Just Friends Pt2

Leaving Phnom Penh wasn’t the easiest trip I’ve ever taken as it was one set back after another. It all started with a ticketing error on a website which had to be chased down for a refund. That took ages to solve so all the seats were initially sold out, luckily I managed to get two but when we arrived at the bus station our van was broke and the only bus we could get was the local crapper for the same price.

After much eye rolling and having surrendered to our situation, we finally got to Otres beach, Sihanoukville at 2230 – 9 hours after we had left our hotel for a journey that’s advertised as 3 1/2!

This was a place we used as a pit stop; the gateway to get to the Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem Islands.The journey to those islands would take us on our first boat ride together.

Now in the last post I described Steph as having a little trouble with transport. This is something I may have forgotten about when I was collecting the tickets and, whilst turning around looking for her, she appears with a face like a slapped arse! I’m thinking; “Bloody hell! She’s being really hard work this morning and miserable as sin”. It wasn’t until we walked up the pier that it clicked!

I held her hand as we went, she was shaking like a shitting dog bless her (and there’s me thinking she’s a miserable cow!) I had to chuckle. I apologised and told her the thoughts I was having; what an arse hole! As soon as we were away she was fine and I think after the fourth or fifth boat ride we’d been on she now enjoys them… Almost.

Both islands were incredible. We had a beach front bell tent for Koh Rong and stayed at the Mad Monkey Party Hostel for Koh Rong Samloem. The hostel is out on its own remote bay so had a real castaway feel to it. I recommend both, but maybe only a few nights at the hostel as it really is a constant party; one which we definitely discovered on our boat trip.

The group we went with started drinking at 0900 for someone’s birthday, it certainly reminded me of my last trip in 2011 but I’m sure I wasn’t that loud back then, never! It was good fun though and involved a bay with the clearest waters I have ever been in named Clear Water Bay (they thought long and hard when naming that one). We went snorkelling but it was pretty unimpressive. The best activity of the day was the fishing!

This opinion has nothing to do with me catching two fish and Steph catching none. I know you all don’t care about fishing and it’s probably not worth mentioning, but it was the first fish I’ve ever caught in my life! Only taken 30 years to become a real man and when you see the size of the fish I am sure you’ll all agree it was a beast!

Other than the partying it was a blissful few days on beautiful islands chilling out and getting some sun. Sometimes it’s great to do nothing!

Otres Beach