Cambodia: Khmer New Year Holiday; Part 1

Susadei chnam Khmei! Or Happy Khmer New Year as us westerners would say. Well after just one week's work at the orphanage I was already on vacation! It seems like Cambodia has a great deal of holidays so if you like vacationing it might be a great place to "work". Since we were all off for a week, we decided to go first to Sihanoukville, to enjoy a bit of beach and sun and then to Ratanakiri, to experience the northeastern part of Cambodia.
On Saturday I went with Margaux to Elsewhere pool to just hang out a bit (since we were not going to the beach until sunday afternoon) and update our families on the internet. We ended up not swimming, not sunbathing but spending the entire afternoon drinking pina coladas (5 actually)-they other got a nice laugh when we came home for dinner in very good spirits...literally. The next day I woke up early and went with Signe to the Russian Market to do some shopping for gifts and souvenirs to bring home as it was her last week in Phnom Penh before heading home to Denmark. On the way there we saw this:

This is a Cambodian public toilet

I thougth you might enjoy a little slice of Cambodia...people here actually pee on the street. It is not unusual to see buses stop on the roads in the country side to let all the men off for a pipi-stop. So sometimes you drive by a field and see dozens of men standing taking a leak! haha, always makes me laugh.
At 1 pm we were all headed for the beach in a black bus with a condom advertisement on it...needless to say it got very hot in the bus (because it was black...). The 5-hour trip seemed like ages but the landscapes were beautiful as was the sunset over the countryside.




When we arrived to Sihanoukville, the guesthouse we wanted to stay at (Monkey Republic) had just rented out one of their 2 last bungalows so we had to settle on another guesthouse (Cool Banana). We went for dinner and booked a boat cruise for the next day.

Margaux and I ready for the cruise...

We woke up early and went off to our cruise on a 3-floor yacht with food included and cheap drinks at the bar on the middle floor.

At the end of the port to the right lies our boat :)

The bar, which was mostly crowded with Germans and Austrian beer drinkers

Aaaah our sundeck. Very nice and comfy. But too much sun for most of us.

On top was the sundeck and it was fabulous! We felt really special (even sitting next to some annoying danish girls complaining about everything and everyone) as we set off to what was going to be a very beautiful day far far away from civilization. First we stopped so we could jump off the boat and snorkel around the coral reefs.

The beautiful colors

Here I cooooome!!! That was quite a high jump.

At first I couldn't see much underwater, everything seemed grayish and not so pretty but getting closer I started seeing colorful fish and plants. The water was very warm and when I started getting cramps I decided it was past noon and time for a cold beer. We had a nice lunch and continued to this paradise like beach which was untouched and devoid of humans (except for ourselves). In the distance we saw green forests, turquoise waters and white sand.

Paradise lost...and found!

Getting closer we saw the crystal clear water, the beauty of the island and I don't think I've ever been to a more beautiful beach.

Wouldn't you all want to be there?

Margaux and I enjoying our paradise!

We swam to shore and waited for the program which was led by 2 very friendly Germans. One of them was taking a group into the jungle forest and the other for a river walk into the mangroves. we decided to first go into the jungle. I felt like I was in LOST, it was so beautiful and although we didn't see any animals, it was fun to walk around in the forest.






We learned about Cambodia's tree mafia, basically tree poachers who cut trees down illegally and are responsible for Cambodia's growing deforestation.

Wood poachers...can you even say that?

Hiding from dangerous predators!

When we were out of the jungle we continued with the other German guy and his dog Lucy into the mangroves. Wow, I can definitely say that I thought I was an adventurer for a moment. The water was dark brown (due to bio degradation of the dead forest elements in the water) and I was walking barefoot in this "soup".

The river and its wonderful water

The German said, no worries, no snakes, crocodiles or anything dangerous. So we walked single filed behind him into the beautiful mangroves. It was truly a great experience and since I am still here I would conclude not too hazardous.

Margaux, Signe, Katherine, Emily and I

Beautiful vegetation

The only type of palm trees in the world that grow in water!

The only trees to grow downwards

Well after all this excitement and adventure I got thirsty and had myself a pina colada :)


Once we were back to the mainland and ready for more adventures we decided to go for dinner to a place called Snake House. A Russian owned restaurant who has a sort of vivarium inside its restaurant.

Cool place eh?

We heard that we could hold snakes there so we got very excited...only to be very disappointed since the man who took care of the snakes had gone home for the day. The place was beautiful though, like a jungle, very exotic and lots of reptiles to see. Even a crocodile pit!

Would you like a snake in your table perhaps?

Ooooo scary, the crocodile pit.

This really cute fellow was alone in a world of reptiles

Well after that evening Margaux and I felt bad so we stayed in and did not party. While the others had it a bit tougher the next day.

This place states loud and clear what everyone knows about Cambodia

The next day we had breakfeast on the beach followed by a manicure and pedicure session before we were on the road again back to Phnom Penh. Tuesday night was Signe's last night and we went out to Riverside for some cocktails. We came home early and Emily, Margaux and I packed our bagpacks and were ready for Ratanakiri and its looooong bus ride. More more details about that trip, see Part 2 of the Khmer New Year Holiday ;)