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Kampot
& Krong Kep: 30 Aug 2003 |
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National
Highway |
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Kampot
is only a mere 148 kilometers from Phnom Penh, but the sad state of
National Highway No. 3 made the journey a very interesting 5 hours ride. |
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Miles
of Paddy |
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The
slow speed of travel enabled us to fully savor the scenery along the way,
with frequent stops for photographs and pee. The initial travel took us
through the flat plains of Kandal and Takeo Provinces. Paddies dominate
the landscape here. |
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Just
Ripe |
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It
is towards the end of the first harvest. The last remaining ripe paddies
are cut for grain harvesting. |
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Smiles |
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Crops
for a new season. All bundled up, new stalks of rice being brought to the
fields for planting. |
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More
Smiles |
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Their
smiles are just mesmerizing. Cambodians are most friendly and most willing
to pose for a photograph, anytime. |
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No
Waste |
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There
is no waste as the empty stalks of rice are recycled as animal feed. |
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Lotus
Ponds & Rolling Hills |
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The
landscape gets less flat as we approach towards the Province of Kampot.
Abandon ruins of old French villas dot the country, takes to the master
destroyer... the Khmer Rouge. |
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Nature's
Umbrellas |
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A
plant of many uses. These girls are harvesting the leaves of the lotus
plant. |
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Oink |
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The
country road also passes by many homestead pig farms. Pigs run free
everywhere. |
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Long
Ride |
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A
long tiring ride on a wet bumpy road. Thankful that we were in a
comfortable Land Cruiser... that also leaks water like a Landy. |
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Nearing
Kampot |
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A
magical landscape, with the Elephant Mountains as a backdrop, and the rain
and mist providing the mystical effect. |
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Streets
of Kampot |
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Located
a few kilometers upriver from the sea, Kampot is a somnolent but charming
riverside town. The streets are most pleasant to explore, as traffic is
sparse. |
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Clams |
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Kampot's
proximity to the sea means cheap and varied seafood on sale in the market.
Nurse sharks, parrot fish, giant sea shells, all for the dining table. |
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Sleeping
Child |
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The
market in Kampot is as sleepy as the town, contrasting against the typical
activity of the markets in Phnom Penh. |
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The
River |
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Bridging
the Kampot River, Highway 3 continues westwards towards Bokor National
Park, and to Sihanoukville. |
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Bokor |
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Officially
known as Preah Monivong National Park, Bokor is one of Cambodia's largest
national parks. It has much to offer visitors... magnificent vistas of the
coastline, waterfalls, untamed forest (dotted with mines though), cool
climate, and the ghostly remains of magnificent buildings of the past. |
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So
Near Yet So Far |
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It
is most unfortunate that we were declined entry into Bokor on our Land
Cruiser. The road up the mountain has apparently been washed out from a
previous storm and is passable only to motorcycles. |
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Colorful
Boats |
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A
decisive destination change to Krong Kep. The road to this seaside resort
passes many small fishing villages. Colourful small boats are the means
for the coastal fishermen. |
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Tropical
Paradise |
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Once
a tropical paradise, Kep used to be a stunning coastal resort area for the
French elite, and subsequently the rich and powerful of Cambodia, before
the Khmer Rouge destroyed it to the best of their abilities. |
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Rocky
Coast |
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Unlike
the white sandy beaches of Sihanoukville, Kep's coastline is narrow and rocky.
However, the surrounding idyllic countryside and tree-covered hills more
than makes up for this rendering Kep it's distinctive attractiveness. |
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Blues
and Reds |
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The
ocean view is to islands and mountains. Many small islands dot the
southern view, with Koh Tonsay (Rabbit Island) being one of the closest.
Further beyond is the Vietnamese island of Phu Quoc (Koh Tral), prominent
from it's sheer size. To the west is the massive of the Bokor Mountains,
most outstanding unless being masked by mist and clouds. |
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Chilling
Out |
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What
better way to end the day. Chilling out in the lovely Veranda Guest House. |
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