Otres Beach

After leaving Kep, we drove two hours along the southern coast towards Sihanoukville, which is a main port and busy party destination for tourist.  Originally I never planned to go to this area but we had heard from various locals that Otres Beach, about ten km south of Sihanoukville, was a beautiful small stretch of white sand beach with few places to stay and very simple.  Getting reservations took some patience as most guesthouses were booked up during the Febuary peak season.  But we were really lucky and after being on several cancellation list, we got four nights at The Secret Garden, which is just what we like... Clean simple bungalows with tropical greenery and a pool.   Turned out to be a wonderful spot with nothing much to do but walk, swim, eat and repeat.  We did have to change rooms three times in four nights, but that was easy as we basically just rolled our bags to the neighboring bungalow.  Each bungalow had a name, and we were first the Petunia bungalow, next the Fern bungalow, and finally the best, the Hibiscus.  Upon arrival our room wasn't ready so the manager suggested we walk across the sandy road to their beach restaurant and have our welcoming drink.  Usually you arrive and receive a cold scented towel, perhaps a sweet, and a refreshing cool drink.  Here, they let you order off the menu anything you want, so at 1:00 in the afternoon we were sipping our mojito's and feeling very happy.  The sand was like velvet, the water warm and clear. There were no jet skies, no wind surfers, no motorcycles, no kite sailors.   Just a few fisherman in their boats coming and going taking the tourist for day trips snorkling and seeing the islands offshore.  We scored two chaise lounges, some towels, and a palapa umbrella, and we were home.   Four easy blissful days.  Swimming early each morning before the breeze created a ripple on the surface.  Breakfast of fruit, yogurt, eggs and toast.   Ron would go early and get "our" table, and put towels and books on our chaise.   We would only have to deal with the half dozen massage ladies who hung out nearby coming over and offering beach massages and sandy pedicures, or the the squid ladies walking past with their traveling grills and fresh squid on a stick.  We usually had an afternoon swim in the fresh water pool, showered and were back by 5:30 for happy hour drinks and fresh homemade potato chips.  All the kids who worked there were so nice and easy going.  The sunsets were excellent, and the drinks strong.  Since we never deviated from our routine we had dinner there every night and afterwards walked to the beach chaise, reclined beneath the moon and stars, and just listened to the sounds of the lapping 6 inch waves and the music from the restaurant.  A very nice four days...