BY SUSHMITA CHOUDHURY AGARWAL,ET Bureau
Nestled
in the sapphire waters of the Gulf of Thailand, about a 40-minute
speedboat ride from Sihanoukville port, this new resort marries luxury
with sustainability.
Some
would say Cambodia first arrived on the tourist map back in 1907, when
the then French protectorate regained Siem Reap from Siam (Thailand),
and over 200 visitors poured in to view ancient temples gradually being
freed from the encroaching jungles.
Others pitch the starting
point at 1953, when Cambodia gained independence, but the tourist boom
of 1960s soon lost steam due to the neighbouring Vietnam war followed by the genocide under Pol Pot between 1975 and 1979 and the ensuing civil war which ended in 1991. A year later, the UNESCO
declared Angkor Wat temple complex a World Heritage Site, and gave a
shot in the arm to a country struggling to shake off the nightmare that
was Khmer Rouge.
Luxury at its Best
Back in 1994, just 1.76 lakh (176,000) international tourists visited Cambodia but
by November 2012, the footfalls increased 1,712%. A majority of these
visitors make a pit stop at Phnom Penh
and fulfill their craving for the heebie jeebies at the Killing Fields
before rushing off to Siem Reap, the closest town to the temple wonders.
A few make time for the laidback charm and the bamboo train at
Battambang. Fewer yet venture southwards to the hills of Kampot and the
beaches of Sihanoukville. But since March 2012, private jet tourists
have found a new reason to land in Cambodia: Song Saa Private Island.
Nestled in the sapphire waters of the Gulf of Thailand, about a 40-minute speedboat ride from Sihanoukville
port, this new resort marries luxury with sustainability. Think jungle
villas offering spellbinding seascape views through a rainforest canopy
that was largely untouched during the building stage. Think
Maldives-like overwater villas without their overrun, peas-in-a-pod
feel. Think ocean-view villas with a spit of private white sand beach
overlooking a marine protected area.
In Lap of Nature
This reserve, covering a million square metres, is a first for Cambodia
and the resort's in-house marine biologist is now engaged in an
education programme to teach local fishermen sustainable methods to
ensure fish stocks remain healthy without disturbing the natural
habitat. The resort spans two islands, Koh Ouen and Koh Bong, connected
by a long, curving footbridge. While the former houses the accommodation
and dining options, the other island is a protected forest. Though
there are several other untouched islands in the Koh Rong Archipelago,
Song Saa is the first to capitalise on the sun-and-surf potential.
Everywhere you look there are references to the colours and textures of
Cambodia's traditional fishing villages with their pitched roofs and
open plan living spaces.
If you are on a diet, you might as
well postpone plans to visit Song Saa till you are ready to indulge.
Because this is foodie heaven. And you don't have to deal with boring
buffets either. While there is a choice of two F&B options, the
staff on the island are only too happy to set up a private dinner at a
location of your choice. Imagine watching the cook do his number on a
Japanese 'hibachi' grill for a private beach dinner. Or you could choose
to dine-in while enjoying an outdoor film experience at your villa with
a sail screen and projector.
Sing Along
Here is a sample itinerary to help you hash out your journey: Arrive at
Phnom Penh and keep at least two nights in the city. Keep aside one day
for the city sights such as the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, the
National Museum, Wat Phnom and the Russian Market. Another full day will
go in discovering Tour Sleng, a Khmer Rouge
prison with only seven known survivors, and the Killing Fields where
most of the 17,000-20,000 inmates were hacked to death and buried in
mass graves. On the third day, hire a taxi for the four-hour drive down
to Sihanoukville on the third day. If you have time, stay a night or two
in Kampot or Kep before pushing on to Sihanoukville port. From here you
board the luxury speedboat that will take you to Song Saa. On the
return leg, avail of the complimentary airport transfer facility to get
dropped off at the relatively-new airport just outside of Sihanoukville,
and catch a flight to Siem Reap.
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