These photos were taken in the last week of October,
2004. Of all the places I have
traveled in this world and all the islands in all the oceans and seas, it is
hard to describe
the awesome beauty and remoteness of this island. Located 44 kilometers
off the coast
of Cambodia's industrial port, Sihanoukville, Kok Rong is the second largest
island
in Cambodian waters. The beach in the pictures is what I have named "Snowdrift
Beach"
due to the pristine, snow drift like quality of its pure white sand. When
you walk on the beach,
you make a "crunching" sound like walking on newly fallen snow and combined with
the drifting like
quality of the sand, makes it appear like "snow drifts".
I walked this particular beach and estimate its
length to be in excess of 8 kilometers with
a brisk walk from end to end taking about 2 hours. Approximately half way around
this beautiful bay, you will come upon a small rocky point where the only rocks
and boulders
to be found in these waters are located. I have named this point "Rocky
Point" and the
bay itself, "Snowdrift Bay".
The end of the bay on the northwest flank of the
island, is a hill gently sloping to the sea looking
very much like a sleeping crocodile laying on a beach. I have named this
point, "Crocodile Point".
The other point at the southwest end of the bay has a small, wooden Chinese
temple on it.
Keeping it simple, I have named this "China Point".
At the southwest entrance to "Snowdrift
Bay" is a huge fishing net that marked by two red
fishing flags. If you are not paying attention, this net could do some
serious damage to a
small boat if you hit it while motoring into the bay.
There will be no difficulty about anchorage and
ground tackle as there are no rocks, stone or
coral. It is nothing but gently scalloped white sand underneath incredibly
warm azul waters.
Along the beach there is numerous areas where fresh
water is flowing down in streams from the
steeply, forested hills of the interior. At the small fishing village at
the far end of the beach,
water barrels are overflowing with fresh water as it gushes out of pipes
connected to island streams.
This small village is mostly empty with many huts abandoned. There are
however many dogs including
some very mean and vicious rotweilers. I have lovingly named this trading
village "Rothweiler Village".
Except for some trails leading up through the sand,
penetrating the island through the mangrove would
be impossible without anything less than a chainsaw. Forget about using a
machete through this stuff.