Sihanoukville, Cambodia (June 3)

Sihanoukville, named for a former king, was hacked out of the jungle to create Cambodia’s only deep water port in 1955. The “artificial” city boomed after construction of the port and is now not only a center of trade but also a hotbed of tourism, largely Chinese lured by ubiquitous casinos. After decades of war, the city suffers from corruption and crime; its infrastructure feeble and its architecture unimpressive and unfinished. Chinese and Russian investment dried up during COVID leaving depressive building skeletons scattered around the city.

Bob took a bus ride around town to the the market, hotel casinos, many unfinished, and the beach; Bill walked, got lost in the port, and was saved by a policeman who chauffeured him to the ship on his scooter.

Golden Lion Roundabout, the symbol of Sihanoukville

We were treated to a lovely sunset as we left the city.