Currency:
Cambodian Riel

Highlights:
Chilling at Sokha Beach, our first roast on tour

Our Adventure:

Sihanoukville is a little beach town on the southern coast with a hippie-type vibe. After our days exploring the cities of Cambodia, we were eager for a more chilled out experience and we got what we wanted in Sihanoukville - we just wish we could have had even more time there to explore more beaches and the nearby islands (a common woe on our travels ):

Day 1 - Arriving into Sihanoukville

It was another looong bus ride from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville (actually only 4.5 hours but when you have consistent hooting, it feels more like 45 hours!) so we were all very grateful when we arrived at lunch time and could head straight to the beach across the road from our guesthouse.

We stayed on Ochheuteal Beach and although it was a lovely-looking stretch of beach, it wasn't quite as impressive as Thailand. It was also incredibly busy - restaurant shacks line the beach and after we were seated in some comfy chairs at Banana Rest Bar, we realized that we were literally sitting ducks for all the hawkers on the beach. These really tore at our hearts though as the majority of them were kids each trying to do their bit to make money even if it was just collecting cans and then so many people with deformities - and again, what makes it that much harder to witness is to see how hard each of them are trying to make a living (there are only a few people purely begging).

After that, it was pool and chill time before heading out later that night to the neighbouring beach, Serendipity. We went to Mick & Craig's and were excited to see a sign outside advertising their Sunday Roasts - and then even more excited to find out that it was Sunday (very easy to lose track of days when each day feels like a Saturday!). So it was yummy roasts all round - crackling and all! I finally got to have the roast potatoes I had been missing (although they were nothing like my mom's!).

You can view our photos here:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=385515&id=713415257&l=aa03f9a417

Day 2 - Sokha Beach

A day of pure relaxation bliss. After a great breakfast served at our guesthouse, we tuk-tukked across to Sokha Beach which has been turned into a private resort. But for a mere USD 4, we got to enjoy all the facilities that the other guests who were paying USD 500/night were using (yeah, I would have been mad if I were them!). This consisted of a long stretch of beautiful white sand and clear ocean complete with deck chairs and big fluffy towels (quite a novelty for us as we usually have our sarongs to dry off) and a lovely big pool.

So the 8 of us (the usual 6 plus Clyde and Kath) indulged in a variety of activities - for most of us, it was some serious sun tanning and book reading with some intermittent swimming - and for those more active, it was some serious frisbee throwing (yes, the guys manage to turn everything into a competition).

That evening we strolled down the road to the Moon Restaurant where we were treated to a great barbeque meal. It was a rather sad 'Last Supper' though as we would be leaving one of the family members, Clyde, behind the next day.

Although the next day would be a long day of travelling, we also excitedly talked about our next destination - India…

You can view our photos here:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=385516&id=713415257&l=f9621714c9

Cheers,
Lara + Leise