Kampot and Kep

Long and dusty road to Kep on a scooter

Kep crab

Beautiful Beach at Kep

Red, white and black peppercorns drying in the sun

Happy Mike

Happy Rebecca

The aftermath of our crab feast

Beautiful sunset over Bokor Mountain- the view from our guesthouse in Kampot.

 

Once again we’re on a bus. This time back to Phnom Penh. We’ve splurged for the VIP A/C bus. Mike’s watching the same James Bond movie for the 2^nd time- I think Skyfall.  Our spending habits have changed a little when it comes to accommodation and transportation. We’ve definitely found that spending a few extra bucks gives you a different level of comfort (and keeps me a lot happier.) We still manage to stay under our budget but on some days it’s just under.

We went to Kampot for a few days. Lovely little town on the southern coast near the Vietnam border. We rented a scooter and toured the countryside, pepper plantations and a little seaside town- Kep- that is famous for its crabs. Kampot is also the Durian capitol of Cambodia. The famously stinky fruit that is sadly not in season for another month or so. I have smelled it but not tasted it yet. I want to make sure when I do that it’s at the peak ripeness so I can fully enjoy- or maybe I’m just chicken…

The pepper they grow here is world famous. We had the best meal of our entire trip (so far) at a restaurant next to the crab market in Kep. A seafood platter appetizer with grilled calamari, crab, tiger prawns and fish. Then a couple of crab entrees with Kampot green pepper sauce. All while looking out over the sea, drinking a couple of cold Angkor beers and watching children haul in baskets stuffed with crabs. We had to work for every morsel of crab but it was well worth the effort.

Tomorrow we head into Vietnam. We decided to go back to Phnom Penh because it is the most direct route into Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon.)  We’re not sure of where we’re heading from there. We only have 2 ½ weeks in the country until we meet Mike’s sister Karen in Hanoi. We think we might head up into the hills then over to the coast. We’re just making it up as we go. We’ll keep you posted…