After their introduction to Koh Kong, it was time to experience the more touristy aspects of the town and surrounds.
Accompanied by their more knowledgeable housemate Bruce, they were introduced to the extensive and bustling local market which covers an entire block in the center of the town.
The local Koh Kong Market
The market is a huge under-cover warehouse filled with stalls and trestle tables where almost everything you can think of is on offer for purchase by the locals. Some locals even sitting in the middle of the walk ways offering up their wares. The variety of fresh vegetables, fruit, eggs, breads and pastries, meat and sea food, is incredible. Besides fresh produce, there is a vast variety of clothing, tailors made clothing, jewelry, hairdressers, cosmetic and nail salons massage parlors and a food court, where locals offer their freshly made interesting and tantalizing meals. With vendors sitting in the middle of the walk ways, one has to weave through the maze, side-stepping baskets of live fish and crabs attempting to jump out of captivity without colliding with other shoppers, quite an accomplishment. There is a constant buzz of people selling, haggling and generally chatting in the rather melodic Cambodian language, Khmer (the official language of Cambodia. With approximately 16 million speakers, it is the second most widely spoken Austroasiatic language after Vietnamese).
As the market place is incredibly full with every nook and cranny capitalized on, the air is very close, hot and humid. You often feel claustrophobic, as if you are struggling to breathe, at which point it is time to pop out to the outside stalls for a breath of fresh air before venturing back into the under-cover world of people, aromas and sounds. Their new housemate and market tour guide, Bruce, a sprightly, well traveled and very interesting 70 year old (who doesn’t look his age at all), introduced, the two newbies to his favourite tropical fruit, Mangosteens. This tasty fruit vaguely resembles a grenadela on the outside and a lychee on the inside but has a subtle sweet taste which is totally unique and incredible.
They faithfully followed Bruce, to the food market where local vendors were preparing various interesting local foods. Bruce led them to his favourite food stall where they quickly made themselves comfortable on the bench just vacated by satisfied patrons. They watched with interest at the various meals being prepared for patrons who were waiting for their take away meals. On recommendation from Bruce, they decided on a dish which was basically a pancake-thin omelette with chicken filling, bean-sprouts and a variety of fresh herbs and leaves, sprinkled with a very tasty dressing and crushed peanuts, prepared fresh while you waited. They also ordered two fresh spring rolls of rice, peanuts, flavourful leaves, herbs and spices. These were not fried but wrapped in a thin soft type wrapping accompanied by a sweet chili spicy vinaigrette dipping sauce, absolutely mouth-watering and so tasty. While enjoying their meal, they watched the two local Cambodian ladies prepare a variety of meals which all looked just as tasty. Another visit to this particular stall is a definite as both are very interested to try something different from the freshly prepared tasty fare on offer. This incredible tasty meal for two cost them 6 500 Riel – equivalent to 1.5 dollar – equivalent to R21.
The currency confusion was too much for Richard who attempted to pay for a 6 500 Riel meal with 6 X 10 000 Riel notes. The lovely, honest young lady handed back the 50 000 Riel over paid, with a smile. Lesson learnt! Watch those “0′”s Richard! They left the market with freshly baked mini french loaves and ripe avocado’s to enjoy later.
Trip to Koh Yor Beach
9 am on Sunday morning, and Richard and Mandy aboard their Tuk Tuk, were ready for a day out to the local beach.
Mr Scriv, the very helpful and friendly Tuk Tuk driver, took his passengers for the day, across the Kah Pao River bridge, overland to the lovely secluded, unspoiled and peaceful Koh Yor beach. He dropped them off outside the Crab Shack beach restaurant, where they were welcomed in to sit and make themselves comfortable.
The Crab Shack is a rustic quaint establishment over looking an untouched non commercialized stretch of beach. One is able to relax in hammocks with a picturesque view of this beautiful beach while listening to the sound of the waves. Absolute paradise.
The sand on the beach is covered in small sea shells and the sea water a bit cloudy (probably from the rains the day before). One has to walk out quite far to be able to swim. Although the water was quite warm, it was good to be back in the sea again.
After a meal of battered deep fried chicken and french fries (while being watched by a somewhat proud Rooster), they enjoyed cold refreshments while watching other visitors to the beach, enjoying themselves.
After relaxing for several hours and having had a somewhat refreshing swim, it was time to make their way to the Mangroves.
Trip to the Mangroves
A few kilometres outside of Koh Kong City is the Paem Krasaop Mangrove Sanctuary. These huge forests of trees grow out of the water, their multiple roots reaching out in a spider-leg tangle down into the sea-bed below. Above the water level is a lush, dense greenery, seemingly growing on stilts while the water rests and flows between the roots as the tide rises and falls.
Following a walkway through the mangroves the air is still and quiet with only muted bird sounds breaking the silence. At the small pier, Scriv arranged for a boat to take them around the mangrove forests and back to where he will wait for them in his Tuk Tuk. The trip through the Mangroves took about an hour and cost 10 dollars (equivalent to R140). As the boat chugged its way out onto the waters, with a forest of mangroves lining either side, the two were again reminded of Vietnam war movies.
The channel slowly widened out and the spectacular breadth and sheer expanse of the area became breathtakingly apparent. It is simply huge, and as the left and right banks drew further away, isolated clumps of mangroves dotted the waters ahead and to the sides like small islands with channels and waterways disappearing deeper into the forests. The chugging of the engine and the sound of the water flowing past the boat was incredibly peaceful. Every now and then another boat would pass by, some with only a single fisherman and others with a number of passengers. The slow and steady pace of the boat brought home to the two travelers the needlessness of haste and the constant rushing around which seems to dictate the pace of life back in the Western world where this quality of life is sadly missing.
The boat eventually reached the entrance to the mangroves and the two met up with their Tuk Tuk again for the trip back. They were dropped off by Ritthy’s to have a quick beer and to mull over their days amazing experiences. The somewhat regular afternoon thundershower started gently drizzling on the way and by the time they reached Ritthy’s had built up to an impressive rainstorm. They sat looking out at the riverside, chatting and drinking beer while the raindrops beat down in front of them.
Photo Gallery of the mangrove forest
Later the evening, while walking along the riverside on their way to dinner, they were blessed with the most amazing sunset. The sunsets over the river are absolutely magnificent and probably of the most beautiful sunsets ever seen.
A beautiful ending to another beautiful day on their journey…………