27. Independence Beach

Independence Beach gets its name from the deserted hulk of the 7-story Independence Hotel at the north end. Locals call this beach ‘Otel bram-pil chann’(hotel 7-stories). It is labeled ‘7-Chann Beach’ on the in-town street sign. Independence Beach is more than a kilometer long, but the sandy area is much narrower making the beach best when the tide is low. The beach is wider and invites more tourists toward the northwest end near a small fresh water lack (which is source of the town’s freshwater and is rumored to contain crocodiles). At the other end is the beach’s only hotel, the Sea Breeze. Grass umbrellas and drink vendors now line the beach from end to end but the beach is still much less frequented than other beaches. The road up to the old Independence Hotel is often frequented by a small troop of Rhesus monkeys but is currently closed while the hotel is undergoing renovation.