• Menu
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Global Rally Organisation

Routes that capture the imagination

  • Home
  • Africa 2020
  • 2018 Asia rally
  • Previous Rallies
    • All Previous Rallies
    • Pan American 2016
    • Rallye Med 2014
    • La Gira Andina 2012
    • Panama to Alaska 2008
    • London to Sydney 2005
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Africa 2020
  • 2018 Asia rally
  • Previous Rallies
    • All Previous Rallies
    • Pan American 2016
    • Rallye Med 2014
    • La Gira Andina 2012
    • Panama to Alaska 2008
    • London to Sydney 2005
  • Contact

Day 9 — Ha Tien to Tatai

March 4, 2018 //  by Global Rally//  2 Comments

We went in convoy to the border with Cambodia where our Vietnam agent had already pre-cleared our passports for exit.

A short stop to say goodbye to our brilliant agents, and a cursory checkbox tick for the cars from the authorities and we were out of Vietnam in a jiffy.

Just one last group photo before leaving, and we will see the crew again in North Vietnam when we finish.

On the Cambodian side, immigration was equally slick. Our immigration forms had already been organised and all we had to do was sign our visa and away we went.

First impressions of Cambodia. Lack of motor cycles. The whole of Cambodia has a population of 16 million, and there are 16 million people in Ho Chi Minh City alone and everyone has a motor cycle, so the contrast with less traffic here was stark. The roads are straight and fast and very well maintained.

The countryside is green and largely unpopulated, at least where we are. At times it felt like driving through Hampshire, except for the sign “Elephants crossing”. We saw monkeys too, so an immediate contrast to  Vietnam. Buddhism, Temples and monks on motorcycles were evident on the way.

 

Our first attraction though was the crab market at Kep. Crab and shellfish are kept fresh in baskets in the sea until a customer wants to purchase. Crabs are chosen and cooked straight away and eaten hot and fresh. The market was heaving with stalls and visitors, all attracted to this panoply of delightful food.

 

Next up was a trip up to Bokor Hill Station, a 30km climb of hairpin bends to the top with lovely views and historical sites.  The Hill Station was established by the French in 1925 and subsequently abandoned twice, during WWII and the Khmer Rouge period.   The area including Bokor “mountain” was established as a national park in 1993, with its 1500 sq kilometers spanning four Cambodian provinces.  Only a few buildings remain.

An exhilarating end to the day was enjoyed on fast sweeping roads with little traffic until we reached our hotel for the night at Tatai, where check in couldn’t have been more welcoming.

A very hot day was relieved for many by a plunge into a very refreshing pool and a cold Cambodian beer.

Related

Category: Asia Rally 2018, CambodiaTag: 2018 rally

Previous Post: « Day 10 — Ta Tai to Battambang and a world exclusive!
Next Post: Day 8 — Can Tho to Ha Tien »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Roy and Paula Goins

    February 14, 2018 at 4:47 am

    Saw you guys (and girls) driving by Kep Beach and again at the Crab Market in Kep. AMAZING! Have a wonderful time.

    Roy and Paula from USA

    Reply
    • Global Rally

      February 15, 2018 at 9:38 am

      Thanks so much for taking the time to find us on line and for your kind comment.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Latest Updates

  • They’re back!
  • Shouldn’t be long now…..
  • Cars in the Canaries
  • Continental drift
  • Homeward Bound

Categories

  • Africa Rally 2020
  • Asia Rally 2018
    • About the cars
    • Cambodia
    • Laos
    • Myanmar
    • Thailand
    • Vietnam
  • Previous Rallies
  • Uncategorized

Follow us on Twitter

My Tweets

Who are the GRO?

We are a non-profit making organisation created for people who relish a challenge and an interest in classic cars. Combining these two things allows our members to explore the world.
The charge for all rallies will be “at cost”, save for a pre-stated administration fee for organising the event and the shared cost of the service / medical crew. We are able to do this as we will also be participating in the adventure and the countries are ones we wish to visit.

Subscribe for updates

Enter your email address to subscribe to news and updates by email.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

Copyright © 2023 Global Rally Organisation · All Rights Reserved · Powered by Mai Theme