Off down to Kep for the millionth time last weekend, ostensibly to sell one of our blocks to a potential buyer. Murray rented us his ute, a brand new Four Courier, and we left Friday afternoon. Either the road is getting worse or the truck has a terrible ride but it was so bouncy Leakhana thought she was going to give birth on the way. It was all I could do to keep my lunch down and we arrived feeling like we had been stuck on the Wally World roller coaster. After checking into the ever faithful Kampot Guest House, we headed straight to the Rusty keyhole for ribs and bed came early due to sheer exhaustion.
Back to the Keyhole the next morning for breakfast and Anthony turned up as he needed to settle up on his second block of land. I got the urge to go tree shopping so we convoyed over to the tree shop and we bought 20 2ft mango trees ($1.50 each ) and four mangosteen trees ( my favourite fruit in the world ! ). We then headed out to our land and whilst Anthony and Leakhana settled up (Anthony is putting all his land in our name……glad he trusts us!!), I marked out where the trees were to go. We then headed off to the White Horse market to get some idea of the cost of earthworks, road building etc and finally we made it to Kep Lodge sunburnt and in dire need of a beer. After a few tinnies and a shower.,Leakhena hit the hay and after a quick trip up to the old reservoir with Humphrey and Mark (who just happened to call me out of the blue ) I went and picked up our Australian prospect. With her lovely adopted Khmer children in tow, we headed out to the watermelon farm and she was impressed. On the way back in to Kep she said she would 100% buy it and when I asked her for a deposit she did not have one but said “not to worry I can give you one Monday!”. Today she tells me she cannot organise the money in time and despite trying to make it possible by extending generous time frames, the deal fell through. Really not that worried because the land price is spiralling out of control down there.
The Old Kep Reservoir
Saturday night we met up with Humphrey and Mark for the windiest feed of crabs we have ever had in Crab Shack number 1. There was so much wind swell you could have almost surfed and at one stage I thought maybe Burma's cyclone had hit us ! After a bottle of red wine at the Kep lodge bar with a few fellow Aussie travellers, we hit the hay totally drained. Sunday we headed back to Kampot and after a few diversions to scout more land ( I know I know…call me The Donald) I made a disastrous turn that would cost us 3 hours. Unfortunately Murray’s ute is not 4wd and when you hit a brand new mud road in it, it gets bogged. After initial sick feelings in the stomach about spending all night in the bush and a couple of hours of head scratching and swearing, a little man appeared from nowhere. Fortunately the new road is part of a big hydro scheme and there were some heavy machines there. One D4 , 1o minutes and $15 later and we were on our way!
Looking for this.............
Led to this !
Bouncy Bouncy Bouncy back to Phnom Penh, a cold beer and bed at 8pm !
