Back in Bangkok. Leaving for the airport in 8hours exactly, SO sad about this. We just wanted to make this a quick one to wrap it all up. We've been up to a lot (mostly shopping) in Bangkok and maybe we'll update when we get home but in case we dont...
Been the best trip ever. We will miss it here so much and we're not sure if we can be normal, functioning citizens again but I suppose we'll have to try. Can't wait to see everyone and catch up.
Also, might post a whole bunch of pictures from home. PLus, Natalie will be using this for Europe in the summer and Steph might also from wherever it is she ends up.
Off to have our last buckets on Khao San Road....see you on the other side
xo
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Monday, April 2, 2007
On last Hurrah (Vietnam Pt 2)
Continued...See below post first, technical difficulties confuse things
After a final day of relaxation we decided to hit the elusive beach in Hoi An (which involved a 5km very scenic bike ride through this farming area (Below)). This beach was very different from the ones we had been used to. It was completely secluded and the water stretched on forever, and it was beautiful.
Later that night, we boarded a 14 hour over night train (the first of this trip, first ever actually) for Hanoi.The train was smelly and our cabin had a loud snoring Vietnamese man in it, and the food was DISGUSTING, but overall it was better than the bus, a lot better. We arrived in hanoi at 430 am and took the morning off (obviously). We woke later to go to the Prisoners of War museum (though we're kind of done with war museums in general) and the temple of literacy (which was nice because it is chinese style, dedicated to confucious, and we hear he's a cool guy when he wants to be). We also booked our boat cruise/trip thingy to Halong Bay for the next day. Pretty much everyone here does one and though we only had time for the one night trip, we wanted to give it a shot.
As part of this trip we visited some caves (which really, if you ask us, are incredibly tacky excuses for deciding rocks look like all animals, dragons, turtles, etc. along with a waterfall that was "50% natural and 50% man made", we're guessing the water pump is the fifty percent man made, liars). We then went to a charming little floating fishing village where everyone lived pretty far apart on separate barges (don't know how they kept dogs there but they did), and took a smaller boat through two caves and around to see the school.
We met some great people as part of our last hurrah of travelling and spent the night in darkness or the boats' terrace.
The boat was "basic" but it was our home for the night and with all homes, we came to love it. Of course this was largely due to discovering our cabin was free of rats, cockroaches and otherwise scary creatures. It was also Halong Bay, so you don't need much to enjoy the scenery.
The second day was essentially just tanning, some swimming, and lots of reading. Overall it was a great last tour of our travels.
Now, we await our evening flight to Bangkok for two days of shopping, sight seeing, and *hopefully* a little bit of a reunion with whoever happens to be around. As long as we keep far away from those young'uns just beginning their trip...
After a final day of relaxation we decided to hit the elusive beach in Hoi An (which involved a 5km very scenic bike ride through this farming area (Below)). This beach was very different from the ones we had been used to. It was completely secluded and the water stretched on forever, and it was beautiful.
Later that night, we boarded a 14 hour over night train (the first of this trip, first ever actually) for Hanoi.The train was smelly and our cabin had a loud snoring Vietnamese man in it, and the food was DISGUSTING, but overall it was better than the bus, a lot better. We arrived in hanoi at 430 am and took the morning off (obviously). We woke later to go to the Prisoners of War museum (though we're kind of done with war museums in general) and the temple of literacy (which was nice because it is chinese style, dedicated to confucious, and we hear he's a cool guy when he wants to be). We also booked our boat cruise/trip thingy to Halong Bay for the next day. Pretty much everyone here does one and though we only had time for the one night trip, we wanted to give it a shot.
As part of this trip we visited some caves (which really, if you ask us, are incredibly tacky excuses for deciding rocks look like all animals, dragons, turtles, etc. along with a waterfall that was "50% natural and 50% man made", we're guessing the water pump is the fifty percent man made, liars). We then went to a charming little floating fishing village where everyone lived pretty far apart on separate barges (don't know how they kept dogs there but they did), and took a smaller boat through two caves and around to see the school.
We met some great people as part of our last hurrah of travelling and spent the night in darkness or the boats' terrace.
The boat was "basic" but it was our home for the night and with all homes, we came to love it. Of course this was largely due to discovering our cabin was free of rats, cockroaches and otherwise scary creatures. It was also Halong Bay, so you don't need much to enjoy the scenery.
The second day was essentially just tanning, some swimming, and lots of reading. Overall it was a great last tour of our travels.Now, we await our evening flight to Bangkok for two days of shopping, sight seeing, and *hopefully* a little bit of a reunion with whoever happens to be around. As long as we keep far away from those young'uns just beginning their trip...
Vietnam Part One (we'll make the next title more creative)
As promised!!! So, we last left off in Saigon. If we have time, we will update the last post with more pictures too as this computer seems to be working okay so check that after! Anyway, we left HCM City for Nha Trang on the overnight bus which took about 10hours but it was well worth it. The beach was just beautiful with a very Miami feel to it. The water was a bit too rough for swimming though but we know when to not complain. Nha Trang was also very fun at night. We found several cool places and wherever you look there were people just like us (big change from Southern Laos). For some reason we only have this picture from our nights out but we feel its pretty characteristic of how our Nha Trang evenings progressed.
After a few too many nights out in Nha Trang we once again boarded a night bus and headed 11hours to Hoi An. We were sooo excited about this place because its where you get all your tailor made clothes done. At first it was so exciting, you get to look in catalogues and magazines and pick out what you like then after you go through each item and pick out fabric that you want it made in and discuss details. It soon became a nightmare. So much we wanted, so much confusion, difficult decisions, too high prices, people everywhere in the tiny store, baahhh just a lot of stress for shopping! As can be seen below, Steph starting to lose it.
We emerged much poorer and with a new suitcase filled with clothes and shoes (thats right, they do shoes too!). We stayed awhile in Hoi An because you are constantly going in for fittings then adjustments are made then you have another fitting then more adjustments ahhhh and of course we didnt do it all at one store so we were baisically running around town all day every day. But again, we know not to complain!
Hoi An was really pretty although a bit quiet but a nice change from Nha Trang. We ate extremly well (personally i think Vietnam has the best food by far) and had nice relaxing nights drinking wine and eating deserts yuuumm. Okay having some technical difficulties so we have to start a new post but just in case we dont include it later, heres a picture of Halong Bay (we'll get too that in a bit...)
After a few too many nights out in Nha Trang we once again boarded a night bus and headed 11hours to Hoi An. We were sooo excited about this place because its where you get all your tailor made clothes done. At first it was so exciting, you get to look in catalogues and magazines and pick out what you like then after you go through each item and pick out fabric that you want it made in and discuss details. It soon became a nightmare. So much we wanted, so much confusion, difficult decisions, too high prices, people everywhere in the tiny store, baahhh just a lot of stress for shopping! As can be seen below, Steph starting to lose it.
We emerged much poorer and with a new suitcase filled with clothes and shoes (thats right, they do shoes too!). We stayed awhile in Hoi An because you are constantly going in for fittings then adjustments are made then you have another fitting then more adjustments ahhhh and of course we didnt do it all at one store so we were baisically running around town all day every day. But again, we know not to complain!Hoi An was really pretty although a bit quiet but a nice change from Nha Trang. We ate extremly well (personally i think Vietnam has the best food by far) and had nice relaxing nights drinking wine and eating deserts yuuumm. Okay having some technical difficulties so we have to start a new post but just in case we dont include it later, heres a picture of Halong Bay (we'll get too that in a bit...)
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