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The town of Sihanookville is basically a tourist town consisting of a few roads all leading to the beach. It is very easy to see how some people get "stuck" there for weeks, since everything is very cheap and there is a huge nightlife scene. Although it would have been fun to stay there for a while we used the city as a place to stay for a night while going to bamboo Island. We did however find a very cool bungalow set in the jungle just up from the beach for the night, and some amazing BBQ on the beach.
The next morning we set out for the island, and it deffinately was an adventure. We arrived at the hotel where a van was going to drive us and the other travellers to the port where the boat was waiting. After waiting for an hour the van didnt show up so they arranged other transportation... The back of someones pickup truck. When it arrived we, along with the other 10 people, thought it was a joke. The truck was loaded up with drinks, food, and ice for island, leaving very little room for us to sit. Once everyone wedged themselves into the truck bed we were of for our "20" minute drive. And over an hour later, after a very fun drive where we saw some cool scenery and met all of the people we would spend the next few days with, we arrived at a field. From here we had to climb over a few rocks, slosh through a muddy water cove, and climb into the wooden boat.
Once everything was loaded into the boat we were off. The boatride was great, the water was choppy but it was a great time. On the ride we learned that the island only had elecricity a few hours a night and we would be the only people on it. A nice break from all of the cities we have been in up until now. Arriving there was like something from a movie. We got out of the boat on a shady sandy beach and had to trek through the jungle to the opposite side of the island where our bungalows were. When we emerged from the jungle we were shocked, it was more beautiful than expected. Palm trees, white sand, and crashing waves.
The next 2 days we swam, explored, and built a sandcastle (Deans first) during the days. At night everyone gathered in a much larger open bungalow and we ate and drank the nights away. The parties we had there were some of the most fun I think we have ever had, Dean even danced!
On the 3rd day most people left the island in the morning but we decided to stay another day to hang out just us and get some more sun. Unfortunately whatever we had for breakfast gave us food poisoning. Not the can't leave the washroom for a while kind, but the feels like a cross between being hit by a bus and having the flu kind. For 36 hours we did not leave the bed, except to use the bathroom. I have never been so sick, and definately just wanted my Mommy to come make it better. Imagine being shivering cold in paradise where the tempurature doesnt drop below 30 degrees. Very weird.
After a few more days there we completely recovered, and decided to leave the island and head to Siem Reap. We checked out of our bungalow but had alot of time to kill untill the boat was leaving so we explored a little more. Somewhere in that time the boat driver decided to leave early, so when we returned with a little time to spare we were told they had left without us, and if we ran it may be possible to catch them. So with our bags we ran through the jungle and just caught the boat as it was pulling away.
Bamboo Island was paradise. I never would have thought I would be more ready to leave a place like that but getting on that boat was relief to say the least. I'm writing this a few days later however, and I already would love to go back.
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