Journey's End

Well, we have had a very interesting trip, with ups and downs and boat and motor bike rides... The last night dinner is on and we fly out tomorrow to our respective homes...

 

Had one of the best motor bike rides ever through villages and paddy fields, on road and off... motored along through the limestone karst islands of Ha Long Bay... braved the traffic of Ha Noi via cyclo and foot... and hopefully we will get home in one peice.

 

Some of the blog emails have gone astray, but hopefully I can retrieve them after I get home to improve the flo of the blog.

 

Thanks for listening, and see you soon.

 

Cheers

Kez

A Grand Day Out

What a fantastic Day - one if the best I have ever had in holidays -
right up there with Iguasu Falls...

What can I say - you hop on a motor bike riding in single file in
manic traffic, though narrow markets and round rice paddies to get to
and from a river boat, pagoda, covered bridge, tomb of a king,
nunnery, insense maker, tiger & elephant fighting arena and to a
conical hat maker...

You start with 12 Vietnamese gents and thier

Hi from Hoi An

We have been here for a couple of days now, and I have been crook for pretty much most of that time - seem to have gone from tummy rumbles to chest infection... ah the pollution or some other atmospheric borne bacteria / pathogen... From Nha Trang we flew to Danang then visited a Marble Mountains marble factory - the marble doesn't come from the near by Marble Mountains - they are the symbolic centre of Vietnam never to be mined or altered otherwise the country will be lost to China!

Any hoo... Hoi An is the place to get clothing made if you want some, sorry but didn't have the energy to do so, but I did go on the orientation tour around the old city centre which is a UNESCO site and cars are banned, though motorbikes can access until 2pm apprarently...

The centre is nice, but reminds me very much of parts of China we visited last year, such as Yangshuo. The Japanese covered bridge is the symbol of Hoi An and it joins the former Japanese quarter with the old town.

The orientation tour was the only included activity here, but optional yesterday was a cycle ride out into the country to Cai Dau (have to check the spelling there but China Beach anyway), and then there was a cooking class last night. Cathy got a traditional outfit made up - oops am I giving away a surprise there??? And Andrew got a shirt made as well. Here you show the tailors a pattern and they will make it up for you almost over night, with a fitting or two thrown in for good measure so to speak. I slept all day yesterday while they were out playing.

Today was an optional visit to the My Son ruins, another UNESCO site, devasted by the American's during the war, with a boat ride return down the Perfume River. Those that went are on their way back now on the boat trip - I again wasn't up to it - got to get those antibiotics into me.

Tomorrow morning we leave at 8.30 for our bus ride to Hue, about three hours north, along the coast and the Van Hie Pass - supposedly one of the best stretches of coastal road in the world - we will see how it compares to Grand Pacific Drive!!!

Movement at the Station

Well, we have moved from Hi Chi Minh City to Nha Trang in central Vietnam via the reunification express overnight soft class sleeper.

Internet service is not great - not only is facebook unavailable generally but blogspot seems to be blocked from the hotel computer so I am resorting to a mobile upload - see if this works...

Our day in the Mekong Delta was wet but generally fun, boating across on branch of the river to tourist spots prior to heading to our farmstay accommodation, like the crocodile farm, the brick works and a tropical fruit nursery. Our farmstay was owned by a lovely little lady named Mrs Muoi (number 10) who was 76 or there abouts. Dormitory accommodation with mosquito nets for all...

Next morning we tripped down to the Cai Be markets but there wasn't much happening as it wasn't principle market day and it was pouring rain - unusal apprently - typhoon off the coast.

Upon our return to HCMC we had luch at a bahn xhe restaurant (Vietnamese pancake) then I veged out at the hotel uploading 150 photos to my picasaweb album only to find out I had uploaded them to the wrong
album (all fixed now though and available for viewing).

We boarded the Reunification Express for Nha Trang at about 7.45pm to arrive at 5.30am and to breakfast in the hotel.After breakfast we wen on a bit of a bus trip to some of the local sights... Via a massage by blind persons - feeling a bit sore in the muscels today - the facility was part of the Intrepid responsible travel principles - a massage parlour that does not result in a happy ending and provides people who are otherwise unable to get a job due to sight impairment, work.

Actually prior to that we went to the Long Son Buddist Pagoda where the largest statue of Buddah in Vietnam is located on a mountain top - 152 stairs to walk up and many fan selling hawkers to avoid. It was a nice spot above the town with views to the river. So we arrived at the massage place hot and sweaty... After the massage it was off to the Po Nagar Cham Towers - several hundred years old built between the 7- 12th century. Nice spot that too.

Those who needed deeper relaxation therapy went on to the mud bath complex for a dip while Susana and I went to the beach and veged out in the shade with a book and a beer. IT Andrew said he was so relaxed
last night that he kept falling a sleep!

Today was a visit to islands with snorkellig, swimming and a seafood lunch. I stayed in and slept until 2 as I was / am a bit off colour, so I am awaiting the intrepid adventurers return. It is time to repack the suitcase as we fly out in the morning around 6 to Danang then bus to Hoi An via the Marble Mountains for a 3 night stay and shopping!!!

Ta Ra, Kez

Motor Cycle City

Good Morning Vietnam

Well, Accountant Cate, IT Andrew and Planner Kez have safely arrivedat our Ho Cho Minh City hotel after a great couple of days in Singapore.

Singapore is a great looking City and don't feel obliged to do the Raffles Singapore Sling - bit too pricey! And the peanut shells on the floor !!!

It is off to explore this City prior to meeting our Intrepid Group this afternoon. Here's hoping we have fun and don't get run down by all the bikes...

Kez

Update, 18 Jan 6pm...

Yesterday we three musketeers tripped around HCMC or as District 1 is still called - Saigon for a few hours while we waited for our group meeting. First we ventured to the Independence Palace for a tour of duty then it was on to explore the town on foot via Notre Dame Cathedral - a tall red brick building, and the Old Post Office, the river front and then a check of the quality of the facilities at the Park Hyatt.

From there our itinerary was to travel back to the Dragon Hotel via the Hindi Temples and other sites and statues of the City Centre.

Today we travelled out to the Cu Chi tunnels to explore the former war zone and local headquarters of the VC. We went into one of the tunnels but Cate and I only went the first 20 - 30m section, but brave young Andrew traversed the tourist accessible length of 140m. There were practical demonstrations on how to fire an AK47 or other relic weaponry (25 000VND per bullet), rice paper and rice wine making, garmentry and other fascinating exploits from the time and present...

We got to sample Pho 2000's best for lunch, which was delicious as Kevin S had told me it would be, and I want to be able to cook that one now so I think I will have to go to a cooking school in Hoi An. This afternoon the trippers braved traffic yet again for a cyclo tour of District 1 - basically the same route that we walked yesterday, but I decided it was all too much excitement for one day and I am eagerly awaiting their return and stories.

Farewell for now, as we are off to the Mekong Delta tomorrow for a boat ride and farmstay, before coming back to Saigon on Wednesday to collect our luggage and catch the Reunification Express to beachy Nah Trang for a few days of relaxation and snorkeling.

Kez

The 150E meridian marker in Rose Park in Singleton NSW