Kep was one of the least tourist ridden places we had been. Maybe it was because the sand of the lone beach is brown instead of white, or because the water is golden instead of blue. Regardless I found it be an incredibly charming place. The first thing I noticed when we rolled into town was the dragonfly infestation. Infestation might be the wrong word since it gives it a somewhat negative feel. A dragonfly congregation might be more a more fitting name for the hundreds of them that were hovering above us. We were the only ones staying at our hotel besides an exhausted mother dog and her eight puppies. A pepper plantation was about 16 km away and I have always wanted to know how pepper was grown. Maybe not always but when I found out there was a plantation nearby it certainly peaked my interest. Kep is also known for it's delectable, fresh crabs. Dragonflies, puppies, pepper, and crabs...what else does one need for complete contentment? (insert crab joke here)
While in Asia, we have both had our bouts of illness from some unknown food source. It begins with a quesy, lethargic feeling. Followed by an, "oh not again" feeling. Then the always fun, "what food was it?" guessing game. Closely trailed by twelve hours of complete misery. While in Kep, Pete had a good run of those twelve hours. After stocking the room with water and sprite, putting the trash can within arms reach, and several reassurances that he wanted to be left alone we took a tuk tuk to the pepper plantation.
Photo by Goingslowly
Tara and Tyler
Photo by Goingslowly
So, if you were unaware or curious, pepper grows on a vine. It is a fruit that is green when it is unripe, red when it is ripe and then black, white or red depending on how it is dried and what part of the fruit is used.
Crab dinner
photo by Goingslowly
Insect catcher. A.K.A , packing tape hung from a light
Puppies!!!!
photo by Goingslowly
photo by Goingslowly
Tyler gave us another photography tip. If a lens is turned around and held up to the camera it will mimic what a macro lens does. It opened up a whole new world of tiny stuff to photograph. We spent all morning with a vain dragonfly....it barely moved.
We our goodbyes to Tara and Tyler and started back to Kampot.
Stopping for air
Natasha