Exited Kampot today for the beaches of Sihanouk Ville. While Kampot was OK, I never did find the charm, I thought to go to the sea to spend my last few days before wrapping up my 3 month tour. I pleased to report the beach I am staying at, Otres Beach, is clean, has decent accommodations (I am paying $15 for a room with a fan and a bathroom with 2 beds - to turn the AC on costs more but with the power going off and on randomly, the fan will be fine) and has a long stretch of sandy beach to walk on. I just finished watching a beautiful sunset while sipping on a coconut. Yes, I think the next few days will be fine here.
I did have a nice encounter with a monk yesterday afternoon in Kampot. We went to his pagoda to talk English. We stood for an hour talking and then he has to go to a ceremony across the road that had music blaring. As I left it was playing, rather loudly, "it is time to change your evil ways, baby". The bike ride back was through a pleasant village where huge baskets are made and stored. Then I got on an old railway bed made into a trail and that was fabulous (rails to trails here too). The sun was setting and in a way I was sorry I decided to leave Kampot so quickly. But, after sleeping with ants and in a pool of sweat for the 2nd night in a row, I was glad to be moving on.
For now, I will enjoy swimming in the sea and the walking along the beach.
