Phu Quock 15 March

So, far no luck on managing to get these things posted, may have more success here on the Island. We stayed in Chau doc three days the last hotel we stayed in had a fabulous view out over rhe river where I would just sit and watch the river traffic, the toilet was amazing, it was like a throne room, a long tiled floor lead to a small stair case upon which rested the throne from which an imperious view of the minions below could be had. Vietnam is huge on package tours and if you wish to do anything other you are at the mercy of the public bus conductors who endeavour to charge you four times the correct price on things, this can easily sour your experience in the country and I think it's one of the reasons Vietnam has such a bad reputation amongst the independent travel scene.

We then headed to Rach Gia, the bus trip was eventful, there was the woman who sat at the end of our row who as the bus pulled out took out about a hundred packs of cigarettes (hero brand)all intricately bound together with an elaborate web of rubber bands, she (in full view of any passenger who wanted to observe), began strapping these around her body, two deep then popped a large blouse over the whole when she was done rendering her a much fatter woman than the one who had got on the bus, now I have no idea why or to where she was smuggling this contraband though I did comment to Glen if he wanted to begin swallowing his condoms of heroin now would seem to be the appropriate moment to begin as apparently no-body here would bat an eye at such behaviour (yes Mum I am only kidding). After all the bus was due to cross no international border (at least not while we were on board, suffice to say it was all a bit weird) The bus conductor girl did indeed try to charge us four times the correct price, we ended up paying twice the correct price (hey she's in with smugglers I'm not pushing my luck), there comes a point where you just have to let go. The bus raced along through town after town (without bathroom breaks) houses stretched the whole way pretty much the road ran along side the river and the houses strung out along the way were half on land with there rear ends hung out to dry on stilts over the river (reminding me of my increasing desire to avail myself of bathroom facilities).

No matter the size or quality of building materials used to construct some of these shacks every place has a tall elaborate aerial poking from it's roof, proving that in deed the people within may not be able to afford anything else but damn it they have t.v., the asians are mad for it I discovered (unbelievably) that the Thai people per capita are the biggest consumers of t.v. globally, I've seen Thai t.v. and much like the t.v. here it is rich with a diet of cheap home made vaudeville style entertainment and similar quality soap operas. A smattering of USA fair (the ubiquitous Jerry Bruickhiemer productions) and re-runs of Hollywood blockbuster movies.

As the bus rambled on and my bladder began to feel like it might just explode the bus paused (as it frequently did) I leapt off, and was directed into the house of some person who just has the misfortune of living next to the bus stop, very weird, I waved my hellos and thank yous' as the bus beeped out the front and I dashed through the front room, lounge and kitchen startling every family member in turn on my frenzied dash to the bathroom, it was very funny in retrospect.

After an uneventful night in Rach Gia we caught the boat to Phu Quok, Phu Quok is quite beautiful and laid back, it still hasn't attained the level of tourism that is it's due so everything is a bit basic but the beach is quite beautiful and most of the roads are dirt, the place is over populated with ridge back, blue tongued dogs and lizards (also ridged back and in some cases blue tongued). We are staying in one of the string of beach side bungalows but to my chagrin not the one with the beautiful three breaching porpoises and mermaid statues on their beach front, (this mermaid may yet make the 2007 Christmas card as something rating higher on the takk scale seems almost impossible to discover.

Despite it's still relative obscurity as a tourist destination there are a number of foreign tourists Glen thinks they are Russian I personally think they are from Urksomestan. Anyway I'll see if I can't get these posted tomorrow.

Cheers N.J.