The weekend we spent with Michael's friends was just what we needed after the touring of the cities and sites in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh. After taking a bus for six hours to Siem Reap and a six hour boat ride back to PP it was another experience to drive in the van 3 hours to the very southern part of Cambodia. Michael's friends Scott and Hans go there every weekend from PP. It is like a weekend getaway similar to those who head to Stonington from NYC.
Scott and Hans have worked for about 30 years in Cambodia - mostly together and mostly with the UN. Scott was an Amherst graduate class of 76 and no he didn't know Selinger. After backpacking through eastern Europe, India and Thailand he ended up working at a refugee camp in Cambodia in the early 80's where he met and married his Cambodian wife. They raised their three daughters here in Phnom Penh. Scott and Hans now work directly for the Cambodian government - basically working to spread democracy throughout the country through UN efforts. The Cambodian government holds elections very five years and has number of political parties competing for power. To say the least - cambodia's past has been checkered and somewhat complicated. http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107378.html
All I know is the the people here couldn't be nicer and the sites couldn't be more colorful.
Preparing to get in the van in front of Michael's place in PP
A view from our room at Villa Vedici in Kampot.
Everyone helped prepare dinners for three nights at Scott's house.
From l-r Scott, Hans, Hans' son Frank who runs the guest house, Marten(a friend of Frank's from their hometown in Holland, Kim, Eric, Hurley, Anne & Mike.
Scott on this veranda
Another site from Scott's & Villa Vedici.
Scott's caretaker going up to collect the palm oil.
Sunrise from our cottage room window.
On top of Bokor Mountain
a woman checking her crab pots in Kep
another woman selling her crabs at the waterfront market.
A photo from our seats at the restaurant where we had some delicious fresh crabs.
At the Kep market
A view from the Veranda Restaurant where we had a papaya shake
Getting back to the city of Phnom Penh for 2 more nights.
Location:Phnom Penh
Who took the photo at sunrise? Certainly not you, Bobby:)
ReplyDeleteWhat a place! Stunning, to say the least. Love the photo of the lone boater and the birds. And the motor bike duo -- he with the helmet, she with a scarf, both in flip flops! Haven't even mentioned the vegetables....
ReplyDeleteThe house is awesome... and what views... looks like paradise!
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