Day 82 - Separated in Cambodia

That last few days we all spent together in Cambodia was pretty good. After returning from Bamboo island, we had a day to burn before our scheduled scuba dive. Lukas was feeling under the weather again, so we left him in bed, and Petr and I found some bikes to help explore the coastline. This time we didn't go for conventional motorbikes as we had in the past, we found these electric bikes from China that have pedals for when the motor runs out (or you come across a hill it can't handle).

Our funny little electric bikes – I really want one back home, would be great for zipping around London!

They were great fun – zipping around more or less silently at decent speeds, knowing you're not producing any bad emissions (although the power used to charge it obviously did), they were a right giggle and allowed us to visit all the surrounding beaches, some fancy resorts, and have a good look around town.

Beach on one of the resorts we drove into. Was too expensive to even consider buying a drink there

The scuba diving outing the following day was a resounding success! We set out early and after a 2 hour boat journey to get to the dive sites, we started our basic training in the shallow sandy area off an island. It was Lukas, Peter, a German chap, and myself in our group. Our Danish dive master was a funny chap who made the day or the more enjoyable as he took us through the basic training. Was all stuff I'd been over in the past, but nice to get a refresher. Half and hour of that followed by shallow first dive in the area concluded the morning, and it was back to the boat for lunch.

The fishing village off the coast of an island where we trained in the crystal clear wasters.

The afternoon was to be our dive over the reef. We only went down to around 12m, but the reef was pretty stunning, and one of the only left in the area after the extensive dynamite fishing that used to be practised here, as we'd experienced snorkelling on Bamboo island. The range of wildlife wasn't overly abundant, but the environment made up for it. We saw plenty of schools of smaller fish, and lots of individual brightly coloured tropical varieties, but nothing much lager than your hand (well mine), a few crabs, a small octopus, and various things like sea cucumbers sitting on the bottom. After our second hour in the water it was time to get back to the boat and head back to shore. A day well spent, one that turned out to be the last we'd spend together in a while.

Diving pics???

We all had come to the conclusion that we wanted to do separate things in the remaining time we had, to get what we each wanted to round off the experience. Petr really wanted to go back to Vietnam, do the Mekong delta area we bypassed at the beginning of our journey, and see Ho Chi Minh city properly, which we didn't really get a chance do to when we were last there. I really wanted to stick to the coast, and do some more diving. The one day we did in Sihanoukville convinced me it was what I wanted, and speaking to people we met there, that Thailand was the place to do it. Lukas wasn't keen to return to Vietnam just yet, and diving for 3 or 4 days straight didn't appeal either (also being Czech, the boys would have to pay for a Thai visa, while I don't need one). So yesterday Petr set off early in the morning to catch his bus, while Lukas and I bummed around on the beach, playing pool most of the day (Lukas seemed to be doing well at at first, but once I warmed up I really kicked his but :) then the following morning I awoke to catch my bus and leave Cambodia.

Lukas and my last day on the beach – beer and squid (+ lots of pool)

It wasn't a simple trip. Due to lack of infrastructure, the first river we came to required exiting the bus, and climbing aboard a raft to be ferried across to the other side where there was another bus waiting for us (well it arrived 30 mins later). A few more hours on the road, and another bridge that was incomplete – this time we could walk across to a third coach. This took us all the way to the border where we left it behind, got through border control had another stamp added to the passport, then found our appropriate minibuses that would take us onwards. Mine took us to a town further down the coast, where we collected our crossing-tickets and waited for a dude in a truck to take us to the ferry. Another wait for the ferry, and we were across the water in no time. Once there I need to get a van with a group of others to a resort I chose pretty much at random. Updated visual journey progress.

The small, overcrowded first ferry to bypass the river where a bridge was still in construction.

Am now in a place called 'White Sand beach' on the north of the island, and is pretty expensive/less cheap than what I've been used to. Talking to a few people here, seems I chose the family destination. There's plenty to do here – nice restaurants, beach, shops. It's just all a bit too package-holiday for me. So I got up early, rented a bike (110cc Suzuki this time) and went exploring. I must have looked around 25 bungalows on the beach, but think I've found one that a good balance of quality and price in a lively area. Moving there in a bit with my bag. This island has some pretty stunning scenery, and the roads are literally like a roller-coaster – ridiculous hills, dips and curves that are such fun to drive around, and give you that weightlessness feeling in the pit of our stomach as you burn around them.

Beach scenery here is pretty stunning, and it's got the super hot weather to match!

I also used the time to explore the diving options, and think I've found the best dive centre (well it had the most attractive women working there) with whom I kick off 3 days of diving tomorrow. Starting with basic training again – will be going into much more depth than before and doing lots of theory as well as emergency procedures underwater. Following completion I might do an extra day out at sea, so I can use my PADI immediately and experience an entire day of diving without having to learn anything – just enjoy it. Got my textbook already, so squatting up on the theory tonight.

Once I've done all that I'll likely head to Bangkok for a few days before getting a flight back to Ho Chi Minh to meet up with the boys and get our return flight back home :(

Once the boy Lukas and Petr get online and in touch, I'll post updates here in English (for the non-Czech speaking out there) for everyone to follow :)