Drop Your Buffs

Mar 12, 20243 min read

For those who are fans, I needn't say anything further. For those who don't know the reference, I need to question our friendship a tiny bit 😉.

Seasons 31 and 32 of Survivor took place on the Island of Koh Rong, my first of two island stays. I walked in Jeff Probst footsteps this week and was deeply and utterly aware of it. The shear thought of being at an immunity challenge site or where Caleb got evacuated on season 32 was always lingering in the back of my mind. I would day dream about coming upon some still hidden immunity idol while on my adventures and was deeply hoping for Jeff to pop out and tell me that, "the tribe has spoken."

As I actually referenced in my very first post, one of the things on my list of 40 Things To Do In My 40th Year, was apply to be on Survivor. In a way, I kinda feel like I ticked the box on that one. I not only landed on the island of Koh Rong, but had my own Khmer food challenge (recently added to the list of things tried: chicken feet, silk worms, prawns and pig skin), endured the scorching heat and the mass exodus of sweat from my body, subsisted mainly on rice, drank coconut water straight from the shell, rode on the exact same fishing boats the contestants did, and have dealt with my fair share of GI issues.

Feeling pretty elated with this list. I never doubted that I would crush Survivor if selected, but now I truly know that I could endure the elements. Is anyone else feeling another blog brewing??

Not only did the "Survivor Gods" look over me this past week on my adventures but I felt like I was truly able to take a looooooong, deeeeeeep breath. The pace of life had no beat to it or structure. It was loose and organic and fed me in a profound and peaceful way. I would nap when the desire so came, stroll without purpose or agenda along the perfectly alabaster sand beaches and give myself permission to do whatever felt right in the moment, be it read a yummy book, explore the jungle I was immersed in or eat whatever looked chinnyang, delicious.

In total, I spent 6 nights and 7 days exploring southern Cambodia. 2 nights in each: Kampot-Eden Eco Village, Koh Rong-Kaoh Touch Beach and Koh Rong Samloem-Saracen Beach. Enjoy the beautiful photos!!!

Kampot

A few feet away from my treetop bungalow.

Bali came to me on this trip!

Solid cruiser ride around the outskirts of Kampot.

Just happened upon this view on my bike.

Morning kayak on The Green Cathedral. Stunning.

Koh Rong

On the ferry from Sihanoukville to Koh Rong. $14.

A bathroom on Lonely Beach at the only lodge. This is more rustic than the average bathroom, but I wanted to capture the "tub" of water and plastic pot that you use to flush the toilet with. This is VERY common.