Best Kep Secret

When you mention Cambodia, the one thing most people will think of is Angkor Wat or Angelina Jolie and the Tomb Raider (part of the movie was shot at Ta Prohm). But Cambodia has so much more to offer – idyll beaches, the fascinating Tonle Sap Lake, fish amok, New Khmer Architecture and the list goes on. One notable and undiscovered gem is Kep.

A sleepy beachside town, Kep is three hours drive from Phnom Penh and 30 minutes from the Cambodia/Vietnam border at Prek Chak/Xa Xia. Kep used to be a favourite haunt of the French and Cambodian elite in its heydays from the early 1900’s until the 1960’s, but it has fallen on hard times in recent years, particularly during the Khmer Rouge reign.

Fortunately, Kep is experiencing a resurgence with several mid-range and hip boutique hotels recently open or being built. Ok, so the beach isn’t that great (you see rocks instead of white sand), but the town's seafood is fabulous and cheap – a haven for crab lovers.

I shot this picture just before dusk. The Gulf of Thailand shimmered like jewels, beckoning nightfall as the fishermen made their way home after a good day’s catch. For me, as I reclined on my hammock with a tall glass of freshly squeezed orange and watermelon juice, it was the perfect way to end a perfect day…