~ the leaving of Saigon town ~
Wednesday Feb.10
It's just before the start of TET, Vietnamese/Chinese New Year. I been working pretty heavily for the past two months...I even worked until 9.30 last evening. And I'm really glad now that I can get on the road again. It's kinda necessary, not least of all, because my visa finishes today.
Left Saigon OK on a routine, uneventful bus trip…change buses in Phnom Penh. Arrive in Kep after debating with myself whether to go to Siem Reap or not. Maybe another time. Get the new digital camera out of its box on the way and play with it.
At Kep, get taken to expensive…$12-15…Vanna Bungalows on the hill by a tout. Eventually stay at Botanica Bungalows…the last place on the left towards Kompot…about 2 km down from where I stayed a couple of years ago. At Seaside Hotel that was...which is still there with rooms for US$7...but it's a typical hotel setup...has a reasonable, cheap restaurant though. Botanica is Stephane’s place…a Belgian expat. of 4 years…married to a Sihanhoukville girl. At $8/nite t’was reasonable for Kep. This includes Wifi and bicycle to get around on. Kep has developed a lot in the past year of so and is now kinda boutique-style and tending to the expensive. The P.P. expats love it. As I'm exhausted…over-working in the last days in Saigon it's an early night in the sparcely-furnished room…only a bed and nothing more. Maybe Stephane likes people to hang out at his restaurant/bar...instead.
