Just got back from a four-day trip to Phu Quoc Island, and whether i needed an attitude adjustment or not, i got one. I'm looser than Granma's underpants.
Whenever I start raving about somewhere i go, My gives me a dismissive look and says, "Howell likes every place." Well, I suppose that's mostly true. Howell likes a lot of things. That being said, here it goes:
Phu Quoc is a piece of gold. It's wildly beautiful, the water is warm and clear as bath water, the people are inviting, and the beaches and snorkeling are world-class. But the thing that sets Phu Quoc apart from a Thai or Hawaiian island is not its beauty- it's the fact that there's nobody there. Phu Quoc has, until now, virtually avoided almost any tourism. It is completely off the tourist circuit, so much that many people don't even know it exists. Granted, there are a few resorts and places to rent bungalows. But for the most part the roads are unpaved, and daily island life goes on undisturbed.
My and I spent most of the time exporing the beaches, waterfalls and jungle. The jungle is full of monkeys and wild pig, and the trees are crawling with orchids. Although i never read any literature about it, My also insists there are tigers. All along the coast of Phu Quoc are little fishing villages where you can buy fish. We bought My's Dad a huge bag of dried squid. It's all you, Duc. Eat up.
One evening on the beach we happened upon a family roasting a Phu Quoc wild pig who insisted we join them. All we had to do was help them reel in their fishing boats, using a foot-pedaled wooden pully.
If you go to Pok Pok on Division in Portland, you can try their delicious Phu Quoc chicken wings. The only difference between Pok Pok and Phu Quoc is that in Phu Quoc they use REAL Phu Quoc fish sauce, which blows Pok Pok's sauce out of the water. Try them anyway. They're great.
Now I'm back in Saigon, gearing up for Tet. The excitement is building, and you can feel it everywhere. I for one am very excited. It's going to be really fun.
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