Cambodia - Sihanoukville

Finally I am in Sihanoukville, called Kampong Som on the Gulf of Thailand full of white-sand beaches.

MY PLAN WAS :

- I will arrive late in Sihanoukville, the best will be to find the party, JJ’s seems to be the best choice, it's on the beach.

- Visit Ream National Park : I am thinking of renting a motorbike (around 6 $) and go for a 45 minutes ride, it's only 15km east of Sihanoukville to Ream National Park. It costs 1000 riel for the road and 16000 riel for the entrance. There is more than 81 square miles of natural beauty and it will take me 3 to 4 hours to go around the park. It's full of amazing beaches, mangrove forests, there are also two islands, coral reefs, waterfalls.

WHAT I REALLY DID :

I woke up around 8 am, it will also be a fast day as per my boat to Koh Rong is at 3 pm. I did not negotiate the passport thing this time because the agency to rent a scooter was in front of my hotel and he also gave me a discount, 3$ for the all morning with the scooter.

It took me around 40 minutes to reach the park, I have not seen anyone asking me to pay for entry which is a good news, maybe when i reached there they were still sleeping haha. I still feel amazingly free on my little scooter, i got lost at first and reached the naval based they told me "NO" and i had to turn around, back on the red road which is their main road i am driving along the beach, and then nothing for like 10 minutes I had a key point on my map "Monkey Maya" where the beach were supposed to look amazing for I continue driving and I am really asking myself if i am not already lost there is nothing really nothing apart from some constructions site, which means men looking at me alone passing the forest ... um i don't really like it but let's continue people are coming here in the famous monkey maya hotel it might not be that dangerous. after maybe 10 minutes panicking because there is nothing i finally found a bridge.

For those who don't know i am a big fan of bridge especially the one made of wood ... waaaa this one is splendid I feel more relax now. as per i continue the road the beaches get more and more gorgeous obviously i am the only one here and it's magical.

Arriving at the beach, on Google they show a lots of road but there there is nothing the road finish at the beach and it's impossible to pass, from now there is 2 choices, go back the same way (along the constructions site) or take a turn left on the little road).

Even if it's on Google Maps it does not necessary means it's a proper road, i made the experience and that was scary, lost 10 km away from any other houses, i decided to take this way which look to my like a walking trail way. Not the best idea. After 10 minutes riding I have no chance to turn back and was facing what look like little river, i get off my scooter, check the floor with my foot and decided to pass ... Amazing it works I continue my way a bit stress by the idea that their is no turn back, but i am talking to myself and reinsuring me, "no worries everything will be alright, it's only 10 am, you have a lot of time." In the sand track i motivate myself by"ok don't slow down, keep going, it's going well". Actually no that well, a new river appear in front of me, I am in a mess, the scooter did not pass I have few second to react before the scooter sur drown into it. I step full legs in the little river and move the scooter as much as i can, the scooter is stuck, I scream that this is not happening, the scooter get off i jump on it. It took me more than 1h30 to find the way back to a kind of main road, when i saw the end of it i was so relax. Except that I actually arrive in the middle of a shooting navy military camp that run after me telling me to get off the way. NO injuries, the scooter and my legs are full of mood, my head full of adventure, time to go back to the hotel (i won't mention that i missed the road to the hotel and got stuck in trafic by 2000 students celebrating).

Arriving at the hotel, i am taking a small lunch and continue my blog post in front of Otres 1 beach. 14h it's time to get pick up for the Koh Rong island. And the day of weird things to happen is not over. Arrived at the boat 1h before departure, i am going to confirm my ticket, and notice that they sell me the wrong one at the hostel. NO WAYYYYYYYYY, so basically the 2 places i am planning to go are not link to each other and I have to buy a new ticket for 20 $ more. Instead of reaching Koh Rong Samloem as planned I finally arrived in Koh Rong, Koh Touch beach. I have no idea where i am, i stop few people to understand how the beach is working and that i don't get a room in front of a party. 1 hour later I checked in in Smile and start walking around. At dinner, i got nice recommandation to go to the Chai family to eat, there i got my first Lok Lak for 2,5$.