kampot

one of my fave spots in entire trip. Chill slow moving river town. Small so easy to navigate and walk around just exploring.

Stayed
Le soleil d'or. booked on booking.com...$45 a night breakfast included and served at La Java Bleue a half block away. nice sidewalk seating and sheltered by potted plants, run by french couple, Louise, the hubby a nutty gregarious guy who just loves cooking and the romance of the sounds of the fisherman's boat engines as they come in from the night of fishing at 6 am.

we stayed in top floor room-huge, two beds and private bath..very nice. comfy, fridge.

Le java Bleue
owned by French couple of Soleil D'or. FABULOUS meal of fish Lousie bought that day and hrew his whole self into cooking (en papillotte with garlic, clams, shrimps etc). Beautiful presentatin and passion. best meal of trip.

Three Sisters bakery-owner was an orphan when younger and learned brownie baking and apple pie baking from a USA woman at her orphange. today shes married and has a bakery and proceeds go to orphanage where her husband works. On same street half a block from Le java Bleue.

drinks-lots of laid back and small bars along the promenade. we liked wunder Bar because it was quiet but wit a nice buzz. The rusty keyhole was the poplar place.

on other side of the salt workers monument there is a small street with guest houses (magic Sponge) and restaurants. we ate at kampot GH restaurant which was on second level of a bamboo house. Nice guys, good food and decent prices (5-7 each)

Do:

walk. walk to market and across the bridge to the other side which has a peppercorn farm shop and dryign location, wats and relaxed neighborhood.
watch the boats coem in after a night of fishign on the river bank by the old governor's residecne and post offcie. Very special and unique sites an sounds of kampt. one day word will get out such that this daily delivery of fish will be a top tourist attraction...pity
market-where the Muslim women sell the fish you cans see the fishermen bring earleir that morning on the river bank
Kep: tuk tuk to kep  $12, about 30 km along coast. we asked him to go to Kep, wait till we had lunch and also go through the islam areas.  Very nice guy and well put together. Stopped to buy face masks because of very dusty road to Kep, which was a noted and nice touch.
Crab market. lots to choose from but we settled on Srey Phan overlooking crab nets, crabs sold at market price. had them with the faous kampot pepper sauce ($5) which was divine. Grilled shrimp ($4) and two large beers ($4). Bliss lunch. lovely.

getting there-Ibis bus company, $8 each between PP and Kampot. fast, airconditioned with one bathroom stop, a small water and free wi-fi on bus. Great service.