From Phnom Pehn to Sihanoukville

I pay 10 dollars for the almost six-hour minibus ride. How the Cambodian calculates remains a mystery to me. There are six passengers in the van, who each paid the same amount for the 220-kilometer ride. Two drivers man the van and take turns halfway through. You really don't have to be a math whiz, nor do you need a calculator to calculate the 'profit'.

After Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, Sihanoukville, located by the sea, is the third largest city in the country. You have to love the beach and sea to stay here for a long time. I myself am not such a sun worshiper who can lie on the beach for hours to return home with a brown bark.

I did find a sheltered spot under a large tree near the beach where I can now and then cast my gaze over the horizon in a lazy comfortable bucket seat. I have to be careful not to be rocked to sleep by the sun. That's why I switched to pure orange juice because with a beer I would immediately leave for dreamland. The terrible noisemakers, also called Jet Skis, flying at a crazy speed over the waves, keep me out of dreamland. Around half past five I enjoy a particularly beautiful sunset and see the bright red sphere from the Ochheuteal beach slowly disappear behind the hills. Within walking distance of this beach is Serendipity Beach with a number of restaurants and bars. And if you don't have the energy to walk for fifteen minutes, there are more than enough tuk tuks ready to take you there. This section is much more interesting than Ochcheutal Beach, especially at night. The many romantically lit bars and eateries are attractive and while sitting at one of the bars or enjoying a meal on the beach, you can also see the fire-red sun slowly setting here.

Sihanoukville has 235.000 inhabitants and you will find a few islands in addition to the beaches. The place was carved out of the rock in the XNUMXs to create Cambodia's first and only seaport, making the country no longer dependent on the passage through Vietnam and the Mekong Delta for international shipping.

Islands

In the immediate vicinity are four beautiful islands, of which Koh Rong is the most famous. Two boats depart daily from the pier at Serendipity Beach to the 78 square kilometer island, popular with backpackers.
If you want to enjoy peace and coral reefs, the island of Koh Rong Saloem is an excellent place.

If you want to take another gamble, a few casinos in Sihanoukville are ready for you. Actually I'm just a boring guy because this phenomenon is not on my wish list either. What is on that list is a visit to a pepper plantation. Strange bird that Joseph will probably think many people. But the pepper from Kampot province turns out to be world famous for the true connoisseur and is known as the black gold of Cambodia. No pesticides are used against insects, but lemongrass and if I am informed correctly, there is a plantation in the area where you can get a tour and learn everything about the peppercorn. In a few days I will travel on to Kampot and try to find out everything about that famous peppercorn among the jungle-like hills.