Had a slack attack today ... didn't get out of bed until nearly midday... needed the rest!! Watched an Angelina Jolie movie on HBO ... love the cable TV over here :))
After my yummy omelette at "Laugh Cafe" (my favourite brekky spot) which helps street kids in the Quang Namh Province (www.umad.org ... an Aussie NGO) I did a bike ride to Cua Dai Beach. I braved the traffic, riding on the right hand side of the road, the bad roads, no helmet and just to add a bit more excitement I wore a skirt :)) What was I thinking???
When I asked the lady at the hotel if she had a helmet I could use she said yes but you have to promise to look after it.... !!! I didn't bother ... but on the way back I passed a little boy and his mother who had fallen off their motorbike and I don't think the boy had a helmet on as his poor little face looked like it had face planted the road. :((
Anyway the beach at Cua Dai is an absolute mess with all the development ... not very nice. But I got "invited" into a cafe to have something to eat and drink cos I was patting the really cute dog out front and ended up staying for ages and chatting to the owner, Dung, and his niece, Nhung, and drinking vietnamese coffee and eating really really oily but yummy spring rolls. Now I know why the kids don't speak English in this country ... Nhung who is 18 and just finished year 10 has had only 2 months of English lessons in 10 years !!! But Dung who is 50 had a year of lessons 6 years ago and since has taught himself English and his English was pretty good!
Heading out tonight to my other two favourite restaurants ... "Red Sail" for dinner and then "White Marble" for a wine.
Leave for Hue on the bus in the morning, quick trip to see the Citadel while at Hue and then fly to Hanoi tomorrow night. I have pre-booked my accommodation in Hanoi ... and a pick up from the airport as there are supposed to be alot of bad taxi drivers waiting for tourists at the airport....sounds too scarey to me and I get in at 11pm.
So see you all when I am in the big smoke of Hanoi.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Hoi An, Vietnam : 28 Nov 10
Day 3 in Hoi An .... one more day to go :)) Been staying at the "My Chau" hotel... wouldn't really recommend it as my favourite place to stay but it's very cheap so can't really complain ... the girl on the front desk was very helpful the first day but you have to fight the staff for the free guest internet ... !!!
Caught an Easy Rider motorbike (it's definitely the way to travel) out to the Marble Mountains this morning ... would have to be one of the most beautiful and peaceful places I have been. Loved it! Lots of Hindu and Buddhist temples and symbols and buddhas in caves and two lookouts with fantastic views over China Beach. Greg Norman is doing a massive development out there ... seemed to go on for miles! Too much money!
Took it easy this arvy ... I'm on a mission to try ALL of the Hoi An gourmet specialities before I leave... had an early graze ... Pork Wontons at one restaurant and then I had Hoi An Pancake with shrimp and pork at my favourite restaurant "Red Sail" .... YUMMMO .. this restaurant has the best food in Hoi An ... and they have cooking classes but I think I would rather not wreck the good food but just eat the good food :))
Last night I hung out at my favourite wine bar "White Marble" til quite late.. no wonder I struggled to get out of bed this morning :)) One of the waitresses there is gorgeous and we have lots of chats and she has had a bit of a sad life. Breaks my heart but she still has a beautiful smile on her face!
Tomorrow going to SLEEP IN :)) and then grab a push bike, brave the traffic and do the beach circuit. And then probably eat and sleep and eat and sleep and maybe drink a few local fresh beers :)) well I am on holidays so I don't feel guilty at all!!
Caught an Easy Rider motorbike (it's definitely the way to travel) out to the Marble Mountains this morning ... would have to be one of the most beautiful and peaceful places I have been. Loved it! Lots of Hindu and Buddhist temples and symbols and buddhas in caves and two lookouts with fantastic views over China Beach. Greg Norman is doing a massive development out there ... seemed to go on for miles! Too much money!
Took it easy this arvy ... I'm on a mission to try ALL of the Hoi An gourmet specialities before I leave... had an early graze ... Pork Wontons at one restaurant and then I had Hoi An Pancake with shrimp and pork at my favourite restaurant "Red Sail" .... YUMMMO .. this restaurant has the best food in Hoi An ... and they have cooking classes but I think I would rather not wreck the good food but just eat the good food :))
Last night I hung out at my favourite wine bar "White Marble" til quite late.. no wonder I struggled to get out of bed this morning :)) One of the waitresses there is gorgeous and we have lots of chats and she has had a bit of a sad life. Breaks my heart but she still has a beautiful smile on her face!
Tomorrow going to SLEEP IN :)) and then grab a push bike, brave the traffic and do the beach circuit. And then probably eat and sleep and eat and sleep and maybe drink a few local fresh beers :)) well I am on holidays so I don't feel guilty at all!!
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Hoi An, Vietnam : 27 Nov 10
Had a half day at My Son this morning ... was very interesting but ya really need to visit My Son before the mother of all temples ... Angkor Wat in Cambodia ... not the other way around :))
I got the boat (instead of the bus for something different) back to the city centre of Hoi An ... the bus driver from hell took us to catch the boat... I'm amazed he did not kill a few kids on the way ... I told him he was a terrible driver when I got off ... he just laughed... when he does eventually kill a kid he won't be laughing!! Everybody on the bus was horrified at how dangerous his driving was.
Anyway when I got back to Hoi An Old Town had fresh rice paper rolls (2 days in a row now from this restaurant called "Red Sail" that has the best food ... near where the boat dropped us off) washed down with a 3,000 dong glass of beer and that's pretty much my day.
I did buy a top ... the lady wanted 480,000 dong and was NOT worth this much (!) ... I told her I would only pay 80,000 dong ... I thought I heard her say the "f" word at me but she was still smiling when I paid her the money (and she tried to short change me :)) so I gather she was happy.
Last night I tee-d up with Mr Son who is an "Easy Rider" to take me to the Marble Mountains tomorrow morning on his very flash Honda Motor Bike for 5 bucks. I saw him this morning at My Son and he greeted me like his long lost friend... what I nice man ... looking forward to it.
And I found this reallly groovy wine bar last night called the "White Marble" I think where they have aussie wines by the glass....but then the owner is from Sydney ... how nice would that be to live in Australia and own a wine bar in Hoi An ... probably will go back there tonight.
Had a good sleep last night and fixed the puffy eye.
I got the boat (instead of the bus for something different) back to the city centre of Hoi An ... the bus driver from hell took us to catch the boat... I'm amazed he did not kill a few kids on the way ... I told him he was a terrible driver when I got off ... he just laughed... when he does eventually kill a kid he won't be laughing!! Everybody on the bus was horrified at how dangerous his driving was.
Anyway when I got back to Hoi An Old Town had fresh rice paper rolls (2 days in a row now from this restaurant called "Red Sail" that has the best food ... near where the boat dropped us off) washed down with a 3,000 dong glass of beer and that's pretty much my day.
I did buy a top ... the lady wanted 480,000 dong and was NOT worth this much (!) ... I told her I would only pay 80,000 dong ... I thought I heard her say the "f" word at me but she was still smiling when I paid her the money (and she tried to short change me :)) so I gather she was happy.
Last night I tee-d up with Mr Son who is an "Easy Rider" to take me to the Marble Mountains tomorrow morning on his very flash Honda Motor Bike for 5 bucks. I saw him this morning at My Son and he greeted me like his long lost friend... what I nice man ... looking forward to it.
And I found this reallly groovy wine bar last night called the "White Marble" I think where they have aussie wines by the glass....but then the owner is from Sydney ... how nice would that be to live in Australia and own a wine bar in Hoi An ... probably will go back there tonight.
Had a good sleep last night and fixed the puffy eye.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Hoi An, Vietnam : 26 Nov 2010
Made it to Hoi An ... how nice is this place ... so nice I have decided, with the help of the very efficient girl at reception at my Hotel, to stay here for 4 nights and catch the bus to Hue the morning of the 30th, do a tour of the Citadel in Hue in the arvy and then FLY that night to Hanoi.... the reason ... I am NEVER EVER catching another night bus ... on the bus for 11 hours, hardly slept, the road was extremely rough and I was right at the back in the low level over the back tyres so felt every bump, had to lie curled up cos the space I got was not long enough to stretch my legs out so got cramps and my right eye puffed up twice the size cos of the tiredness ... well it's been puffing up for awhile now so think its from the tiredness... so I have booked a flight for an extra $28 and I think it's well worth it ... getting too old for night buses.
Today I have found the cheapest beer in world ... 3,000 dong ($1 usd = 21,000 dong) for a glass of local beer and the lady in the restaurant told me it's better for you than water... of course I believe her :))
Had a great day in Nha Trang yesterday ... walked to the Lon Song Pogoda and the sitting buddha ... contemplated my navel for awhile and then walked to the Cham Towers.... so peaceful and overlooks the sea/beach... then walked back a different way to the city centre along the beach front and then spent a few hours at the Louisiane Brewhouse... had seafood lunch of course and their own brewed ale and a swim in the pool. Was a bit over cast and very windy but still a very relaxing way to spend a few hours http://www.louisianebrewhouse.com.vn/
So today I have been just wandering around the old town of Hoi An. Got in this morning at 6am and had a snooze for a few hours but feel very wiped out so going to have a bit of a rest while I'm in Hoi An.
The shops in Hoi An are amazing... shoes, shoes and more shoes and clothes, clothes and more clothes ... I wish I had more money, more time, a bigger bag, someone to carry my bags and a love for shopping cos I could go crazy here!
Tomorrow I am doing a tour to My Son ... bus there and boat back ... and then one day I will grab a bike from the hotel and ride to the beaches.. there's a circuit you can do that links the two beaches and the 4th day will probably just eat and rest and wander. Hoi An is very relaxing and very laid back so will be a good place to take a rest.
Today I have found the cheapest beer in world ... 3,000 dong ($1 usd = 21,000 dong) for a glass of local beer and the lady in the restaurant told me it's better for you than water... of course I believe her :))
Had a great day in Nha Trang yesterday ... walked to the Lon Song Pogoda and the sitting buddha ... contemplated my navel for awhile and then walked to the Cham Towers.... so peaceful and overlooks the sea/beach... then walked back a different way to the city centre along the beach front and then spent a few hours at the Louisiane Brewhouse... had seafood lunch of course and their own brewed ale and a swim in the pool. Was a bit over cast and very windy but still a very relaxing way to spend a few hours http://www.louisianebrewhouse.com.vn/
So today I have been just wandering around the old town of Hoi An. Got in this morning at 6am and had a snooze for a few hours but feel very wiped out so going to have a bit of a rest while I'm in Hoi An.
The shops in Hoi An are amazing... shoes, shoes and more shoes and clothes, clothes and more clothes ... I wish I had more money, more time, a bigger bag, someone to carry my bags and a love for shopping cos I could go crazy here!
Tomorrow I am doing a tour to My Son ... bus there and boat back ... and then one day I will grab a bike from the hotel and ride to the beaches.. there's a circuit you can do that links the two beaches and the 4th day will probably just eat and rest and wander. Hoi An is very relaxing and very laid back so will be a good place to take a rest.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Nha Trang, Vietnam : 25 Nov 10
... when you come to Nha Trang make sure you do the island tour ... was the funniest and funnest day I have had for a very long time ... what a hoot!
The whole boat was full of Vietnamese Honeymooners and there were about 6 of us from other countries. The honeymooners were so cute!
We went to the first island and snorkelled ... the visibility was terrible and it was choppy but the water and the view were beautiful and I don't think many of the Vietnamese had been to a beach before and they couldn't swim and a few of them had their masks upside down ... hehe ...then we anchored off another island for buffet lunch ... squid, boar, tuna, cabbage soup, rice, omellete .. was very nice washed down with a beer.
And then the fun started.... the crew were also a Rock Band ... they entertained us and every other country that wasn't Vietnam on the boat they knew a song from this country and we had to sing along ... there was me and 2 other aussies so we sang Waltzing Matilda ... it was pretty sad cos the the V. fellas new all the words and we didn't!! Very unpatriotic!
And then we had the floating bar.... one of the crew stripped off to his swim suit and put plastic cups on his boobs and stood on the floating bar and did this crazy dance. He was so skinny and it was so funny ... then we all jumped in the water off the boat and floated around in tyres and got cheery on Dalat mulberry wine :)) Just when we thought we'd drunk the last bottle, out came another one ... I think we drank 6 bottles in total. Was so much fun!
Then we went to a beach that was rocks not sand and chilled out and then went to the aquarium ... huge fish and turtles and sharks in little teensy weensy tanks ... was good to see the fish close up but very very sad for the creatures.
I'd love to stay in Nha Trang for the rest of my time in Vietnam ... IT ROCKS :)) but will probably only be here for tomorrow and maybe the next day ... will catch a night bus to Hoi An maybe tomorrow night or the next night ... see how I feel tomorrow!
The whole boat was full of Vietnamese Honeymooners and there were about 6 of us from other countries. The honeymooners were so cute!
We went to the first island and snorkelled ... the visibility was terrible and it was choppy but the water and the view were beautiful and I don't think many of the Vietnamese had been to a beach before and they couldn't swim and a few of them had their masks upside down ... hehe ...then we anchored off another island for buffet lunch ... squid, boar, tuna, cabbage soup, rice, omellete .. was very nice washed down with a beer.
And then the fun started.... the crew were also a Rock Band ... they entertained us and every other country that wasn't Vietnam on the boat they knew a song from this country and we had to sing along ... there was me and 2 other aussies so we sang Waltzing Matilda ... it was pretty sad cos the the V. fellas new all the words and we didn't!! Very unpatriotic!
And then we had the floating bar.... one of the crew stripped off to his swim suit and put plastic cups on his boobs and stood on the floating bar and did this crazy dance. He was so skinny and it was so funny ... then we all jumped in the water off the boat and floated around in tyres and got cheery on Dalat mulberry wine :)) Just when we thought we'd drunk the last bottle, out came another one ... I think we drank 6 bottles in total. Was so much fun!
Then we went to a beach that was rocks not sand and chilled out and then went to the aquarium ... huge fish and turtles and sharks in little teensy weensy tanks ... was good to see the fish close up but very very sad for the creatures.
I'd love to stay in Nha Trang for the rest of my time in Vietnam ... IT ROCKS :)) but will probably only be here for tomorrow and maybe the next day ... will catch a night bus to Hoi An maybe tomorrow night or the next night ... see how I feel tomorrow!
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Nha Trang, Vietnam : 24 Nov 10
I am in Nha Trang ... arrived 7pm tonight and got accosted by a moto driver to go to his friends hotel ... boy it is very very nice and my room is very very nice ... on the 10th floor (penthouse suite :)) .. huge room with aircon, tv and a huge balcony that looks over the sea and has nearly 360 degree views .... can't wait to see the view in the morning ... it is called the "Nice Hotel" ... and it is very nice ... nice price too!!! I'm a very happy girl.
I was thinking I may only stay here for 2 nights but after talking to the nice lady at reception there seems to be heaps to do here so thinking I might stay for 4 nights 3 days .... island tour tomorrow with snorkelling and seafood lunch, day 2 hike to waterfalls with swimming and seafood lunch and then a soak in a mineral mud bath and then day 3 just wandering around the city and maybe a city tour and probably more seafood :)) but I'll probably change my mind!
I think I am really going to like Nha Trang... the further north I go the more I like Vietnam ... if I had known how nice Nha Trang was I wouldn't have bothered with Mui Ne cos that was a real disappointment!! anyway :)) except for the 800 grams of seafood!
Went to this restaurant tonight called "Chopsticks" .... what a fantastic restaurant ... had squid in tempura and then tuna cooked in the clay pot ... the staff and their service was excellent :))
I was thinking I may only stay here for 2 nights but after talking to the nice lady at reception there seems to be heaps to do here so thinking I might stay for 4 nights 3 days .... island tour tomorrow with snorkelling and seafood lunch, day 2 hike to waterfalls with swimming and seafood lunch and then a soak in a mineral mud bath and then day 3 just wandering around the city and maybe a city tour and probably more seafood :)) but I'll probably change my mind!
I think I am really going to like Nha Trang... the further north I go the more I like Vietnam ... if I had known how nice Nha Trang was I wouldn't have bothered with Mui Ne cos that was a real disappointment!! anyway :)) except for the 800 grams of seafood!
Went to this restaurant tonight called "Chopsticks" .... what a fantastic restaurant ... had squid in tempura and then tuna cooked in the clay pot ... the staff and their service was excellent :))
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Mui Ne, Vietnam : 23 Nov 10
Catching the bus at 1pm to Nha Trang so killing some time.
I had the BEST seafood last night ... made a bit of a pig of myself ... I was walking back to my hotel and on this section of the beachfront there are outdoor BBQ cafes that only set up at night and out the front they have big plastic containers with live/freshly caught seafood ... you pick out what you want and then they BBQ it for you and you sit on the edge of the beach and eat it ... I did a bit of a crawl ... had a plate of prawns BBQ"d in garlic at the first one and then at the next one I had a whole squid BBQ'd in chilli think .... this would have to be the best bit about Mui Ne ... the seafood!! Of course I had to have a couple of 40c Saigon to wash it down :))
Was very full ... 800grams of seafood and some beers will do that to you!
One cafe was selling turtles (still alive) and frogs (still alive too but they looked very much like cane toads to me). Can you imagine BBQing turtle and toad with a little bit of garlic .... eeeuuuuwwwww!!!
It is very hot here again today ...
See you in Nha Trang :))
I had the BEST seafood last night ... made a bit of a pig of myself ... I was walking back to my hotel and on this section of the beachfront there are outdoor BBQ cafes that only set up at night and out the front they have big plastic containers with live/freshly caught seafood ... you pick out what you want and then they BBQ it for you and you sit on the edge of the beach and eat it ... I did a bit of a crawl ... had a plate of prawns BBQ"d in garlic at the first one and then at the next one I had a whole squid BBQ'd in chilli think .... this would have to be the best bit about Mui Ne ... the seafood!! Of course I had to have a couple of 40c Saigon to wash it down :))
Was very full ... 800grams of seafood and some beers will do that to you!
One cafe was selling turtles (still alive) and frogs (still alive too but they looked very much like cane toads to me). Can you imagine BBQing turtle and toad with a little bit of garlic .... eeeuuuuwwwww!!!
It is very hot here again today ...
See you in Nha Trang :))
Monday, November 22, 2010
Mui Ne, Vietnam : 22 Nov 10
In Mui Ne... didn't have such a good start to Mui Ne but all okay now :))
Mui Ne is a very strange place and the beach is nowhere near as nice as the Cambodian beaches.
Did a 4 hour motor bike tour this morning with Mr Ly ... I thought he was 50 but turns out he was only 35! He was going a bit too fast for me at times and was a little bit scared but at least I had a helmet on this time ... but then it didn't fit my head so kept sliding off!
He took me to the Fishing Village ... the smell of fish sauce was very strong ... then to the white sand dune ... walked to the top of one and slid down it on a sleddy thing .. that was fun ... then went to the red sand dune and then to the Fairy Stream .. this was quite nice ... walked up the stream only shin deep at the most for 25 minutes to a waterfall.... the canyon was beautiful... burnt red sand with white natural formed sand formations.
Staying at a nice guest house .. she charged me for a two person room last night so this morning I sussed out another place that was a lot cheaper and I told her so she dropped my room rate for tonight :))
I'm amazed at how many Vietnamese people working in the hotels/restaurants/tourism industry etc that can't speak or understand any English at all ... can be a bit frustrating ... !!
Will go to Nha Trang tomorrow. It's so hot here!!
Mui Ne is a very strange place and the beach is nowhere near as nice as the Cambodian beaches.
Did a 4 hour motor bike tour this morning with Mr Ly ... I thought he was 50 but turns out he was only 35! He was going a bit too fast for me at times and was a little bit scared but at least I had a helmet on this time ... but then it didn't fit my head so kept sliding off!
He took me to the Fishing Village ... the smell of fish sauce was very strong ... then to the white sand dune ... walked to the top of one and slid down it on a sleddy thing .. that was fun ... then went to the red sand dune and then to the Fairy Stream .. this was quite nice ... walked up the stream only shin deep at the most for 25 minutes to a waterfall.... the canyon was beautiful... burnt red sand with white natural formed sand formations.
Staying at a nice guest house .. she charged me for a two person room last night so this morning I sussed out another place that was a lot cheaper and I told her so she dropped my room rate for tonight :))
I'm amazed at how many Vietnamese people working in the hotels/restaurants/tourism industry etc that can't speak or understand any English at all ... can be a bit frustrating ... !!
Will go to Nha Trang tomorrow. It's so hot here!!
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam : 21 Nov 10
I'm still in hcmc..leave tomorrow for mui ne. Was feeling a bit weary this morning so decided to stay another day.
Did a big walk all round the city ... walked to Ben Thanh markets, cathedral, post office, people's community building, opera house ... beautiful buildings... walked to the saigon river....traffic was a nightmare...trucks everywhere... i crossed and i was in the middle of the road between two huge trucks...felt sick!!! but i made it !
they had souvenir shop at the PO...bought this really cool full leather bag brown and pink with flowers for TEN DOLLARS!!! couldnt resist it
Tonight i have treated myself....i was having dinner...best risotto & bruscetta i have ever had...and across the road was a beauty salon with "professional hair designer"...so i got a cut & blonde streaks...i felt sick when my hair was being cut but really happy with it...only $21...so then i had my finger & toe nails painted bright orange with white daisies painted on the orange for $9...so cheap and looks pretty cool :))
Had a great night last night...caught up with huong and mina (mina's from cambodia but lives in darwin too) ...huong took us to a REAL vietnamese restaurant ...yum it was so good....id had a pizza 2 hrs before but still stuffed myself on V.food! the belly is getting bigger!
well off to bed now...early bus to mui ne
Did a big walk all round the city ... walked to Ben Thanh markets, cathedral, post office, people's community building, opera house ... beautiful buildings... walked to the saigon river....traffic was a nightmare...trucks everywhere... i crossed and i was in the middle of the road between two huge trucks...felt sick!!! but i made it !
they had souvenir shop at the PO...bought this really cool full leather bag brown and pink with flowers for TEN DOLLARS!!! couldnt resist it
Tonight i have treated myself....i was having dinner...best risotto & bruscetta i have ever had...and across the road was a beauty salon with "professional hair designer"...so i got a cut & blonde streaks...i felt sick when my hair was being cut but really happy with it...only $21...so then i had my finger & toe nails painted bright orange with white daisies painted on the orange for $9...so cheap and looks pretty cool :))
Had a great night last night...caught up with huong and mina (mina's from cambodia but lives in darwin too) ...huong took us to a REAL vietnamese restaurant ...yum it was so good....id had a pizza 2 hrs before but still stuffed myself on V.food! the belly is getting bigger!
well off to bed now...early bus to mui ne
Friday, November 19, 2010
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam : 19 Nov 10
... will thrill you with my adventures for the past 2 days.
Day 1 in HCMC - I settled into my new quiet hotel room with aircon ... I went back to get my stuff from the family home and they were not happy with me ... maybe cos I was moving out or maybe cos I woke them up again at 9am ... they were all asleep on the floor still and had 3 dogs as well.
Went up to the Ben Thanh markets ... bought a tshirt that has Roxy Australia on the front but made in Vietnam.... had my first bowl of Pho and nearly burnt my mouth out from too much chilli. Walked up to the gardens in search of the Reunification Palace ... on my way got stopped by two women from Bangkok who wanted to know where my husband was and why i was walking alone ... told them he was shopping and I was sightseeing and having me time .. not sure what they wanted but they seemed to be happy with that explanation :)) ... wandered round the gardens for a while and eventually found the palace .. built in the 60s and still living in the 60s! Was very interesting place.
Then went to the War Remants Museum ... very sad and some very graphic disturbing photos... there was whole wall dedicated to the aussie protests against the Vietnam War.
I was brave and got a cyclo back to the hotel.. feared for my life a few times ... won't do it again ... when I went to pay he said 50,000 dong ... I thought he had said 15,000dong .... we settled on 30,000 dong .. I think he was happy.
The highlight of the day was meeting my friend Huong (who I met in Darwin) .. she is back in HCMC visiting family and we caugth up for a drink. It absolutely bucketed down when we were having a drink ... roads flooded (and again now!!)
And now Day 2 is nearly over.... I did a half day tour to the Cu Chi Tunnels used in the war... was so amazing. I fired off 10 rounds from a M16 .. was so cool :)) and we crawled through one of the tunnels.... if you come to HCMC make sure you do this ... but on the sign it said people of "old age - 70 or older" are not recommended to crawl through the tunnels.... made me laugh ... wouldn't stop some 70 year olds :))
Meeting Huong again tonight ... all the roads here in the city are flooded.... well will go and work on my beer belly hehe
I am off to Mui Ne tomorrow ... won't be getting much sun though as my whole back is peeling from my Cambodian sunburn!
Day 1 in HCMC - I settled into my new quiet hotel room with aircon ... I went back to get my stuff from the family home and they were not happy with me ... maybe cos I was moving out or maybe cos I woke them up again at 9am ... they were all asleep on the floor still and had 3 dogs as well.
Went up to the Ben Thanh markets ... bought a tshirt that has Roxy Australia on the front but made in Vietnam.... had my first bowl of Pho and nearly burnt my mouth out from too much chilli. Walked up to the gardens in search of the Reunification Palace ... on my way got stopped by two women from Bangkok who wanted to know where my husband was and why i was walking alone ... told them he was shopping and I was sightseeing and having me time .. not sure what they wanted but they seemed to be happy with that explanation :)) ... wandered round the gardens for a while and eventually found the palace .. built in the 60s and still living in the 60s! Was very interesting place.
Then went to the War Remants Museum ... very sad and some very graphic disturbing photos... there was whole wall dedicated to the aussie protests against the Vietnam War.
I was brave and got a cyclo back to the hotel.. feared for my life a few times ... won't do it again ... when I went to pay he said 50,000 dong ... I thought he had said 15,000dong .... we settled on 30,000 dong .. I think he was happy.
The highlight of the day was meeting my friend Huong (who I met in Darwin) .. she is back in HCMC visiting family and we caugth up for a drink. It absolutely bucketed down when we were having a drink ... roads flooded (and again now!!)
And now Day 2 is nearly over.... I did a half day tour to the Cu Chi Tunnels used in the war... was so amazing. I fired off 10 rounds from a M16 .. was so cool :)) and we crawled through one of the tunnels.... if you come to HCMC make sure you do this ... but on the sign it said people of "old age - 70 or older" are not recommended to crawl through the tunnels.... made me laugh ... wouldn't stop some 70 year olds :))
Meeting Huong again tonight ... all the roads here in the city are flooded.... well will go and work on my beer belly hehe
I am off to Mui Ne tomorrow ... won't be getting much sun though as my whole back is peeling from my Cambodian sunburn!
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Vinh Long/Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam : 18 Nov 10
I made it to HCMC ... what a noisy busy city! I think 2 days will be enough for me!
I arrived late last night from the Mekong and was wandering the streets looking for a hotel and this lady picked me up cos she has a "guest house" .... the guest house was their house ... her and her husband (and a really small child and another person who looks like an adult male but is extremely handicapped) rent the 2 rooms in their house and then they all sleep downstairs in the living room on the floor ... I guess this is the only way they can support themselves. There was a young austrian couple staying there too so felt okay about it but I found out when I went to bed there was no shutable window so all night i listened to motorbikes, people yelling and lotsa of other annoying noises right under my window ... it was on $7 so can't expect too much I guess....so I am a bit tired and grumpy this morning ... but I have found a very quiet aircon room at another hotel for a bit more ...
So going back to the Mekong... on day 3 we (me and 40 other tourists with one really loud arrogant german man who kept telling everyone he was the leader ??) did a boat trip to Cai Rang floating markets... huge produce markets all done out of boats. Was a pretty amazing sight! I tried the local pineapples... very sweet and juicy. We visited a rice hucking mill and also a rice noodles making shop.... basic machines all driven by man power ... they work long hours for little pay but apparently really enjoy their jobs!
In the afternoon I was taken to my homestay on An Binh island near Vinh Long. Hmmm wasn't too sure about this when I first got there .... it's really just a hotel on someone's property and when I arrived I didn't get one smile or a hello from the family ... very different to what I expected. Anyway I invited myself into the kitchen and tried to break the ice but didn't work :)) so I went for a long bike ride round the island ... geez i haven't been on a bike for a million years and took me a while to get the hang of it again! Was so nice cruising around the island but very hot. I nearly managed to break my camera.. had it in the basket and when I went over a bump it flew out and hit the road.... was ok thank god!! And then I spent an hour lying in the hammock on the verandah thinking it would be a long lonely night ... and then 4 couples turned up about my age... 2 from germany and 2 from holland and we had a great night ... drank too much beer though!!
All night we listened to the drone of the boat engines.... they sound like helicopters ... we reckoned they all have a competition to see who can have the loudest engine... the boats are just amazing ... it is a world on water on the Mekong.
Day 4 we went to more floating markets, Cai Be ... not as busy as the others. We went to a rice paper factory and sampled the produce... candy and puffed rice etc. I tried snake wine... big bottle of very strong alcohol with a huge dead snake decaying in it !!! Once in a life time experience!
Then we were taken to a local restaurant for lunch. The last bit to the restaurant we were put in paddle boats .. with no cover ... then the monsoonal rains started :)) haha good timing!
And then after a snooze in the hammock we got the bus back to HCMC arriving last night ... and here I am in the big smoke!
I met a young Kiwi bloke last night who was telling me that he got mugged and has heard of alot of other people who have been mugged here in Vietnam ... put the fear in me so going to be extra careful for the next 2 weeks.
So will spend today and tomorrow in HCMC and then will get a bus to Mui Ne for a couple of days.
Off to relocate to my new quiet aircon room ... :)))))))
I arrived late last night from the Mekong and was wandering the streets looking for a hotel and this lady picked me up cos she has a "guest house" .... the guest house was their house ... her and her husband (and a really small child and another person who looks like an adult male but is extremely handicapped) rent the 2 rooms in their house and then they all sleep downstairs in the living room on the floor ... I guess this is the only way they can support themselves. There was a young austrian couple staying there too so felt okay about it but I found out when I went to bed there was no shutable window so all night i listened to motorbikes, people yelling and lotsa of other annoying noises right under my window ... it was on $7 so can't expect too much I guess....so I am a bit tired and grumpy this morning ... but I have found a very quiet aircon room at another hotel for a bit more ...
So going back to the Mekong... on day 3 we (me and 40 other tourists with one really loud arrogant german man who kept telling everyone he was the leader ??) did a boat trip to Cai Rang floating markets... huge produce markets all done out of boats. Was a pretty amazing sight! I tried the local pineapples... very sweet and juicy. We visited a rice hucking mill and also a rice noodles making shop.... basic machines all driven by man power ... they work long hours for little pay but apparently really enjoy their jobs!
In the afternoon I was taken to my homestay on An Binh island near Vinh Long. Hmmm wasn't too sure about this when I first got there .... it's really just a hotel on someone's property and when I arrived I didn't get one smile or a hello from the family ... very different to what I expected. Anyway I invited myself into the kitchen and tried to break the ice but didn't work :)) so I went for a long bike ride round the island ... geez i haven't been on a bike for a million years and took me a while to get the hang of it again! Was so nice cruising around the island but very hot. I nearly managed to break my camera.. had it in the basket and when I went over a bump it flew out and hit the road.... was ok thank god!! And then I spent an hour lying in the hammock on the verandah thinking it would be a long lonely night ... and then 4 couples turned up about my age... 2 from germany and 2 from holland and we had a great night ... drank too much beer though!!
All night we listened to the drone of the boat engines.... they sound like helicopters ... we reckoned they all have a competition to see who can have the loudest engine... the boats are just amazing ... it is a world on water on the Mekong.
Day 4 we went to more floating markets, Cai Be ... not as busy as the others. We went to a rice paper factory and sampled the produce... candy and puffed rice etc. I tried snake wine... big bottle of very strong alcohol with a huge dead snake decaying in it !!! Once in a life time experience!
Then we were taken to a local restaurant for lunch. The last bit to the restaurant we were put in paddle boats .. with no cover ... then the monsoonal rains started :)) haha good timing!
And then after a snooze in the hammock we got the bus back to HCMC arriving last night ... and here I am in the big smoke!
I met a young Kiwi bloke last night who was telling me that he got mugged and has heard of alot of other people who have been mugged here in Vietnam ... put the fear in me so going to be extra careful for the next 2 weeks.
So will spend today and tomorrow in HCMC and then will get a bus to Mui Ne for a couple of days.
Off to relocate to my new quiet aircon room ... :)))))))
Monday, November 15, 2010
Can Tho, Vietnam : 15 Nov 10
I'm in Can Tho on the Mekong River tonight ... busy place ... and nearly got run over by a motor bike ... my hand was on the motor bike ...stopped just in time!
I just went for a boat trip with a lady and her 5 yo son, Duong. Duong was very very cute ... yeh I got clucky :)) I was just walking along the waterfront and this lady asked me if I would like to go for a ride in her boat so I thought why not! It was fun and her son showed me his school work and we sang songs and tickled each other and took photos of each other ... I was practising my English teaching skills on him ... he was not very responsive ... need more practice! anyway it only cost me 100,000 dong and was a nice way to spend an hour.
I just had Vietnamese rice paper rolls filled with rice noodles and prawns and veges ... I have been hanging out for those ... yum! I tried Can Tho beer ... wouldn't recommend it !!
Today we did a trip to a Fish Farm in Chau Doc and then went to visit a Cham village. I met a girl from Darwin just briefly but she was going the opposite direction to me.
Then on the pamphlett it said that I would get a boat on the Mekong to Long Xuyen and then a bus to Can Tho but then the itinerary changed to a cyclo trip to a pagoda and then the bus to Can Tho ... I questioned the guide about this and his response was "the boat is broken" ... right!! The cyclo trip made up for it :)) was fun!
Tomorrow I am going to Cai Rang floating markets ... the biggest and busiest markets on the Mekong (along with 30 other people in the tour!!!!) ... it's okay cos I read in the Lonely Planet :)) that a tour is the easiest, quickest and cheapest way to see this part of the Mekong so I will survive I'm sure. And then tomorrow night I do the Home Stay ... really looking forward to this although when I told the girl from Darwin that I was doing a homestay she said to me with a worried look on her face "have you done a home stay before??" ... hopefully will be okay ... the Lonely Planet says it is the only way to go in this area ... the LP does not lie!!!!
And I am busy organising my time in Laos ... check out http://www.gibbonx.org/ ... have enquired about the Tree Spa .. the ultimate treehouse and canopy experience and you see Gibbons ... hope so much they have room for me :))
I just went for a boat trip with a lady and her 5 yo son, Duong. Duong was very very cute ... yeh I got clucky :)) I was just walking along the waterfront and this lady asked me if I would like to go for a ride in her boat so I thought why not! It was fun and her son showed me his school work and we sang songs and tickled each other and took photos of each other ... I was practising my English teaching skills on him ... he was not very responsive ... need more practice! anyway it only cost me 100,000 dong and was a nice way to spend an hour.
I just had Vietnamese rice paper rolls filled with rice noodles and prawns and veges ... I have been hanging out for those ... yum! I tried Can Tho beer ... wouldn't recommend it !!
Today we did a trip to a Fish Farm in Chau Doc and then went to visit a Cham village. I met a girl from Darwin just briefly but she was going the opposite direction to me.
Then on the pamphlett it said that I would get a boat on the Mekong to Long Xuyen and then a bus to Can Tho but then the itinerary changed to a cyclo trip to a pagoda and then the bus to Can Tho ... I questioned the guide about this and his response was "the boat is broken" ... right!! The cyclo trip made up for it :)) was fun!
Tomorrow I am going to Cai Rang floating markets ... the biggest and busiest markets on the Mekong (along with 30 other people in the tour!!!!) ... it's okay cos I read in the Lonely Planet :)) that a tour is the easiest, quickest and cheapest way to see this part of the Mekong so I will survive I'm sure. And then tomorrow night I do the Home Stay ... really looking forward to this although when I told the girl from Darwin that I was doing a homestay she said to me with a worried look on her face "have you done a home stay before??" ... hopefully will be okay ... the Lonely Planet says it is the only way to go in this area ... the LP does not lie!!!!
And I am busy organising my time in Laos ... check out http://www.gibbonx.org/ ... have enquired about the Tree Spa .. the ultimate treehouse and canopy experience and you see Gibbons ... hope so much they have room for me :))
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Chau Doc, Vietnam : 14 Nov 10
Well they let me into Vietnam :)) was organised chaos today ... so now I am in Chau Doc .. just another BIG busy city but it's on the Mekong which is an amazing river and lots of weird looking vessels. Today's itinerary included "a light lunch on a boat with a sundeck" ... our boat was built for midgets, no sundeck and our light lunch was a cup of 2 minute noodles at 4pm .... ok! I was fanging it by 4pm!
Tonight I am staying in a floating hotel with a floating restaurant overlooking the Mekong ... I have a teensy weensy little balcony and then it's the Mekong river ... probably shouldn't have too many $1 Saigon Beers tonight or I might end up in the Mekong!
Tomorrow's tour starts at 6am to watch the sunrise over the Mekong and then we go to the floating markets and a few other things which I can't remember but will be a good day I think.
And then will be in Can Tho tomorrow. It's so HOT here!!
Tonight I am staying in a floating hotel with a floating restaurant overlooking the Mekong ... I have a teensy weensy little balcony and then it's the Mekong river ... probably shouldn't have too many $1 Saigon Beers tonight or I might end up in the Mekong!
Tomorrow's tour starts at 6am to watch the sunrise over the Mekong and then we go to the floating markets and a few other things which I can't remember but will be a good day I think.
And then will be in Can Tho tomorrow. It's so HOT here!!
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Beaches/Phnom Penh, Cambodia : 13 Nov 10
I am back in Phnom Penh today ... didn't want to leave the beaches .. such a great spot at Otres Beach. But so much to look forward to!
My second day at the beaches I managed to get really sun burnt but have a sort of a tan on my lilly white thighs for the first time in a long time ... did a boat tour to 3 different islands ... brekky, snorkelling at two islands, lunch at the 3rd island of BBQ fish and a walk to a beautiful swimming beach ... such a great day and all of this for $15!! Don't know how they do it! Lots of kissy kissy couples though ... I was the gooseberry but still had fun :))
And yesterday ... wait for it ... I did a cooking class... learnt how to cook deep fried spring rolls, fish amok cooked in banana leaves, banana flower and chook salad and then deep fried banana fritters with choc chip icecream ... YUMMOOOO :)) Sinuon was our teacher and there were two girls from Quebec in the class too. So i think I should warn you all that you will be trying my Khmer cooking when I get home hehe .........
And today I got the bus back to PP... was so sad to leave all my friends at the beach and the shack but will return I'm sure.
Tomorrow I am off to Vietnam .. have booked a 4 day boat trip down the Mekong River to Saigon ... arrive in Saigon on the 17th.... floating villages, hotel, markets and one night in a local home ... can't wait and so excited.
My second day at the beaches I managed to get really sun burnt but have a sort of a tan on my lilly white thighs for the first time in a long time ... did a boat tour to 3 different islands ... brekky, snorkelling at two islands, lunch at the 3rd island of BBQ fish and a walk to a beautiful swimming beach ... such a great day and all of this for $15!! Don't know how they do it! Lots of kissy kissy couples though ... I was the gooseberry but still had fun :))
And yesterday ... wait for it ... I did a cooking class... learnt how to cook deep fried spring rolls, fish amok cooked in banana leaves, banana flower and chook salad and then deep fried banana fritters with choc chip icecream ... YUMMOOOO :)) Sinuon was our teacher and there were two girls from Quebec in the class too. So i think I should warn you all that you will be trying my Khmer cooking when I get home hehe .........
And today I got the bus back to PP... was so sad to leave all my friends at the beach and the shack but will return I'm sure.
Tomorrow I am off to Vietnam .. have booked a 4 day boat trip down the Mekong River to Saigon ... arrive in Saigon on the 17th.... floating villages, hotel, markets and one night in a local home ... can't wait and so excited.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Battambang/Otres Beach, Cambodia : 10 Nov 10
I have arrived in the beach area of Cambodia.... WOW how nice is it here??? The beaches are just gorgeous. I am staying at "Chez Paou" at Otres Beach ... great location right on the beach and wonderful staff and food and it is far enough away from the madness of Sihanoukville ... very quiet and secluded. I have walked up to S'ville to use the internet and ít is tourist mecca here.
I have rented a cute little bungalow right on the beach ... no electricity except for a few hours at night but it is 5 metres to the water and 3 metres to the bar and 2 metres to the very comfy sunlounge. But I am determined not to sit on my butt for 3 days and drink $1 beers and $3 cocktails so today I am out walking and tomorrow I plan to do a day tour to the islands and the next day well maybe I will sit on my butt and drink beer all day ... a girl needs a break .. this holidaying is very exhausting!
Within 3 hrs of arriving yesterday I'd bought 5 bracelets, 2 fish things, had a pedicure, manicure, threading on my top lip and a massage... phew!! They just don't take NO for an answer... :)) The kids get moody when you won't buy anything off them but you just bought off their friend ... so what do you do but they are so cute! One little boy showed me how to make the threaded bracelets and the other kids said that I could start making them and sell them on the beach with them :)) It is very tempting!
I saw a lobster lady today .... think I will give it a miss as the lobsters are sitting out in the sun all day .... don't think so but I did have some local prawns last night for dinner done in a tempura batter ... yum!
Going back to Battambang .... I did a 4 hour motorbike tour of the surrounding area and walked up to a temple & killing caves and did the bamboo train. My moto driver was a very nice young bloke named Visal and his english was perfect. A young boy (14) guided me to the temple and the caves. I met 4 young monks at the temple who wanted to practise their english with me and they took photos of me with them and I took photos of them with me and then they wanted to take me down this path to show me something?? Not sure but didn't go!
The Bamboo train was a hoot .... cost me $10 but worth it ... the single line is as rough as and it goes really fast and you are just sitting on this bamboo platform. When we met another bamboo train going the other way my bamboo train had to be dismantled and taken off the tracks (as we had less load) to let the other bamboo train past and then mine was put on the track again and off we went. They use it to transport goods from one village to the next ... it's not just a joy ride for the tourists :))
My trip in Cambodia is nearly at and end.... back to PP on the 13th and will get the boat to Chau Doc, Vietnam on the 14th for 3 weeks in Vietnam.
I have rented a cute little bungalow right on the beach ... no electricity except for a few hours at night but it is 5 metres to the water and 3 metres to the bar and 2 metres to the very comfy sunlounge. But I am determined not to sit on my butt for 3 days and drink $1 beers and $3 cocktails so today I am out walking and tomorrow I plan to do a day tour to the islands and the next day well maybe I will sit on my butt and drink beer all day ... a girl needs a break .. this holidaying is very exhausting!
Within 3 hrs of arriving yesterday I'd bought 5 bracelets, 2 fish things, had a pedicure, manicure, threading on my top lip and a massage... phew!! They just don't take NO for an answer... :)) The kids get moody when you won't buy anything off them but you just bought off their friend ... so what do you do but they are so cute! One little boy showed me how to make the threaded bracelets and the other kids said that I could start making them and sell them on the beach with them :)) It is very tempting!
I saw a lobster lady today .... think I will give it a miss as the lobsters are sitting out in the sun all day .... don't think so but I did have some local prawns last night for dinner done in a tempura batter ... yum!
Going back to Battambang .... I did a 4 hour motorbike tour of the surrounding area and walked up to a temple & killing caves and did the bamboo train. My moto driver was a very nice young bloke named Visal and his english was perfect. A young boy (14) guided me to the temple and the caves. I met 4 young monks at the temple who wanted to practise their english with me and they took photos of me with them and I took photos of them with me and then they wanted to take me down this path to show me something?? Not sure but didn't go!
The Bamboo train was a hoot .... cost me $10 but worth it ... the single line is as rough as and it goes really fast and you are just sitting on this bamboo platform. When we met another bamboo train going the other way my bamboo train had to be dismantled and taken off the tracks (as we had less load) to let the other bamboo train past and then mine was put on the track again and off we went. They use it to transport goods from one village to the next ... it's not just a joy ride for the tourists :))
My trip in Cambodia is nearly at and end.... back to PP on the 13th and will get the boat to Chau Doc, Vietnam on the 14th for 3 weeks in Vietnam.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Battambang/Siem Reap, Cambodia : 7 Nov 10
Well I surived my 2 days of Temples at Angkor. Mind boggling to think the work it took to build the temples. Apparently it took 37 years to build them and who knows how many tonnes of stones. Will have to read up on it more. And I love Siem Reap ... what a fun town to spend some time. Great restaurants and cafes. It is really set up for the tourists and there are lots of them.
Today I got the boat on the Tonle Sap (runs into the Mekong River) from Siem Reap to Battambang. Wow what a great trip. So interesting to see all the floating villages and how the people live on the water. Amazing. There are LOADS of kids living life on the water.
Battambang is just another big city ... will be pleased to pull out on the bus tomorrow but staying at the Royal Hotel which is very very nice and has a roof top terrace restaurant with great views of the city and the surrounding area. I think the only thing to do here in Battambang is the Bamboo Train. I think my bus leaves at midday tomorrow so will try to fit it in before I go.
I get a bus to PP tomorrow and then a bus to the beaches the next day for 4 nights to see the lobster ladies ... yippppeeee ... really looking forward to some chill out time.
And I had the BEST birthday. After the temple tour, had a really good massage and then went out for dinner. I went to a cafe that sold french food so had goat cheese salad and then duck something and some drinks and then some more drinks :)) ... yeh had a bit of a headache this morning! The whole thing only cost me $30 and I chatted to the staff at the cafe. Lots of sad stories in this country too ... I heard a few last night.
I went back to the hotel after dinner and had a beer with my Tuk Tuk driver, Ball, and he gave me a "birthday cake" ... a hollow bamboo thingy with rice in it and it had been cooked and the sides were slit in many pieces so you pull it down to get to the rice inside ... he pulled the sides down like candles and tried to light them but it didn't really work ... it's the thought that counts. What a sweet young fellow.
Cambodia is so organised for the tourist... such an easy country to get around.
I'm loving it :)) well better go ... the $1 beers are calling my name ....
Today I got the boat on the Tonle Sap (runs into the Mekong River) from Siem Reap to Battambang. Wow what a great trip. So interesting to see all the floating villages and how the people live on the water. Amazing. There are LOADS of kids living life on the water.
Battambang is just another big city ... will be pleased to pull out on the bus tomorrow but staying at the Royal Hotel which is very very nice and has a roof top terrace restaurant with great views of the city and the surrounding area. I think the only thing to do here in Battambang is the Bamboo Train. I think my bus leaves at midday tomorrow so will try to fit it in before I go.
I get a bus to PP tomorrow and then a bus to the beaches the next day for 4 nights to see the lobster ladies ... yippppeeee ... really looking forward to some chill out time.
And I had the BEST birthday. After the temple tour, had a really good massage and then went out for dinner. I went to a cafe that sold french food so had goat cheese salad and then duck something and some drinks and then some more drinks :)) ... yeh had a bit of a headache this morning! The whole thing only cost me $30 and I chatted to the staff at the cafe. Lots of sad stories in this country too ... I heard a few last night.
I went back to the hotel after dinner and had a beer with my Tuk Tuk driver, Ball, and he gave me a "birthday cake" ... a hollow bamboo thingy with rice in it and it had been cooked and the sides were slit in many pieces so you pull it down to get to the rice inside ... he pulled the sides down like candles and tried to light them but it didn't really work ... it's the thought that counts. What a sweet young fellow.
Cambodia is so organised for the tourist... such an easy country to get around.
I'm loving it :)) well better go ... the $1 beers are calling my name ....
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Siem Reap, Cambodia : 4 Nov 10
Made it to Siem Reap.... pretty croozy bus ride.. very different to bus trips in Nepal... aircon, loo on board, little traffic, normal horn, flat and straight road ... this country is VERY VERY flat and VERY VERY wet!
I have booked a private two day tour of Angkor Wat in a Tuk Tuk ... costs alot more but i can do my own thing and take my time and I have my own personal guide. Heading out soon for the sunset from one temple at AW.... Siem Reap is very touristy and lots of nice restaurants and bars... found beer for .50c !!!!!
Have just contacted my friend Olwyn and we are doing our travels in Cambodia in reverse but hopefully will meet in PP on the 13th and travel on the boat to Chau Doc Vietnam on the 14th and have a couple of days in Saigon together. She is in Sihanoukville (beach area of Cambodia) at the moment (there are lobster ladies :)) and LOVES it so i have booked "her'' shack right on the beach for 4 nights at Otres Beach .... she doesn't want to leave but I will take over ... if I have to!!! ... sounds dreamy and can't wait :))
I am staying at the Tropical Breeze Guest House in Siem Reap .... gorgeous room & wonderful people :)) havin a ball ... :))
I have booked a private two day tour of Angkor Wat in a Tuk Tuk ... costs alot more but i can do my own thing and take my time and I have my own personal guide. Heading out soon for the sunset from one temple at AW.... Siem Reap is very touristy and lots of nice restaurants and bars... found beer for .50c !!!!!
Have just contacted my friend Olwyn and we are doing our travels in Cambodia in reverse but hopefully will meet in PP on the 13th and travel on the boat to Chau Doc Vietnam on the 14th and have a couple of days in Saigon together. She is in Sihanoukville (beach area of Cambodia) at the moment (there are lobster ladies :)) and LOVES it so i have booked "her'' shack right on the beach for 4 nights at Otres Beach .... she doesn't want to leave but I will take over ... if I have to!!! ... sounds dreamy and can't wait :))
I am staying at the Tropical Breeze Guest House in Siem Reap .... gorgeous room & wonderful people :)) havin a ball ... :))
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Phnom Penh, Cambodia : 3 Nov 10
Well I survived my first day in Cambodia... I love Phnom Penh .. what a fantastic city ... I got up super duper early so I could cram a heap in ... brekky at Java Coffee (great coffee), Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda (didn't see any silver tiles?? but there was a life size gold budda weighing 90kgs and over 3000 diamonds... I missed it the first time and had to ask someone and go back...I also had a jam session on the xylophone instrument thingies with an old Camdodian man), National Museum, stroll along the waterfront of the Might Mekong ( you should see the waterfront esplanade .. very flash), the Old Markets (you can buy anything from skinned frogs :( to hair extensions), the new Central Markets (prefer the old markets), Wat Phnom (lots of healthy stray cats ... found one to give a scratch too and he nearly ended up in my bag :)), lunch of Khmer food and $1 Lao Beer at Bojangles on the waterfront with street hawkers trying to sell me a book every 5 minutes , and then I got a moto (short for motocycle ... I sat on the back, no helmet in the crazy traffic but so exhilarating :)) and the driver was a very nice young man and I felt very safe ... well most of the time :- ) to the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek and Tuol Sleng Museum (very depressing places) ...
Honestly I was a bit scared this morning to leave my hotel room but I DID IT :))
The people are so friendly and I don't feel unsafe at all ... I'm staying at the Sunday Guest House... .lovely family run guest house. Would definitely recommend it.
I have booked the bus to Siem Reap tomorrow for $7 with aircon and a loo on board (it was $6 for aircon and NO loo so thought an extra $1 was worth it) .... it takes 6 hours ... am checking out flights... if I had been a bit more on the ball I couldve got a bus from Bangkok to Siem Reap for $17 and not flown ... oh well next time I know cos I am definitely coming back to Cambodia :))
So will have two days at Angkor Wat Temples and then get a boat on the Mekong from Siem Reap to Battambang, a day in Battambang, bus direct to Shinakouville/Kep/Kampot (hopefully) to spend a few days in the beach area and then back to Phnom Penh on the 13th and then on the 14th will get a boat down the Mekong to Chau Doc, Vietnam.
off to have another $1 beer.... :))
Honestly I was a bit scared this morning to leave my hotel room but I DID IT :))
The people are so friendly and I don't feel unsafe at all ... I'm staying at the Sunday Guest House... .lovely family run guest house. Would definitely recommend it.
I have booked the bus to Siem Reap tomorrow for $7 with aircon and a loo on board (it was $6 for aircon and NO loo so thought an extra $1 was worth it) .... it takes 6 hours ... am checking out flights... if I had been a bit more on the ball I couldve got a bus from Bangkok to Siem Reap for $17 and not flown ... oh well next time I know cos I am definitely coming back to Cambodia :))
So will have two days at Angkor Wat Temples and then get a boat on the Mekong from Siem Reap to Battambang, a day in Battambang, bus direct to Shinakouville/Kep/Kampot (hopefully) to spend a few days in the beach area and then back to Phnom Penh on the 13th and then on the 14th will get a boat down the Mekong to Chau Doc, Vietnam.
off to have another $1 beer.... :))
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