Started the day with breakfast by the Kampot river. Absolutely gorgeous spot. We then headed off to see the salt fields. This is a very labor intensive process and bloody hard slog. It's the wet season now so rice is the current crop, but we had a peek in a salt warehouse and had the process explained. Mike went for a big slide in the mud, quite graceful, but all I could think of was his neck. Apart from the sticky slosh all over his shoes, he got through it ok. We then headed off to Phnom Chnork cave nearby where there is a small seventh century temple inside. Had to climb a couple hundred steps. By the time we got to the top I was breathing heavily and I was oh so sweaty that I could've wrung my clothes out. Definitely need to improve my fitness!
We then headed to an organic pepper farm
. Kampot pepper is considered some of the finest pepper in the world. Really interesting farmer there who kept us all engaged. It is believed the pepper is so good because of the minerals in the area (mainly quartz, it seems). No one can prove or disprove this theory however the quartz seems to be the most significant different thing in the area.The farmer also spoke of the weather patterns changing. This year a lot of the durian trees lost their leaves and bore minimal fruit. The rambutan trees got burnt by the heat in February and most haven't fruited. Climate denier's - walk a mile in someone else's shoes.
We then headed to Kep on the beachfront (South China Sea) which is a popular day out. We began with
a walk through the market- we had mangosteen, sticky rice cake (really yum), baby calamari on a stick and sugar cane juice. Long bought smoked fish in the market, then we headed to the beachfront, where you select a 'managed' pergola/restaurant. You order your food then they bring it to you. We had rice, crab, chicken and lemongrass soup, smoked fish with chilli sauce, tom yum soup (my dish of the day - for lunch anyway)
. The pergolas were all next to each other, with colorful bamboo mats on the floor with rocks to hold them down. Hammocks were suspended from the upright poles. We had to sit on the mats to eat, Cambodian style. Definitely gotta get into some Pilates or yoga to improve my flexibility. My knees and hips didn't love it but luckily the food was good.
Mike went for a dip in the South China Sea but I was far too comfy in my hammock to bother. Mike said the water was so warm you couldn't tell the difference between the (hot) air and the water. Said he had to dodge a few plastic bags and small tin drums. Wouldn't recommend putting your head under the water. Didn't report any polywaffles but wouldn't have been surprised to come across one! Needed a shower as its so sticky and steamy. Some of us then caught a cyclo and went into town to catch happy hour which actually went for two hours. It was buy one cocktail, get one free. I decided to have a cocktail - buy one get one free ! I had two Mai tai's, two hurricanes, a margeurita and felt fairly pissed. We got tuc-tucs back to the bungalows where I finished off the night with a 'Titanic 'to have with dinner. We sat by the river, a beautiful spot, and had a great night with our fellow travelers.
From Pepper to Pilates...
Saturday, July 23, 2016
Takeo, Takeo Province, Cambodia
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2025-02-12