The Trip to "Snookerville"

Last Ferry Crossing on the Way to Sihanoukville, Cambodia
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So my original plan was to take the boat to Sihanoukville, or as Chris (the Brit from the night before) liked to call it, Snookerville.  Given all the rain, I figured that the water might be better, plus it was $5 cheaper at $15.

Up for breakfast at 8am, there Chris was, with two large Singha beers on the table.  I wasn't sure if he hadn't been to sleep yet or was up drinking again already.  I decided not to ask.  The bus left at 9am along with Mr. Don, but no Chris.  I guess he decided to stay in Koh Kong for whatever reason.  We got about 5 minutes into our trip when we stopped.  The two guys sitting behind me were told to move, with one guy going to the front seat and the other guy to my row.  Then five Cambodians plus a baby piled into that row that was meant for three.  This is quite a common occurrence in Cambodia since everyone is so poor.  I later saw a minibus that must have had 20 or so people (that probably should have only had 10) plus all their stuff coming out the back and on top, and even had one guy riding on the top.

Last Ferry Crossing, Three Long Tail Boats Held Together By Planks of Wood. On the Way to Sihanoukville, Cambodia
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We got underway and the road was surprisingly really excellent, what a treat!  After about 45 minutes, we came across a bridge that wasn't quite done yet, so we had to head down to the ferry crossing.  I had forgotten that I had been told, after I had bought my ticket, that there were four of these crossings.  At the crossing there was mud everywhere and food stands to the side.  The vehicles wanting to get on the ferry had to back onto it which proved to be quite interesting given all the mud, especially the one truck overloaded with melons - I wasn't sure it was going to make it, but it finally did.  With about six vehicles on, the ferry was already very dangerously low in the water, but all the passengers and those without vehicles pile on.  However, we did make it across.  Next, all the vehicles had to come off which proved to be quite the challenge, with the melon truck having the most difficulty.  I really thought we might get stuck there.  But the truck finally got up the muddy hill and all the other vehicles made it off too.  Back in the minibus, we head off again.

Know Wonder Bananas Get So Bruised! On the Way to Sihanoukville, Cambodia
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The next ferry crossing with almost a bridge done here as well, there was once again, a lot of mud.  This time, a van on the ferry coming across stalled and it took quite a few men and some time to rock it back and forth to get it started again.  Meanwhile I watched as two little kids were playing in the dirty water below, littered with trash (seems that Cambodians don't care much for their environment and just throw things on the ground when done).  Then the little girl started to wash styrofoam containers and I just hoped these wouldn't be used in the food stands above.

Extremly Muddy Conditions at the Third Ferry Crossing on the Way to Sihanoukville, Cambodia
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Getting the vehicles onto the ferry had a few tense moments but it all worked out and we got across just fine.  Onto leg three and once again come across another bridge that was almost done.  Once all the bridges are completed, it definitely make for a much better and quicker trip.  As we headed to the ferry crossing, the amount of mud was staggering.  I really thought that this time for sure we would get stuck and would have to get out and push.  However, after seeing some monks and the Cambodians in the bus paying alms, we continued on.  We had to wait for the cars from the ferry that came across to get off and as they did, the cars and 4x4s sank into mud up to their bumpers.  Now, at all the other crossings, we had to get out and I surely hoped that we didn't have to here.  Thankfully we didn't and this time the minibus given the mud circumstances went head on, instead of backing onto the ferry.  This was definitely a challenge and a little scary as our bus slide dangerously close to the side all the while our driver talking on his cell phone.  I guess for him this was an ordinary occurrence!

Little Girl Washing Styrofoam Containers at the Second Ferry Crossing on the Way to Sihanoukville, Cambodia
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Safely across again and back on the road, we made it to our final crossing.  This time it wasn't the mud that had me concerned, but the ferry itself.  It was three long tail boats held together my planks of wood.  Talk about improvising.  It made it across and I was glad to be on land again.

We ended up dropping off the 5 Cambodians, plus the baby at a village and soon after that, dropped everyone off that was continuing on to Phnom Penh.  This left three of us in the van.  What a difference in the AC when you get rid of 11 passengers and a baby!

Second Ferry Crossing on the Way to Sihanoukville, Cambodia
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Now, I know that buses have a tendency to beep to let others know that they are overtaking you (which happens a lot) but I swear my driver was also beeping at everyone he saw.  Needless to say, this didn't make for the most relaxing trip.

Finally, we arrived in Snookerville, an hour and a half later than expected, which made for a six and a half hour drive.  As soon as we pulled up to the bus station, our minibus was surrounded by moto drivers.  After a negotiation, we headed off to the guesthouse I had already chosen, Molochai.  Of course, my driver tried to persuade to me go to one he recommended, knowing he would get a kickback if I checked in.  Once at Molochai I checked out the rooms and decided I would stay and sent my moto driver away with 5,000 Riels (approx $1.25).

Melon Truck Trying to Get Up the Hill After the First Ferry Crossing on the Way to Sihanoukville, Cambodia
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All I can say is, these ferry crossings definitely beat out the one Deb, Michele and I did from Botswana to Zambia!