Joseph in Asia (part 5)

After Battambang, a place that is the second largest city in terms of population, frankly a bit disappointing, I travel by minibus to Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia.

A city where there is considerably more to do and the bizarre history of the Khmer Rouge regime in the former S21 prison and the Killing Fields speak volumes. It is incomprehensible that people can commit such atrocities. Everyone has the right to a fair trial, but it is still incomprehensible to me that the Dutch lawyer Victor Koppe, the second villain after Pol Pot, defended Nuon Chea for years at the expense of the United Nations. This man passed away last year at the age of 93. Apparently the Netherlands has hardly gotten through to the fact that Green Left celebrity Paul Rosenmöller was once a strong supporter of the Khmer Rouge. All in the past and covered up as a youthful sin. Earlier I wrote about it: www.thailandblog.nl/BACKGROUND/pol-pot-en-rode-khmer-reflection-time-slot/

Where does the saying 'pick the left and fill the right' come from?

Can still get angry about it but sit on a nice terrace and watch the great Mekong river that makes my anger fade away. Later in the evening, high on the roof of The Moon, while enjoying a glass of wine, I enjoy a magnificent view at night with the crescent moon high in the sky. Stroll along the boulevard during the day and there you can enjoy many nice scenes. Children playing, thousands of pigeons that are not driven away but provide a source of income for the sellers of bags of corn to feed the feathered friends. It seems as if it is Sunday every day, so many people stroll around or sit in groups on a carpet on the floor, chatting or eating.

Just wander around or visit one of the many markets. The indoor Psar Thmei is one of the larger and the Psar Tuoi Pong, or the Russian market, one of the nicest. Take a tuk tuk and have it take you there for a few dollars.

Incidentally, it is not necessary that you have to see everything on a holiday because just sitting on a nice terrace and observing the passersby is already a pleasant experience.

To Kampot

In short, I enjoyed my way and travel by minibus 150 kilometers further to Kampot (wander-lush.org/things-to-do-in-kampot-cambodia/) wonderfully situated on a beautiful river with the difficult to pronounce name Praek Tuek Chhu. The above link gives a very good impression about the place. It is the third time that I visit there and so I am familiar with it a little bit. In particular, the tranquility that the place exudes on the beautifully situated river, the colonial buildings from the French period and the trips that you can take on your own by rental scooter appeal to me.

For 4 dollars a day I rent such a case and drive around the area at my leisure. Cross one of the bridges to the other side of the river and turn left. Where I end up is unimportant because you really don't get lost here and you come across nice scenes at every turn. My waving hand to children or adults is always met with smiling faces and people waving back.

Same story when I drive over the bridge far to the right on another day and suddenly see a sign referring to River Park. It turns out to be a kind of amusement park on the river that is intensively visited by Cambodian parents with their children.

Of course I also visit a pepper plantation in Kampot. If I have to believe the stories, nothing beats 'Kampot pepper' and the masters of the well-known starred restaurants use this product in their culinary creations. Am an avid hobby cook so in my luggage is red, white and black pepper from Kampot.

Take a lot of easy rides on my Honda and let my eyes wander. There are so many beautiful scenes to see that pass by many people's eyes. Often very simple things like the stop I make to allow a farmer's cart pulled by some kind of tractor to pass more easily. When I wave to the man, his whole face smiles and waves back enthusiastically.

It's the little things that I enjoy.

To Kep

Another nice trip I make by scooter to Kep, a ride that takes about XNUMX minutes. The place is known for its crab market. Fresher than fresh, if you are a fan of it, you can enjoy it here. Of course, the many very simple restaurants also have many other delights that the sea has in store on the menu. But just wandering around the market and watching the activities is an experience in itself.

If you want to tan on the beach, you can reach Sihanoukville from Kampot in no time, but to be honest, Joseph is too restless and his skin is too delicate, so he lets such passive 'activity' pass by.

Back at Natural Bungalows, the resort where I stay in Kampot, I watch the setting sun cast a warm glow on the river and the mountains behind. Consider me lucky that at my age I can still manage and experience all this. However, do not close my eyes to the poverty that I also witnessed.