Getting to Kep from Battambang was a bit of a mission after our first bus breakdown. Finally we reached Kep, which is the “upmarket” beach town of Cambodia. We hadn’t realised that they were trying to discourage backpackers here, but fortunately we found some accommodation that welcomed our scraggy selves into their establishment. We had the most amazing tree top bungalow which had gorgeous views of the sun setting over the sea. We then went on a day trip to Rabbit Island, where we spent the day in hammocks reading our books on the waters edge. However, although the island was relaxing, the 20minute boat trip too and from there was treacherous. There was quite a large swell and our little fishman boat was struggling to stay above the waves. Although we remained in the boat (unlike a guy on the one before us), we looked wetter then if we had ended up in the sea.
Since our money was not getting us very far, we went to Kampot nearby. Here we went to Bakor National Park. To get here we had to trek for an hour and a half through the jungle following the ranger who had a M16 swung across his back to protect us from tigers. Fortunately no tigers appeared which was lucky given that he walked at a million miles an hour with the rest of us struggling to keep up. Heath did manage to get a leech though, but it was just a baby. At the top of Bakor, there is an old French colonial casino. Apparently a lot of people killed themselves after losing money here by throwing themselves off the mountain. We didn’t stay long enough to find out if the stories about the ghosts were true. The second day we were here, we went on a random trip with another couple and a tuk tuk driver. We saw a pepper plantation, some more caves (where we nearly got biten by bats and monkeys…) and ended the day with a swim in the local river. Our tuk tuk driver came too, in only his little underpants. He had a great time.
Since our money was not getting us very far, we went to Kampot nearby. Here we went to Bakor National Park. To get here we had to trek for an hour and a half through the jungle following the ranger who had a M16 swung across his back to protect us from tigers. Fortunately no tigers appeared which was lucky given that he walked at a million miles an hour with the rest of us struggling to keep up. Heath did manage to get a leech though, but it was just a baby. At the top of Bakor, there is an old French colonial casino. Apparently a lot of people killed themselves after losing money here by throwing themselves off the mountain. We didn’t stay long enough to find out if the stories about the ghosts were true. The second day we were here, we went on a random trip with another couple and a tuk tuk driver. We saw a pepper plantation, some more caves (where we nearly got biten by bats and monkeys…) and ended the day with a swim in the local river. Our tuk tuk driver came too, in only his little underpants. He had a great time.
