Kep, Cambodia

Mandy: 23rd – 31st December

Oh we do like to be beside the seaside

VERY wide roads leading to sleepy Kep. Although only a narrow part in the middle is tarmaced, the other part either side is watered instead, by large tankers, in an effort to keep the dust down. Effort that is wasted in the scorching heat.

More monuments and statuses around Kep

Now, if we filled the bike up at the main petrol station we would get more free rice crackers. However Glen preferred to forgo the crackers and spend slightly more per liter filling up at this little roadside stall; can think why! (Smile)

“Ullo John! Gotta new motor?” One of the better motorbikes we rented

We think this was a wedding this time not a funeral, either way the marque blocked one side of the ‘dual carriage way’ on the main road out towards Vietnam.

Abandoned houses are scattered around Kep and the surrounded countryside, now just derelict shells amongst the overgrown grounds. They were once French colonial homes and more modern designs that once belonged to both French and rich and famous Cambodians. They have been left unoccupied since the mid 70’s when the owners either fled or were savagely removed from them during the Khmer Rogue reign of terror.

This little fella was scavenging for food next to the beach

There was a water festival while we were there and Kep held a number of boat races along the seafront. We weren’t sure if this was the annual Kep v Kampot boat race simular to our Oxford and Cambridge race back home. (Smile)

Near by Rabbit Island, so called because it looks like rabbit ears from above.

Our two and a half hour walk up in to Kep National Park

‘Grass’ drying in the road leading to the monument. We were not sure what it would be used for, making their brushes maybe.

Kep is small and is mainly known and visited for the crab sold and cooked in the market and shacks along the seafront. The crab is famously cooked in a Kampot peppercorn sauce and these peppercorns are grown in Kampot province between Kampot and Kep. Kampot Pepper is the first Cambodian product to benefit from the World Trade Association status of Protected Geographical Indication, like, to use widely known examples, Champagne from the region of the Champagne in France, or Parma Ham from the Italian town of Parma.

We visited Sothy’s pepper farm about half an hour away and were given a free tour. We learnt more than we knew was possible to know about organic peppercorn farming (smile)

One year old pepper plants

Eight year old pepper plants, needing less shade from the palm fronds

Peppercorns drying in the sun

Christmas in Kampot

We saved this Burmese toothpaste with Holly on for Chrismtas (I’m sad like that!)

For some bizarre reason the petrol stations were giving these ‘snow crackers’ free with petrol in Cambodia. It reminded us how our parents used to get World Cup ‘coins’ with the likes of Bobby Moore and Gordon Banks on when we were young. We saved the crackers for Chrismtas Day. (Smile)

Our Christmas treat was to stay in this lovely place with a pool for five nights

We had managed to successfully avoid the buildup to Christmas without the sound of Slade and Christmas trimmings for the past few months. However at The Angkor Orchid Hotel in Siem Reap we sat outside for breakfast in our shorts in the warmth of the morning sun to the sound of Michael Buble’s Christmas album! Glen asked the waiter if he could put some Cambodian music on instead; so they did. Glen said the plinky plonky bell like chimes which they played (with no particular beat or rhythm that we recognised) reminded him of hand bell ringing after a few Christmas sherries! He said “perhaps this is Cambodian Campanology” (chuckle)

This gorgeous exotic Gecko lived on our balcony. It was about eight inches long and was very loud!

Christmas Day message in the sand on Kep Beach

The back of the crab shack restaurants on stilts over the sea

The crabs are kept in the baskets in the sea; the restaurant’s natural store cupboard

Our Chrismtas Day lunch was fresh Kep Crab cooked in Kampot Pepper Sauce. Kep’s signature dish

Cloudy Chrismtas Day view out to sea

The waitress wades out to the baskets to get a crab when someone orders one

We saw the fisherman come in to the back of the restaurant to sell their crabs. The women go out to meet them and weigh the catch and put them in the baskets. It’s all very simple. There are not that many people in Kep but those that are living there are interesting to watch. Such a different, simple way of life. The local countryside and the views from National Park were wonderful, such a lovely quiet place to spend Christmas.

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