The trip from Battambang was long - we left around 6am and arrived in Sihanoukville around 8pm.
On arrival we found it bustling with holiday makers from all over the world including Cambodians who also come here for their holidays. The beach was packed, but we found a nice spot to have a well needed beer and a nice fresh seafood BBQ. We stayed up the far end of Serenity Beach - away from the busy end and most of the westerner backpackers - the guest house we stayed in was called GBT and this end saw more Cambodians than westerners, which was to liking.
So serenity Beach is loaded with restaurant after restaurant after restaurant - all the same and all serving pretty much the same things, seafood BBQ for dinner, beers, cocktails and comfy big chairs to lazy in. The beach is nice and clean, the sunsets are amazing and the food and drinks are at resonable Cambodian prices, but........ the most annoying thing about Serenity Beach in Sihanoukville is the endless cycles of people coming and trying to sell you things, from sunglasses to fireworks to fruit, wristbands and massages and toe and feet pampering. Now you can't blame these, often quite poor, people, they need to make money but they tend to hassle and be quite unforgiving. The thing is if you engage with the seller what-so-ever you are giving them the wrong impression and they consider it a sale. So when they rock up next to you - ignore them, don't turn your head or be polite and say 'sorry, I'm not interested' or 'no thanks' cause that will end in many wasted minutes trying to get them to piss off. I'm (John) the worst for this whole process - I can't help being Mr Nice Guy and trying to offer some friendly chit-chat or banter - and this way of dong business really pisses them off to no end.
I was hated by one woman, who insisted I need her toe nail clipping services. She wouldn't take no for an answer - so I told her she was making me uncomfortable - she just stared and stared and smirked and stared - so I told her she was ruining my day - she just continued to stare. During this time, because she had already succumbed to the pressure and likes the pampering, Ann was having her toe nails painted and thought it was all too funny. The very next morning during breakfast in the same establishment, we told the American girl who helps out there about the situation the previous day and pointed out the annoying saleswoman. She then took it upon herself to confronted the lady and ask her why she was hassling me so bad. The answer - She doesn't like the lady who was painting Ann's toe nails and that on past occasions they have argued and fought over customers, so much so - they punched on one time. No that's a competitive market I don't want to do business with!!!!!
The next day we sat, drank, ate, dozed, swam, ate, drank, ate, dozed, and pondered.
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| Me and Lee - down at Full Moon Bar, Serenity Beach - Sihanoukville |
Chillaxin' and gettin' ya nails did!
One thing that is undoubtedly awesome from Serenity Beach, Sihanoukville is the sunsets
Boat trip around the islands off Sihanoukville was a nice way to spend the day, but the snorkelling equipment was no good so that was a bit of a bummer.
another relaxing day
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| these local youngsters ran up and asked for their photo to be taken - so Ann did! |
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