From Sihanoukville to Kampot

After enjoying the beach of Sihanoukville for a few days, the fantastic sunset and feasting on super fresh seafood with a view of the sea, the journey through Cambodia continues.

For 5 dollars the bus takes me to the lovely town of Kampot in two hours. Booked a room in the only six-room former French-era villa called 'La Java Bleue' near the wide Praek Tuek Chhu river. The name of the small but very neat accommodation is named after a French chanson, so I hear from the owner.

Listen to the song at www.youtube.com

Kampot is a smaller but extremely cozy and quiet place with many dining options and not yet forgiven by mass tourism. The town has no traffic jams and

still has a number of nice tourist opportunities. Boats are moored on the quay near the river, which are beautifully lit at night and invite you to experience the sunset while sailing on the river. You pay 5 dollars for the two-hour trip and you can have a drink on board if you wish. Another possibility is to rent a scooter and visit the nearby Bokor national park on your own. Or perhaps a ride to Kep, 20 kilometers further by the sea. The place is not far from the border with Vietnam and you can feast on brand new crab that is served right from the sea from the fish basket. You can't eat crab fresher anywhere. From Kampot it is a nice day trip.

I've read all that but now I'm going to experience it myself. And not to forget, of course, I also want to visit a pepper plantation because the pepper from Kampot must be of unprecedented quality. Started tonight with a two hour boat trip on the broad river. Enjoyed the sunset on top of the deck and the tranquility that the trip in the evening twilight radiates over this majestic river.

For an impression see the picture of the sunset taken from the deck of the boat.

Before the return journey, all the illuminated boats gather at an inlet and you can see fireflies in the undergrowth if you look closely. Two hours later you are back at the starting point and there on the quay the many restaurants invite you to satiate the now grumbling stomach.

Made an appointment tonight with a young man who will drive me around with his tuk tuk for $ 25 a day, visiting the crab market in Kep, the sea salt extraction in the area and of course a visit to a pepper plantation, because if I have to believe it, the pepper from Kampot the Number One of the World. There will be some chauvinism, but of course I want to see it and put it to the test at home later.

Didn't feel any need to haggle the asking price from the nice young man. Live and let live. In these kinds of countries that are not overloaded with wealth, you should not want to get the most out of it.