Sihanoukville -----> Kog rong, Kog saloem,..

[ssummer]

We have one day in Sihanoukville wich is not very promising. Taking a ferry to Kog Rong or Kog Saloem or...is maybe a better option?

Tips and experiences are more than welcome, 

Thank you 

[John Bull]

Some years back we shared a van at the port, super- cheap.

Waterfall,  short long-tail boat ride to a beach on a vacation island, Ream Nat Park and a grubby fishing village. Great day,

Cambodia hasn’t caught up with the SE Asian tiger countries, it’s still stuck in the 19th Century, so it’s still quite backward and grubby but an experience. 
Some cruisers don’t want to know, but it’s part of the world and. Both an education and an experience - don’t be put off, it’s well-worthwhile.

 

JB 🙂

[yamanid]

On 11/29/2023 at 12:01 PM, ssummer said:

We have one day in Sihanoukville wich is not very promising. Taking a ferry to Kog Rong or Kog Saloem or...is maybe a better option?

Tips and experiences are more than welcome, 

Thank you 

When is your cruise and when will you be calling at Sihanoukville

[IWantToLiveOverTheSea]

I haven't been, but in Sihanoukville, I hear it's a long walk to the port gate to pick up a tuk tuk or car. Although apparently Sihanoukville is not as attractive as it once was, I really want to go to Wat Krom, in the middle of the city. I love photography, and it seems to be a great place for that. I've heard of Koh Rong, but I don't really know anything about it.  If nobody posts on here, you may want to check the Trip Advisor forums. 

 

And John Bull, as a (hobbyist) photographer, I was curious about the grubby fishing village.  Was it the one that's a little north of Sihanoukville?  I've seen a number of places mentioned but can't seem to nail down where they are and what they're called.  Steung Hauv is 30 minutes according to Google.  Tumnok Rolok (or Tumnuk?) is reported as being 2 km N on Hun Sen Beach.  Pier 52 appears to have some colorful fishing boats but it might just be the ferry port.  I'm so confused!   And after the incredible hassle I'm having getting a Cambodian visa, I'm a little reluctant to go off too far on my own, though in Europe I do it all the time. 

[John Bull]

8 hours ago, IWantToLiveOverTheSea said:

 

 

And John Bull, as a (hobbyist) photographer, I was curious about the grubby fishing village.  Was it the one that's a little north of Sihanoukville?  I've seen a number of places mentioned but can't seem to nail down where they are and what they're called.  

 

Doesn't time fly - it was 12 years ago !!!

 

But I'm pretty certain that the "grubby fishing village" that we visited when returning to Sihanoukville from Ream Nat. Park is shown on Googlemaps at " Kompenh Fishers " (yep - difficult to figure the names of villages & settlements).

https://maps.app.goo.gl/aoNVtobZu5P5x7id9

And there's actually a walking "streetview" thro it.🙂

 

It's very close to Sihanoukville, so you could visit by fun and inexpensive tuk-tuk rather than taxi or van (if you want to carry on to Ream Nat. Park it'd need something more substantial than a tuk-tuk).

Bigger village than I recall, and no longer in rural surroundings - now a little oasis of old Cambodia close to high-rise and resort hotels  but the world moves on, even in Cambodia.

 

If my memory is totally shot and it's not the one we visited 🙄 - then it's a very good substitute. 

 

JB 🙂

 

[IWantToLiveOverTheSea]

Thank you, John.  I don't think I ever would have found that.  But it's very interesting, and quite close. And yes, the old and the new and the half built highrises seem to all come together in Sihanoukville.  It looks to be a very interesting place. 

[mrpotatohead]

We were there about 5 years ago, got a free shuttle I think into the market area, had a look around . Some bargains if you are game and a real good insight into the locals lives. Then just walked down to a great Khmer restaurant called Sandan, was really great food

[IWantToLiveOverTheSea]

Just to close the look on this.  I visited Sihanoukville on my cruise last month and had a great time there.  I never made it to the fishing village in the south part of the area.  But I did visit 3 beautiful wats (temples), including one that was either being constructed or heavily reconstructed.  I ended up taking a ship's excursion which visited Wat Otres, where we received a water blessing from a monk, Wat Leu, a stop at a beach (forget which one), and a stop at Psar Leu Market (crazy place, anything from shampoo/blow dry to durian fruit). Later in the day I took the short shuttle ride to the port exit and was surrounded by taxi and (mostly) tuk drivers offering to give me a tour. I ended up finding a taxi driver who would take me to Wat Krom, wait for me to take pictures, and take me back.  I negotiated a price.  There was also a shuttle to the market, but I figured it would be best to just find someone outside the port to take me to Wat Krom.  I didn't see as much that day as I would have liked, but I saw enough to make me very happy.  And yes, that included seeing a lot of third-built highrises and casino-sized buildings - sad. 

[Aloha 1]

On 3/5/2024 at 7:32 AM, mrpotatohead said:

We were there about 5 years ago, got a free shuttle I think into the market area, had a look around . Some bargains if you are game and a real good insight into the locals lives. Then just walked down to a great Khmer restaurant called Sandan, was really great food

What did you eat?