoenen und ruhigen Strandabschnitt gefunden hat, wo die Wellen klein sind und das Wasser sauber, dann bleibt man eben einfach. Das Wetter war nciht optimal, es hat eigentlich jeden Tag irgendwann geregnet, aber als wir gemerkt hatten, dass man...

Jul 13, 2010 - Sihanoukville, by the beach in Bodia!!

We then head to the beach!? it was boiling by day and hammering down with thunder n lightening storms by night, beautiful!!? we settled here for about 2 weeks n just relaxed, n i actually got some fitness done!? swimmin in our pool everyday, sweet as!!? but then drinking most of the days, sometimes in excess but generally not (as if u're all gunna believe that!!?) ot many photos here but a few!!

Jun 21, 2010 - sihanoukville

hmm, what to say??? to be honest, i haven't really done much since arriving 2 days ago. seem to have lost my mojo a bit and seem to be spending a lot of time in my room, mostly reading or watching tv (despite my vow to not watch it on this entire trip). saying that, i did drag myself out for lunch on the beach yesterday at about 2pm and ended up staying at the restaurant til 10pm, first of all helping lena (nice guy that works there) with his english after he came over with his book "stories for 5 year olds" and asked me to read a story to...

May 7, 2010 - Sihanoukville

7th May Hardcore day. Up early and visited s21, Which is a school right in the middle of town which was taken over by Pol Potts and turned into a prison where every single person who entered was tortured to death. We all clubbed together and got a guide and this time it was well worth it. He was 8years old when this was going on and lost 3of his brothers. Totaly crazy to think this rediculous system was allowed to happen on suh recent history. He gave great insight to the whole story and was quite emotional at points. The most eerie part...