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14 Jan 2002
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We arrived at Campong Som (formerly Sihanoukville) around 9.30 and most of the group headed for the market to buy seafood for lunch while we went straight to the beach. What a pleasure to smell the sea again! There were already quite a few people around so we wasted no time in claiming a space under a palm-leaf shade (to be paid for of course) and then dived into the water. The rest of the group arrived, grabbed inflated tyres and began playing like kids - clearly this was a special treat today. The crab-and-prawn lunch was equally enjoyed. The sun got hotter and people kept arriving. It was interesting to see that most swam dressed! A few girls wore swimming suits, but the rest modestly wore what seemed to be their normal clothes. And in a country where men often go around shirtless, most were swimming in shorts, Tshirts and hats, and some were in their jeans - bizzare! But it has to be said that they were all having a great time, not just wih their friends, but with anyone they came into contact with. We didn't get home until 8.00 p.m. but it was a memorable day out...