Cambodians call it Kampong Som, one of the most beautiful places where they can access clean beach. The beach itself is popular to both locals and foreign visitors.

This weekend was spent in the beach town formerly known as Kampong Som, though it has now been renamed Sihanoukville in honor of the former King. Back at Barnes & Noble in Lancaster in August, I looked through Lonely Planet’s Cambodia guide and among other things I learned that Sihanouk, in addition to being the King, was also quite the filmmaker in his day. In fact, twice he hosted the Phnom Penh International Film Festival, and strangely enough, both times movies he directed and starred in won the grand prize. You gotta love the reckless egotism, and you wonder if renaming the beach town might also have been his idea.