Entries about koh ta kiev

Day 166: Koh Ta Kiev, Cambodia 14/03/2012

We are off today to camp on a desert island a one and a half hour boat journey from Sihanoukville. Have a full English breakfast to set us up for the day and have a few games of pool to pass the time before our boat departs. We take a walk to the pier we are being picked up from and after a bit of confusion and sitting around like lemons for half an hour we get on the right boat and are away. We are met on the boat by Liam who runs/owns the campsite and arrive on the island to be greeted by a scene out of Castaway.

It turns out we are the only guests and our tent is literally two feet from the high tide line, meaning a nice easy stroll to the beach in the morning! There are hammocks dotted around the place, a reef to snorkel in and a hell of a lot of secluded beach to take ownership of. We have a Cambodian curry for dinner with Liam and his girlfriend, Vanna and head off for an early night. A bit of a hot, sweaty night in the tent but remember it's location, location, location! Would definitely recommend this experience to anybody coming to Cambodia (camp-cambodia.com).

Day 167: Koh Ta Kiev, Cambodia 15/03/2012

Open the tent in the morning to be greeted by the sea, the beach and the jungle all just inches from our bed...Cambodian noodles for breakfast before we grab a couple of snorkels and head out to the reef just in front of where our tent is pitched. Gemma has had a bad experience snorkelling at Disney before so she is not overly confident at first but soon becomes much better. There are lots of fish to see and some interesting looking plant life under the water - some great colours as well, from bright blues and greens to leopard print!

Have a peaceful afternoon on a secluded bit of beach with literally nobody around. I fashion a jungle gym out of a fallen tree and a big log as Gemma has a snooze. Pure improvisation. Good tea - red prawn curry with peanuts. We sleep in the under construction beach bungalow, which is a lot cooler than the tent and take a midnight stroll down the beach.

Day 168: Koh Ta Kiev, Cambodia 16/03/2012

A much better night's sleep followed by a breakfast of omelette and baked beans. We each like only half of the breakfast. Decide to take on the jungle trail through the island recommended by Liam, which winds to the other side of the island, where there are some beautiful bays, and then traipse blindly through the jungle back to the camp, getting lost, stung and chased by an incoming thunderstorm on the way. Another good lunch - it's amazing the quality of food you can get on a desert island, I think Tom Hanks was milking it all a bit...

Back to the quiet beach again, where an old couple on a boat trip dare to walk within a hundred metres of our spot! We snorkel again for a bit before I head to my jungle gym again whilst Gemma reads in the hammock. Have a calamity and drop the makeshift weight on my face, resulting in a fat split lip. Learn that Gemma is always right, as she helps me put the hammock I destroyed back together (she is editing this). Another early night. Could get used to the life here...

Day 169: Koh Ta Kiev, Cambodia 17/03/2012

Omelette baguettes for breakfast, before another day of swimming, snorkelling and sunbathing. Laze about in the hammocks for a couple of hours before lunch and generally live the good life. I do not revisit the gym after yesterday's accident. Pick a can up in the sea, which is housing a squid. Gemma runs to get the camera but the squid jumps out and inks itself before she gets back.

We head out on the boat at sunset for a fishing trip. Surprisingly, we come back empty handed.

An excellent tea, a sort of barbecue placed in the middle of the table, with plates of different meats and veg - you just pile what you want onto the grill. Our last night on the island. Need to do something like this again we think.