Phu Quoc - December 1st

Today we do get a lie in and recover fully from all our travels.  When we eventually surface, and we are the last to make it to breakfast, we ask about getting into the main town on the island, Duong Dong, about 7km south, and we find out that hiring a taxi for half a day will cost only a little more than the return trip.  So we arrange for a taxi to pick us up at 11:00 for a five hour trip.

Our first stop is the market in the main town, where we get to see some of the dily life of the islanders, but more importantly we get to pick up some vital supplies, like sun cream and mosquito repellent.  One of the only disadvantages of this island is its abundant insect life.  However this doesn’t deter us because we then head off to a waterfall, which is deep in the jungle.  I say deep in the jungle, actually it is a pleasant 10 minute walk up from a car park.  When we get to the waterfall we are actually the only people there, giving us a chance to enjoy our cans of Diet Coke (another vital supply) in peace.

After this we visit Long Beach which is one of the most famous beaches on the island, but all it really has going for it is that as its name claims, it is a long beach, many kilometres long.  Our driver brings us to a quiet spot, where we are the only people for a kilometre on either side, and we go for a swim.  On the way back we pass the oyster farms where all the commercial pearl farming goes on, and the main strip of hotels, resorts and restaurants which is on the other side of the main town from our resort.

When we booked I had expected we would exclude ourselves from dinner at least once, but the food here is so good and plentiful that you would be made to do it.  So we head back for dinner.  On the way I joked to Dorota that the only way this could get better is if Peter cooked her favourite Spanish food.  When we get to dinner he announces we are having tapas, including tortilla, so needless to say we are in food heaven.