Photographer's Note
‘Kampot - More ambience than sights’
Kampot is a small town in southern Cambodia and very popular with foreign visitors.
My travel guide gave the following description 'Kampot is more about ambience than actual sights and the most enjoyable activity is strolling or cycling through its central old town’.
That didn't sound wrong when I read it, but the truth was that I found Kampot very boring.
Lots of western tourists hanging out in the streets and on the many terraces.
Apparently my travel guide and I didn’t have the same interpretation of the term 'ambience'. I’m warned for the future when more ambience is expected than sights :)
Some travellers visit a pepper plantation nearby. Undoubtedly interesting and the Cambodian pepper tastes great in the dishes but I had already visited such a plantation near Kep.
In the province there’s also a national park, but the weather was less nice for a few days.
In the centre of the town you can find some 19th century French colonial architecture.
All in all I took exactly three pictures in Kampot. You can see two of them here. The third follows.
The street view here somewhat resembles a photo I’ve recently shown in the WS of a picture of Battambang. Well, I had to show something about Kampot ...
But anyone looking for a lot of fun with other tourists, Kampot is the place.
I’m convinced that many travellers have very good memories of their visit.
holmertz, Fis2, pierrefonds, macjake, COSTANTINO, ChrisJ, ikeharel, pajaran, jean113, ktanska, clic, Royaldevon, mcmtanyel έχουν(ει) επιλέξει αυτή τη σημείωση ως χρήσιμη
Critiques | Translate
holmertz
(103564) 2021-06-10 11:19
Hello Paul,
13 years after my visit, and obviously a very different city. I posted 5 photos from Kampot town and two more from the province. I quote my note for the last one:
"This is from Kampot in southern Cambodia, which in 2007 was an emerging tourist destination but still far from overrun by foreign visitors. Having no sandy beaches and no ancient temples it couldn't compete with places like Siem Reap (Angkor) or the seaside paradise Sihanoukville. I enjoyed the laid-back atmosphere and well preserved colonial architecture and was quite pleased to meet more Cambodians than Europeans in the streets."
It's sad when tourism takes a bite of a place and sucks out all its charm. That obviously happened here. Still you managed two perfectly decent photos. The late afternoon light as usual produced very attractive colours.
Best regards,
Gert
Tue
(93340) 2021-06-10 11:49
Hallo Paul,
Je hebt toch nog een mooie foto weten te maken in dit saaie stadje, maar aan je beschrijving te horen was dit ook precies het enige interessante stukje. De koloniale architectuur is aantrekkelijk, zeker in dit licht. Dat wagentje is een goed extraatje in de voorgrond.
Lars
Fis2
(171849) 2021-06-10 12:16
Witaj Paul!
Very interesting photos showing amazing vehicles.
Which one were you driving?
Nice views from streets.
Good framing, colors and sharpness.
Well done.
Good evening.
Krzysztof
kasianowak
(17676) 2021-06-10 12:35
Hi Paul
Enjoying a place only because you can meet lots of other tourists is not everyone's cup of tea. Certainly it's not my kind of fun. I remember emerging from a week long mountain trek in Bhutan, where I was travelling with locals only, to a hotel full of tourists in a city. But, I'm sure lots of people look forward to moments like that during their travels.
You did take a couple of lovely colourful images. Thanks for sharing those and the experience.
Best wishes
Kasia
lousat
(139926) 2021-06-10 13:12
Hi Paul,so it is a quiet city, there are no top attractions but the environment is relaxing and it is easy to make friends with other tourists. Interesting place, the two photos were taken in an excellent moment, the strong light and the play of shadows give a remarkable effect. Have a nice evening and thanks,Luciano
pierrefonds
(115462) 2021-06-10 16:17
Bonsoir Robert,
L'endroit semble dιsert ΰ l'exception des rιsidents. La prise de vue permet de voir les dιtails de la moto et de son attelage et des immeubles. La qualitι de la lumiθre embellit les couleurs de l'image. Bonne soirιe.
Pierre
macjake
(98544) 2021-06-10 16:34
Hi Paul
very interesting note, to see how you interpreted this experience. I like your comment...my travel guide and I didn't have the same interpretation of the term 'ambience' hahaa.
I would absolutely hate a place like this, get me outta here.
maybe in the evening the tourists party, maybe that's part of it too. but I get the sense i'd be bored as well. thanks for the warning haha. I see more tourists in the shot than locals.
cheers
Craig
Silvio1953
(222811) 2021-06-10 22:26
Ciao Paul, nice scene with original trasportation system, fine details, wonderful colors, splendid light and excellent clarity, very well done, my friend, have a good week end, ciao Silvio
jemaflor
(148146) 2021-06-10 23:04
Salut Paul,
Intιressante vue de cette rue et de ces faηades, une impression de scθne de vie quotidienne locale, bon effet avec ce jeu d'ombres et de lumiθres, bien gιrιs ces contrastes, merci du partage.
COSTANTINO
(117700) 2021-06-10 23:08
Hello dear friend and have a nice day
fantastic colorful photo
all your photos bring
your personal stamp...
it is easy to understand
which photo belongs
to you...and this one
changed my mood...
regards
Costantino
ChrisJ
(172378) 2021-06-10 23:22
Hello Paul,
The colonial buildings are nice but the signage has created visual pollution, which spoils the scene somewhat. Not your fault of course. I quite often find that places heavily spruiked in travel guides are somewhat disappointing up close and personal. On the plus side, it's great to discover a hidden gem as well, that the travel guides have either overlooked or downplayed. Fantastic color and sharpness here and I like the fg shadow play. Tfs!
ifege
(49325) 2021-06-11 0:02
Hi Paul
More classic old SE Asian colonial architecture. Good urban photo.
cheers
Ian
pajaran
(116971) 2021-06-11 2:52
Pozdrav.
Lep pogled, interesantan i dobar tekst ...
Lepa moderna kocija i fasade u pozadini, dobro pokzano sa lepim bojama, kontrastom i perspektivom.
Dobar rad sa fotografijom u radionici i uhvaceni trenutak.
Zelim vam lepo popodne, sve najbolje za vikend.
Paja
ikeharel
(114499) 2021-06-11 2:53
The long afternoon shadows made a very busy scene, Paul, but details appera marvelously in harmony.
The balconies looks as same style imposted from Europe and I find each house is different. Fine 2 photos altogether.
Good afternoon,
Ike
jean113
(28251) 2021-06-11 9:24
Hello Paul, it is disappointing when a place turns out to be quite different to what one was expecting.
The architecture seems to have seen better days, the ground level marred by the various signs.
For those of us who will probably never visit these places the shots are very interesting.
Thanks for sharing.
Kind regards, Jean.
ktanska
(45046) 2021-06-12 1:02
Hi Paul,
At least this picture has plenty of ambience. I of course like that motor rickshaw. Light with long shadows is excellent. And the row of houses with large balconies on the upper floor looks very nice.
Kari
GyurMaster
(25012) 2021-06-12 6:52
Hello Paul,
As I see this a motorized rickshaw. :) I like the colours on this photo. They are very vidid, having an Asian atmosphere.
Best Wishes,
Gy.
clic
(76) 2021-06-12 7:44
Bonjour Paul
Ce district modeste me semble quand mκme assez pittoresque vu l'abondance des couleurs et les petites motos rιpandues prθs des magasins.
Selon le peu d'affluence, il semble que vous ayez profitι du soleil matinal pour bien rιvιler les dιtails architectutraux du quartier conformιment ΰ votre spιcialitι; contraste doux agrιable.
Amitiιs
Royaldevon
(86392) 2021-06-12 10:04
Hello Paul,
This is a really colourful scene, created by the parasols and balconies.
The houses do look attractive but well done for adding that very unusual turk tuk, in the f/g. It is both fascinating and makes a strong focal point.
My warm regards,
Bev 😊
mkamionka
(75049) 2021-06-16 1:32
Hi Paul,
yes the photography is so much more about the light you have than the subject. Here however I think the street is quite charming with stylish townhouses and so nicely lit. The tuktuk makes a nice foreground,
Very well done,
M
mcmtanyel
(69127) 2021-09-09 19:50
Hello Paul,
I like the play between light and shadow on the ground.
Regards,
MT
Photo Information
-
Copyright: Paul VDV (PaulVDV)
(63444)
- Genre: Τοποθεσίες
- Medium: Έγχρωμο
- Date Taken: 2020-02-14
- Έκθεση: 30 δευτερόλεπτα
- Έκδοση φωτογραφίας: Πρωτότυπη έκδοση, Workshop
- Date Submitted: 2021-06-10 10:56