The Cambodian coastal town of Kampot still has a healthy dose of French colonial-era architecture. Some have been restored and turned into boutique hotels, cosy restaurants and the like while others remain in a dilapidated state of disrepair. The centre of town, just behind the modernist-looking market, is the best hunting ground if you want to see these buildings for yourself and it is worth taking a stroll both early morning and late afternoon as the light on the buildings is often different at both times of the day.
Wandering around this sleepy Cambodian riverine town, it’s hard to believe that until the 1950s and the development of Sihanoukville as a deep-sea harbour, Kampot was Cambodia’s main port. There is still fishing and a lovely thing to do just before sunset is to grab yourself a takeaway beer, head down to the waterfront promenade, find a bit of wall to sit on and watch the convoy of trawlers chug along the river and out to sea for a night of fishing. I suspect that watching them return in the early morning is an equally impressive sight but we’ve never got up early enough to find out!
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Pepper Mark, pepper! LOL….loved visiting the pepper plantations in Kampot. We took a little tour during our stay. We also stayed right on the riverfront so walked by a few of those buildings up top quite a few times. Kampot is like old skool Cambodia in a few ways with some convenience and modern living too. Had a blast at the place, and reading your post!
Ryan
Another great thing about Kampot is that the surrounding scenery is beautiful and accessible – including pepper plantations, caves, rivers, lakes… It’s a favourite spot of ours. And, yes the pepper! Kampot green pepper and squid…. Yummy! 🙂
Interested to buy old dilapidated French style in this area ,, not necessarily huge place,, cheers. Terrance
Hi, If anyone has an email address or name of an architecture firm in the Kampot/ Sihanouk ville/ Ottra area I would very much appreciate. My internet searches have not delivered much results, only one big construction firm. I am qualified and looking for drafting work in the area.