Kampot for Christmas

We came down to Kampot to check out the Boker Hill Station. At the top of a mountain in the middle of a national park, it was built by the french in the 1920's, then abandoned twice, once by the french, then by the Khmer rouge. It is now decprepid and old, a relic, and very out of place. It is actually not just the one large building you see below, but a whole town of old abandoned buildings. They are actually beginning construction on a new resort town now. So we tramped up through the forest, and explored the place.this is the most renowned building of the hill staion, which was a casino and hotel.The old church, very creepy at night.Exploring old random building off the beaten path, had to kind of make our own path a little bit, which was a bit sketchy as we new this place had seen strong warfare and therefore mines. but we survived, i think the risk was very low so dont panic mum and dad.
Not a bad view on Christmas really.


At night (Christmas eve) we went exploring again, and it was freaky. The big hotel is very daunting at night, and it didnt help that we were attacked by a bird inside the place. But we slowly foun our way up to the rooftop terrace and played around with long exposures on the camera.

Christmas day brought about some beautiful weather, santa really came through for us with some pringles and wafer biscuits, score. Xmas lunch was noodle soup. We thought to ourselves what is christmas really about. Yes. Giving. So on the way down we helped the rangers pick up rubbish around the old ruins. Yes even Jamie Stuart lended a hand.



These were our digs for christmas eve at the rangers station. We were the only people there who spoke english. Good fun.After coming back down to Kampot town with the rangers, we hopped on a sunset cruise, then managed to find a place on the riverfront run by a kiwi that was doing a propper xmas dinner. Glazed ham, roast turkey, roast veggies, stuffing, gravy, apple pie, everything we could have asked for they had. We really couldnt have asked for a better xmas dinner, we were by the river, there was live acoustic guitar, and the traffic lazily drove past.
So there you go, Christmas in Cambodia. Have to go for dinner now, but stay posted for next post, eg. Full Moon Party.

JB