What to do?
I woke up at around 9:30am. We went for breakfast at a café nearby that had been recommended to us by someone we spoke to yesterday. I had a very big bowl of muesli with yoghurt and honey…it was beautiful. This is becoming one of my favourite breakfasts! During and after breakfast, Mat and I deliberated on what to do for the day. Julie had gone off her own somewhere, so it was just the 2 of us. There were a few things to do, such as paddle boarding, a tour of the pepper production, a tour of the salt fields, and some others out of town. We weren’t so keen on going on a tour, so we opted for a DIY option.
It was already searing hot today, that doesn’t bode well at this early hour. The heat really makes you sluggish and not want to move much. Mat and I decided to have a walk to the salt fields, which weren’t too far away. We left the hostel to embark on our 8km journey to the salt fields’ exhibition centre. It was already very hot when we left, and as the clock headed towards noon, the heat only intensified. We walked alongside the river and down a country road, so it was pretty quiet. Due to the peacefulness, Mat and I were able to have some good conversations about anything and everything. Been a while since we had time to talk to each other like this. Travelling always throws things at you and keeps you busy.
The exhibition centre
Along the way, we spoke to a couple of locals who were hanging out by the river, they’re always very friendly. After what seemed like a day of a walking, only an hour had passed, and it felt as though we were turning crispy in the heat. We had begun to see the salt fields, and there were loads of them. Most were empty, so we guessed that it was not in season just yet. The further we went along; the more signs of life we saw. We did see several people in the salt fields, either sweeping or cultivating the fields. For more info on the salt fields, check this page out.
Eventually, we reached the salt fields exhibition centre. It was a small building with a woman inside selling bags of salt, and for a dollar Mat and I watched a 10-minute long video about salt production. They also have a sample of the different tools they used during the salt production too. There wasn’t any ground breaking entertainment here, but it was okay as an activity, and I did learn something new. After we had spoken to the woman for a bit about the salt fields, we made our return to the hostel. It was still very dusty and hot, I felt like a tomato being left out to dry. I probably looked like one as well. We walked back alongside the main road, just in case we passed out haha. I did see a laundrette called John Cena laundry, with a cardboard cutout of him. That amused us.
Return to base
Once we were finally back at the hostel, we were able to sit down and breathe. Our water bottles had long since run dry, so hydration was something I was very grateful for! As we’d not eaten yet, we put our hostel to the test. Our hostel was renowned for some fierce burgers, so we decided to try them out. After a swift and very well needed meal, I can attest to the quality of these burgers, they were fantastic. For something to do in the evening, we decided to try a riverboat during sunset, and to see some fireflies.
With Julie nowhere to be seen, Mat and I boarded the riverboat. There were cushions and slightly raised tables on the top deck. You could order food and drinks, but Mat and I were stuffed from our burger. The boat got pretty crowded, and we made our way down the river, with a beautiful sunset in our background. It was nice and refreshing to be in the fresh air, and not having to walk! The day drew to a close, and we arrived at the firefly spot. They were quite few in number, and difficult to spot, but there were some tiny sparks amongst the trees and bushes. It wasn’t amazing, but I suppose attractions aren’t everything they’re made out to be. I still appreciate the opportunity to see these curious and shy creatures in the wild.
A mixed evening
We returned back to Kampot, but now it was dark, and we saw the river and towns either side in a different light, literally. Just around the corner from our hostel, there’s a cake shop. I hadn’t had cake in a while, so I jumped at the opportunity. The menu was a lot better than I expected, and I went with a lemon cheesecake with an oreo base. It was delicious, the best I’d had since the UK. This chap had learned how to make them by just using the internet. That’s so cool! Check this post out to when we had a whole cake between us!
I got a message off Julie saying she needed to go to the hospital because she had hurt her foot or ankle. She had achieved this by trying to stop her rolling motorbike with her foot. I didn’t trust her to drive me there, especially without a helmet, so I walked there. We were there for about an hour or so, I was the interpreter. She had an x-ray on her ankle, and all turned out to be fine in the end. It was only $10 for the x-ray, not a bad price I’d say! We returned to the hostel and I chilled out to the max after the long day I’d had. Sleep quickly ensued.
