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    Kampot Cambodia - photoblog

    / Last updated 09 Mar 2012

    Introduction

    The faded port city of Kampot is one of Cambodia's best preserved shophouse towns. In this gallery take a look at the town and its surrounds.
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer, Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer, Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer, Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer, Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer, Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer, Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer, Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer, Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • Kampot is a delightful mellow river town just off Cambodia's southern coast. This hotchpotched bridge tells both of its French colonial past and the violence and destruction of the Khmer Rouge era.
    • Kampot showcases some of Indochina's best preserved colonial era shophouses creating a lovely old world feel.
    • Shophouses Kampot.
    • This small strip of bars on the Kampot waterfront comes to life in the late afternoon as happy hour hits and 50 cent a glass beers start flowing.
    • The former Governor's Residence Kampot
    • Kampot
    • Kampot's French era prison. It's still in use.
    • Given Hun Sen's stranglehold on power in Cambodia, the state of Kampot's Election Committee is unsuprising.
    • Kampot is home to sizeable communities of both Vietnamese and Chinese.
    • Kampot's Vienamese community celebrates Tet - the Chinese and Vietnamese New Year celebration.
    • Celebrating New Year
    • Kampot like many of Cambodia's cities and towns plays host to some very special privately owned boutique hotels. This one, Rikitikitavi is the pick and at 35USD per night is great value.
    • Rikitikitavi Hotel, Kampot. Tasteful rooms, excellent staff and a great restaurant.

    • Cycling around Kampot's countryside is a highlight. This small bungalow hotel, Le Manguiers, is another simple accommodation a little out of town in a picturesque rural riverside setting.

    • Kampot countryside

    • Just outside of Kampot, this 7th century cave temple, Phnom Chhnork, is well worth a visit. The ride through the countryside is as enjoyable as the atmospheric temple. Easily accessible by bicycle or tuk tuk from Kampot
    • Phnom Chhnork cave temple
    • Phnom Chhnork cave temple
    • Country cycling around Kampot
    • Country cycling around Kampot
    • One of the main draws for travellers to Kampot is the ghost town on Mount Bokor. Access is currently limited due to a massive casino and hotel development presently under construction. This is the old Catholic Church of the settlement.
    • The French established a hillstation at Mount Bokor at the beginning of the twentieth century as a resort retreat because of its cooler climate and stunning views. At its peak in the early 60s, it included a casino and a plush hotel. All now lie in ruin.
    • The Catholic Church was occupied by the Khmer Rouge while under siege by Vietnamese forces. The altar has survived the turmoil. Many visitors feel compelled to make their mark.
    • The ruins of Mount Bokor
    • The hotel complex looks over a sheer cliff to the sea. In the sixties it welcomed Cambodia's local and international elite. Not far away another more brash casino and hotel complex is under construction - perhaps testing the mountain's ghosts.
    • Tiles with tales. The Vietnamese took the high ground occupying the hotel in their battles against the Khmer Rouge. This area was intermittently controlled by the Khmer Rouge until well into the 1990s.
    • Bokor Mountain - The Palace Hotel
    • Usually shrouded in mist, during our visit, the mountain baked in uninterrupted sun. This coastal view shows Vietnam's Phu Quoc Island close by. Our guide was adamant that Phu Quoc was rightly Cambodian territory.

    • Mount Bokor National Park - a beautiful spot rich in wildlife. The development of a hotel, casino and apartments on the mountain by the ubiquitous and well connected Sokha Company (managers of the temples of Angkor and choice real estate throughout the country) will test the National Park's staying power.

    • Roadbuilding is also leaving serious scarring.
    • The friendly proprietor of Kepler's bookstore in Kampot
    • A Chinese couple keep their distance. Kampot
    • What's hot in Kampot is a cute little wine bar in one of the town's many shophouses. Upstairs, a small non profit project called Dorsu sells clothes made on site to help fund a local school project.
    • Hannah Guy from Australia is a volunteer getting Dorsu up and running.
    • And the girls that make the clothes for Dorsu at work.
    Quicklink - Introduction - Kampot