Sunset in Kampot, Cambodia

Kampot and the Journey to Nowhere

Sometimes the part of travel I love the most is just the movement. It’s getting up in the morning, packing our bags and boarding a bus to a brand new, unknown destination with no idea what’s in store for us. This particular morning in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, I was bunged-up with a cold and my head pounded as I climbed aboard the bus to the tiny, riverside town of Kampot.

Sunset in Kampot, Cambodia

Like so many towns in Cambodia, Kampot consists of just a few intersecting, dusty roads planted next to a river.  There’s a small market and some stores, a school, restaurants and hotels and a band of local rickshaw drivers and motorbike rental shops. From the roof-deck of our guesthouse we watched the pink sun set over the river that evening, the mountains hazy in the distance, a light breeze chasing away the afternoon heat.

The Journey from Kampot to Nowhere

As we discovered, aside from stuffing yourself with sugary treats from the Kampot Pie and Ice Cream Palace, there’s not much else to do in town besides relax and try to keep out of the fierce afternoon heat. Still groggy from my cold, however, Andrew and I decided to rent a bike for the day and head up to the lone tourist attraction near Kampot: Bokor Hill Station.

Lemon Meringue Pie in Kampot

As we climbed slowly and steadily up the windy hill path I felt the air cool, clearing my sinuses and blowing away my lethargy. It felt good to be moving, even through the chilly mist and cloud, my mind wandering as I watched trees whiz by and Kampot recede further below us. I didn’t much care where we were heading; past a giant Buddha statue we couldn’t be bothered to stop and photograph then to an underwhelming waterfall followed by a crumbling church.

Bokor Hill Station Casino, Kampot

Most people come up to Bokor Hill Station to see the deserted casino, built by the French in colonial times.  We drove around in circles searching for the casino before arriving to wander its strange, ghostly hallways and look out at the wall of mist blanketing the surrounding hills; I felt as if I’d been transported to a Scottish moor; the dusty heat of Cambodia a distant memory.

Stairway inside Bokor Hill Casino, Kampot

Seeing the casino itself wasn’t much of an adventure but sometimes travel – like life – really is about the journey. That particular day the long ride up into the hills was the whole point of the trip. What I wanted was the feeling of movement, to clear my head and my sinuses, to let my mind unravel and wander as we wordlessly rode up and down unfamiliar paths, journeying to nowhere in particular.

Mist at Bokor Hill Casino, Cambodia

kampot and the journey to nowhere

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11 Comments
  • Steph (@ 20 Years Hence)
    Posted at 14:06h, 14 May Reply

    Kampot really is the ideal place to do a whole lotta nothing! I think we spent something like 5 days there, doing little more than writing, reading, and eating at Kampot Pie Palace (I still dream about their coconut shakes!). We did a day trip up to Bokor and found it similarly eerie and I remember thinking how Scottish it all felt too! For money, I’d say the area around Kampot is the most beautiful part of the country.

    • Amy
      Posted at 15:04h, 14 May Reply

      Interesting that you also got the Scottish feeling from Bokor! We saw some really nice sunsets in Kampot and the surrounding countryside was beautiful; Kampot is a great place to relax and just eat pie 🙂

  • Kellie
    Posted at 19:08h, 14 May Reply

    A place to relax and eat pie, sounds idillic!

    Really enjoyed this story Amy, a lovely piece of writing.

    • Amy
      Posted at 01:42h, 15 May Reply

      Thanks Kellie! Kampot was definitely our most relaxing stop in Cambodia 🙂

  • Patti
    Posted at 06:58h, 15 May Reply

    I couldn’t get past that pie! Was it lemon meringue? So, so good, one of my favorites. I love following your travels, you are so brave and adventurous. You’ve traveled to places that are way out of my comfort zone and I’m learning so much through your eyes. Well-done you two!

    • Amy
      Posted at 13:13h, 15 May Reply

      Thanks Patti, yes it was lemon meringue pie and it was absolutely delicious! Travelling in Cambodia was quite an emotional experience but I learned so much from it.

  • The Guy
    Posted at 13:35h, 15 May Reply

    Hi Amy, it really does look like a ghostly place. Also the casino looks to be in a very remote location.

    I’m glad the cooling air and wind helped you feel better since staying at your location for cake/pie might have been very tempting.

    • Amy
      Posted at 13:44h, 15 May Reply

      It was a pretty strange building to find in Cambodia! That lemon meringue pie was constantly tempting me too 🙂

  • www.worldtravelagency.com
    Posted at 12:14h, 17 June Reply

    i still remember those beautiful sunsets in Kampot…you recalled my memories in Kampot Amy 🙂 thanks for sharing

    • Andrew
      Posted at 11:25h, 18 June Reply

      The sunsets were amazing, so was the pie! 😉

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