It rained hard overnight, and the air is glorious this morning…fresh and cool with a slight breeze. I think today will be a beach day provided I can secure a tree under which to sit. It’s my last full day in Kep, and I’ve enjoyed this laid-back little seaside town. For now, I am sitting in the garden, listening to the sounds of the gardener sweeping fallen leaves.
I walked the perimeter of Kep National Park yesterday. It’s a little over 8 km total with most of it under a canopy of tree tops, a welcome reprieve from the relentless sun. The trail begins behind a resort, so I thought I’d take advantage of the market there to pick up snacks. Apparently catering to park-goers is not high on their priority list unless you view Tabasco sauce and rum as hiking provisions…
Armed with a bag of lightly salted chips, I set out. The park is home to many small animals but my only sighting was a smallish lizard that scared the life out of me, waiting in ambush as he was. I did meet a couple of young guys who were staring intently at a rock face, throwing bits of stone at a hole there. They’d seen a huge spider, and somehow thought that throwing rocks at it would entice it to make another appearance. I saw no spiders in the park. Ironically, my sighting was back in my room….an absolutely huge specimen. He met a violent end, thanks to overzealous staff armed with a can of spray. Â I’m still feeling like a murderer;Â this guy had presence!
But back to my hike. The trail goes in a circle through the park and affords great views of the mountains and the sea. Vietnam is visible in the distance, about 20 km further along the coast. I met a group of four from Ukraine who had decided to take in the beauty via tuk-tuk, the sound of their motor the only break in the serenity.
The last 3km or so consist of a road with absolutely no shade. My timing, always perfect, put me there at noon with the sun high in the sky, scorching everything beneath. Thankful for my peasant hat…
I tasted Kep crab last night. It is one of the reasons folks come here, and I broke with my vegetarian regime because it’s been difficult getting sufficient protein (they don’t seem to do tofu). The crab was okay, but not like ours, and way too much work for less than 2 oz. of meat. It’s back to nuts and beans for me.
Ended the day with a walk along the shore and a gorgeous sunset. Ahhhh!
