Escape to Phu Quoc

Just before we left Kampot we called at ‘La Plantation’ pepper and spice farm, which is world famous. It’s run by a Belgian/French couple who grow the best quality organic pepper. It’s 40 minutes on a bike out of town on a dirt track just past a huge reservoir. It was impressive. Kampot pepper has a protected area of origin status, it’s known as the ‘champagne of all pepper’.

There is a free tour around the estate about all the different coloured peppers, they all start as green when picked and are only picked by women as they have softer hands. The process starts by being immersed in boiling water for different set times to make red, black and white pepper, then put in dehydration units. After the tour we had a tasting session.

Our guide Lip was a very chatty young Cambodian, she was very professional, knowledgeable and funny. She had real style and charisma. She said her mum had come to work at the farm and asked if her daughter could come and stay with her. The company put her through school, she was taught English and then went to Uni which the company paid for in full, accommodation, everything. They have built a small primary school in the local village and the kids are taught English every weekend, it’s admirable. You can get a much better job if you can speak another language. Lip is leaving next year to be a nurse.

The bus trip to the Vietnamese border was 2 hours and then a 2 hour ferry crossing to Phu Quoc island. Our Cambodian visa was just about to expire. Our new homestay bungalow accommodation, newly built is very modern and swish but in the middle of nowhere so have rented a bike.

The accommodation is £12 a night with breakfast. The island reminds me of Cambodia many years ago, poor with basic amenities. Roadside verges and the public beaches are rubbish strewn, filthy and not very inviting. There are enormous upmarket resorts and their beaches are pristine so we used theirs, much easier. Just buy a drink…..food is also a problem but have now found a couple of great places to eat. Lots of really fresh seafood.

The biggest theme park, aquarium and water park on the island and possibly in Vietnam is not far away. It cost £54 for us both.

It’s full on Disney style surrounded by Sheraton, Hilton and a host of ginormous hotels along with thousands of empty, smart holiday bungalows and acres of empty retail. I think it was Chinese built before Covid and sadly the numbers haven’t returned.

I’m not a big theme park fan but Chris is. He encouraged me onto a rollercoaster ride. What happened to waltzers and dodgems!

I knew it was the wrong thing to do as they strapped me in like I was about to go on an Apollo space mission. It moved away from the dock, paused briefly before setting off at warp factor 9, whoosh. Even Chris said oh f… as we climbed, spun upside down, sideways all at supersonic speed. I could see my whole life flashing before me. It was 5 minutes of sheer terror, I really wanted to throttle him when I got off but my legs were shaking that much I couldn’t catch him and could barely speak. He said it was the most intense ride he’d ever been on…and he’s been on plenty! Aargh

The aquarium was spectacular. Lots of different fish, underwater walkways aplenty it was enormous. Lots to look at, some of the displays were magical.

I don’t think we’ll be returning to Phu Quoc, the people were kind and lovely, the beaches and water are amazing. The island could be a paradise, idyllic just needs a bit of work to get more tourists back.

We’re travelling now to Hua Hin, 200k from Bangkok the original Thai beach resort, can’t wait.