Kep, a small French colonial place is one of the ideal weekend get away in Cambodia. Situated in the Gulf of Thailand, the place is peaceful and is very welcome after the erratic traffic at Phnom Penh.
The place offers a wide choice for accomodation and is easily available. We decided to take a family room which had an open area with a comfortable couch and chairs outside our rooms.
In a corner was a seating place with pillows and mosquito netting.
The verandah provided a beautiful view and also of the Gulf of Thailand.
We arrive for our breakfast here.
Rabbit island (Koh Tonsay):
Make a day trip to rabbit island. For this, you go to the ferry terminal.You can hire a shared motorboat or can hire a separate one. The charges are $25 per boat. They shall ask you for the time of return. Having done this you get into the boat and start your joourney. Depending on the weather, the water can be very rough. It was when we went and I could not even take any pictures.
Once at the island, the boatman might ask you for the time of return for confirmation. Take a narrow winding path to the other side of island. That is where the main activity is.
Once there, you are greeted by white sand beach and trees under which hang hammocks. Grab a hammock and laze around. There are small eateries, order a cool drink or fresh coconut water. You get cocktails and beer at very reasonable prices.
Once back in town, try experimenting sea food by the wharf. There are plenty of restaurants serving fresh sea food.
Kampot is famous for its pepper which is widely used in French cuisine. It almost vanished after Khmer Rouge. The plantations are now reviving.
The interconnecting caves, I was told was a safe haven during the Khmer Rouge days for their cadres.
The limestone hillock has subterranean water. I do not know how much is true but we were told by our child guide that earlier they could go inside but now they have snakes in water.
The place offers a wide choice for accomodation and is easily available. We decided to take a family room which had an open area with a comfortable couch and chairs outside our rooms.
In a corner was a seating place with pillows and mosquito netting.
shell light shade!
The verandah provided a beautiful view and also of the Gulf of Thailand.
Rabbit island (Koh Tonsay):
Make a day trip to rabbit island. For this, you go to the ferry terminal.You can hire a shared motorboat or can hire a separate one. The charges are $25 per boat. They shall ask you for the time of return. Having done this you get into the boat and start your joourney. Depending on the weather, the water can be very rough. It was when we went and I could not even take any pictures.
Once at the island, the boatman might ask you for the time of return for confirmation. Take a narrow winding path to the other side of island. That is where the main activity is.
enjoying a siesta
Once there, you are greeted by white sand beach and trees under which hang hammocks. Grab a hammock and laze around. There are small eateries, order a cool drink or fresh coconut water. You get cocktails and beer at very reasonable prices.
sauteed crabs
curried prawns
These prawns have an entirely different taste. I have yet to come across a place like this in Phnom Penh which serves such tasty sea food. Added to sea food are the fresh Kampot peppercorns which lend a very typical flavor to the dish.
cockles
Visit to pepper farm:
They were not that good and my children decided to leave half of them behind.
Returning back towards Phnom Penh, make a detour and visit a pepper farm. Most of them welcome visitors and show them around the farm.
Kampot is famous for its pepper which is widely used in French cuisine. It almost vanished after Khmer Rouge. The plantations are now reviving.
pepper climbers
black, red and white peppercorns left to dry
All these peppercorns come from the same plant. First harvest is the white, they ripen a little bit and produce red and last of the crop are black peppercorns.
rambutans waiting to ripen
Phnom Chngok:
Further ahead towards Kampot a diversion towards an off beaten track leads to a network of caves. As soon as a vehicle nears the caves, children come running to be a guide for you. They are wonderful guides with torches in hand lead you to dark, narrow caves infested with mosquitoes.
a temple at entrance
The interconnecting caves, I was told was a safe haven during the Khmer Rouge days for their cadres.
entering one the caves
I was not brave enough to venture deep into any of the caves and felt happy on coming out.
entering foot of hills with stalactites of calcium carbonate deposits
Statue of Buddha under the caves
Passing through the winding path and manoeuvring through big stones I make my way outside back into the "civilization"! Or I would say to my mundane traffic packed life.
sea food,yum !
ReplyDeletethink a nice place to rest
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