Phnom Penh to Kampot.
We booked a bus being told roughly 3-4 hours due to depart Phnom Penh at 12:45pm and even included a pick up from the hotel. Sitting in reception waiting for our pick up debating whether it would be a tuk-tuk or another cage on a pick up. Delightfully surprised an air conditioned mini van arrived and all looked promising even arriving at the bus stop at 12:25pm asking the driver which of the buses was ours and he pointed us to the ticket desk. When we showed the young lady the tickets, she seemed unsure how to react and a conversation ensued behind the desk ending in another young lady explaining that the bus was broken and would now not leave until 2:45pm! Needless to say our reaction in the hottest part of the day was not exactly friendly but we're then informed that it's for our own good as its the air con that's broken. Being the trusting type that I am I asked the information announcer about this to be told that "yeah we cancelled that one, only 5 people, no good". Hmmm not happy but I could have gotten as mad as I wanted, it would not change the situation so we sat and had a sandwich and sweated for 3 hours before getting on the bus with ironically worse than useless air con. Finally 5 hours later we arrive in Kampot.
Kampot.
Having read small excerpts from the lonely planet guide we has been warned that this is a little place where people come to break up a longer journey, end up falling in love with it and staying longer! It didn't take too long to understand why, a relatively small place with a air of calm that was hard to describe. Set on the river, an estuary in the very south of Cambodia it was not over developed but yet had everything it needed to function well. It was the people though that made our experience here, the friendly, engaging and humorous locals along with ex-pats from all over the world seemed interested in who you are and how you are much more so than what you are or what you have.
As a standard we had learned of an Irish bar here so had to check it out, Oh Neil's. Massive shock to the system, it's actually owned by an Irish man (Neil) and even managed by another Irish man (Shannon) two very genuine gents I am delighted to have met, chatted and drank with and hope to see again. Neil gave us the low down on what to and not to do, some history and some of the future of Kampot including worth while tours and good places for food and drink.
There was a recommended evening cruise up the river which even included a beer in the ticket price which left the bank in town at 4:30pm and had as promised a stop for a swim in the river and beautiful sunset scenery. The river was refreshing for a swim although the current deceptively strong, causing no issues at all for this very fit and strong swimmer! The boat itself was an improvised catamaran made of two boats stuck together with a restaurant & bar onboard and again very friendly and jovial staff.
We stayed here just under a week extending our stay longer than initially planned, as it was written so it was done. We rented a moti (125cc motorbike) and headed out to a few of the beauty spots dotted on the river and even the nearby town of Kep (25km). Kep is a crab and fishing village with a market selling the freshly hauled in seafood directly to locals and chefs alike. It is a very small with a stunning white sand beach which we later learned had been brought in by the lorry load to take the decreasing beach back from the sea. We even went for a dip in the water, so strange as it was luke warm, easily the nicest sea swim I've ever had.
After a few lovely days and good nights out with a few sociables included we head for Vietnam with every intention of returning to this wonderful little place.
Kampot.
Having read small excerpts from the lonely planet guide we has been warned that this is a little place where people come to break up a longer journey, end up falling in love with it and staying longer! It didn't take too long to understand why, a relatively small place with a air of calm that was hard to describe. Set on the river, an estuary in the very south of Cambodia it was not over developed but yet had everything it needed to function well. It was the people though that made our experience here, the friendly, engaging and humorous locals along with ex-pats from all over the world seemed interested in who you are and how you are much more so than what you are or what you have.
As a standard we had learned of an Irish bar here so had to check it out, Oh Neil's. Massive shock to the system, it's actually owned by an Irish man (Neil) and even managed by another Irish man (Shannon) two very genuine gents I am delighted to have met, chatted and drank with and hope to see again. Neil gave us the low down on what to and not to do, some history and some of the future of Kampot including worth while tours and good places for food and drink.
There was a recommended evening cruise up the river which even included a beer in the ticket price which left the bank in town at 4:30pm and had as promised a stop for a swim in the river and beautiful sunset scenery. The river was refreshing for a swim although the current deceptively strong, causing no issues at all for this very fit and strong swimmer! The boat itself was an improvised catamaran made of two boats stuck together with a restaurant & bar onboard and again very friendly and jovial staff.
We stayed here just under a week extending our stay longer than initially planned, as it was written so it was done. We rented a moti (125cc motorbike) and headed out to a few of the beauty spots dotted on the river and even the nearby town of Kep (25km). Kep is a crab and fishing village with a market selling the freshly hauled in seafood directly to locals and chefs alike. It is a very small with a stunning white sand beach which we later learned had been brought in by the lorry load to take the decreasing beach back from the sea. We even went for a dip in the water, so strange as it was luke warm, easily the nicest sea swim I've ever had.
After a few lovely days and good nights out with a few sociables included we head for Vietnam with every intention of returning to this wonderful little place.
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