Kep
Kep (កែប) also romanized as Kaeb (Khmer: កែប, literally: "Saddle of the Horse") formally known as Kep Province (ខេត្តកែប) is the smallest province (khaet) of Cambodia[2] covering 336 km2 (130 sq mi), with a population of 40,280.[1] It is one of the newest Cambodian provinces, together with Pailin and Sihanoukville, created by Royal Decree on 22 December 2008, which separated Kep municipality from the province of Kampot, as well as adjusting several provincial borders.[citation needed] The provincial capital is Kep District and the province contains the Kep National Park.
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Kep Archipelag
The Kep Peninsula enters southwest to the Kep Bay in a triangle. A tiny archipelago of 13 islands (Koh) and islets are located at the east side of the peninsula:
- Koh Tonsay (កោះទន្សាយ, 'Rabbit Island')
- Koh Kok.
- Koh Matay.
- Koh Svay (កោះស្វាយ, 'Mango Island')
- Koh Kbal (កោះក្បាល, 'Head Island')
- Koh Hal Trey.(កោះហាលត្រី)
- Koh Svay Prey (កោះស្វាយព្រៃ)
- Koh Sarang(កោះសារ៉ាង)
- Koh Pou (កោះពោធិ, 'Enlightening Island')
- Koh Makprang. (កោះម៉ាកប្រាង)
- Koh Angrong (កោះអង្គ្រង, 'Thorny Tree Islet')
- Koh Seh (កោះអាចម៍សេះ, 'Horse Island')
- Koh Sngout. (កោះស្ងួត)
Koh Tonsay
Koh Tonsay (Khmer: កោះទន្សាយ
meaning 'Rabbit Island') is located about 4.5 Kilometers southwest of
Kep. Tourists are drawn to the two white sand beaches, and the sea is
shallow and proper for swimming. At the sea bottom are a variety of
corals, sea animals and plants which attract researchers and ecologists.
The name Koh Tonsay is derived from the word Rumsay. While trying to
avoid the commander’s troops, Prince Sakor Reach grew hopeless because
his own troops began to tire. He led his remaining troops across the sea
to an island in front of Kep city, where the troops spread out.
Accordingly, the island was called Koh Rumsay, Koh Ormsay, Koh Ornsay,
and Koh Tonsay, as it is known today. Another version is that, according
to many locals who spent there youth in Kep before 1975, the island was
previously called Koh Antai. There is no apparent meaning for this.
Koh Tonsay is 2 square kilometers in area. During then-Prince Norodom
Sihanouk’s Sangku Reastr Niyum regime, it was used as a place to
rehabilitate criminals, who were also used to defend the island. Horse
cart paths and wooden, thatch roofed motels were also constructed during
this time. Most of this infrastructure has been destroyed by weather
and decades of war. Today Koh Tonsay is a major tourist attraction for
Kep. There are about 8 khmer run basic guest houses and about 5
restaurants, serving mainly fresh seafood like crabs, shrimps and fish.
During the day it can get quite busy with day tourists, which leave
around 4pm, so for the sunset there are only a few overnight people
there. Electricity runs only from 6-9pm by generators. Water can run
short during the dry months (Dec-Apr) and longtail boats with big water
tanks are supllying the demand.
About
Kep City is a municipality in Cambodia with the status of a province.
Kep is just a few kilometres from the border with Vietnam located and
used to be Cambodia's most popular beach town but has fallen on hard
times in recent years (especially due to the Khmer Rouge). Many of
Kep's, mostly French villas are abandoned, but some of the town's former
splendour is still apparent.
The see is lined with huge sidewalks and some large statues that now seem largely out of place. The king built a palace overlooking the Gulf of Thailand, but it was never furnished and now sits empty. A good, paved road connects the small town with the 15km far away Kampot. The slightly darker beaches than in Sihanoukville are mostly scattered with mangroves and black rocks, but Koh Thonsay (Rabbit Island) is just a short boat ride away (approx. 1/2h).
Kep appears to be experiencing something of a renaissance, with several mid-range and luxury guesthouses and bungalows recently opened or still under construction. The seafood is cheap, plentiful and delicious - particularly the quite famous crabs. Kep is also home to an extensive national park covering some mountains with deep green jungle.
The French established Kep City during the colonial time in 1908. Today Kep is mainly popular to the domestic tourists, who choose Kep as their holiday destination. What's more, Kep offers great seafood and magnificent views of the mountains and the beaches.
Taking a boat to the nearby islands is also a breathtaking experience. Another itinerary, which must not be missed, is an excursion to the serene waterfalls of 'Tuk Chhou" situated about 10 km from Kampot. Kep City is located in the Southwest of Phnom Penh. The city is accessible by the National Road No 3 from Phnom Penh via Kampot province (173 km) or by the National Road No 2 from Phnom Penh via Takeo province.
Especially during the Sixties, during the time of Sang Kum Reas Ni Yum the city was developed as a beautiful seaside tourist resort for the rich and government. The story related to the name of Kep said that there was a king named Sa Kor Reach, who had a mighty spell. He put a sleeping spell on a commander at AngKor Thum, than stole the commander's white horse and fled together with his troop to the Southwestern seaside.
When he took a rest at the seaside, he was overhauled by the commander's troops, who chased him from behind. Suddenly, he got on the horseback; the horse reared, and made him fall down on the ground together with the saddle. Then, he got on the horseback again and fled away without picking up the saddle, because the commander's troops almost approached him. So that's why this area was called ' Kep Seh ' meaning ' the saddle ', nowadays it's only called ' Kep '.
The see is lined with huge sidewalks and some large statues that now seem largely out of place. The king built a palace overlooking the Gulf of Thailand, but it was never furnished and now sits empty. A good, paved road connects the small town with the 15km far away Kampot. The slightly darker beaches than in Sihanoukville are mostly scattered with mangroves and black rocks, but Koh Thonsay (Rabbit Island) is just a short boat ride away (approx. 1/2h).
Kep appears to be experiencing something of a renaissance, with several mid-range and luxury guesthouses and bungalows recently opened or still under construction. The seafood is cheap, plentiful and delicious - particularly the quite famous crabs. Kep is also home to an extensive national park covering some mountains with deep green jungle.
The French established Kep City during the colonial time in 1908. Today Kep is mainly popular to the domestic tourists, who choose Kep as their holiday destination. What's more, Kep offers great seafood and magnificent views of the mountains and the beaches.
Taking a boat to the nearby islands is also a breathtaking experience. Another itinerary, which must not be missed, is an excursion to the serene waterfalls of 'Tuk Chhou" situated about 10 km from Kampot. Kep City is located in the Southwest of Phnom Penh. The city is accessible by the National Road No 3 from Phnom Penh via Kampot province (173 km) or by the National Road No 2 from Phnom Penh via Takeo province.
Especially during the Sixties, during the time of Sang Kum Reas Ni Yum the city was developed as a beautiful seaside tourist resort for the rich and government. The story related to the name of Kep said that there was a king named Sa Kor Reach, who had a mighty spell. He put a sleeping spell on a commander at AngKor Thum, than stole the commander's white horse and fled together with his troop to the Southwestern seaside.
When he took a rest at the seaside, he was overhauled by the commander's troops, who chased him from behind. Suddenly, he got on the horseback; the horse reared, and made him fall down on the ground together with the saddle. Then, he got on the horseback again and fled away without picking up the saddle, because the commander's troops almost approached him. So that's why this area was called ' Kep Seh ' meaning ' the saddle ', nowadays it's only called ' Kep '.
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