Kampot

Our next stop here in the Cambodia was the pleasant and relaxed Kampot town. Relatively new (and fastly growing) star on the local backpacking scene.

It took us some 2h and 30min by a van (5$/seat) and another 10 minutes (and 3$; overpriced) by a tuktuk to our Samon Village accomodation. The nice place by a river with a good atmosphere and native-like bamboo huts. Some 2km out of the Kampot town.

Staying in the two storey baboo and leaves bungalow would be really cool if it is not the closest one to the main road and you can not only hear a traffic but also cocks crowing (at 0:30am!?!), numerous dogs barking and howling (1am and 2:30am), cats fighting (3am) and some baby crying (3:30am).

Otherwise the place was really nice, with a good by the river restaurant and bar. And an opportunity for a good dip, swim or jump in the river. Which was greatly used and appreciated especially by the Tad. Who was soon not only able (and continuously willing to) jump into the water from a 2m platform, but after some training also make us all happy to do his first (but not last) headlong dive here.

17$/night. 7/10 (the night noise "-1"; otherwise great price/value ratio).

There are several "attraction" sights around the Kampot. A pepper farm, a "hidden lake" and a cave temple. Neither of those we have elaborated as interesting enough for us (or for us with the kids). Neither we were attracted to board one of five (or so) "sunset&firefly" evening tour boats (most of them really full of people). So we have just made a round-trip to the town (2$ tuktuk one way) to look around. Colonial, but still not renovated houses. Hipsters paradise with emerging cofe'n'bistro like scene. Tad was instantly attracted by one of the fishermans. And this, very nice, guy was ready to share his know-how, bait and rod. It turned out to be a person deported from the US after being imprisoned there for 23 years (rather did not ask for what, but as he said, he was part of some gang and "the gang did it"...). Anyway he was really nice and apparently this was his tactics to actively earn some coin. (couple of $ in this case).

Later on, while Katerina was with the kids on a playground Lukas managed to enjoy his "birthday present" blind massage (5$).

We can imagine that Kampot (and surroundings) can be a place to stay for much longer than just 2 nights. Maybe even to be the town that could be somehow easy to live in for a while. As it offers an easygoing access to good and inexpensive services together with a laid-back vibe.

Forward transport van ticket to Penh (per seat) = 7$, +-3hrs.