We got to treat ourselves to some rest and recreation a few days before Khmer New Year. It was also our daughter’s sixth birthday and we asked her what she wanted. She must be a born traveler coz she didn’t even ask for a party, instead she asked for going to the beach and swimming and a big cake.. I guess were now making a tradition out of it, of traveling somewhere for her birthday..
Sihanoukville is Cambodia’s beach town. Travel time is about 4 hours from Phnom Penh. Buses traveling the route from Phnom Penh are plentiful and if you have a car and want to drive down, the road is on very good condition. The place has a lot of nice stretches of beaches, some islands good for swimming, snorkeling and other water activities. I love the waters, its warm and great for swimming and Chinks had a great time trying to learn how to swim. There are some private beaches there but we opted to go to a popular public beach to see what’s going on and mingle with some people.
There are also lots of restaurants, bars, hotels in this area and it apprears to be all set to have more developments as more and more tourists are discovering the area. Sihanoukville is very laid back, kinda sleepy, very relaxing place. Yes, there are lots of tourists, both local and foreign but they don’t come in hordes like in Pattaya or in Phuket so it’s much more relaxing..
Along the beaches are some beach umbrellas and lounge chairs for rent – which is perfect if you just wanna read or watch the kids swimming, thatched roof eateries serving authentic Khmer, Asian and Western dishes. There are also lots of interesting vendors selling everything from grilled sea foods to balloons and shell trinkets. There are also plenty of options for accommodations from five-star to the budget guesthouses.
Sihanoukville is definitely a place with a promise. I’m not sure I would like more tourists flocking there as it would definitely change
the place. Would it stay as laid back as it is now? Hmm, weekends like this could get really addicting and now were itching to go back. Were planning our next getaway, perhaps to try out the private beaches there..
I’m just glad we could find an alternative place to unwind and relax. So what’s next for us ? Maybe a Hong Kong Disneyland park vacation, winter in Hokkaido, Japan, a European tour? Haha..one shouldn’t wonder why Chinks loves to travel..
The post A Few Days of Sun, Sea and Sand.. appeared first on Lui in Penh.