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25-Sep-2004
Last Edited
by The Editor * Part 1 - Part 2
Sokha Beach
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Construction continues on the large complex that totally dominates this small valley and beach area. As you head over the hill from the Golden Lion Traffic Circle, you quickly descend past a sign for the Malibu Guest House on your left and a very large mansion with an impressive sea view. |
At this rocky point the 1.5 km beach begins and the 15 hectare, 180 room Sokha Beach Resort starts. You might also notice the tail of a serpent burrowing deep into thesand whose head can be found in a large fountain in the middles of the resort. The resort is impressive to say the least (see photos) and combined with a large lake on its north side, is in a beautiful setting. |
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The main lobby of the Sokha Beach Resort hotel. |
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There are less than a handful of other commercial operations in this valley, with one being the very interesting Chez Claude villa on the ridge overlooking Sokha and the Princess Village Guest House and Bar. |
As you continue north along the road, you drop down along Independence Beach which appears to be a beach setup by the Ministry of the Environment. Along it, there are the expected food huts, umbrellas and chairs as well as a series of statues that look like they started off as fountains with mythological themes. The large Sea Breeze Guest House is also perched on a small hill overlooking this beach. At the end of the beach perched high over the water is the hulk of the Independence Hotel from which the beach was named. Rumors indicate that slow work is underway to remodel the hotel. There is also another road that heads back into the jungle where you can find monkeys crossing the road or hanging in the trees. This road will lead you to an abandoned seafood restaurant known as 'Treasure Island'. As you wind your way through the foliage, you eventually drop down onto another beach which goes by various names such as Hawaii, Lamherkay, Channel and Kings with Hawaii Beach seeming to be the most popular name used by foreigners. |
| Victory Beaches |
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At over two kilometers, Victory Beach is quite long, but like Independence, the sandy area is narrow, making low tide the best time. |
| Victory is really two beaches divided by a rocky point and a small hill. The southern beach is sometimes referred to as ‘King’s Beach’ and ‘South Channel Beach’, or ‘Lamherkay Beach’, but ‘Hawaii Beach’ seems to be catching on as the official name. Like the other major beaches, southern Victory is now lined with umbrellas and little drink huts, though not as densely as Ochheuteal. |
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There are a few boats on the beach which take tourists out to the nearby islands. |
| Victory Beach north of the rocky point is a park at one end and a port at the other. It is a great place to watch sunset and the big ships come and go. Chney Molop Chhrey seafood restaurant is right on the beach and the Holiday Palace Casino and Hotel is on the beach road. |
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The stretch of North Victory Beach near the Victory Monument is at the base of Weather Station Hill (a.k.a. Port Hill, Victory Hill, Backpacker Hill, etc.) |
| - a fast growing budget-friendly/backpacker area with guesthouses, bungalows, restaurants and bar such as Bungalow Village, MASH/ Melting Pot, Sakal Bungalows, Mealy Chenda, Mrs. Sam’s, Indian Curry Pot, Bayon, Smooth, and the very popular Corner Bar. The part of Victory Beach below the hill is not the most popular beach in Sihanoukville, but its convenience to Weather Station Hill and excellent sunset view makes it popular with local strollers and travelers from the hill. |
| Otres Beach |
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Getting to Otres Beach involves heading to the end of the paved second road and turning left and wrapping yourself along the dirt road on the inside |
| boundary of the new golf course. You will soon encounter a road that turns to the left where you will encounter a old wooden bridge. |
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Otress Beach is pretty much bare except for flotsam along its shore and an old fishing pot or two. It is also narrower that Ochheuteal although it has been referred to as the sister beach. |
| There are numerous deserted grass shacks and huts that line the grass between the trees that line the shore and the dirt road as well as an almost continuous line of walls marking the boundaries of property owned along the beach. |
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This small cafe is located about half way down the beach. |
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This is second of only two 'cafes' that occupy the beach area on Otres Beach and is located at the far end of the beach away from Ochheuteal Beach. |
| There is a police station setting on a small point at the end of the beach formed by an inlet from the gulf and the end of the 3-kilometer beach. |
There are also several islands just off the beach here, including the smallest and closest one, Koh Kteach, with Koh Preaus and Koh Chraloh a bit larger, with Koh Russei the largest. Koh Khteah and Koh Chraleh are best know for snorkeling although Koh Chraleh is nothing more than a rock. |