Thursday, November 25, 2010

We survived the 13.5 hour overnight train trip from Hue to Hanoi, just. We had filthy sheets, an axe murderer guard, a drink lady from hell and a squat toilet that emptied over the train tracks……

  

I would love to say that I was pleasantly surprised by the train but I wasn’t. Unfortunately it was exactly what I had pictured. We played cards, ate dinner, talked, then wondered what the hell we would do for the next 12 hours. The drink lady didn’t like us cause we didn’t want to pay foreigner prices for the beer, then she really didn’t like us when a couple of the boys jumped off the train at one of the stops and bought a heap. She refused to serve us after that! Then there was the guard that kept yelling in Vietnamese and running up and down the carriage swinging a hammer. We decided to close the door at this stage. I finally got some sleep once I pretended that I wasn’t laying on someone else’s sheets. We caught the train all the way through to Hanoi where we grabbed some breakfast then hoped on the bus to Chc Phuong National Park.

We saw loads of monkeys and turtles (in a wildlife rescue centre) then went on a walk that was approximately a zillion kms long. Every time I would see a hint of daylight through the very thick forest I would think that we had come to the end, but NO it went on and on and higher and higher. I was truly lucky to survive.

I accidentally started cleaning my teeth with water out of the tap this morning. After my panic attack was over I just stood and waited, nothing happened though and currently I still appear to be in good health.

Very early start tomorrow as we drive to Halong Bay. I’m too tired to even care about the mould on my pillowcase or the pipe under the sink that’s not connected to anything…….

Monday, November 22, 2010

On our way to Hue.....

Yesterday we headed to Hue. This trip was only 4 hours, thankfully. Hue is a very old city with lots of pagodas and historical 'stuff'. I'm very tired tonight. The best news is that our hotel is actually nice, well we thought it was great until we had a shower. The hot water system is located on the wall next to the shower head. I just fit under it, Ian doesn't. And there is the slight issue of electrocution. However not to worry, I sat on the edge of the bath to shave my legs and the bath wasn't cemented in, so the whole bath tipped backwards. I landed on my arse, legs in the air, stark naked. So there will be no bath or showers (the shower is located within the bath) in the near future.......

 

Today I did something I swore I would NEVER EVER DO, yep I hoped on the back of a motor bike....... Apparently one of the 'optional' things to do in Hue is tour the countryside on a motorbike. Now I know this wasn't in the trip notes or anywhere else on Intrepids website or I would have noticed. So after having a nervous breakdown several times and nearly crying I agreed to go, I was the only one who didn't want to. We were on the bikes from 8am till 3pm, I just thought we would be out for a couple of hours. We went up, down, around, through mud, water, rice paddies and lots of traffic, Holy Smokes Batman!!!!  I'm quite shocked that I actually survived and I have to admit it was fun, when I had my eyes open....

For lunch today we went to an orphanage and the nuns cooked for us. They look after 194 children of various ages that have either been abandoned by their parents or their parents have passed away. Most of the kids ride bicycles to school but like all charities they never have enough of anything. Myself, Ian and another couple decided we would each like to donate a bike, they are only $50 over here. We thought it was a great idea until we realised we would need to purchase AND deliver them. So after we bought the 'body' of the bike at one shop, the 'seat' at another and the 'peddles' from around the corner, we then had to ride our brand new bicycles 10km back to the orphanage. My bum really hurts now. They especially loved Ian and kept rubbing his tummy and calling him 'Budda'.

 
 
 

Tomorrow we catch the overnight train to somewhere near Hanoi. Originally we were booked on the day train but the timetable changed, so then we were going on the night train, then the floods came and we were flying, now the water has gone we are back on the overnight train, confused!!!! I am!!!! So now we have more time to explore Hue as the train doesn't depart until 5pm.

 

Off to visit a local family tonight to have dinner with them. I wonder if they will have diet coke? Best thing seen on a bike today - ME!

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Well the water didn't go up, it actually went down, woo hoo. So the only street left under water was the main street. This meant that we were able to do all the activities we had planned the day before. We started with a 3 hour bike ride though rice paddies and local villages, ending at China Beach. My front bum is very sore.....

 

We had more shopping time this arvo, yippy. Ian is going to die when he sees the credit card. Oh well. Hoi An is famous for it's tailors and I took advantage of this. I had the most beautiful long silk embroidered coat made, I'm so pleased with it. I can't wait to show it off back home.

 

 

 

We went to another cooking class with a chef that runs a restaurant on the water front. Her restaurant was closed due to the flooding so she set up a cooking class in her house, like you do. She taught herself English by watching the ABC. Her favourite shows are 'Kath & Kim' and 'Playschool' she was friggin hilarious. I kept hearing "Look at me, Ian, Ian, look at me". Thank god there is no seafood extender in Vietnam. We learnt 5 Vietnamese dishes that Ian will be able to replicate when we get home. I didn't pay too much attention, I was happy to just eat the ingredients.....

 
 

It was sad to leave Hoi An as it's been my most favourite place so far, but time to move on. 

Friday, 19 November, 2010

Well it's been a CRAZY 24 hours. We left Quy Nhon at 7am yesterday morning with the hope of arriving in Hoi An 6 hours later, that didn't happen. Although we haven't experienced any bad weather there has been a lot over here, especially in the mountains. Lots and lots of rain. As we know rain runs towards the coast line which is essentially what we are following.

 

SO lots of the road is under water and some is even missing. We got within 6kms of Hoi An and no more road. It was just gone. This meant an additional 80kms. Not a big deal in Aussie land however it added another 4.5 hours onto our journey. 10.5 hours after leaving Quy Nhon we finally arrived in Hoi An only to discover the river (that runs through the centre of town) had burst it's banks and the first 2 streets were under water! We dumped our gear at the hotel and headed out for a bite to eat, we were all ravenous. By the time we had finished dinner the river had swollen further and the street we walked down to get to the restaurant was now under water. 'No problem' the locals said, 'we get you a boat'. So we caught a boat back to the hotel. We discovered a lot of the hotels on the water front had now been shut, due to the water levels. But never fear, our dodgy hotel located several streets back is still fine and now booked out!

Today instead of walking along the riverfront we took a boat. The locals say this happens at least twice a year so they just swap their bikes for boats, no dramas. The only down side is walking knee deep in very yucky water to the next shop. 

 

This river is suppose to rise at least another metre tonight so things could get even more interesting.

Best thing seen in a small boat today, 6 Japanese tourists, with luggage, looking terrified in life jackets. Maybe they were more scared of having to come to this hotel than the water....

 

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

We made it to Quy Nhon in a little under 5 hours. The road wasn't too bad however I did get up the courage to sit in the suicide set (that's the seat at the front of the bus where you can see everything). I only had to close my eyes a few times. Not much in Quy Nhon. Nice beach, lots of fishermen and loads of boats. We are basically using this town as a stop over on our way to Hoi An.

Although I love traveling I hate living out of a suitcase. I couldn't find any undies this morning. Maybe more than I thought dropped out of my laundry bag back in Nha Trang. At least some poor family will have some blankets now.

There are not many foreigners in Quy Nhon and after dinner last night we passed a local supermarket. Myself, Ian, Damien and Lucy decided to check it out. It was hilarious as we totally stuck out, which is not hard when you are white and 2 foot taller than anyone else around you. There were people pointing and lots of laughter from the kids. Personally I think they were laughing at my man shoes. We did find Kit Kats, this was very exciting.

 

All the hotels that we have stayed in over here have door bells on the front door of each room, weird! Ian decided to ring ours which caused every light in the room to turn off....... And don't let me get started on the bathroom, it was open plan. Which is cool, this I could have dealt with except for the fact that when you have a bathroom that's only 1.5 x 1.5 metres which includes the vanity and toilet it's no surprise that EVERYTHING gets wet when the shower is turned on! aarrrggghhhhhh

 

Off  to Hoi An today, can't wait it's suppose to be fabulous.

Best thing seen on a bike today, 3 bird cages including birds.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Nha Trang, tick.

Nha Trang was beautiful. Big sandy beaches, coconut trees, boats, sea food, you get the picture. After being on the go for 10 days, yesterday was the first day we could really relax. We hopped on a boat and cruised to a local fishing village where we spent half an hour exploring and interacting with the locals. We then moved onto another spot to snorkel and play around in the water. After another enormous lunch we headed for a tiny island with deck chairs all ready to go. Here we swam, had ice-cream, beer, I got my nails done and had a massage. And the best part was that we had the whole island virtually to ourselves. We arrived back in town about 3pm where we preceded to walk across the road to a lovely bar, located on the beach, where we spent another few hours watching the world go by.

 

As we were staying practically on the ocean there was an enormous array of sea food to choose at meal times. Ian ordered a seafood platter for the outrageously expensive amount of $5.50 AU. It was nothing like our seafood platters at home. They bought it out in courses. First we got ½ dozen oysters, pipis and mussels. Then a plate of grilled squid arrived, followed by tiger prawns, a whole fish and of course rice! After dinner Ian and a few others went to the ‘ice-bar’, yep they have everything over here. He had a great time, I went shopping J

Today we drive to Quy Nhon, It’s normally a 4 hour drive but we have been warned that it could take up to 6 hours because of the condition of the road after the typhoon.

There was another wedding reception at the hotel last night. We were very excited, we felt like we were invited guests, we heard all of it!

Best thing seen on a bike today, a family of five! They are small, but not that small……