The "City" principally consists of one main road, branching off in a few smaller roads. I only stayed there for about three days and spent most of the time in my hostel because I couldn´t stand it any longer - and because there´s nothing to see.

It´s a city under construction for huge hotels, the streets are dirty, most of the city is run by Chinese, therefor that´s the "main language" there. Really felt lost in the supermarket, since nothing was in English and I had no clue what to buy. Spoke to some locals, and they´re quite sad about the growing Chinese influence in their once so peaceful city. I´m not being racist here or whatever, please don´t get that wrong! But not only is the environment suffering from all the construction, also the Khmer living there aren´t too happy about the growing foreign influence. Especially the dirt in the streets is shocking, not talking about the casinos that are popping out of nowhere at every corner. Sihanoukville, the second Vegas?

The crazy thing is, that I met a girl there, who came to Otres for her second time, because she liked it that much last year. She ended up heading to the islands earlier than planned, because she couldn´t stand that place any longer! She said it had completely changed within the last year… Really don´t want to know what the area around Sihanoukville is going to look like in a year, or even just the next few months. Guess it´s not really going to get better with the Chinese buying all the land, therewith evicting all the tourists, therewith leaving the locals no other choice but selling more land. Vicious circle!

 

Anyway, enough of that. I experienced most of the people there as quite rude, which really was a culture shock when coming from warm-harted Sri Lanka... But might be my fault, how dare I to expect people to smile back at me! I thought that maybe was just a thing they´re having in Sihanoukville, due to the stated problems – but apparently whole Cambodia is like that, and even though you´re getting used to being a rude bitch, it´s kinda annoying and could be better!

One positive thing: most of the hostels seemed to be okayish, and since all the backpackers weren´t too happy with Otres, we always had something to brag about – easy way of meeting new friends.

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Something more positive about Otres was the beach - at some parts full of bars and people, but it was definitively possible to find some nice and quiet spots to watch the amazing sunset in peace :) But even for that you had to walk for about a kilometer, to get away from the crowds and the trash they´re spreading everywhere…
And still, I was told that the beach was completely different the year before, so I guess it´s only going to change more in the future.

 

But who needs beaches anyway, when you can have casinos!

In conclusion: No. Wouldn´t go there again. Not as bad as Sihanoukville (nothing will ever be!!!), but still - too ugly, too dirty, too rude.