We had to get as a smaller boat to shore, lunch supplies and all and this was legitimately the closest I’ve been to capsizing in a boat filled with 30 others. The seas were so rocky and the boat wasn’t fantastic that with each sway of the waves those sitting on the sides almost had gushes of water coming over onto their laps. We had people jumping out and swimming to shore, I would have done the same though I had my camera and it was raining so my priority second to my life was not getting it wet. We arrived to shore, bodies and towels soaking wet and had a small hut were we had to reside for the next 2 and a half hours instead of lounging in these colourful chairs and soaking up the sun. Beers were being cracked and pity parties thrown. I would have gone swimming as it was warmer in the water than onland but my clothes and towel were soaking wet and I would have been colder than what I’d started out as. The fresh fish,salad and rice when down and absolute treat and then I wandered the island collecting shells with Silvia and Mia, two German girls I met.

Because of the storms the visibility for snorkelling was terribly poor, but the water was refreshing and so salty that I floated with ease and finally started to feel better. And then those storm clouds that were looming finally caught up with us. Pouring with rain we made our way flour stop I number two and our BBQ lunch island.

I have never been bad with sea sickness (I slept on the top of a boat for 8 nights and wasn’t slightly seasick at all) but today was the worst feeling of my life. We had a big storm at 4:30 last night, I lay away counting the gaps and it was scarily close. The power cut for 4 hours (a regular occurrence here). Thinking they’d maybe not take the boats, but the sun was peeping out at 8am here, so we set off. After breakfast the winds had picked up and when it can time to board the boat, it was rocking uncomfortably too much side to side. I made a comment saying “I hope no one gets sea sick..” We’ll that shot me right in the foot. I then commenced the worst 40 minutes of my life. The over crowded boat slowly made its way to the first island, storm clouds looming and I sat on the side considering swimming to shore because anywhere was better than the feeling of almost hurling your breakfast off the side of the boat for 40 minutes. Driving over a change in currents and a swim stop was my saving grace.

Ortres beach (despite the current cloud cover) is an absolute prime sunset viewing platform, coming to you live from a beach lounge under a bamboo umbrella.

The sun came out in full swing as it was setting today

After a seedy start, some berocca, vegemite toast and salt water were my three cures today. I spent a few hours pretending to sleep on the beach cause I couldn’t deal with the persistent women and children. Later in the afternoon our friends had hired motorbikes to come over to our beach from town. They found a funky beach bar where the beach lounges were free, the lady working was super lovely and fun and there was a stream of good music playing at the perfect volume. I spent the next 4 hours reading, Teresa and I got manicures and pedicures for $3 a pop (I did not deal well with my feet being touched in the slightest) and basking in the sun literally until there was sun no more.

Can we all just take a minute to appreciate how much stingoes I am having to lather myself in and this is just the front of my legs not to mention my feet, backs of legs, hips, elbows, arms and even face! I am the worlds itchiest person currently.

I haven’t really drunk much in the last 5 weeks, and last night I was really impressed with my pacing efforts, I drank 2 bottles of water whilst out (mum you’d be impressed) as well. One of the boys I’m certain got his drink spiked and was about to head off (unknowingly to him)with a hooker down a dark stretch of the beach until I noticed and dragged us all home. And I’m glad we did cause our tuk tuk took us to the wrong beach and it took over half an hour to get home with a drunken Gareth who was literally almost falling out of the tuk tuk. This morning though I still feel as though someone is wringing out my stomach and as though my head has been hit by a bus. This alcohol is posion I swear, and I’m not a fan no matter how little i drink. But we had a really fun night out and it was cool the bar fronts were on the beach. There were fire shows and fireworks on the beach too. I had a try of fire twirling without the fire… And thank god for that cause I would have been up in flames. But I’m currently needing berocca badly and housing a body that was evidently feasted on by mosquitoes (despite covering myself in repellent before I went out). Waaaaaaaaah

We randomly ran into another group of travellers that one of the guys I was with had met in Phnom Penh sitting on the beach; a group of 3 guys and a girl all uni friend from the UK. I was pleased to be in some girls company and so was she. We all planned to meet up later at the bars and just like that our group tripled in size. But we weren’t leaving the beach without a sunset swim because it was just too beautiful not to.

This place is paradise and hell in one. Filled with restaurants and bars one after the other, essentially serving the same thing and drinks I’m not entirely sure where people put their towels amongst the swarm of bamboo chairs that lines the beach, I wanted to check out the main area of Sihanoukville and so two guys staying in my dorm said they were keen to come so the tuk tuk was cheaper as well. There are 4 of us in the only open dorm room here cause it’s that quiet. We all felt like this trip made us appreciate Ortres beach a whole lots more. Aside from the restaurant staff hassling you, you’ve got swarms of children and ladies offering bracelets and massages and food who just want take ‘NO’ for an answer and crowd around your table and just hang there until you’ve ignored them for long enough that they move onto the next table. That said it was a cool place to be able to lounge on the beach, cocktail in hand and watch the sunset. We returned later than night as well to get our groove on at the beach front bars.