Strong morning coffee at the corner café opposite the busy town market. The fully loaded bikes attract a lot of viewers especially after last week’s triathlon in town. Teresa had an omelette and I think she is beginning to be anti noodles and rice. Slowly, we headed to the port a few km north of the town centre. The pre-booked small cargo boat leaves depending on the amount of goods and people wanting to use it. We had been told that would leave between 11 am till 1.30 pm. Unfortunately, we had to wait 2.5 hours but it was worth it, even taking into account of the well over-charged price tourist price (the locals paid 75 cents each and we paid $11 each). The sea was reasonable calm and spiralling between the untouched islands and coast of the national park, it was a pretty special experience. The driver also gave us little portions of sugar cane to chew wile on the move. It’s a bit like having popcorn watching a film in the cinema, but this film was a bit more unique.
During the 5 hour journey, the boat made a few stops in the middle of the sea swapping passengers to different boats.
Pigs, chickens and lots more funny items were transported with us and considering the temperature it is much better to shift live animals than half chilled products. Sorry to all vegies, but the pigs were treated nicely, covered with leafs and ice cubes to keep them cool.
As the sun was setting, we arrived on a little island just off the main land. The town was built on what must have been a small beach, with a small cement road/track squeezed between small houses, shops of all descriptions and plots of land. I believe it was easier to live in these conditions helping each other with deliveries of goods (which apparently were very erratic in the rainy season when the sea becomes too rough for the small boats to make the journey across the open sea). However China is trying to encroach upon the massive national park to create seven sunny escape cities. They have built the road already. The corrupt government of Cambodia luckily froze any further development for three years, but the moratorium won’t last! A real shame considering the unspoilt jungle that covers almost the entire peninsula.
Cycled across the island (5mins) and got a lovely hut on the coast overlooking the sunset.
There is no sand here, but the rocky beach attracted an English book reading gentleman and several wealthier Cambodians from the mainland. The latter were, unfortunately for us, very bad karaoke singers and were still singing badly the following morning as we left at about 07:30.
On the boat trip, the bikes got covered in salt so we had to give them a shower in our bathroom.
Cycled an estimated (due to the theft) 10km, sailed about 100km
During the 5 hour journey, the boat made a few stops in the middle of the sea swapping passengers to different boats.
Pigs, chickens and lots more funny items were transported with us and considering the temperature it is much better to shift live animals than half chilled products. Sorry to all vegies, but the pigs were treated nicely, covered with leafs and ice cubes to keep them cool.
As the sun was setting, we arrived on a little island just off the main land. The town was built on what must have been a small beach, with a small cement road/track squeezed between small houses, shops of all descriptions and plots of land. I believe it was easier to live in these conditions helping each other with deliveries of goods (which apparently were very erratic in the rainy season when the sea becomes too rough for the small boats to make the journey across the open sea). However China is trying to encroach upon the massive national park to create seven sunny escape cities. They have built the road already. The corrupt government of Cambodia luckily froze any further development for three years, but the moratorium won’t last! A real shame considering the unspoilt jungle that covers almost the entire peninsula.
Cycled across the island (5mins) and got a lovely hut on the coast overlooking the sunset.
There is no sand here, but the rocky beach attracted an English book reading gentleman and several wealthier Cambodians from the mainland. The latter were, unfortunately for us, very bad karaoke singers and were still singing badly the following morning as we left at about 07:30.
On the boat trip, the bikes got covered in salt so we had to give them a shower in our bathroom.
Cycled an estimated (due to the theft) 10km, sailed about 100km