16.11.2022 - The last days in Cambodia

White sandy beaches, palm trees, and crystal clear water - Koh Rong is considered a true paradise island. After countless impressions of the past few days and many kilometers in (night) buses, it's the perfect place to relax and catch up on some rest. After a short ferry ride, I was picked up at the harbor and taken directly to the accommodation. Koh Rong is the complete opposite of Sihanoukville. While the city on the mainland is almost entirely cemented, the small island is still very unspoiled. In this case, original also means that there are only a few well-developed roads, no traditional supermarkets, and electricity is generated by generators. Overall, it's a place where things are a bit quieter. However, the drive to the hostel had little to do with tranquility. Together with other backpackers, I sat on the ramp of an old jeep, although sitting is not the right description. We were flying over the ramp. Without regard for losses, the hostel owner raced over gravel roads, through water ditches, and dusty streets. Sweaty and completely dusty, we arrived at our hostel after a short time. After a brief visit to the premises, we went straight to the beach. As announced, I was actually greeted by white sand and crystal clear water. However, the truth is that the beaches on Koh Rong are almost all lined with trash. In general, this is nothing new to me, as waste disposal is not given much importance throughout Southeast Asia. However, it is doubly sad to see this in such a small paradise.

In the first night, I experienced the "originality" firsthand. Not only did hundreds of mosquitoes feast on me, but it was also incredibly hot. Since there are no air conditioners, we relied on fans. However, these are powered by electricity. And the electricity on the island is cut off in the afternoon and from 2 am to 8 am. No electricity, no fan, Florian was hot. I wanted adventure, and I got it.

The adventure continued the next day. We explored the island and the many beaches until the afternoon with a scooter. When the first clouds appeared in the sky, we packed up our things and headed back to the scooter. However, it was too late. We hadn't driven 100 meters when the sky opened its floodgates like I had never experienced before. It rained and thundered incessantly. Good thing I had let go of that swimsuit. Fortunately, we managed to find a small abandoned hut that protected us from the worst. When the rain eased slightly, we continued our journey - this time for 300 meters. It started all over again, heavy rain, lightning, and thunder. And again, we took shelter, this time at a small roadside stand, where we were greeted by three locals who seemed to be using the storm as an opportunity for a little drinking session. Unfortunately, we couldn't understand what they were trying to tell us - maybe it was better that way. After two more stops, we actually arrived at the hostel when it got dark.

We also spent the last days on Koh Rong mainly on the beach. We usually rented a scooter in the morning, found a roadside vendor to have breakfast, and then headed to the various beaches. After a total of four days, our batteries were recharged, and I was ready for the next country. We took the ferry to the mainland in the morning at half past 10, where the bus was already waiting to take me back to Phnom Penh. Here, I had three hours to eat something and stretch my legs. But at 10 pm, I once again got on the bus, with the destination being Thailand, specifically Bangkok. As befits an overnight bus ride, it was adventurous again this time. At 6 am, the bus driver gestured for us to leave the bus - of course, he couldn't speak English. We were standing in a village, and no one knew if we were at the border or if the stop was just a break. After finally finding a local who could translate, it quickly became clear that we were right in front of the Thai border. So now it was time to shoulder the backpack and go to the border control. It took about an hour for me to have the exit stamp from Cambodia and the entry stamp from Thailand in my passport. And what do you do after about 18 hours of bus ride? Right, you get on the next bus. Luckily, it was the last leg of this trip. After another four hours, and a total of about 26 hours, I finally reached Bangkok around noon. What a ride! But I was really excited about Bangkok and Thailand.

A brief conclusion about Cambodia: In comparison to Vietnam, I didn't really warm up to Cambodia. I can't exactly say why. But from the beginning, I didn't feel quite comfortable. Maybe I was in the wrong places, maybe the events surrounding the Khmer Rouge affected me too much, I don't know. Although I could have stayed in Cambodia for three more weeks, I was glad to break camp there and embark on the adventure of Thailand. Maybe I have to/should give Cambodia another chance at some point.