After spending a week in Phnom Penh, the next stop in my journey was Kampot and experience Living in a Shipping Cambodia. Would the experience be worth it, or possibly one that I would dread. I committed myself to a month’s rent on Airbnb to receive the lengthy stay discount..
After making my reservation at my hotel a few days prior, I was picked up at my hotel by a Tuk Tuk driver and taken to a van loading station. Soon after, I was on my way… The van ride was approximately 3 hours long and quite comfortable (transportation costs = $9). It was only half way full, and the air conditioning worked surprisingly well.
I was able to sleep for about an hour, and spent the rest of my time watching the scenery of small little towns and villages along the way. The simple way of life of the sleepy little communities was quite comforting, and made me a little envious of their slower paced way of life. While, life is hard for many poor Khmer communities, they all seem to be quite happy and content with their way of life. As an American, it’s fascinating to observe how the people go about their way of life… It definitely made an impression on me, and one that I will take with me back home when I re-enter the rat race of life back home… The longer that I stay here, the less I even want to go home. I am fearing that I will be very sad to leave.
Kampot City Center – The Durian Roundabout
Kampot is a rather small town, and one that you can easily navigate on foot. Or you can rent a bicycle or scooter rather cheaply. Considering I am a budget traveler, I simply chose to transport my self from destination to destination by my own two feet. If I feel the need to go anywhere outside of town there are plenty of tuk tuk drivers to take you anywhere that you desire for an affordable price.
Here is a photo of the Durian Statue Roundabout that is quite famous, and familiar to anyone who has ever been to Kampot. It is at the city center and a landmark that lets you know you are in the heart of Kampot and provided a warm greeting when we arrived.
After spending a week in Phnom Penh, it was a relief to get away from all of the busy traffic. Kampot does have plenty of traffic during peak travel times, but you do not feel as if you are in a deadly game of frogger while trying to cross the road. The shipping container that I lived in is only about 100 meters away from the Durian Roundabout shown above, which made it very easy to get myself oriented. I have never had a good sense of direction, so having a landmark in the center of town was a big relief to me!
The very first night in Kampot I went out for dinner and some drinks near the riverside, and did get myself a little disoriented, but it was nothing that I couldn’t figure out with the help of my handy dandy phone. However, by day 3 I felt like I was pretty much coming and going without the need of any navigational assistance. It’s my kind of town.. Big enough for a nightlife, but small enough to be able to relax and enjoy the moment.
My New Shipping Container Apartment in Kampot, Cambodia
My first impression after arriving at my new shipping container apartment, was that it was a little rough. However, looks can be deceiving! The bottom floor is a hair salon, although it was closed during this photo. My shipping container was one of those two that you see adjacent to each other on the second level.
There is a narrow spiral staircase that you do have to lug your suitcase up, so I should disclose that inconvenience for anyone who may have trouble or health concerns about the rather steep staircase (although the owners would gladly assist you… They are very kind and helpful in every way).
My New Shipping Container Home for the Next Month
Here is the “Master Bedroom” (HA)… It was either day 2 or 3 in this photo. When I originally entered it was in immaculate condition, and was spotless. While, I am not a messy person, things can get a bit cluttered so it is what it is. 🙂 The bedroom was larger than what this picture seems to indicate. The entire shipping container is 40 feet long by 8 feet wide. (12.19 meters x 2.44 meters). I never felt claustrophobic and I do have that phobia, so if that is a concern for you I wouldn’t give it too much thought.
What I failed to capture in this photo is the dresser space for you to hang clothes and multiple shelves to store your belongings. For one or two people it is more than sufficient!
The Living Room
Beyond the bedroom is a living room area that you see above and below. I took a selfie above to show that this is indeed me for some added authenticity.
Here is a better picture that shows you the entire room. Often I would do a little computer work in here and was always very comfortable.
The Balcony
I love balconies when I travel. Often I would go out there and just watch the crowd activity. People coming and going, and watching the Khmer street vendors sell their goods across the street during the day. Sometimes just observing the day-to-day life of the locals is quite interesting to a foreigner such as myself.
So, there you have it… Other than the bathroom you have seen my shipping container home in Kampot, Cambodia. The bathroom is private, with a sink, toilet and shower. It was nice with hot water. Just all the basics that you would need to be comfortable.
Shared Kitchen
One other thing that I forgot to mention, there is also a fully functional kitchen that I shared with a guy who was living in the shipping container adjacent to me. He was very nice, and really didn’t see each other that much. When lunch and dinner can be purchased for $3-$5 I didn’t really feel the need to do much cooking. I only used the fridge to store take home food, and a few beers.
As an added perk, there is also a washing mashing located in the shared kitchen area, so I could do all of my laundry without having to leave my home which was nice (and saved a few dollars along the way).
Would You Stay Here?
Would you stay in a shipping container such as this? I am really enjoying my stay here, so I thought I would give you a peek of what life is like living in a shipping container. I felt that it was worth it. My rent for the month was only $380 and it sure beat a hotel in my opinion. Please stop by “Mid Life Travel Adventures” on Facebook or leave a comment below and tell me what you think!