Round The World and other travels
A frequent flyer's collection of trip diaries
This is: Chilling Out on Phu Quoc (2018)
Busy doing nothing
This trip report is called Chilling Out on Phu Quoc for a reason! The next four days were pleasantly spent in relaxation mode, enjoying the facilities of our luxurious island getaway.
Monday
We were up
with the larks today and had an early breakfast at the Tempus
Fugit restaurant, where the extensive buffet and the service
were both very impressive. Thereafter we relaxed in the room,
showered around 10am and took up residence by the pool. Lunch was at
the Red Rum beach bar and then it was back to the pool. We
enjoyed sunset drinks on our own balcony, followed by dinner at
Tempus Fugit.
(We had previously investigated Red Rum as a dinner venue, but the menu was too similar to lunch and the atmosphere was completely ruined by harsh lighting. In the event, the evening experience at Tempus Fugit also suffered from gratuitously bright lights, while mistakes were also made with our order. It was nowhere near as impressive as the breakfast service.)
Tuesday
Today's morning routine was similar to Monday's, except that we
incorporated a photo tour of the premises to take advantage of the
bright sunshine. We had another enjoyable lunch at Red Rum
and another successful afternoon spent by the pool. The evening was
spent enjoying cocktails and bar snacks at what would turn out to be
our favourite bar. Called The Department of Chemistry, the
unusual theme was reflected in the use of the periodic table of the
elements in the bar's decor, the staff being dressed in white lab
coats, and the use of appropriately funky glassware.
Wednesday
Once again, our morning routine had a familiar ring, although this
time the sun loungers were located on the beach rather than by the
pool. And once again, lunch was at Red Rum. Today's
afternoon was very lazy indeed, culminating with drinks on our own
balcony. For a change, we had a light dinner at Red Rum,
but learning from previous experience, we chose an outisde table.
The resultant low lighting, coupled with the sounds of the ocean,
made for a much better ambience.
Thursday
Our last full day on Phu Quoc started much as the previous days did,
but we did make an effort to photograph the resort's other pools on
the way to breakfast. We spent most of the day on the beach,
marvelling at - and horrified by - the constant effort by a squad of
workers to keep the seashore clear of both seaweed and plastic
waste. Those TV documentaries are not exaggerated!
Lunch - a late one in this instance - was at Red Rum as
usual. We spent part of the afternoon splashing around in the pool,
another part lounging in the room and finally made our way back to
the Department of Chemistry for a second and final visit.
After somehow managing to get through three cocktails with the
intriguing name Stolen from Red Rum, we took our leave for
another al fresco dinner, this time at Tempus Fugit.
