My Visit To The Seaside

Last weekend was yet another Khmer Public holiday to celebrate King Norodom Sihanouk's birthday we had the Friday and Monday off so along with 3 other VSO chums we spent 3 days at the coast in Kep. Chris our social secretary booked us into The Veranda an eco hotel which was located about a mile out of the centre in an idyllic setting half way up a mountain surrounded by lush green landscape and forest.
Chris and I shared accommodation a wood and bamboo cabin which was set in the grounds with great views of the landscape and the sea it was a tad on the small side particularly as we had to squeeze in a put me up bed but we are only volunteers and have to travel steerage but it was still wonderful.
When we arrived after a 4.5 hour bus journey which is an adventure in itself in Cambodia the sun was shining and the air was light and breezy what a joy after the stifling heat and humidity in PP so what can a body do but climb into the old "cossie" (2 sizes too big now!!) and christen the pool and that I am ashamed to say is where we stayed for the rest of the day.
Kep is the St Annes equivalent of Cambodia's coast line the next day was very cloudy and the sky a bit menacing however set off to explore Kep and planned to go to the beach and have a swim we did get to the beach at just the time the heavens opened so we migrated to one of the many crab shacks lining the coast.
This in itself was and interesting pass time watching the women fishing for crabs they go into the sea waist deep it looks both hard and dangerous. The crabs come straight out of the water and into the cooking pot or barbecue food does not come fresher than that and they are delicious
The weather unfortunately set in for the rest of our stay so we had to cancel our boat trip to rabbit island and our trek up a mountain which sadly means that we will just have to go back!!!!!
Talking of going back the bus journey back was another adventure the bus when it finally came was full despite having booked seats well in advance so what does one do when the bus is full? put up plastic chairs and fill the isle what else fortunately I was given the little seat belonging to the drivers mate who had to stand all the way to PP but it also meant that I saw all the near misses too scary or what!!!!
Bye for now my old buddies next week I will tell you all about work and how I am getting on with the Cambodian Midwives Association

Here are 3 of us just about to set off on our epic bus journey home  you can just about see the sea in the background

"Okun Charan Lea Hei"