Last day at Phu Quoc as we get ready to head back. Start with the usual huge fresh breakfast (fyi the best was at Raffles Phnom Penh, followed by Nikko HCMC and Victoria in Siam Reap..but this one's pretty good. Not that I'm into breakfast or anything! ). Take lots of beach and pool time today - and we bring our own bottle of Gordon's for G/Ts... The staff are very laissez-faire about BYOB, and actually offer us an ice bucket! Still. Super. Hot. A fitting day...

Spend the day out on in the sea, the Gulf of Thailand off the coast of Phu Quoc. Visit a Pearl Farm and then go fishing where C., the birthday gal, catches her first fish! I also catch one that is large enough to become our lunch. It goes into a bucket, then it is quickly cleaned and cooked up for us and our travelling companions, a Dutch couple on their honeymoon. We feel a bit like we crashed their party since we were late additions, but it seems they're gl...

Spend the day at the beach and meet my new love! She's one of the "wild" Phu Quoc dogs who lives outdoors on the beach. These special dogs are incredible ridge-backed beauties - the ones in our section of the beach seem pretty darn healthy, social and playful. SUPER charming. (Unfortunately, our Lonely Planet guidebook says that their hunting skills are responsible for a major loss of wildlife on the island. They are also excellent swimmers and can catch fish ...

This place is so lush and intimate! We enjoy our stay at La Veranda Resort in a jungle-like garden setting right off the beach. The view and access to the ocean is pretty spectacular - a real treat after spending the trip in urban centres. The food and staff here are great!

A full day on the Mekong River Delta region, a lush wetlands area where it seems fishing and farming has remained unchanged for decades, if not centuries. So many people making their livelihoods from this very fertile area teeming with fish, water hyacinth, durian, melon, jackfruit, mango, pineapple, lychee. We take a mid-sized boat through the delta until we are suddenly stopped by water hyacinth that has drifted across the width of the river, choking off our ...