Kep-Ha Tien

Total Distance:84.46km
Total Time:4h52m02s
Average Speed:17.3km/h
Maximum Speed:28.8km/h
Total Distance So Far:3910.07km

GOOD MORNING VIETNAM! Or good afternoon anyway. I woke up early in Kep, had breakfast and hit the road for what would be my final journey on Cambodian soil. The boarder is only a short 45km from Kep, so I thought I would reach Vietnam well before noon. However things didn't run as smoothly as I had hoped. Kep publishes a local newsletter, "The Kep Revival", in which they give you instructions on how to get to Vietnam. The instructions state you take the highway to a dirt road, where you turn off continuing for 10km to reach the boarder. I followed the highway, turned onto a dirt road, and after 10km was at a boarder. However I guess I zigged when I should have zagged. The boarder I ended up at was a crossing for only Cambodian or Vietnamese citizens. The boarder guards were quite humored by the situation. I found it less entertaining, although looking back I do see the humor in it. I had to backtrack 20km to find the correct dirt road. There were no signs posted. I kept asking for directions and I kept ending up with the same response, "East". Nobody, however, could tell me where I had to go to turn east. Eventually I did find it, and I made it to the Vietnam boarder. I had planned on cycling to Rach Gia where I could catch a boat to Phu Quoc Island for some R n' R. Once at he boarder (the correct boarder) I was told by the guards that I could catch a boat from Ha Tien, which is significantly closer. The boarder guard I was dealing with was quite insistant that I catch the boat from Ha Tien. He said I had come a long way and needed rest. He was right, so I took his advice.
Boats only leave from Ha Tien in the early morning, which meant an over nioght stay there. The city has little to offer, but I did manage to find a nice little cafe where I could look out into the ocean and sip a cup of coffee. It was a relaximg, peaceful evening.
The next morning I headed to Phu Quoc, where I am now. It's a nice island, although a little new to the tourism circuit. I won't linger too long, but will spend at least a couple of days soaking up the rays on the white, sandy beaches.