Sihanoukville
Trip Start
Aug 09, 2008
1
11
13
Trip End
Sep 10, 2008
Sihanoukville,
Cambodia
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
We have ventured down to Sihanoukville for some R&R and found it! We were picked up at the bus stop by two motorbike drivers who took us around various guesthouses until we found one that we liked - right on the beach! For the worthy price of $18 a night we stayed in a little room next to a quiet bar and the sea. We arrived at about 3 and just relaxed on the beach, swimming and reading. We organised a boat trip to take us to the nearby islands the next day. As we were sitting on the beach we were surrounded by a group of children who were selling bracelets and other various trinkets. One of the girls said "do you want to play a game?" and made a bet with us that if she could win at noughts and crosses that we would buy a bracelet and if we won she would give us one for free. So Nick played and won and she made us a bracelet for free. It's really difficult to know what to do with these children because they say that if you buy from them it encourages them to try and sell from tourists which is effectively child slavery but at the same time they don't leave you alone unless you're REALLY firm. I quizzed them on where the money goes and they said that they have to pay for school each month but it seems that they tell different people different things as we discovered the next day from the Americans.
We got up bright and early to be at the travel agency for breakfast at 8am the next morning. We were sitting having breakfast when two American ladies who were next door to us in the guesthouse came and sat across from us. They were rather loud and outspoken, from what we had observed the day before on the beach. It turned out that they were really friendly and funny and it was only the four of us on the boat. We set out and got to an island where we could go snorkelling. The water was amazing and we saw lots of colourful fish - the underwater camera came in very useful! After this we got back on the boat and went to Bamboo Island for some beach time and swimming before a barbecue lunch on the beach - we ate barracuda! We wandered around the island and went over to the other side which was on the open sea. It was much choppier but the water was like being in a bath - it was so warm! After lunch and our explore we got back on the boat and went to the last island of our trip for some more snorkelling. By that time we had got to the last stop I had realised how strong the sun was and how burnt we had got by mistake. Of course it was too late and now Nick and I are in absolute agony. Both our backs are very burnt and my legs are also rather burnt. We've used up a whole bottle of aftersun in one evening!
This morning we got up for the bus back to Phnom Penh at 9am. Needless to say, it was a painful experience considering our backs!
Lots of love xxxx
