Koh Rong Sanloem - a little piece of paradise

I didn't really have Koh Rong Sanloem on my radar. Sure, I had read about it in the travel guide and heard about it from other travelers, but that was about it. I only knew that I wanted to go from Siem Reap to the south coast of Cambodia. When I had to decide on a place or an island to visit, I chose Koh Rong Sanloem. And that turned out to be a fantastic choice: After a long and uncomfortable ride on a sleeping bus, I arrived in paradise at 9am by speedboat: white beaches, clear water, small bungalows and beach bars, hammocks and swings, and happy hour almost everywhere.

But on the island, you can do more than just relax and soak up the sun. You can also take short "hikes" through the jungle to the other side of the island, to peaceful and beautiful beaches, or to a lighthouse.

Maybe you still remember my blog post about bioluminescence in Belize, the glowing plankton. It's hard to believe that you can experience such a magical moment again. But here in Cambodia, you can actually witness this phenomenon, and the experience is just as magical the second time around. It's even a little bit better because we were equipped with snorkeling masks and could experience the glowing plankton underwater.

It's a bit sad that the Chinese are slowly taking over the island and many new hotels are being built. The small paradise may not be the same in the coming years.