Biking along the South Coast

ah the open road
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So I’ve never driven a motorbike before. I got on one when I was 14 and when I revved it for the first time, I overdid it and the entire thing reared up and landed on top of me, crushing me onto the gravel underneath. I’ve had the fear ever since. However, this trip is, in part, about facing my fears and recognizing which ones can be overcome and which ones are healthy. I knew there was no reason why in theory I couldn’t ride a motorbike, especially a small put-put 125cc thing, so I was well up for giving it a go…

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We bussed down to Kampot where we picked up motos and after a leisurely practice round the sleepy town we headed off down the coastal road to Kep. And you know what, I bike fine! Kep is a lovely sleepy place by the sea. It was developed with a few villas before the KR and then abandoned and is particularly known for its crab with pepper – yummy! My first bit of luxury since leaving was in Kep – a beautiful $20 room with hot water and nice sheets – wow I felt like a princess!! They also served wine and had an impressive cocktail menu - a bit exciting! The next day we went on an incredible off road journey down the coast – basically taking one of the dirt tracks off the main road and seeing where it lead… amazing. The road got smaller and smaller so that eventually we were driving in between rice paddies, occasionally looking like it had run out, before appearing a little later disguised as a puddle…we went through tiny villages and rice paddies, salt flats and along narrow beaches. Simply incredible. The bike and I bonded and there was only one point where I nose-dived a foot into a rice paddy. Coming back we stopped for Crab and pepper (its a famous region for both) as the sun set – I never fail to be blown away by watching the sun decorate the sky before bidding farewell to the day. The night skies in the south are also incredible, and for the entire time we were on the south coast there seemed to be an electrical storm out to sea which was mesmorising to watch at night – TV eat your heart out!

driving in between rice paddies

the road gets smaller...
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A leisurely day and overnight on Rabbit Island was the next adventure involving much swimming (well bobbing for me) and general relaxation –which was just as well given what was to come…