Kampot

Kampot province is pretty much hammock town. Everyone is lazing around in hammocks. Shopkeepers, kids, fishermen, they are laying low and easy in the shade. Our guesthouse is on the river, on stilts. I'm drinking Angkor, the local brew. Dry, easy-drinking and tasty.

We met a local guy named Sarrat who is really cool. He took us to a local 'bar' where they make and serve the 'palm wine' that I've heard so much about. This place is a shanty by a water hole with mats rolled out in the spots of shade. He translates the chirpy old lady who runs the place, turns out we're the first foreigners to grace this fine establishment. He does the ordering and we get some chili pork and also some chili duck. Delicious.

The palm wine is like a spirit, it tastes fine and sweet by god damn it gets you drunk. Fast. The three of us shared a small water bottle and get ultra-tipsy while this old guy orders a bottle for himself. We pay next to nothing for this meal because Sarrat does the ordering. There is a foreigner tax for EVERYTHING here. If you don't speak the language people try to get you to pay a good 90% more. We're fortunate that Sarrat agrees to be our guide for the next day.