Until I get on one of my colleague's sister's[Cheata] friend car I didnt know the people with whom i am going.. I was introduced to Bernard [a guy who is working in UN] and Vanna [Tuk Tuk driver and guide]. so we are 4 people going to a destination which is very famous tourist spots.
[Manish, Cheata and Vanna]
[Cheata, Manish, Vanna and bernard]
Our journey started 7:00 am.. Phnom Penh [PP] traffic is horrible always so we took 35 minute to come out of PP.. The land scape on both the sides of road is mind blowing..we were crossing small river lets and greenery around..
Bernard [french guy] is a nice guy who is working on "khmer rouge" investigation and is having lots of nice story to talk. Vanna is very interesting khmer guy who has gathered good command over English as well got some good knowledge of different part of cambodia/ world.
[Bernard]
Cheata is a nice lady working with bernard in the same UN office did her studies in France [6 years] and she is a notary.. she has alot to talk to bur she felt more comfortable to talk in french so she switched to franch more often and bernard has to translate for me and vanna..
bernard volunteered to drive his car with one broken finger in right hand.
We talked alot about variety of topics on the way... we bought kites to fly on beach....
since morning.. we were really wondering . no idea where we are heading.... .... We reached to a nice place "mangrove jungle" at Kohkong.. we decided to take a boat ride thru jungle to small island... it was really fun.. the sun was too hot but the water was cool!!! it was giving us nice cool breeze ..... we had 1.5 hrs ride... by then it was already 3:00 PM...
we started inquiring about the place to stay in kohkong.. Bernard was having contacts... we used all .. the sad news was no place was empty... we decided to try our luck.. we drove over bridge.. we reached to Thailand border.. where the patch of land is a "free zone".... when we stop our car I saw mind blowing building.. it was better then palace... it was a 5star hotel... i knew it was going to be very costly.. we still tried.. they said 55 USD/night.. not bad compared to the class.. .. still there is no point in spending too much ... so we decided to go to another hotel next to it.... same case..... ... we were almost ready to spend 55..... but we thought lets give one more try.. we took turn.. 100 mt down the 5star there was a guest house.. and surprisingly we got 7 USD/night a room.. of course there was no aircondition.. the room were without windows...... fortunately they has exhaust.. :) it was definitely horrible ... so we decided to stay there one night and find another place next day.. bernard and cheata decided to go for swimming 6 am.. i decided to stay in bed for long.. i promised them to join for break fast..
It was late evening.. we wanted to touch he beach... we drove long to reach the beach.. it was almost dark.. most of the people have left.. we could see some some people walking on beach.. sun was going down... it was beautiful seen.. the sky was red ......
we flew kites.. we spend 15-20 min. and then sun set and it was dark... we left the beach and decided to nourish us with rich food..
we reach to the sea side seafood restaurant.. we had fantastic dinner.. we really enjoyed it.. we were too tired... we went to guests house and took some rest.. the 5star hotel had a casino and a night club.. we were excited to visit.... we got ready and reach there.. there was a big casino place... but no night club...and we also came to know there is no night club in vicinity either..... we got dis-hearted .. we came back.. we decided to go to another small place on beach were we could see some stalls.. most of them closed... we wanted to go to karaoke place... ... we walked.. but karaoke was almost closed.... we decided to go back.. cheata suggested to sit on beach for a while and talk.. bernard and I agreed ... we set there and talked for a while..... we came back
We had a nice breakfast.. ...we then decided to visit Vanna's uncle place and to see a patch of land.. bernard was interested to buy... it was a nice place... just on beach..... around 70000 USD. [35 mt x 100 mt].. we decided to go to safari world.. a park in Kohkong.. we wanted to see dolphin show.. but it was not in schedule.. the guard suggested to go to "crocodile show".. we rushed..... it was just started....
mind blowing.. stunning show.... i missed my heart beats many time....
there were 3 crocodile .. and 3 people in the ring.. 2 young boys and 1 girl... they were playing with croc.. two giant crock... they were pulling and pushing them... the local commentary was going on... i didnt understand but it was kind of making more exciting.. the boys put the hand [palm] in the mouth of croc.. and a swift of second he took it out before croc bite... i could hear solid sound of bite.. very hard... :).... he did it 3 times....
then the tempo was built up.... they announced that boys will put their head in the mouth of corc.... stunning... complete silence... in crowed.. hundreds of people were watching this show..... boys put the head in the mouth... my goodness!!!... then the girl.. then the boy ....... they did it thrice......
the height was when they announced that girl will put her hand in croc's mouth.. i could not stand anymore.. i walked away... to me it was complete inhuman.. i felt i should not encourage this kind of things... anways.. i could not do anything other then walking away....
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finally we decided to drive to sianukville.. a famous beach in cambodia.. we reach there at 5:00 pm... we met one of the friends of bernard.. they were all french speaking.. so i enjoyed my silence for 45/60 min..
we then came to queen hill resort.. nice wooden bungalows.. i had some stomach pain.. ... we rented bunglows @ 25 USD/night...
Vanna's cousin had arranged barbecue but because of my stomach pain i excluded myself and decided to sleep for a while...
bernard and cheata came back at around 9:30.. they picked me up and we went to a nice night club.. Utopia..they had nice music.. the club was full of foreigners [known as "barang" in local language] and locals .. .. we enjoyed dancing ... 4 of us danced like hell till 1:30... we drove back and we saw another club.. we decided to join that too.. we danced again..... total fun till 2:30... came back...
morning plan was to go for swimming but bernard and cheata were not sure when /where... i slept well.. i was damn sure to go for swimming in the morning. so went on beach at around 6:45 am..
wowwww....... what a beach.. full of white send... nice shallow water... cool one.... i really went mad.... i swam for almost 1 hr.. and i saw bernard and cheata coming.. they were not in a mood to swim.. cheata took walk... bernard joined me for swiming for 5 min and we decided to go for breakfast....
The beach had series of restaurent on one side where we can find any sort of breakfast.. local, khmer, intercontinental.. we went for inter continental BF.. very good after 1 hr of swimming... then we enjoyed sun bath for quite some time.....
cheeata was busy talking to bernard in french and i was enjoying my favourite thing.. observing people.. i saw local vendors selling fruit, shawl, wrist belt, kitchen, bangles.... hell lot of items.. i saw few families.. enjoying holidays... saw kids enjoying swimming and making fun with sand and water...... saw people /kids enjoying banana boat rides.. it was fantastic morning..
we came back.. we checked out.... we went on sea side .. did kite flying for some time.... ... we went to local market for buying some items... especially cheata wanted to buy some gift for her family.... we came to a big market... she walked straight to a crab shop.. .. my god.. so many crabs tied with piece of cloth kept in water trays..... she bought kilo of crab... 6 usd/kilo.. they were alive..... she decided to boil them up as we had 4-5 hrs journey back.... we went to a shop were they helped her boiling... the process of boiling was cruel.. the guy pushed knife in the eyes of crabs and rotate ruthlessly .. the crabs shivered for a while and died... then he boiled them up ....
we were then ready to go back to PP....
cheata put the boiled crabs in dickey right behind me.... me and vanna were sitting on back seat.... .. the smell was horrible... we could not bear it... we opened the window.... some what relaxing...... still the whole car was full of boiled crab smell.. :)
we came back around 7:45 PM.. it was a fantastic journey..
I found good friends like bernard, vanna and cheata.. especially bernard is a real good person..I liked him much.
:)
