Charm Phu Quoc Island

... much needed by the money conscious backpacker.<br>Our room overlooked the pool, which was both huge and empty - perfect!<br>We arrived on Wednesday and nobody was around. I had heard that Phu Quoc was a place popular with Saigon weekenders, but I still expected there to be other tourists about. It was lovely to have the pool and beach to ourselves for two days, but it was also amazing to see how quickly the beach filled up on Friday night<br>We spent two ...

... Bokor National Park&#8230; And what a day it was! We had a mammoth two hour journey bumping around in the back of a pick-up truck up the mountain. I cannot express how uncomfortable we were&#8230; There were seven of us squished in a small area and we were properly thrown around. It was horrible! But what gorgeous views! <br><br>When we finally made it to the top, we explored the ruins of the buildings that were once a functioning village. We explored the Black ...

... awhile I decided to look around the patio area, in case the noise was coming from outside. The squeals became louder so evidently that was the case, and I never did figure out what it actually was. However, as I was creeping around the perimeter, I started to hear thumping sounds on the roof. It sounded like 40 pairs of tiny feet running around up there, and it was completely creepy. I kept expecting a large reptilian head to appear upside down along the lip of the roof&#8212 ...

... With water in my eyes and a hot feeling in my cheeks we set of to go to Kep for some dinner. Kep is a well presented seaside town which had a sort of European feel to it as there was a well maintained sea front and some nice places to stay, recommended. The town is famous for crab which I had with rice for my dinner. A good food day. <br><br>It was time to head back now and I got onto the bike for the last time and we took the main roads back. Now, if you ...

... were grazing behind us and dogs appeared to roam free, but it was definitely a worthwhile day and we were glad that we did it. Oh and the return journey was worse, everyone was soaked as the waves crashed over the sides of the boat :)<br><br> 12th June &#8211; Day Three. <br>On our final day in Kep we decided to just relax. Emma read her book, while I got the tripod out and practiced some macro photography in the garden. I think I am getting better... There ...

... barking dog made me jump as I passed it at one stage, and Johannes decided he wanted to dine at the Blissful. OK by me, apart from the mosquitoes.<br>Some tuk, tuk, drivers were also waiting for their punters, smoking and playing cards by the roadside. One had the checkered cloth wrapped around his head in a turban form.<br>Ah, the rest of the world, and Kampot turns out to be peculiarly exotic.<br> <br><br><br><br><br><br>

We arrived in Kampot from Phnom Penh on what could have been the slowest bus in all of SEA. Although the LP guide suggested the 148Km ride would take only 2 hours, it in fact takes 5 (but that is counting a lengthy meal stop). The road is not that bad, but for some reason (both ways) it takes 5 hours. <br>We checked into the Orchid Guesthouse, and wrangled a bungalow for a decent price (US $12/night) by promising to stay for 5 days and to not use the ...

BOXING DAY<br><br>Couldnt believe it we were up (6ish) and out (7ish)<br>no hangover either after all the beer we drank.<br>We realised yesterday that the day is quite short the sun seems to start to set around 4ish, we left the beach around 5ish so we decided to make the most of the day - which turned out to be a waste of time as nothing was open! ha ha ha ha<br>We walked down to the beach and it was deserted so pretty cool walking along with no-one else on it.<br>Around 8ish we walked ...

... flying everywhere around the table, apart from in the pockets... D'OH! <br><br>The Viper took advantage, knocking in a 4 ball break, but leaving a loose safety to let the nervous Londoner in. <br><br>To and fro the battle raged for a couple of minutes, until a missed stripe gave Suffolk's Finest his chance. <br><br>There was absolutely mercy offered, bang bang, he shot him down, bang bang, he hit the ground, bang bang, that awful sound, bang bang ...