As this past Thursday was the Queen's birthday (a national holiday) and Friday an impromptu holiday to mourn the death of a senior Cambodian politician (?!), I had yet another long weekend to skip town. So, my friend, Marie, and I decided to head out to the coastal port city of Sihanoukville in southwest Cambodia. The 4+ hour-long minivan ride from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville (on Giant Ibis) cost US$11/person each way and was, for the most part, dull and uneventful. Upon arrival at the Giant Ibis office near downtown Sihanoukville, we were hounded by blood-thirsty tuk-tuk drivers who wanted to slaughter us (figuratively speaking). Luckily, I called the hotel beforehand and learned that it would cost US$5 to ride from downtown Sihanoukville to the private remote beach of Ren Resort in Otres 2. A driver hung around and hoped that we would hire him for US$7. When I told him that I had secured the hotel pick-up at US$5, he dropped his fee to US$5, but it was too little, too late.
Relatively new and secluded from the chaos and smut of downtown beaches, Ren Resort was a gem of a find. The environs were blissful and serene and the stay came with a daily breakfast buffet from 7-10 am. Their restaurant is built right on a private beach, which affords an idyllic view of the beach (and the Gulf of Thailand) at any time of the day. The staff is a huge plus as well - everyone is genuinely friendly and helpful.
I came to Sihanoukville to unwind and reconnect with nature and it was mission accomplished. The highlight of my trip was nature's gift to us in the form of a breathtaking sunset and full double rainbows right in front of the resort. I felt engulfed in God's grace as I stood in the midst of nature's splendor. Facing the ocean with the sunset to my right and the double rainbows to my left, I felt nothing but awe and gratitude for God's beautiful creation - it was quite a spectacle and it was all for us and free. Thanks be to God.
Above: This little peanut has a lot of 'tude but oh, she's so adorable
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