Did my Plans Koh W(Rong)?

Dear Readers,

When last we spoke many weeks ago, I rambled on in efforts to procrastinate looking for a place to live in Phnom Penh. My how much has happened since that time, and how absent I have been. I would like to say this is because I have been busy, living out loud like I aspire to do, and this is true for the most part. It seems I was finally able to turn my brain off for a few weeks, and I was in no hurry to turn it back on. I suppose that means I am getting better at the whole mindful living thing. I am also getting better at trusting my gut; and after writing my last post, my gut had an awful lot to say.

I have been on an amazing journey of letting go of control and allowing the universe to take hold, to guide me where I need to go. This of course isn’t quite as simple as it sounds, it’s a tricky balance in which one must navigating the winds to gently guide the ship without oversteering it. between guiding the ship and oversteering it. That’s where my gut has come in handy. If I am to be honest, after writing my last post I got extremely anxious about the notion of finding a place to live. I would generally approach this as a challenge to overcome, but something deep within me told me that wasn’t going to serve me well. So instead, I listened to the anxiety in search for wisdom within it; To which I found I was trying to settle too soon. Rather than experience the journey, I was trying to rush to the destination. What good comes from that?

And so, I decided to get away from the city for a few days and check out Koh Rong, an island off the coast of Cambodia that I had heard great things about; it did not disappoint. After having spent a week in the chaos of Phnom Penh, I fully embraced its opposite and rented a very rustic bungalow mere steps from the beach in a remote part of a very remote island.

Getting there was no small challenge, I could write a full post about the experiences of taking Cambodian buses, and the ferry wasn't exactly any better. Upon landing to the island, I overpaid for a ride to my resort, and got a tour of Koh Rong's first road, built during covid. I was then dropped off at the side of the road with a small marker with the resorts name. I was skeptical, but it turns out I didn't die and it did take me to where I needed to be.

The road

Palm Beach's Grand Entrance

After a five minute trek through the jungle, I found civilization!

View from my deck

The first and most important tasks once I arrived at my bungalow were 1. Google how to use a mosquito net

2. Google how to flush a tankless toilet

3. Take many pictures to make friends at home jealous (Courtney I am looking at you)

4. Sit in the hammock on my deck

The last few nights before heading there I were a bit lonely, though Koh Rong was anything but. After I completed the aforementioned to-do list, I sat down at the resorts restaurant to eat. Not 5 minutes later I made some friends who really helped to make my stay at Koh Rong amazing. After that point, I barely had a moment to myself, and that has continued to be true until a few days ago.

Did lots of fun things on the island in the five days I was there

1. Saw some amazing beaches

2. Met some amazing people

3. Didn't die on a moped

4. Went on a boat tour

5. Drank too much

6. Danced like no one was watching (everyone was watching)

7. Provided entertainment to other guests

8. Relaxed

9. Got a sunburn

10. Got eaten alive by sand fleas

11. Watched a cat give birth in a palm tree

12. Booked a one way ticket to Thailand

Amazing People

Pictured here is myself with some of the amazing staff. Els and Milli are a lovely European couple currently doing a work-stay at palm beach. We bonded over our gay blood, had some great late night conversations over games of Skip-Bo after all the older folk went to bed (at 9:30 each night). Hope to run into these beauties again. Also pictured is Sreypa, my favourite of the local staff ❤️

Beautiful Beaches

Staying Alive when Death Lingers in the Air

We didn’t really take many pics of/on the bikes themselves. Perhaps because we feared certain deaths. Just getting out of the resort (remember that entrance) was a trying task through deep sand and steep hills, there may have been a few falls. We may have played bumper bikes at one point. We may have all been bleeding at some point in the day. There simply isn’t time to take pictures when you’re fighting for your life.

We had two bikes between the four of us, the “nicer” of which had a prolapsed ignition that had to be held at just the right angle to start the bike. The other bike only made it to our first destination before breaking down completely. As luck would have it, a guy was driving past and stopped for help. He somehow knew which resort we were from, and gave us his bike and said he would take our broken one to the shop. We later learned he was actually the owner of the bikes and would lend them to our resort.

In the end we got the bikes for free and had an amazing day.

Boat Trip

We really lucked out when it came to the boat trip. There were just four of us signed up but they went ahead with it anyways. Milli and Els got to come along as guides, which was also great. First we went snorkelling which was AMAZING. Then we did some traditional Khmer fishing. It seems I am a natural and may have found my next career. I caught six fish in total, including the first of the day (and my life). I also caught a giraffe looking grouper fish that I named Simon, he was delicious. I will get a bamboo tattoo of him soon to commemorate this day and his life. I guess he left an impact because our group chat is now named after him. Rest in Power Simon!

After the sun went down, we tried to see the bioluminescent plankton but the moon was too bright. Thanks to Milli's brilliance, her, Els, and I did manage to see them a bit by looking under the back of the boat. It was beautiful, like our own little rave of glowing glitter in the sea. One day I must see them under better conditions, they are quite the sight to see!

Koh Rong truly was an amazing time, I even came home with hundreds of souvenieers... sand flea bites to remember it. A special kind of hell. 10/10 would not recommend them.

I can't end this on a picture of my diseased looking foot, so here is a Koh Rong sunset

It ended up being an important week. Things didn't exactly Koh (w)rong (I worked really hard on that word play so please find humour in it) during my stay, but it was a transformative experience, as being at the ocean often is. It set me on a differenth path, one that has taken me to Thailand, so I would argue that Koh Rong is actually where I grounded myself and found the next right step.

Next up on Nathan's Life: Thailand Stay tuned and don't forget to subscribe!