J: We got to Koh Rong after spending a quick night at the town of Sihanoukville. It was a speedboat ride out for an hour to the island that made it feel more remote. When we got there Hayley (who we have been traveling with) had been recommended some bungalows at the other side of the island so I let the girls go off in search of a room for the night and I looked after the bags. I quickly started talking to an Australian family and well, the beer started to flow before the girls got back to say the rooms where either full or really expensive so we ended up in a home-stay with a local family which turned out to be basic but cool and fun.

S: After a long couple of days travelling, we decided to have a complete lazy day of lying on the beach. We found a coconut just fallen off the tree and James obviously did the Bear Grylls thing of getting his knife out and in a couple of minutes we were drinking fresh coconut milk. The shell proved to be a little harder, so James used a stick as a baton and we all enjoyed the coconut.

J: This island was a little paradise, and our daily routine meant going to the "Fruit Lady" for breakfast (she would make the most amazing smoothies) and regular visits to "Mr Runs" who served simple $1 noodles or rice. We were thankful that Mr Runs was indeed his name and not an indication of what would happen to you if you ate there.

In preparation to being on an island and higher price tags we bought bottles of whiskey and vodka from the mainland, which we enjoyed throughout the lazy day, it all made for a happy night.

S: We decided to explore the island a little and went out on a boat for the day. First stop was for some snorkeling, we saw some angel fish, parrot fish, gobies, and a bright purple crab. Not forgetting the anemones, clown fish and various corals. After we had finished, the boat moved to a different spot for some fishing. Now I have no interest in fishing what's so ever and thought, "here we go?" but it wasn't too bad and I even managed to catch a few fish.

J: The fishing was brilliant, it was basic hand line fishing over the side of the boat feeling the fish nibbling on the bait and trying to quickly get the fish hooked.

Sam was really funny as she was really excited to get them hooked but didn't want to touch them.

The guys started a BBQ right there in the wooden boat and cooked the fish we had caught, it was brilliant just sitting on the bow of the wooden boat enjoying the fresh fish.

On the journey back I sat at the back with the local lads, they let me steer and we had a laugh bouncing up and down on the waves, then one of them got out some moonshine and we shared that..... They were about 18 & 11 but loved the beer and moonshine!

S: Watching the three lads have a great time was amusing. I'm sure James still thinks he's a teenager lol. We had a rest off the boat, only to head out again in the dark for the glowing plankton. I was petrified to get in the water but once I got in it was amazing, swimming in the sea in pitch black and watching the water glisten like fairy lights around you every time you move.

J: Age is just a number, I'm still 13 at heart lol.

The plankton is only here for about 3 months a year so we were lucky to see it, it was a cloudy night which made is even darker and the glow of the plankton stand out even more!

It was one of those moments that made me feel really fortunate to be traveling and seeing these wonders the world has to offer.

S: As we stayed on a home stay, one day I went to do some washing, all of a sudden I've got a massive bowl, brush, coat hangers from the family. What more can I ask for??

J: We decided to take a short trek over the island to see Long Beach. People warned us it was a steep trek, It was fine walking up then it came to a sheer face to get down and we had to use ropes and vines to climb down which added to the adventure getting to the beach that was just like paradise!

S: The beach was just like that on a postcard, and although I struggled getting there it was worth it. The rest of the day we spent playing cards in a bar as it was raining, happy times. James decided he was famished and we ended up at Mr Runs for the second time that day. We had got to know the family and whilst James demolished 2 platefuls, he had Mr Run's child on his lap feeding him rice at the same time lol.

J: Later in the day I noticed that Sam's nice washing bowl was now being used to gut the fish, when I told her she then started smelling our clothes worried we might smell like fish.