Monthly Archives: September 2010
Tropical Island Gems #2- Phu Quoc, Vietnam
Number 2 in my series of posts on some of the lesser known tropical islands that I have visited, and feel others need to know about, is Phu Quoc, Vietnam. I only visited Phu Quoc earlier this year, although it was my second visit to Vietnam. I thought it is imperative that I discuss Phu Quoc now, as I cant see it qualifying as a lesser know island for too much longer! Development is on its way, and a couple of years from now, Phu Quoc could well resemble Phuket or Bali!
Where is Phu Quoc?
Anyway, back to now. Phu Quoc Island is the largest island of Vietnam, and is oddly located to the west of the extreme west of the Vietnamese mainland. It is, in-fact, closer to the Cambodian mainland than the Vietnamese mainland. It is quite a large island, with almost all the tourist infrastructure located on an area on the west coast, called Long Beach. As the name suggests, it is an appealing beach area, white sand and blue water! Long Beach lies south of the Main town on the island, Duong Dong, and is linked by a wide, unsealed but relatively well maintained, road.
We arrived onto the island by ferry from the Mekong delta town of Rach Gia. This ferry, and the other option from Ha Tien, further North, near the Cambodian border, are the two departure points from the mainland, and both arrive at Bia Vong, on the east coast of Phu Quoc. The other entry point is by Vietnam Airlines flight from HCM (our departure choice), with the airport located just north of Duong Dong.
Picture Perfect?
The western beaches are picture perfect, with the required palms draping over the beach, and with wonderfully warm and calm seas. Beach net fisherman can be watched hauling hundreds of kilos of small fish from the shallows offshore. This can be watched in comfort from several (but not too many) beachfront restaurant/bars.
Beach Fisherman on Phu Quoc
Apart from soaking up some of the wonderful sun on the beach, there is plenty of island to explore, and there are a couple of different full day 1/2 island covering day trips that can be done, easiest on rental motorbikes. Both trails include nice coastal rides, as well as some of the forested inland areas. We recommend a ride then walk to Suoi Tranh waterfall, for a refreshing dip in much cooler, fresher water than the sea. It involves a nice couple of Km walk though forest.
we stayed at the Sea Star resort, on Long Beacg, but this was just one of a couple of dozen different options, in all class levels. I will post again on the Sea Star resort soon, with plenty of photos. well worth the 40$ per night!. In the mean time, follow my Hotels combined link to look at all accomodation options on Phu Quoc.
Hotels Combined – Phu Quoc
Hope you visit Phu Quoc soon, its well worth the little bit of a hassle to get there!
Today’s Photo – Genting Highlands, Malaysia
Amusement park above the clouds, at Genting Highlands, Malaysia
Traveling costs for 40+ year old travelers – Introduction
He we go, I am starting another post series!
I want to look at various counties I have visited, and try to give readers (specifically to over 40 year old readers) an idea of the costs of visiting and traveling in those particular countries. In trying to address this specifically at the over 40 year old, I am going to make assumptions on the way we (as 40+’s) choose to travel, and why this is a bit different from the the 20 year old backpackers! I am, however, assuming budget travel, and for extended time, as this is the nature of my blog, and my travel.
a cottage at Bukit Fraser, Malaysia
These costs will include an idea of accommodation, eating, traveling around the country in question, getting to the country, and all other costs I can think of that a normal, budget conscious 40+ year old will encounter when visiting the countries I will cover! It will be of a standard I expect when traveling - not flash, but safe, private and relatively comfortable (no dorms, no shared rooms and no overnight buses, to mention just a few of the discomforts a 40+ year old traveler need not endure!). It will include both the capital of main city of the country we are discussing, as well as traveling into outer areas. In addition, I will include sightseeing costs where applicable, particularly when we are talking about “must see” attractions!
As I like to travel for an extended period of time, generally I have visited the countries that are relatively cheap to visit, and will start the series with one of my favourite places in the world - Nepal! Coming soon..
Tropical Island Gems #1 – Ko Ngai, Thailand
This series of posts is covering some of the best “secret” tropical island escapes that I have visited. I have steered away from the obvious islands that everyone know about and so many of us have visited, and concentrate on some of the lesser known ones, in the hope I may enlighten readers and inspire some to visit one of these “gems”
First up in the series, is Ko Ngai, Thailand. This wonderful little island is located in the South Andaman Sea, on Thailand’s lower west coast. It is roughly 100km south of Phuket, and can be accessed either from the mainland at Pakmeng, or from Ko Lanta, Ko Phi Phi, and Phuket.
Ko Ngai Location
Only a small island, Ko Ngai, has one main beach on the eastern side of the island – facing the mainland. This makes for a very sheltered area, with a shallow shore and a long, clean white sand beach. A coral “ring” runs parallel with the beach, and produces some useful beach snorkeling opportunities. Only 50 – 100 meters offshore, and only 3-4 meters deep, the reef area included some reasonable coral, and many small fish. The interior of the island is heavily wooded and quite impenetrable, but has a couple of walking paths to follow. An excellent view is availed from the top of the island.
Visiting ferries dock at the only jetty on the island, that is awkwardly located around a rocky headland from the main beach, in front of one of the upmarket hotels, the Ko Ngai resort. It is then necessary to get a local boat to take you across to the main beach to consider the other accommodation options.
Accommodation is limited to about 8 operators, all lined up along the beach. Most are quite upmarket, and best booked in advance, with only a couple of walk-up, cheaper options. We found accommodation from 900 Bht at Ko Ngai Seafood Bungalows, and think that was the cheapest option on the beach (all resorts and bungalows are considerably cheaper in the off season – 50% or more). Some of the resort style operations have beachfront pools, and luxurious rooms, but, in the end, have the same attraction as the cheap operators.
The appeal on the island is the thin white beach, and the tranquility of the sheltered beach and sea, and this is shared with all resorts! Longboats are available to take visitors diving or exploring, and a visit to “Emerald Cave” on Ko Muk, a 50 meter tunnel through a cliff, to a hidden beach, as well as other snorkeling and diving options. Most enjoyable though, is to soak up some sun on very quite, very gentle beach, followed by a beachfront dinner of Thai seafood!
Arrival jetty at Ko Ngai - main beach around corner
Ko Ngai Vista
We accessed the island by speedboat transfer from Ko Lanta, that was only about an hours journey, but a slow ferry is also available at a lower cost (300 bht as against 650 bht). We were able to rent snorkeling gear at a minimal cost, and ate most meals at the bungalow we stayed at, Ko Ngai Seafood, as it is the only real, non resort place on the beach (or the island for that matter).
I will post at another time about the Ko Ngai seafood bungalows, with some photos, but in the meantime, if you are interested in looking at the accommodation options on Ko Ngai, follow the following link to Hotels combined, as they offer the best choice of rates -
Next island in the “Tropical Island hidden gems” series of posts will be Phu Quoc, Vietnam, as it has been a recent visit, and I want to share it soon, while it is still a bit ” hidden”. It hasn’t got long – commercialisation is on the way fast! Subscribe to my RSS at get the post as it hits the web!
Saigon Lager – Obscure Beer of the World #2
Vietnam's Finest?
Well, another week goes by, and its time to think about another beer I have enjoyed, in another exotic location!
Ah, the fond memories! I think maybe it is a little wrong to remember each location by the quality of the beer I enjoyed there! Really, there is probably other things that I should recall about a particular destination – the sights, the history, the people, the culture, the food? All of these things are very important, but compared to the beer…well
This week I am reviewing -
Saigon Lager
Saigon Lager is from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (formerly Saigon, hence the name). It is brewed by the country’s largest brewer, Sabeco, who also do Saigon Lager export, and the canned version -Bia 333, all of which taste extremely similar.
Firstly, the weather in the Saigon area is tropical, so it is important to note that any beer sampled in stinking heat is going to be brilliant, as long as it is icy cold! And without a doubt, the most enjoyable of these beers I sampled was the coldest ones!
Saigon Lager is quite golden in colour, and pours with a moderate amount of carbonation, and a decent head. The head faded pretty quickly though. Saigon Lager looks appealing once poured, but has a bit of a rotten egg smell, but not to the point it wasn’t drinkable. (hey, it could have a rotten egg floating in it, and I’d still give it a go!!)
Like I said earlier,this beer tasted good when icy cold, but not nearly as good when it warmed up a bit.I also found that it bloats me, so I could only comfortably have two or three (disappointing at the time, but a real positive the next morning, particularly if you are about the head down the Mekong on a ferry, its 9 am, and already you are sweating your ring off!).
Also, I find the tinfoil neck cover to be annoying, as it makes drinking it straight from the bottle unpleasant (the 350ml bottle I am talking about!)
All in all, I guess it is quite an acceptable beer for the environment it is in, but I would think it would be very disappointing if you paid imported price for it in our home country. As a 500ml bottle , served cold in a restaurant, cost about US$1.50, I would consider it extremely good value for money! Not my favorite Asian Beer (AKA Bintang)but passable!
Opinion – Did the job
rating – 6/10
