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Hey everyone
Had an amazing weekend in Kampot and Kep. We left on the Friday afternoon to travel up and were driving through the mountains as the sun was setting, it was absolutely perfect, so so beautiful!We arrived at our guesthouse which was really nice, we stayed in huts that looked like tree houses and the rooms were beautiful.The next morning we got up early to go into Kampot, we went on the back of a truck to Bokor mountain, the truck was so crowded and the road was extremely bumpy because of all the old holes from the land mines, not the most comfortable trip but well worth it. We drove up through the jungle which apparently had tigers in it but unfortunatly we didnt see any!At the top was an old station which was also used by the Khmer Rouge as dungeons and a killing field, there was still torture beds in there, it was really creepy, especially as being up so high we were in amongst the clouds and they were drifting through the building and the wind was howling, it was horrible. The views from the top were amazing though!We also went to visit the wat which had lovely paintings all over the walls.We were just about to get in the truck when we saw a monkey, so so cute!!
We were then taken on a trip down the jungle river to see the sunset, it was so pink against the water. Me, Charlotte and Steph went swimming, the water was so warm and not at all dirty, it was so nice. When we got back to our guesthouse we went down to the local fish market for dinner, everyone loved it!
Sunday morning we took a boat over to Rabbit island where we stayed the night. We were basically the only people on the island , we walked round the bay and had the beach and water to ourselves, bliss!We spent the whole day swimming and laying in hammocks on the beach, it was fantastic!The hut that we stayed in was extremely basic, we just lay on the bamboo floor with a mosquito net over us, it didnt have a lock on the door and there were loads of wild animals just outside. We also spent the night with a 2 foot long lizard sharing our room which terrified me a bit at first but kinda just got used to the idea. The toilet situation was much worse, just squatting wherever, and we showered in dirty stream water, nice!!
Really didnt want to leave the island but had to go to Takeo province to stay with our Khmei friend, Non and his family for the Kings Birthday celebration. As soon as we got there we were taken in as part of the family, we met everyone and then they sat us down to a huge lunch, which was delicious. We spent most of that day just talking and lying around in hammocks, but we did go into the village to meet some other families who have never seen westerners before so all just stared at us and took pictures, some did talk and i ended up getting lots of cuddles with a little baby boy who was gorgeous!That evening we had a huge party at his house which they threw especially for us, they are so generous and go to so much effort. The whole village came, although some were to shy so stayed outside the gates and just watched all night there must have been at least 100 people outside!We did traditional Khmei dancing as well as Khmei hip hop which was so much fun, everyone was so drunk, drinking a mixture of beer and rice wine, not nice!It was such a great night, I think they wanted us to stay forever!
The next morning we joined his whole family to the pagoda for the celebration of the kings birthday. Everyone was so dressed up in their traditional Khmei outfits, they looked stunning!The festival was basically just moving around talking to lots of different people and eating and drinking lots. Everyone found us fascinating and couldnt stop staring at us, they have never seen westerners before. The boys kept joking that we were celebrities, film stars, but I just felt like an animal in a zoo!The festival was amazing, there were so many people around having such a good time. We later got to join in in the parade around the pagoda where the women carry the gifts to the monks on their heads, you walk round three times and then go in to pray and listen to what offerings everybody gave, when they read out ours, everyone turned round and stared at us. After lunch we got a lift back to Phnom Pehn with his Aunt and cousins, all squished in a van, we were all so sad to leave. But I ended my weekend well because we went down to the river front and I turned round and there was an elephant right behind us, so amazing!!!!
Am going to Angkor Wat next week after the water festival in Phnom Pehn, will write then, lots of love, Laura xxx
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