I am chilling with a kick ass group of ppl from Kelowna, Canada and a rowdy group from Sydney, Australia here in Koh Phangan. Everyone I have been meeting is staying around on the island for the next week... its prefect I may not leave. We will see.
It feels like Vietnam was such a long time ago and really it was only 4 days ago. Maybe it has something to do with ditching the watch and spending my time eating when I am hungery, swimming when I am hot and napping in the sun.
Its new years eve tonight... Seafood buffet starting at 7:30, then we'll grab a truck to the party city thats 20 mins away and I am going to dance all night long.
Last night was the first time I left our little beach area, we headed into town to check out the beach partys... And it is the place to party, but the city is just another city with a dirty beach. I am soo happy we are staying out of the over touristy area. There is the beach, and 7-11 is only a 5 min walk. I am loading up on the junk food.
Cheers.
Happy New years
Sunday, December 31
Monday, December 25
Hanoi and Sapa
Its Christmas Day and I am going for a large buffet at a hotel like the Hilton. It is going to be a little expensive but Christmas only comes once a year and I have a craving for turkey. And its my first Christmas away from home.
To add on to the last entry. I decided to go to Sapa first, spend Christmas in Hanoi, then to Halong Bay after Christmas.
At the early hour of 6:30 my night bus arrived to the outskirts of the massive city, Hanoi. The only way to get to the backpackers/tourist area was agree to see the hotel that the bus company wanted to bring us too. It was a hotel that was above my budget... but I decided to just say I wanted to stay and then when we arrived I just walked the other way. I only wanted a cheap dorm bed so I could sleep for a few more hours, I was leaving that evening on a night train to Sapa. For 3$ I got to sleep until 1pm and have a hot hot shower. It wasn't too bad. In the afternoon when I was checking my email, Jazz (my Canadian travel chick from Home) was online and happened to be in the same city, just down the street. I dropped by and had dinner with 2 familiar faces and finished the evening off with 15cent beers. Draft beer on the street is only 2000Dong.
The night train to Sapa wasn't the nicest train I have seen but I did get a hell of a lot more sleep than I did on the night bus on the previous evening. I was a happier person. Its funny I really thought the train went all the way to the mountainous town of Sapa, but in reality it only took us to the base of the mountains, so at 5:30am me and 12 other sleepy travellers were shovelled on to a tiny tiny mini bus for another hour.
Sapa was cold, but dude it was beautiful. It was unreal. They were mountain slopes with ruice fields, local tradition people selluing ur goods and really I just can't describe it.
Maybe later
Too lazy. I just spend ovwer 24 vhours getting to Koh Phangan
I am ready to relax
To add on to the last entry. I decided to go to Sapa first, spend Christmas in Hanoi, then to Halong Bay after Christmas.
At the early hour of 6:30 my night bus arrived to the outskirts of the massive city, Hanoi. The only way to get to the backpackers/tourist area was agree to see the hotel that the bus company wanted to bring us too. It was a hotel that was above my budget... but I decided to just say I wanted to stay and then when we arrived I just walked the other way. I only wanted a cheap dorm bed so I could sleep for a few more hours, I was leaving that evening on a night train to Sapa. For 3$ I got to sleep until 1pm and have a hot hot shower. It wasn't too bad. In the afternoon when I was checking my email, Jazz (my Canadian travel chick from Home) was online and happened to be in the same city, just down the street. I dropped by and had dinner with 2 familiar faces and finished the evening off with 15cent beers. Draft beer on the street is only 2000Dong.
The night train to Sapa wasn't the nicest train I have seen but I did get a hell of a lot more sleep than I did on the night bus on the previous evening. I was a happier person. Its funny I really thought the train went all the way to the mountainous town of Sapa, but in reality it only took us to the base of the mountains, so at 5:30am me and 12 other sleepy travellers were shovelled on to a tiny tiny mini bus for another hour.
Sapa was cold, but dude it was beautiful. It was unreal. They were mountain slopes with ruice fields, local tradition people selluing ur goods and really I just can't describe it.
Maybe later
Too lazy. I just spend ovwer 24 vhours getting to Koh Phangan
I am ready to relax
Hey hey.Its Christmas.
Just for a recap... starting from the beginning of vietnam.
I was in Ho Chi min city for 4 days and did the tourist thing... saw museums, the cuchi tunnels, a temple ceremony and ate lots of sushi and bonded with my new American Friends, Matt and John. I ended up traveling with them for 2.5 weeks.
Mui Ne was a beach town. Partied and sand sledded, swam, saw sand dunes, a red canyon. The boys tried to surf but it wasn't the water for surfing. It was very funny trying to carry a surf board on a motorbike for 20mins. Scary in a way too. I just enjoyed seeing the ocean. I love water.
Dalat was a mountainous town, colder. I had to wear a jacket. Me and the 2 american rented motorbikes and toured the area. Saw 2 waterfalls, a chicken village, lots of villager ppl, walking down a hiking path. We ate good, excellent western food. Had a grandmother special, mash potatoes, gravy, pork roast and veggies. We even stayed in a guesthouse with a tv, hot water, good beds for 9$ total. I started my tea kick again in Dalat. I drank lots and lots of tea. Mango tea, vietnamese tea, lipton tea... all kinds and I can't stop, tea is just sooo good.
Next Nha Trang. Beach town. We arrived at 2 in the afternoon to a cloudy sky. I really wanted a beach day :(. Instead we walked down the beach and ran in to friends from Mui Ne. Spent the afternoon drinking tea at a beach resort. Amazing dinner with 2 of the english chicks... bbq vietnamese food. Nha Trang is a town with a nightlife, when we met some NZ and aussia guys. I was really glad to hangout with some new ppl. I was getting tired with the american boys. The more I play pool the worst I get it seams. At this bar call Zippo... the english man that owned the bar, Crazy Rich, sang... and beer was on happy hour prices. A good night... which was followed by a excellent boat tour the next day. It is more of a party boat ride rather than the typically sightseeing tour. I met an awesome vancouver boy, who was on exchange in bangkok from sept to dec. I may see him again down south. There was a little drinking (i don't drink every night, just everyother town), a little swimming, snorkling, beach volleyball, a little more drinking, singing and dancing. We ran in to the NZ boys again. After a good sushi dinner we headed for an over night bus to Hoi An. I was stuck beside John who was drunk beyond drunk and drugged up on Valium and man does he snore.
Hoi An is a shoppiong town. There are tailors, and art stores and shops every where in old town. I had some clothes tailor made. A nice jacket (which I need in northern vietnams winter weather), 2 skirts, 2 tanks, one dress all for 50$. I need to email grandma knox/seller and tell them what I bought for me with their money. Every time I do laundry I only get half of what I sent in so I did actually need some clothing. I have lost 2 pairs of socks, 3 tanks, 5 undies. I didn't see much of Hoi An other that the french architecture of old town because it rained and rained and rained. I feel like I am back on the island in spring time.
Played lots of pool at night, saw my swedish girls from Cambodia, watched some news and a movie (rained alot). But me and Matt did the walking tour of town in the rain while John shopped too much.
I left Matt and John, my american buddies on the third day there. I needed to move on because my flight was only in 12 days away and I still had too much to see. I took an afternoon bus to Hue, but it wasn't until halfway there that I realized that I left my passport at the hotel in Hoi An. I just paid matt the money for the room b/c they were staying another night. I called the hotel and they promised to sent my passport to hue to their travel agent on the first bus of the morning. So I wasn't too worried, yet.
It was a good evening in the city. I found my way from my hotel to the backpackers area, only about a 20minutes walk with out a map. The moto drivers were annoying and always asked me if i needed a ride, but they did direct me in the right direction. I normally always bring my vietnam book, but not this time. I was planning on having a good meal and a single beer and calling it an early night, but I ran into 2 french guys I'd met in Hoi An. I need to learn french again. Played more pool with 2 irish guys because the french ppl were having a french discussion. I was home by 10:30.
Guess what. I walked the 15mins home from the bar in the dark by myself. I was a little scared because the city is full of rats and mice. I nearly decided to take a moto after one ran over my foot. But it wasn't too far.
I did a city tour in Hue. Saw some cultural things, 3 tombs of past kings. I learnt that there were 13 kings that ruled over vietnam. The monarchy fell in 1945. I saw incence made and the cone hats the vietnamese ppl wear. Ate a good meal... then set off for the citadel. It rained all day, and was so cold. I wore my fleece and my jacket, but I had wore capris. It wasn't a good day... feeling like winter more and more.We arrived back to the main city at 4:30, which left me 1 hour to pick up my passport, get my back and make it to the place to catch my bus. Which would have worked if... my passport had arrived. I had to call the hotel, they told me that my passport wasn't there in Hoi An and that it should have arrived in Hue already. There was another bus coming at 5... so maybe it was on that bus. I was hoping. That bus came and went too. The lady was so helpful and patient with me. She helped me change my bus ticket to the next day leaving me time to find my passport.
My next hope was that the american boys picked up my passport when they left the hotel. I was crossing my fingers b/c if that wasn't the cases... I would have been screwed. With the open bus tours you buy... the companies take you to set hotels. I was hoping to find them at that hotel, because we were usually lazy... and the hotels are very nice and prices reasonably, except in this city. I was directed to 3 different hotels with not luck. It was 6:30-7ish now... I decided to find a guesthouse to stay at that was cheap and close to backpacker land and the bars... I was going to get drunk ( i was in a very mad mood, I felt soo stupid). My book has cheap one listed, 3$ a night and it wasn't full. I emailed the boys and told them what bar I was going to... and I was hoping I would run in to them. And I tryed myspace.com too. No luck. Bar time.
This is were the story turns around. I am lucky. I was heading for a bar called "Why not Bar". It was 3 blocks from my hotel. On the way I was checking restuarants for my friends. I walked by the first one on the last block and saw blond hair and kept walking. But then I did the double take and looking in the bar again. Guess who i found. Matt was standing just inside, barely in view from the door. I was sooo happpyy. I hugged and kissed him and john both on the cheeks because they had my passport. I didn't drink that night. Had some awesome food and played a bad game of pool.
I even convinced john and matt to sign up for a Demilitarized zone tour, which in the end turned out as a bad investment. But I get get to see a museum, tunnels, the ocean and lots of scenary, but lots of bad food. It was a 10hour tour which was spend mainly sitting on a bus, which i am going to do to night for 12 more hours. I heading to Hanoi actually this time.
Which bring me to now. I am sitting with a girl from sydeny an a little internet cafe waiting for the bus at 7pm.I am not sure who I am going to be with for christmas. Hopefully my 2 american, 2 swedish for cambodia, and jazz and dave... if everything works out as planned, but that is rare.As for my flight.. I am going to try to change in now... but just by one or 2 day if it is free.
I am going to either Sapa or halon bay tomorrow night. It depends on the 2 americans. If they get the bus tonight too... I am going to go to halon bay, if not I am going to go treking in sapa.
Just for a recap... starting from the beginning of vietnam.
I was in Ho Chi min city for 4 days and did the tourist thing... saw museums, the cuchi tunnels, a temple ceremony and ate lots of sushi and bonded with my new American Friends, Matt and John. I ended up traveling with them for 2.5 weeks.
Mui Ne was a beach town. Partied and sand sledded, swam, saw sand dunes, a red canyon. The boys tried to surf but it wasn't the water for surfing. It was very funny trying to carry a surf board on a motorbike for 20mins. Scary in a way too. I just enjoyed seeing the ocean. I love water.
Dalat was a mountainous town, colder. I had to wear a jacket. Me and the 2 american rented motorbikes and toured the area. Saw 2 waterfalls, a chicken village, lots of villager ppl, walking down a hiking path. We ate good, excellent western food. Had a grandmother special, mash potatoes, gravy, pork roast and veggies. We even stayed in a guesthouse with a tv, hot water, good beds for 9$ total. I started my tea kick again in Dalat. I drank lots and lots of tea. Mango tea, vietnamese tea, lipton tea... all kinds and I can't stop, tea is just sooo good.
Next Nha Trang. Beach town. We arrived at 2 in the afternoon to a cloudy sky. I really wanted a beach day :(. Instead we walked down the beach and ran in to friends from Mui Ne. Spent the afternoon drinking tea at a beach resort. Amazing dinner with 2 of the english chicks... bbq vietnamese food. Nha Trang is a town with a nightlife, when we met some NZ and aussia guys. I was really glad to hangout with some new ppl. I was getting tired with the american boys. The more I play pool the worst I get it seams. At this bar call Zippo... the english man that owned the bar, Crazy Rich, sang... and beer was on happy hour prices. A good night... which was followed by a excellent boat tour the next day. It is more of a party boat ride rather than the typically sightseeing tour. I met an awesome vancouver boy, who was on exchange in bangkok from sept to dec. I may see him again down south. There was a little drinking (i don't drink every night, just everyother town), a little swimming, snorkling, beach volleyball, a little more drinking, singing and dancing. We ran in to the NZ boys again. After a good sushi dinner we headed for an over night bus to Hoi An. I was stuck beside John who was drunk beyond drunk and drugged up on Valium and man does he snore.
Hoi An is a shoppiong town. There are tailors, and art stores and shops every where in old town. I had some clothes tailor made. A nice jacket (which I need in northern vietnams winter weather), 2 skirts, 2 tanks, one dress all for 50$. I need to email grandma knox/seller and tell them what I bought for me with their money. Every time I do laundry I only get half of what I sent in so I did actually need some clothing. I have lost 2 pairs of socks, 3 tanks, 5 undies. I didn't see much of Hoi An other that the french architecture of old town because it rained and rained and rained. I feel like I am back on the island in spring time.
Played lots of pool at night, saw my swedish girls from Cambodia, watched some news and a movie (rained alot). But me and Matt did the walking tour of town in the rain while John shopped too much.
I left Matt and John, my american buddies on the third day there. I needed to move on because my flight was only in 12 days away and I still had too much to see. I took an afternoon bus to Hue, but it wasn't until halfway there that I realized that I left my passport at the hotel in Hoi An. I just paid matt the money for the room b/c they were staying another night. I called the hotel and they promised to sent my passport to hue to their travel agent on the first bus of the morning. So I wasn't too worried, yet.
It was a good evening in the city. I found my way from my hotel to the backpackers area, only about a 20minutes walk with out a map. The moto drivers were annoying and always asked me if i needed a ride, but they did direct me in the right direction. I normally always bring my vietnam book, but not this time. I was planning on having a good meal and a single beer and calling it an early night, but I ran into 2 french guys I'd met in Hoi An. I need to learn french again. Played more pool with 2 irish guys because the french ppl were having a french discussion. I was home by 10:30.
Guess what. I walked the 15mins home from the bar in the dark by myself. I was a little scared because the city is full of rats and mice. I nearly decided to take a moto after one ran over my foot. But it wasn't too far.
I did a city tour in Hue. Saw some cultural things, 3 tombs of past kings. I learnt that there were 13 kings that ruled over vietnam. The monarchy fell in 1945. I saw incence made and the cone hats the vietnamese ppl wear. Ate a good meal... then set off for the citadel. It rained all day, and was so cold. I wore my fleece and my jacket, but I had wore capris. It wasn't a good day... feeling like winter more and more.We arrived back to the main city at 4:30, which left me 1 hour to pick up my passport, get my back and make it to the place to catch my bus. Which would have worked if... my passport had arrived. I had to call the hotel, they told me that my passport wasn't there in Hoi An and that it should have arrived in Hue already. There was another bus coming at 5... so maybe it was on that bus. I was hoping. That bus came and went too. The lady was so helpful and patient with me. She helped me change my bus ticket to the next day leaving me time to find my passport.
My next hope was that the american boys picked up my passport when they left the hotel. I was crossing my fingers b/c if that wasn't the cases... I would have been screwed. With the open bus tours you buy... the companies take you to set hotels. I was hoping to find them at that hotel, because we were usually lazy... and the hotels are very nice and prices reasonably, except in this city. I was directed to 3 different hotels with not luck. It was 6:30-7ish now... I decided to find a guesthouse to stay at that was cheap and close to backpacker land and the bars... I was going to get drunk ( i was in a very mad mood, I felt soo stupid). My book has cheap one listed, 3$ a night and it wasn't full. I emailed the boys and told them what bar I was going to... and I was hoping I would run in to them. And I tryed myspace.com too. No luck. Bar time.
This is were the story turns around. I am lucky. I was heading for a bar called "Why not Bar". It was 3 blocks from my hotel. On the way I was checking restuarants for my friends. I walked by the first one on the last block and saw blond hair and kept walking. But then I did the double take and looking in the bar again. Guess who i found. Matt was standing just inside, barely in view from the door. I was sooo happpyy. I hugged and kissed him and john both on the cheeks because they had my passport. I didn't drink that night. Had some awesome food and played a bad game of pool.
I even convinced john and matt to sign up for a Demilitarized zone tour, which in the end turned out as a bad investment. But I get get to see a museum, tunnels, the ocean and lots of scenary, but lots of bad food. It was a 10hour tour which was spend mainly sitting on a bus, which i am going to do to night for 12 more hours. I heading to Hanoi actually this time.
Which bring me to now. I am sitting with a girl from sydeny an a little internet cafe waiting for the bus at 7pm.I am not sure who I am going to be with for christmas. Hopefully my 2 american, 2 swedish for cambodia, and jazz and dave... if everything works out as planned, but that is rare.As for my flight.. I am going to try to change in now... but just by one or 2 day if it is free.
I am going to either Sapa or halon bay tomorrow night. It depends on the 2 americans. If they get the bus tonight too... I am going to go to halon bay, if not I am going to go treking in sapa.
Tuesday, December 19
Tuesday, December 12
Pics
ki
I paid 2.5$ USD for this room, that was then split 3 ways. There was no sink in the bathroom. I am sharing the room with Tuve and Lisa my swedish chicks. Good times
tuva
I am on my way to the Killing fields in Cambodia and my motor drive stopped to buy mask due to the extremely dusty road. Everyone wears them here.
In Phnom Penn, at the same same but different guesthouse on the lake, I saw this wonderful sunset while drinking ice cold Angkor beer. Its funny how few sunsets I actually see here. This has been the best one
Lisa - swedish chick. the view from the 2.5$ room. Phnom Penn was a awesome city, but I spent too many days there waiting for my vietnam visa.
Made it to Vietnam. This a a pic from the red canyon just outside of the small beach resport town of Mui Ne. Me, matt, john and amanda (english chick) shared 2 motorbikes are tours the surrounding area of the beach town. So much fun... we went sand sledding, swimming at 3 diff beaches, the guys tryed to surf, the girls sun tanned, had lunch with crazy vietnam military guys that were really drunk. Always good times
The view from our beach front bungaloo in Mui Ne. I didn't try kite surfing, but i did enjoy watching the pros. I had some of the best seafood here in Mui ne. Fresh red snapper one night and crab the next. Yummy. Food is the best part of travelling
After one day in Mui ne, me and the american guys, Matt and john... travelled 6 long hours to Dalat, a french style city in the hills. We rented motorbike and toured the nearby waterfalls and small trails. I haven't actually drove a motorcycle... i love riding on the back. I love the flexible you get when you rent bikes as opposed to taking a tour. You may get lost and see fewer things but its always an adventure... especially with these 2 crazy americans.
Finally some pictures.
I paid 2.5$ USD for this room, that was then split 3 ways. There was no sink in the bathroom. I am sharing the room with Tuve and Lisa my swedish chicks. Good times
tuva
I am on my way to the Killing fields in Cambodia and my motor drive stopped to buy mask due to the extremely dusty road. Everyone wears them here.
In Phnom Penn, at the same same but different guesthouse on the lake, I saw this wonderful sunset while drinking ice cold Angkor beer. Its funny how few sunsets I actually see here. This has been the best one
Lisa - swedish chick. the view from the 2.5$ room. Phnom Penn was a awesome city, but I spent too many days there waiting for my vietnam visa.
Made it to Vietnam. This a a pic from the red canyon just outside of the small beach resport town of Mui Ne. Me, matt, john and amanda (english chick) shared 2 motorbikes are tours the surrounding area of the beach town. So much fun... we went sand sledding, swimming at 3 diff beaches, the guys tryed to surf, the girls sun tanned, had lunch with crazy vietnam military guys that were really drunk. Always good times
The view from our beach front bungaloo in Mui Ne. I didn't try kite surfing, but i did enjoy watching the pros. I had some of the best seafood here in Mui ne. Fresh red snapper one night and crab the next. Yummy. Food is the best part of travelling
After one day in Mui ne, me and the american guys, Matt and john... travelled 6 long hours to Dalat, a french style city in the hills. We rented motorbike and toured the nearby waterfalls and small trails. I haven't actually drove a motorcycle... i love riding on the back. I love the flexible you get when you rent bikes as opposed to taking a tour. You may get lost and see fewer things but its always an adventure... especially with these 2 crazy americans.Finally some pictures.
Monday, December 11
Getting lazy
This pic is from a couple weeks ago, not the best pic. Me, 2 sweds, a brazilian are chillin out on a desert island just off the coast of Cambodia drinking beers and starting a tan.I am getting lazy with this blog thing, there is soooo much to write about, but I just don't have the patience.
I am still travelling with the 2 american I met on the bus from cambodia to vietnam. They are awesome travelling buddies because they hate tour groups, hate doing the normal thing and are just fun to party with.
The only bus that runs to Mui Ne, a small beach resort town 4 hours from Saigon, leaves at 8am.... so i actually had to get up early (its a first in like a week). The ride was flat, straight, but too long. It just wanted to see the ocean again.
I am not sure what I expected from Mui Ne, but it wasn't what I thought it would be. The bus first pulled up in front of a beach resort... something a backpacked couldn't afford, I was a little scared that we wouldn't be able to afford to stay in the town... but just a block down we found a beautiful place with bungloos, pool table, lots of sand... and it was right on the beach. It was little on the expensive side, 15$ for 3 beds.
This town is a town of vacationer... all kite boarding, and wind surfing. It is a sight to see. There are hundreds of kites in the sky, people getting meters of air... looked like fun.
I wanted to try my hand at kite boarding, but time and money wouldn't allow it. I think it is the first time I haven't been able to do what I have wanted to do because of money this trip. Oh well...instead... me, 2 american, and a british chick rented motorbikes for the day and went sand sledding, for a walk through sand dunes, a red canyon, went swimming/played in the waves. I even tryed driving a motobike for hte first time. It was an awesome day that ended with a plate of fresh crab. I am loving the food at the beach. Fresh fish the first evening and crab the second.
I am now in a town called Dalat. I feel like I am in a European country. There are parks everywhere, french style building, even swan boats on the lake. Pics to follow soon.
Not the best food here, but i have only eaten one meal here.
Dude... the guesthouse we are staying in in amazing... no beach front bungaloo but it does have hot water, a tv, good beds and free water.
I shouldn't complain but it is cool here... 10 degrees or so and no humidity. I may use my fleece tonight.
Tomorrow, the plan is to rent motorbikes, see waterfalls, and the natural sights the area has to offer.
bye bye
Friday, December 8
Vietnam - loving it
Hey, its been a couple days... I have been busy busy sightseeing.
I don't know what to write... I am so happy I ran in to my sweet swedish friends that i left 4 days ago in Phmon Penn. We didn't exchange email last time but now we can find each other for christmas.
On the bus from Phnom Penn to the Vietnam border, I met 2 americans traveling together, but I was on a different bus from the border to Saigon...I thought I wouldn't see them again. :(
But when I was on my way for dinner (I found a sushi restuarant here in Saigon) I ran into one of the americans on the side of the street, they joined me for dinner that night and the next. We had become a little travelling group . Tomorrow the 3 of us are travelling to the coast to see what is left of the beach towns after the storm.
So what have I done? I saw the tunnel here, a random church service and lots of local museums (including the American war crime museum). I have been shopping, and I took a mekong river tour. The mekong river tour was so cool... a bus trip, a boat trip, a honey farm, a canal row boat trip, snake farm, a coconut candy factory, more boat trips, tried local fruit, heard local singing... it was a bit of everything. I even met an chick from Sydney australia that I am going to meet up with in Feb. We have a "date", we are going to go for sushi there.
I have been a bad person... I have been in vietnam for 4 days and I have only eaten vietnamese food 2 times. I feel in love with the sushi here, it is so yummy so i have eaten there 3 times in the last 4 days. The american, who had only tried it onces before, enjoyed the food too, one guy has been there 4 times. SUSHI..... YUMMMY
I ranted about traffic in cambodia, but traffic is worst here. You almost have to just close your eyes and walk across. The traffic never stops, so u just walk slowly across and the motorbikes go around u. It is very scary at first. I had to help one of the chicks I met today cross the street.
The internet place is closing... night night
I don't know what to write... I am so happy I ran in to my sweet swedish friends that i left 4 days ago in Phmon Penn. We didn't exchange email last time but now we can find each other for christmas.
On the bus from Phnom Penn to the Vietnam border, I met 2 americans traveling together, but I was on a different bus from the border to Saigon...I thought I wouldn't see them again. :(
But when I was on my way for dinner (I found a sushi restuarant here in Saigon) I ran into one of the americans on the side of the street, they joined me for dinner that night and the next. We had become a little travelling group . Tomorrow the 3 of us are travelling to the coast to see what is left of the beach towns after the storm.
So what have I done? I saw the tunnel here, a random church service and lots of local museums (including the American war crime museum). I have been shopping, and I took a mekong river tour. The mekong river tour was so cool... a bus trip, a boat trip, a honey farm, a canal row boat trip, snake farm, a coconut candy factory, more boat trips, tried local fruit, heard local singing... it was a bit of everything. I even met an chick from Sydney australia that I am going to meet up with in Feb. We have a "date", we are going to go for sushi there.
I have been a bad person... I have been in vietnam for 4 days and I have only eaten vietnamese food 2 times. I feel in love with the sushi here, it is so yummy so i have eaten there 3 times in the last 4 days. The american, who had only tried it onces before, enjoyed the food too, one guy has been there 4 times. SUSHI..... YUMMMY
I ranted about traffic in cambodia, but traffic is worst here. You almost have to just close your eyes and walk across. The traffic never stops, so u just walk slowly across and the motorbikes go around u. It is very scary at first. I had to help one of the chicks I met today cross the street.
The internet place is closing... night night
Monday, December 4
Traffic here in Cambodia is crazy. I need to express my concern and amazement that I am still alive. There is a yellow line painted in the center and white lines dividing each side of the street, but Khmer people ignore the lines completely. There is a magically middle third lane that both directions of traffic can use at any time. The rule of the road is smaller vechiles give way to larger things which is fine when everyone is going straight, but if you are turning.... anything goes. My motorcycle driver needed to cross a major roadway so he just slowly inches forward ( infront of cars, bikes, trucks). The other vechiles that have the right of way sort of go around or stop (usually). And when making a left hand turn, often motorcycles drive on the wrong side of the road until there is less traffic coming on the onward direction. I don't know if this makes any sense.... I am going to try to film some of it because dude.... all I can do is hold on for dear life and hope the driver knows what he is doing.
I have another rant too. I would like to think I am a tough brave solo traveller, but when it is dark... and I am by myself I am a chicken. Yesterday I changed guesthouse from lakeside to riverside (only a 10mins moto ride, 30-40min walk) and I had to return to the lakeside to get my passport with my vietnam visa so i walked over there from memory ( i didn't open my map once, i was so proud because I had only taken a moto once between the places), but by 6pm when I got my visa the sun had set. I started walking but by the time I got to the first busy road it was completely dark... I gave up and took a moto... its funny I could have just taken a moto from the travel agent place for the same price... but no I wanted to walk.
Ok I am done.
Off to vietnam maybe I will be able to see Jazz and dave again.
I have another rant too. I would like to think I am a tough brave solo traveller, but when it is dark... and I am by myself I am a chicken. Yesterday I changed guesthouse from lakeside to riverside (only a 10mins moto ride, 30-40min walk) and I had to return to the lakeside to get my passport with my vietnam visa so i walked over there from memory ( i didn't open my map once, i was so proud because I had only taken a moto once between the places), but by 6pm when I got my visa the sun had set. I started walking but by the time I got to the first busy road it was completely dark... I gave up and took a moto... its funny I could have just taken a moto from the travel agent place for the same price... but no I wanted to walk.
Ok I am done.
Off to vietnam maybe I will be able to see Jazz and dave again.
Saturday, December 2
I am not very good at describing my experience, compared to Jazzanddave. Check out what they had to say about Phnom Penn... it is very true to what I felt and experienced
http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Cambodia/Phnom-Penh/blog-106686.html
they have pictures on there's too
miss ya
Bored of Cambodia, but I am waiting on my visa to enter vietnam
http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Cambodia/Phnom-Penh/blog-106686.html
they have pictures on there's too
miss ya
Bored of Cambodia, but I am waiting on my visa to enter vietnam
Friday, December 1
James just for u
I made a list a couple of days ago of the ppl I have met and hung out with for over 2hours (more than a bus trip or one meal) are u ready... this is in order from start to down
Entering Laos
Crazy british guy
one french women Gwen
one english chick
one brazilian doctor, Marus
5 monks I talked to for 2 and a bit hours
4 english guys in Vang Vieng
2 swedish chicks in Vang Vieng
1 Irish guys in Vang Vieng
5 kiwis on the boat trip
2 english on the boat trip
Chiang Mai - 2 english, 2 thai, 2 texas guys
Pai - 1 swedish, 1 english, 5 french, 1 israeli
Sukothai - 2 germans, 2 french, 1 Aussia, 1 diff french, one dutch
Loburi - 2 french and 1 american
Kanchanaburi - 1 american, 3 french, 2 spanish, 3 sibling from Melbourne
Siem Reap - 3 Czec guys
Sihanoukvile - 1 english, 2 sweds
The island - 4 sweds, 1 israeli
Kampot - 2 sweds
Phnom Penn - 3 sweds, 2 dutch, 2 Khmers (cambodia ppl)
Phnom Penn - 2 english chicks, 1 dutch, (ran in to a swed from Pai again)
Vietnam - 2 americans John and Matt
Mekong Delta - 29 yearold psy ph student from australia
Not too bad... I am hoping it will continue to increase with every new location and day.
I made it too Phnom Penn and I didn't get dragged off by a tuk tuk driver this time, (last time a drive grabbed my arm and only took me a couple steps). Me and the swedishs girls decided to stay on the lake... we are sharing a room for 2.5$ a night. That is less than a dollar a day. WOW
I have been hanging out with 2 local khmer guys, one is a boyfriend of the new swedish girl I meet. I found out that Cambodia ppl rarely get passports because it costs them 125$, and when they are only making less than 25$ a day it is hard to save up enough. Scarey
I made it too the waterpark here... its not quite what I was expecting but I am in Cambodia... I will upload pics when I get to vietnam (can't upload here). It was fun though... some slides, a river, a swimming pool, a little kid area ( ya I played there too) and a wave pool that wasn't one. We were having soo much fun the guards had to kick us out. Anything goes at the water park... trains down the slide, forward, backwards, head first... etc. I loved it.
I have a double vodka and red bull for 0.75$ and nachos for a snack after the pool. What a day. The evening wasn't as much fun... dinner took forever and the bar was lame, but I had good company, plus Sky and I won the pool game.
I am not very good at spending a lot of time with the same ppl so this morning I hit the killing fields, the prison and the national museum. I have had so many days with out runes and museums I was almost starting to miss them... j/k :P
It was a scary day, very depressing, but the reality of the Khmer Rouge has finally hit me and there were almost tears on my face. There were thousands of faces on the boards and the same amount of skulls to match. Wow thats all I can say.
There are lizards everywhere here... ya ya I know I changed the subject... but there are 3 on the wall in front out me.
I am annoyed... tomorrow is sunday so I can't get my visa for vietnam until monday night... so I am going to be chillin here for another couple days. I am going to need to make some different friends soon I have been hanging out with the sweds for a week now... its a long time record.
I am out of here. I love the comments everyone thanks
Entering Laos
Crazy british guy
one french women Gwen
one english chick
one brazilian doctor, Marus
5 monks I talked to for 2 and a bit hours
4 english guys in Vang Vieng
2 swedish chicks in Vang Vieng
1 Irish guys in Vang Vieng
5 kiwis on the boat trip
2 english on the boat trip
Chiang Mai - 2 english, 2 thai, 2 texas guys
Pai - 1 swedish, 1 english, 5 french, 1 israeli
Sukothai - 2 germans, 2 french, 1 Aussia, 1 diff french, one dutch
Loburi - 2 french and 1 american
Kanchanaburi - 1 american, 3 french, 2 spanish, 3 sibling from Melbourne
Siem Reap - 3 Czec guys
Sihanoukvile - 1 english, 2 sweds
The island - 4 sweds, 1 israeli
Kampot - 2 sweds
Phnom Penn - 3 sweds, 2 dutch, 2 Khmers (cambodia ppl)
Phnom Penn - 2 english chicks, 1 dutch, (ran in to a swed from Pai again)
Vietnam - 2 americans John and Matt
Mekong Delta - 29 yearold psy ph student from australia
Not too bad... I am hoping it will continue to increase with every new location and day.
I made it too Phnom Penn and I didn't get dragged off by a tuk tuk driver this time, (last time a drive grabbed my arm and only took me a couple steps). Me and the swedishs girls decided to stay on the lake... we are sharing a room for 2.5$ a night. That is less than a dollar a day. WOW
I have been hanging out with 2 local khmer guys, one is a boyfriend of the new swedish girl I meet. I found out that Cambodia ppl rarely get passports because it costs them 125$, and when they are only making less than 25$ a day it is hard to save up enough. Scarey
I made it too the waterpark here... its not quite what I was expecting but I am in Cambodia... I will upload pics when I get to vietnam (can't upload here). It was fun though... some slides, a river, a swimming pool, a little kid area ( ya I played there too) and a wave pool that wasn't one. We were having soo much fun the guards had to kick us out. Anything goes at the water park... trains down the slide, forward, backwards, head first... etc. I loved it.
I have a double vodka and red bull for 0.75$ and nachos for a snack after the pool. What a day. The evening wasn't as much fun... dinner took forever and the bar was lame, but I had good company, plus Sky and I won the pool game.
I am not very good at spending a lot of time with the same ppl so this morning I hit the killing fields, the prison and the national museum. I have had so many days with out runes and museums I was almost starting to miss them... j/k :P
It was a scary day, very depressing, but the reality of the Khmer Rouge has finally hit me and there were almost tears on my face. There were thousands of faces on the boards and the same amount of skulls to match. Wow thats all I can say.
There are lizards everywhere here... ya ya I know I changed the subject... but there are 3 on the wall in front out me.
I am annoyed... tomorrow is sunday so I can't get my visa for vietnam until monday night... so I am going to be chillin here for another couple days. I am going to need to make some different friends soon I have been hanging out with the sweds for a week now... its a long time record.
I am out of here. I love the comments everyone thanks
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