Kampot

29/01/14 to 03/02/14

Hadn't planned on staying so long in Kampot, in fact we'd booked bus tickets on to Sihanoukville for the day after we'd arrived. The Chinese new year put paid to that though, as when I checked hotel availability there was nothing really below $40 a night and precious little of that.

This led to a longer stay in Kampot, a relaxed little riverside town not too far from the coast famed for it's pepper (it's actually got Geographical Indicator status in the way that Stilton, say, has).

Spent a couple of days lolling and did some excursions ranging from a sunset river cruise to see fireflies (very good) a "grand tour" of the area (salt pans, caves, pepper plantation, Kep beach [rammed with Khmer's celebrating the new year], going round the deserted French buildings in Kep, lots of tuk tuking through the countryside and a fishing village) and a trip to Bokor national park, some 1000 meters above sea level. The park, unfortunately, was wreathed in cloud and rammed full of Khmer's out picnicking for the new year, so this was less than edifying. Mind you, any tour which starts with the driver announcing he needs to chug a red bull as he was blind drunk the previous evening probably isn't going to go well.

I did pick up a kilo and a bit of pepper whilst there which should keep me going for a bit.