I was pleased to get away from city life for a while while travelling with a camera.  I knew I would love Kampot as soon as I arrived.  The welcome at Rikitikitavi, was I must say, the best welcome ever.  The team at Rikitikitavi is slick and go out of their way to ensure you have an amazing stay in town.  

I travelled to Kampot which is on the Praek Tuek Chhu river from Phnom Penh on the Giant Ibis bus.  10US$, 3 hours, 145kms – great service.  A quick jump in a tuk tuk down to the riverfront (1US$) and I had arrived in my oasis.  I was sipping a welcome cocktail in the rooftop river view bar within seconds…  A nice touch here, which I have never seen before, is that you can take your breakfast anytime throughout the day.  Then a wander around the town to get my bearings and see what local life is like in Kampot.  

Kampot has a beautiful riverside with amazing views of Bokor National Park – more on that in a later blog.  You can’t miss the Durian Roundabout when you arrive in town and there is a small night market here.  The Lotus Pond must be amazing when in full flower.

The other must for me was an early start.  Up at 5AM to go and watch the local fishermen return from their 12 hours shift out at sea to unload their catch.  They pass this to the local ladies who are dressed so beautifully and colourfully to sell.  Lots of hussle and bustle and one not to be missed when travelling with a camera.

Then a day trip to the countryside and Kep.  Chok, was our tuk tuk driver for the day (25US$).  The views and people were amazing throughout.  The photographs and descriptions really do not do it justice.  The country road is bumpy in a tuk tuk to say the least, however, if it was twice as bad, I wouldn’t have missed this one.  Chok showed us the ladies working in the salt fields, and rice fields harvesting their crop – these people work so hard just to feed the family.  As you drive around Kampot, you see copious amounts of rice drying on the roadside – I have no idea how it doesn’t blow away!

We also visited:

• the Starling Pepper Plantation.  You must try a Kampot pepper sauce while you are here to tantalise your taste buds.  Rick Stein also featured Kampot pepper in his programme and visited the area.
• Phnom Chhnork, a Hindu cave built in the 7th centre and dedicated to Shiva, a Hindu god.
• the secret lake which doubles as a moped wash!

The children were delighted to see you and waved and shouted hello.  They have very little, however, you will not see happier children.  They were just enjoying playing in the haystacks, out with their homemade kite or having fun riding a bike – lovely to see.  We were also lucky enough to see a calf being born, mother and baby were doing well when we passed again 15 minutes later.

Then it was onward to Kep, a coastal town famous for its Crab Market.  It is a must when in town to visit one of the many restaurants serving up local seafood.  Kampot pepper sauce with mine please…. Then a short drive down to the beach which is pretty.  You can see Rabbit Island from here which you can also visit by boat.  There are bars and accommodation in Kep, but not much else.  So a great place to chill if that is your thing.

Chok was a star today – he gave us loads of information on the local area nothing was too much trouble.  

If you are ever this way, do not miss a stay at Rikitikitavi – thank you team!