The following montage shows the coast road and
shoreline and its development
from Sihanoukville to the village of Stung Hav, 23 kilometers north. Heavy
development is underway at the oil bunkering facility by Tela Investment Group
(according to the sign at the site which is only in Khmer). Also
interesting to
note the sign indicates it is the "Kingdom of Cambodia - A Buddhist Religion"
"The existing terminal is known as the "Kompong Som
Sokimex Bulk Oil Terminal",
but logos for Shell are there as well. It appears there are plans for 14
additional
storage tanks including oil and natural gas. A second deep water pier is
presently
under construction offshore parallel to the existing pier.
Farther north is a very dusty or muddy road
(depending on the season) leading
to the fish processing village of Stung Hav. Here a large river makes its
way
inland winding through smaller islands, inlets and mangroves. Travel books
indicate it is in the river that the old Cambodian Navy was sunk and today is
occupied
with many rusting and sunken hulks. Could very well be as there are many
old,
wooden fishing vessels abandoned along the shore as well.
The land here has few trees but instead is
occupied by wind swept knolls of elephant
grass and scattered water melon farms and an occasional group of huts along the
road.
Many paths lead off the main road to the shoreline, exposing pristine beaches
and
beautiful white sand.