Phu Quoc

Warm tropical seas, palm fringed beaches, luxurious resorts tastefully hidden behind trees; Phu Quoc is the new Phu ket, where the rich come to relax. The beach this morning was full of huge, fat Russians, who are utterly unfriendly. I, of course, have found a five dollar room, in the town, but within a five minute walk of the beach. I thought it would be a good idea to swim a little, get some fresh air after all the traffic fumes of the past few weeks, but I'm not sure I can survive the feeling of isolation here. I'm begining to feel a nice scruffy backpacker hostel in Siem Reip beckoning me away. And Siem Reip is a long way away - a boat trip to Vietnam, then several days travel by local bus (or by any kind of bus for that matter). I had found a railway line on the map that would have taken me to Batambang (near Siem Reip) but it turns out that it is defunct, so it's back to the buses.

Phu Quoc, in case anyone is wondering, is an island off the coast of Cambodia, but the Vietnamese are hanging on to it like grim death. Ninety percent of the island is protected forest national park. The population is small, so driving across the island is a pleasant experience, through forest and mountains, so different from the Vietnamese Mekong delta, where the roads are lined with shacks wherever you go.