AspiringNomad

And just like that I picked up my bags in Ho Chi Minh and waited in the airport for what felt like eternity before I finally boarded my flight to Phu Quoc. It’s an island southwest of Vietnam that I had heard was a ‘must visit’ destination at the very beginning on my trip. With a few days of flexibility, I decided to take their word for it and it hasn’t disappointed!

I turned up to The Vibe House hostel with the warmest greeting from the owner, Duong and his wife Huong and their dog Cua who had just given birth to 5 adorable female puppies, just 3 days previous! A few people were sat around the table in the lounge area which is situated higher up on the hill, propped up with stilts with no external walls, so it is basically outside. Benches and hammocks are scattered around and being a small hostel, I’ve learnt everyone congregates here to socialise, with the fans on, the fridge full of beer and water, I was made to feel right at home. The dorms are individual buildings down the steps and along a pathway with 4 beds in each.

I spent the rest of my evening getting to know everyone and waited for Molly (who I met in Hanoi on my first two nights) to arrive.

On Tuesday morning almost everyone who was staying at the hostel had collectively decided to join Duong on his friend’s boat and were taken to a couple of different spots for snorkeling on an Island hopping trip. I have to say, it’s probably the most amazing snorkelling experience I have ever had. (Unfortunately, i forgot my gopro so ibhave no footage but its imprinted in my find forever!) It made me question that maybe the fluorescent corals we had in our goldfish tank as children were not so unrealistic after all! Bright yellows and purple coral scatted the ocean floor with a variety of fish weaving in between. I felt like I was in an aquarium and I don’t think my head came up above the water for about an hour! Once we had soaked up the underwater world, we went to the Duong’s house (one of many, it seems) that was nestled high on a small island. Here, we had a lovely home cooked lunch and chilled out on his balcony, taking in the idyllic ‘island life’ views before us as we drank beer and chatted to one another. After sunset, we were taken back and 6 of us decided to go for something to eat in the town which is only a short walk away.

Molly and I then walked down to a beach nearby and watch the lightening light up the sky as it has done every night since I have been here. It was a peaceful storm with big bolts of lightning but not much thunder. We returned to the hostel and stayed up talking until about 2am before we finally decided that we were too tired to stay awake! Like the previous night before the heavens opened and the corregated metal on the dorm rooms exaggerated the sound of the already monsoon rain waking everyone up! It was quite exciting but about 10mins I had to use my duvet to cover my ears so I could try and get back to sleep!

My body must have been exhausted because I laid in until 11am on Wednesday morning! I think the lovely cold room and late night probably had something to do with it. Today, we decided to get some mopeds from the hostel and go to some beaches on the south of the island that we had heard were nice. I assumed I was capable enough of driving one myself after my hefty 160km moped experience in Da Nang. Molly, being more experienced than me because she has a vesper when she was 16, was in charge of maps and took us to the beach with a coffee stop and fuel stop on the way. Three quarters of a tank cost just £2, for those of you who are interested.

The roads are very good and the only thing you have to be worried about are other motorist going the wrong way down the road or completely cutting you up as the term ‘right of way’ is used VERY loosely here!

At the beach, we bumped into Julian who was also staying at our hostel and enjoyed a cocktail and some fruit whilst taking in the white sand beach and jungle like backdrop of the shore line. Unfortunately we had too much faith in other peoples recommendations and didn’t stay too long before heading to the ‘better’ beach. However, although the second beach itself was nice, the large hotel complexes on the island had made it so you didn’t have any free space to lounge on the sand and at 500,000 dong (£16) for a bed, we decided it wasn’t worth it and headed back to the first beach which was more secluded, quite and just £2 for a bed! By the time we eventually got into the water, it was about 5pm but we had such a good time driving between places, we didn’t mind and soaked up what we could of the sun before it went down behind the palm trees. After taking some hilariously posed Instagram photos, the lightning started again. We didn’t fancy getting caught in any rain so decided to start making our way back. It was about 30mins before we got back to Duong Dong which is the area of our hostel and we stopped at a restaurant for some food. The night market was just a street over, so we spent some time wandering through the market, in awe of the weird and wonderful things they have for sale. I had some passionfruit and mango frozen yoghurt whilst turning my nose up at some dishes that were for the more adventurous taste buds like fried eels, or ‘baby crabs’ or dried shrimp.

Once Molly had blown the rest of her travel funds on personalised hand-made passport holders, we called it a night and headed back to the hostel. We arrived back at about 22:30pm and what a brilliant day we had.

I have one full day left in Phu Quoc and wish I could stay longer. The island life is truly addictive! What’s not to like, sun, sea, good food, good roads, friendly people and reggae music on permanently. I feel right at home here and even the constant sweating doesn’t seem to be bothering me.

Tomorrow, we are doing another day trip with the hostel to Starfish Beach. I can’t wait to get up and out again for another day.