Dirt-biking around South Cambodia - first stop Kep

Trip Start Oct 01, 2006
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Trip End May 17, 2007


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Thursday, March 22, 2007

I got up bright and early because I knew it was going to be a long day of driving.  I got a moto to Luck! Lucky! Motorbike shop, and got myself a nice, blue 250cc dirt bike.  The shop didn't seem concerned about my lack of driving licence or having never driven a bike with a clutch before.  I got the bike for a week, but I may keep it a bit longer. 

After driving out of the shop a little ropily, I made my way to the gas station to fill up and then get some cash.  When it came to leaving the station, I created a bit of a show because of my inane ability to stall the bike repeatedly.  At this point I wasn't so sure the bike was a good idea, but once I got going on the roads of Phnom Penh I was alright.

I drove out of the city towards the Takeo Province, down some surprisingly good roads Kep
Kep
 .  The plan was to stop at some temples on the way, but I didn't seem to find them.  The locals looked shocked every time I stopped, even when I stopped for some coconut rice & ice-cream from a street cart in Takeo.  After ralising I wasn't going to find Phnom Da, I decided to head through the countryside to Kep-sur-Mer.  The drive was beautiful, and everywhere I drove people looked my way (perhaps because my 250cc makes more noise than the bikes they have).  When I stopped for a gas top-up and a drink later on, the father seemed to suggest I take his daughter with her.  This happened again when I stopped for directions later.  It was all light-hearted and smiles, but I guess there is an element of truth in the fact they think it would benefit their children to be taken away!

The sun beating down, whilst wearing a helmet, was taking its toll so I upped the pace and got to Kep about 2.30ish.  The town was a big tourist resort in the mid-20th century, but the empty villas shows the evident of a tough past under the Khmer Rouge.  I paid a visit to King Sihanouk's villa on the hill, chilled out at my guesthouse  and watched the sun set.  Got some good photos of that!!!  I was so tired,  guess from the sun and concentratiing on the bike, that I actually fell asleep at 9.30pm!!!!  I had driven about 180km on my first day on a 250cc bike.  I only woke up at 8am this morning, so it was a good sleep, although I still felt tired.  Ah well, only about 25km to Kampot....
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