A traveller's reflection: 2019 Q8 4ND: 05 Koh Kong

“A bend in the road is not the end of the road. Unless you fail to make the turn...” - Helen Keller

(The old jetty and the ocean at Kep)

Day 05: 05 Dec 2019 (Thursday)

Route: Koh Kong - Kampot

Distance: 244 km

Hotel: Nyny Guest House, Kampot

07:15 - Early in the morning, drove to the Koh Kong Jetty to watch the fishing trawlers unloading their catch.

(Fishermen and their trawlers)

07:30 - Had breakfast at the Muslim stall at the food court. Packed fried rice and received free doughnuts for the road from the kind owner. Shukran...

(The one and only Muslim restaurant in town)

(Sharing a plate of fried rice)

08:00 - Drove out of Koh Kong towards Kampot via the National Park. The road is better than the last time we were here.

(Driving out of Koh Kong)

(Passing through the National Park)

(A typical local scene, saffron-robed monk)

10:30 - Arrived at Sre Ambel junction which is located on the Highway 4. The junction was busy and dusty with no lay-by to stop for rest.

(Sre Ambel junction)

(The road leading to Phnom Penh)

11.30 - Reached Kampot/Sihanoukville junction. There were major on-going major road works all the way to Kampot. It was a rough dusty drive trying to avoid colliding with fast and furious on-coming high speed lorries and tankers.

(The junction to Sihanoukville)

(The start of a dusty drive)

(Driving slowly and cautiously)

12:00 - Comfort and coffee stop at a Tela Depo gas station in the outskirt of Kampot. The road from here on to Kampot was good and new.

(A short rest after the tiring drive on un-tarmac road)

12.45 - Reached Kampot town and drove around to look for our lodging. Not finding any good one along the riverfront, we searched somewhere in the middle of town.

(A beautiful clear sky in Kampot)

(A quiet laid-back town)

(A glimpse of the historical bridge)

(A black equestrian statue by the river)

(The Durian round-about near our hotel)

(Another big round-about in town)

14:00 - Sent our dirty clothes to the laundry at a nearby convenient shop.
14:45 - Drove to Kep Beach, the white sand is said to be from other beaches.

(Driving to Kep, 20km out of Kampot)

(The fine sand beach of Kep)

15:30 - One of the many attractions of Kep beach is the white lady statue, Sela Cham P’dey believed to be a statue of a fisherman’s wife awaiting her husband’s return.

(The lady supposed to be clothed)

(Waiting patiently)

15:45 - There is a huge Crab Statue depicting the town’s famous crab. There are numerous shacks by the beach where you can have your crab dishes cooked in whatever ways to like.

(The Crab Statue of Keb)

(Kep is famous for its blue crabs)

(The giant Crab Statue was built in 2012)

16:00 - Visited the old jetty with a nice view of South China Sea. Took photos of the many statues along the beach.

(The Musician Statue)

(The Lady and the dolphins)

(The new jetty in the background)

(A relaxing afternoon at the beach)

(Claimed to be the most beautiful bay)

16:20 - Passed the Al- Mukarramah Mosque on the way back to town. The mosque looks abandoned and unattended.

(Masjid al-Mukarramah)

(Funded by Malaysian Program Amal)

(A White Horse Statue against the sun)

17:00 - Drove to Bokor Night Market for dinner while watching the sunset from the riverfront. The Bokor Night Market is on the riverfront, just upstream of the New Bridge. It is open during the day for swimming, rollerblading and skating. There are many halal food stalls, clothing and jewelry stalls. The night market starts at sunset.