Days 25, 26 & 27.

Thurs 7th, Fri 8th & Sat 9th December.

Siem Reap to Sihanoukville and Koh Rong Samloem, Cambodia

Thursday morning was an early start, taxi at 9am to take us to the airport. The driver dropped us at international departures by mistake, we didn’t mind until we couldn’t find the door to domestic departures .

Eventually we asked a security chap who pointed downstairs and around the corner. Following his directions we walked around the main airport building to see a separate entrance for domestic flights. But how to get there? This brand new airport has been designed so that domestic departures can only be accessed by vehicle drop off! We had our bags on a trolley so had to walk all the way round on the one way system road to get there. There is a pavement, but it had lampposts on it that filled the space. Goodness knows how mobility aids and buggies are supposed to get there. Certainly a design flaw.

Entering this new little terminal, you get the feeling there isn’t much of a call for domestic flights from Siem Reap, there were only two on the board for the whole day. I said to Gareth that the staff in this part must hate it when they see they are rostered there for the day .

Anyway, our flight was on time, only 50 minutes in the little prop ATR 72. Arriving in Sihanoukville we were met by our driver and whisked to the ferry port. I read a bit about Sihanoukville and how it’s development over the last decade or so. Apparently it was a backpackers oasis with a beautiful sandy beach. For some reason it attracted Chinese investors who built a multitude of casinos. Now, the population is over 90% Chinese, the majority of road and shop signs are in Cambodian and Chinese – which we noticed – and the holidaymakers stay away as it’s become quite a dangerous place.

When we told our host in Kampot we were flying there, he was concerned and asked if we were staying in Sihanoukville. We said, no, just passing through to the islands.

Driving towards the ferry port, I have to say, we saw nothing that pleased the eye. Our driver told us cruise ships come into the scruffy container port. We’re not sure where they take the passengers for the day. The main road is littered with big haulage trucks waiting to pick up their containers.

The ferry port was much tidier and very busy. Loads of different ferry companies operating big speed boats to take you and your luggage to your chosen island. We had an hour or so to wait for ours so had some lunch at the first floor restaurant with views across the port.

The ferry ride was supposed to take 30mins and we were looking forward to having at least an hour before sunset to go in the sea. While the sun beat down on us, our ferry stopped at least five times before dropping us off. We were not pleased, but at least we had finally arrived.

We were expecting someone to meet us and were pleasantly surprised when this young man took our luggage for us. We walked ahead and were called back. We had to get into a little boat , what a fab way to arrive on your island holiday . And we still had time for a quick dip in the sea to cool us down .

But wow! What a place this is: The Saracen Bay Resort

We have a beach bungalow. The Aircon is fab, the view is stunning, the sand is almost white and the sea is as warm as a bath.

There’s nowhere to go. You can walk across the island to watch the sunset or use the free kayaks to explore the lighthouse. You can use the supplied snorkelling equipment to investigate the coral reefs. There is a waterfall not far from us but it’s just a trickle at this time of year.

We didn’t do any of that, instead we lazed in the shade of the coconut trees and floated in the shallow water.

We did manage a walk down the beach as there are a few different accommodations here, but have decided ours is definitely the best. The cleanest beach, the best bungalows and the best atmosphere.

The only noise breaking through the calm is the occasional tractor taxi coming along the beach and the little motorboats taking passengers to their respective ferry pier for departure.

We haven’t seen much wildlife here though we have heard them.

At night when the lights are on, especially in the restaurant all you can hear are the Cicadas, not just in the trees but also under the roof. We have sat while the Cicadas dive bomb us, get flicked around by the ceiling fans and eaten by the big geckos hiding on the rafters , certainly makes for an interesting meal time. And no matter how hard I try, I cannot stop jumping out of my skin when one lands on or bumps into me . Though I do think I’m being rather brave continuing with my meal .

Koh Rong is the bigger island where you can find whatever you are looking for, a little more nightlife, watersports, restaurants and bars and then there’s this one, Koh Rong Samloem – a little tranquil paradise, what’s not to love?

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