National Parks

Kampot should be a really lovely town, set on the river with lively markets and several impressive Wats. It is however home to many poor Cambodian families and incoherent western druggies and drunks. It is dirty and characterless, which is a shame because it has loads of potential. The only thing of interest apart from talking to the locals is Bokor National Park in which the king used to reside many moons ago and where the Khymer Rouge had an impressive stronghold.

We decided to do a tour with 'Monkey tours' who took us up in a 4WD on an atrocious road through the most amazing scenery. The journey up took 3 hrs, but we were rewarded with an amazing view from the Black Palace, which looks more like a war bunker these days. After a traditional Khmer Curry (see photo) we went to a Casino and a haunting church. All now derelict, but impressive none the less.

On the way down our4WD spluttered to a stop and in true Cambodian style the driver simply said, "We've run out of petrol". Two hrs later a man in a truck arrived with a can of gas and we were off again down the bumpiest road in existence. Our sunset cruise turned into a moonlight cruise and we got back to the hotel exhausted at 8pm. Great experience tho!

Ream National Park is near Sinahoukville in the south of Cambodia. We had a much more relaxed day here. A peaceful cruise past the mangroves and women neck deep in water looking for cockles and then a walk through the jungle, to the beach for a swim.

Panicked monkeys sprang through the trees as we disturbed their slumber and sea eagles hunted near the boat oblivious to the noise of our motor. The only school for the 45 families within the park is one funded by the Korean Church and children walk for 4 hours at the start and end of the week to go.