Otres Beach ~ Cambodia

Riding down from Kep to the beach in Otres took us through the countryside with simple small towns, wooden houses on stilts, farmland, untethered skinny white cows wandering onto the rode, fat green mountains shrouded in dark clouds, and lots of dusty roads with the usual day to day activity.  Motorcycles, trucks, trailers pulled by motorcycles gushing exhaust smoke, kids playing by the sides of the rode, and a few newer SUV transporting the tourist back and forth.  We passed markets selling produce and slaughtered animals, houses decorated with arches of paper flowers and a tent signifying a wedding party, a few older temples, and the occasional school with kids kicking soccer balls around the dirt field.  As we were here two years ago, we were shocked at all the construction going on.  The Chinese have started to build huge hotels and casinos, buying up most of the beach area.  Sickening to see the dirt and trash and marred landscape.   The end is in sight for this tiny pocket of uncrowded beachfront.  Bouncing down the sandy rutted road we arrived at our “Secret Garden” near the end of the beach.  Still lovely and well cared for, nine bungalow reside in a garden, each slightly offset from the other for maximum privacy.  We were really upset to see the trash in the water and on the beach.  We almost wished we didn’t have to stay here for the week.  But as the days passed and the water became fresh and the beach was raked cleaned each day, we mellowed out.  Seems the currents and a recent storm caused the majority of the trash.  So much plastic!  But the days of calm breezes and hot sun dappled with fat clouds, allowed us to reset our feelings.  The few hotels at our end of the road all take great care to maintain their beachfront.  So if we stay within our small radius we can actually feel like there is no horrible destruction taking place just beyond our viewpoint.  Here too we spend most of the day on the chaise beneath the palapa, or swimming in the pristine pool.  A lot of people come to our place as they have the best restaurant on the beach.  Great sunset happy hour and cordial waiters bringing you delicious foods.  Ron heads down early and places two towels and two books on our preferred spot.  Then he brings me a cup of tea to have on our porch.  It’s early.  The birds have spoken.  They go nuts just before dawn and wake me up.  One of the owners dogs “Monster” cruises by.  Then we head down for breakfast, a swim, and watch the action on the beach as the boats motor in and out taking tourist for day trips snorkeling to the nearby islands.  Evenings we have a happy hour/sunset drink and watch the sun dip behind the small island offshore.  Dinner, talking with new friends, and an early evening back in our bungalow.   The WiFi is poor, and frustrating.  My 3G not very good either.  I am running out to the pool to wrangle up the best connection as I write.  Mochitos are my enemy!  Time to shift gears, move into high... taking off today on our flights to Hanoi.