A relaxing day on the beach on Rabbit Island beckoned. After 21 km in a tuc tuc we reached Kep where we encountered now familiar organised chaos but with slightly grey skies, a very distant looking island, dozens of people and some very decrepit looking flat bottomed boats, we very nearly stayed on the mainland. But our spirit of adventure kicked in!
Khmer massage on the beach included many silent protests 'no my leg/arm/foot really will not bend in that direction - oh yes it does if you sit on it' - thank goodness for Pilates and no osteoporosis! B declined the 'experience'.
Lunch was delicious, fresh (from the basket of live ones in the sea) fried peppered crab - our substitute for the lavish seafood picnics the locals were enjoying all around us - it is still New Year so the parties continue. Juxtaposed with this were groups of young travellers trying to fit 16 into 2 beach huts for the night with one girl saying 'it's ok we all look the same' - sound familiar to anyone?
Day almost over so just the drive back but the tuc tuc driver was the boatman from the day before so we knew it may not be smooth going and we were not disappointed. 1st stop for overheating up the 1:50 hill, solved by pouring cold water on engine, 2nd to siphon petrol for stranded foreigners on motorcycle, 3rd to top up petrol, 4th more overheating ( no hill), 5th chain loose, 6th chain fixed by mechanic - all accompanied by huge smile and '5 minutes'. We got the impression this was a regular day for him but we were glad to be back before dark with the bonus of a beautiful sunset from the hotel.
Another eventful day in Cambodia.