Koh Rong Island

Stepping off the dive pier straight into the sandy village of Koh Rong, we knew we were going to stick around this paradise for as long as possible. Everything was right at the waters edge, perhaps even a little too close when the tide was high and the restaurant tables were surrounded by waves. Guesthouses and bungalows were packed into a short stretch of sand, the rest of the island was mostly forrest and near deserted beaches.

Koh Rong Village

Brown, barefoot and often bare-bottomed kids with toothy grins and sun bleached hair ran around freely clinging to their little plastic bags of treasures.  Some of them seemed to live in the water!

Stand Up Paddle Boarding Cambodia Style

After exploring the jungle paths for a few days, we decided on our favorite beach, a wide shallow sparkling bay lined with palm trees and few other people around. We headed there early most mornings with big packed fruit salads, our books and towels. By lunch time the shallow turquoise water was almost too warm to cool off in, and were sunburnt and ready for the shady hammocks of our guesthouse balcony.

Boats offered transport around the island and for fishing and sunset trips.  We decided to try the hike over to Long Beach on the west side of the island.  It was a grueling climb in the heat but definitely worth it to reach yet another idyllic bay with perfect clear water. The sun was so fierce we hid in the shade of a make-shift shelter.

Sun Shelter, Long Beach, Koh Rong

Koh Rong Boat

Food on the island was so cheap, fruitshakes and iced sweet coffee became a daily habit.  Barbeques lined the beach in the evenings.  

During our forrest walks we kept an eye out for snakes and eventually came across a meter long green tree snake (not one of the poisonous ones, but we were warned that there were plenty of those around).

After ten days on the island we were thoroughly sunburnt, well read and relaxed.  Our ferry ride back to the mainland was in rough water on a windy day but this didn't phase us.  We were already dreaming of returning to the island again one day.