After breakfast at
the Vista restaurant, we went back to the villa and I started packing
our bags (making space for a bottle of Australian Shiraz and a bottle
of sparkling Pinot Noir), before going down and interviewing Emma,
the resort's conservation manager, who gave us the island tour
yesterday. Meanwhile the girls went for one last swim in the main
pool. Then, as our bags were picked up and driven to the jetty, we
went back to the Vista restaurant for lunch, Kate and I washing our
food down with our last Long Island ice teas.
Chatting to a few of
the staff as we walked to the pier it became clear just how lucky we
had been with the weather. We had enjoyed four straight days of
sunshine, just before we arrived, the resort had endured two straight
weeks of rain. And then, sadly, it was time to board the speed boat
and wave goodbye to Song Saa and those who worked there (many of whom
had come down to the jetty to see us off). This time, the boat was
packed – we were joined by the British family from yesterday and a
large, extended Cambodian family, the patriarch of which now lives in
Los Angeles.
When we reached the
port, we commented on the large yacht there and were informed by the
US-Cambodian man that it was owned by a Russian who got into some
sort of difficulty with the authorities and had the boat confiscated.
Our promised tuk-tuk was nowhere to be seen, but as we said our
goodbyes to the British family, I saw one drive up to the gate. It
looked as if they weren't going to let it in, so I set off across the
baking-hot car park to see what I could do. I suspect that when they
saw me coming they changed their minds and the barrier was raised and
I saw the familiar face of the driver who had brought us here five
days ago. He drove us back to good old Backpacker Heaven, where we
were shown to our old room, where the water we had left behind was
cooling in the fridge.
We've decided to
spend another night here so I can finish off my Mongolia feature, so
Kate walked up the road and changed the bus tickets she had bought
when we were last here, while the girls played on the Playstation.
Then Kate and I enjoyed our complimentary draught beers downstairs
and we all went to Mr Heng for dinner.
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