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I've just left Kep heading up to Phnom Penh for a night before going to my last port of call, Siem Reap. I originally booked in for just one night but extended by two because I really enjoyed my time there. I've found I've kind of switched into holiday mode down here and have really enjoyed it, more than Kampot in fact. Again it's not a big place and in all fairness there isn't a great deal to see or do but there is a nice buzz to the place.
I stopped in a guesthouse that literally had a view of Kep National Park, I was right on it's doorstep. The room was quite cheap but I had my own balcony with stunning views and the lady that ran the show there was absolutely lovely with a few of the cutest kids I've ever seen. The boy would draw me pictures of aeroplanes and then say they were "elephants" so obviously I corrected the little scamp. And the young girl had the biggest eyes ever, lovely little family.
Over my time in Kep I basically only visited an island close by, called Koh Tunsay or Rabbit Island is it's commonly known. which was about 4.5 km SW of Kep. It was used as a place to rehabilitate criminals back in the day and has two beautiful beaches which I spent my time lounging on. It's only a couple of km squared so I just bimbled around and also ate some delightful seafood (again). I also walked the 7km or so trail in the national park which was incredibly scenic. Other than that my time was basically spent eating and drinking like a champion. I was there over a weekend and Kep beach was always full of locals who obviously head there for a bit of RnR. They set up little mats just off the beach in the shade, drink, play football, swim in the se and generally have a lot of fun. It was really enjoyable just embracing their way of life. I got to know a young group who I played football with and also had a few beers with. And also shared some chicken and a Chinese rice wine with some local old chaps. All in all it was a top weekend.
The highlight of Kep, for me, was the crab market. Fresh crab is caught daily literally a stones throw from where this market is situated. There are shacks that extend kind of into the sea and these make up the restaurants that border the crab market. I found a great restaurant called "Holy Crab!" and I think I ate here daily. Literally overlooking the ocean where you could watch the locals on their boats, tending to the crab baskets. Water up to their chest, emptying these baskets in sometimes quite choppy seas. Yet they still managed to smoke a cigarette while doing this. Great effort on their behalf, that's dedication that. My first meal there was simply fresh crab. 3 crabs for about 5 dollars or so. When they brought them out to me they seemed to procrastinate in bringing me the cutlery I needed to smash these chaps open. So I started just attempting to break them myself, obviously with minimal success. I'm sure this procrastination was done on purpose! Just to see me struggle. But in the end they came out with some nut cracker looking things and I was able to get them down me. Best crab I've ever had, hands down. I also tried shark while there which was tasty and also had the local famous dish, Crab Amok which is basically a crab curry, a bit like an Indian korma id say and that was cooked exquisitely.
So now I have a bus journey back to Phnom Penh, 24 hours there and then another bus journey to Siem Reap where I'll spend my last 5 days. The dream, on this occasion, is almost over.
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