My last port of call. Tick off the last item in the list of places and things I wanted to achieve during this trip. The only thing I have not managed to do/see or experience is Cooking lessons in Cambodia. The list was long and it was comprehensive so I am very pleased with the outcome.... alll targets met, most goals achieved.
Jacqui and I finally left Rabbit Island. We both agreed that it was a great time and that we were feeling extremely relaxed and refreshed. This was not hard because we were extremely relaxed and refreshed before we got there. It just added the cream on top. My feelings about the place are bit ambivalent. On the one hand you can't go past the tranquility and serenity of the place. The atmosphere is sooo relaxed. The sunsets are stunning, the early mornings elevating and the people very inviting. On the other hand you can't get past the tourist development. Boatloads of tourists start arriving from about 9:00 AM. This continues all day until about 4:30 - 5:00PM when they go home. The boats come back and forth like some kind of invading flotilla. The beach is completely covered in chairs benches and tables. Behind the beach is completely taken up with huts that overnighters stay in. On weekends it gets so crowded that locals put up tents! There is a large Japanese resort being built at the end of the Island and this is being seen as the first! So I am ambivalent. I remember Emilly's description of an untouched paradise. This is lost forever and so I am sad for this loss. Soon there will be nowhere that is not tainted by the Thai disease, curse them.
The trip to Phnom Penh was a bit delayed by Dragon Boat races in Kep. There were a lot more speaches than races but the whole thing was a bit of a spectacle that we could not miss it being the tourists we are. The roads were fine until we got onto National Route #2. It suffers from low status syndrome. The surface in the early part was bad and the width reduced. The traffic was as usual. When we got closer to Phnom Penh the road surface deteriorated markedly. The last bit was about as bad as it gets then add in Phnom Penh traffic. It was nightmarish. Phnom Penh was gearing up for new years. We found our hotel got our bags back and returned the motorbike and got my passport. I never feel completely at ease when I have to leave it with people, I know it is safe but I still feel a little uneasy. I had decided to spend one day in PP just to get my shit sorted. Clothes washed, bag repacked, accommodation on Phu Quoc sorted and pepper bags sealed and finally ticket to Phu Quoc booked. Jacqui did the same thing.
Our farewels were said very early the next morning a 5:30AM. I was sad in one way to see her go. She is an excellent companion to travel with. We have very similar ways of thinking about things, she never moans or complains despite being in some tough and stressful places and she does not complain aboit the bike when there must have been some times when she was bloody uncomfortable, it happens to us all. I enjoyed her company and her good cheer and I will miss her. I have a feeling that we will travel together again. She went off to see friends in Indonesia, I hope she has a fabulous time and I'm sure she will.
I went on the bus back down to Kampot and Kep and then on to the Vietnamese border. It was very straight forward. Same with the ferry. There was a glitch at the Island side when my transfer to my hotel felll through. It cost an extra 7 bucks to sort it out. I've hired a motorbike for three days and plan to explore the Island. My hotel is is a very isolated area away from the main tourist drag. It is quiet but suffers from the isolation, it is also cheap. They call it a resort but it reminds me of an asian style Butlins.... mostly empty. Fishing on the beach is good apparently. I will see when morning comes.
These are my last days so I am savouring each day like that special bit of food that you love and save till last luxuriating in the taste, hanging on till the final glimmers are gone. I love this travelling, I have to have more of it .
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