Ok, so we've been in Vietnam about a week now, and it calls for an update.
The busride from Cambodia was long, and boring, and warm, and crowded... so all in all not too bad. We arrived in Saigon (District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City). Luckily we found a room right around the corner for $15 between the three of us with A/C warm water and a TV and fridge. Not too shabby. Dave had become sick, we assumed it was Dengue or something equally awful, for he spent the whole time in Saigon in bed, watching TV, going for short walks and then returning to bed. We did one full day of pure shopping, because you can find all sorts of worthless junk for a dollar, which makes it seem worth buying. I did reletively ok, since we had been to the exact same markets two years prior, and nothing seemed too needed. The food in Vietnam isn't the greatest, and we ended up finding some really good and cheap western places, to get sandwiches and salads.
Another day I did an all day tour out to see a Cao Dai temple, which is a religion infusing Catholicism, Daoism, Buddhism, Confucionism, etc...) The temple was really neat, with large pillars and dragons wrapping around them. It was pretty cool to see. We then head to the Cu Chi tunnels, where the Viet Cong fought during the Vietnam/American War. They are a serious of 250 km underground where the VC lived and fought, making it almost impossible for the American troops to see of fight back. It was really fun running around and crawling through the tight litttle tunnels in pure darkness and stuffy hot air... for about 2 minutes, then you want out.
A third day we went into Chinatown which ended up being the same as everywhere else with the people looking a little more Chinese.
We decided to take a sleeper train and stop over in the middle of Vietnam for a day or two before heading up to Hanoi, but once we got there, the train schedule was awful and would make us either stay 3 days there or leave immediately, so we jumped back on another overnight train hours later. It ended up being about 36 hours on the trains overall, but the sleeper cars are great when you just nap and stare out the window and read, so it went by very fast.
When we got into Hanoi we went straight to the Old Quarter, where the streets are narrow, packed with people, motos, and an unbelievable amount of buld goods from candy to shoes to chickens. One of the most little chaotic towns we've seen. It's crazy and all day and night you just hear people honking and blaring their horns. In Asia, unlike the US, a horn is a very liberally used instrument to say, hello, im right here, behind you, watch out, move over, im coming around you, hurry up, why are you stopped, go faster, im coming around the corner, anyone there... and anything else possible. Some of the riders have their kids in the front and sometimes you see a 2 yr old just sitting there holding the horn down, but the parents can hardly stop them for they need to focus on not hitting one of 102,938 other things in the street at the time. It's great for an early morning headache.
We did a two day one night trip to Halong Bay, where there are 1,980 islands shooting out from the water of the bay, many with caves and temples build on and around them. The trip was on an old junk (a type of boat) and we slept in cabins below. There were 11 of us, all 25 and under, from England, Canada and Japan, so it was a really fun trip. The next morning we continued a tour of the bay and then head back to Hanoi
Luckily our mail came through, to help us get the Non Immigrant B visa we need in order to legally work, so now we have to wait the weekend to trun it in on monday and get started on the visa before we head out, either into Laos, or up to Northern Thailand. There are many horror stories of the busride to Laos, taking from 12-38 hours so we will probably end up flying somewhere instead... but we're not too sure.
Just today I got to go and see Ho Chi Minh's body, in a mosuleam, where it has been preserved and put on display. It looks like he's just slepping peacefully in a comfy little bed. It's interesting because you can't talk, or use your phone or camera, or put your hands in your pockets or stop walking... the gaurds just push and shove you right through to make sure the hundred and hundreds of people each morning get to see him. Now it's a couple days to try to enjoy the chaos of Hanoi and check out the sights while we wait for our Visa's to let us back into Thailand. Let's hope it's not a huge pain to get everything checked out and legal... but who knows, it's SE Asia, and nothing is as easy as it should be.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Ode to Rocks
Our first day in cambodia was in transit to a city called Siem Reap. The city itself is really nice, actually, as it caters a highly international crowd. We spent the afternoon just walking around, finding great food for a dollar and checking out the city. The next morning we rose at 530 am to get a cart attached to the back of a motorbike to go out to Angkor's temples. In the day, we saw about 12 different ruins (Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom [Bayon, Baphuon, Terrace of Elephants, something involving the king] Phreah Khan, Neak Pean, Ta Som, Eastern Mebon, Sra Srang, Banteay Kdei, Ta Phrohm, and of course, Angkor Wat. It was such a long day, but well worth every penny and minute. The temples are gorgeous, with stone faces carved meticulously into the facadesa and perching on the towers. Some have been overgrown by the jungle (Think of Tomb Raider... since we saw the one it was filmed at). Giant trees, incence, statues, gates, gaurds, unbelievably detailed stone walls covered in intricate carvings... it was truely a sight to behold. You'll just have to see the pictures. We saw sunrise and sunset, all within the ruins, and had a driver all day taking us around. We even had lunch and snacks and waters from the people that still live within the ruins. It was an amazing day.
tHE NEXT DAY WE OPTED TO GET AHEAD OF SChedule and went to Phenom Phen, with a bumply little 6-7 hours bus ride. Phenom Phen is the capital city, but with few buildings over 3/4 stories, it's hard to remember that you're in a huge city. We scoped out the sights near and around our guesthouse the first day.
The following day was devoted to the shopping experience that is the Russian Market and Central Market. Here you can get real brand name clothing (as much of it is made here) for dollars. you can get watched and necklaces and shirts and pants and sildk and scarfs and anything else you want for dollars. It was fun. Luckily we can't carry too much so I had to limit myself to a couple items, the best of being a birthday gift for my brother. (check the mail ill send it to mom and dad unless i find good internet and get your address.) There were some other little things, dont worry grandma and mom, and maybe dad and shelley and nick... and mom's classroom... We spent a full day shopping around twomarkets. the first one, the russian market it a giant mess of stalls mere feet apart with little isles and paths around. it is caotic, as you can be in clothing one second and with pig snouts the next.
the central market is in a big building that is a huge done with 4 wings full of merchandise. same same stuff. this one had a lot of beautiful floral arrangements outside as well.
Today, the 12th, we spent in a sombering tour of S-21 and the Killing Fields. It was the Khmer Rouge that devistated the country in the late 70's killing anywhere from 300000 to a couple million people... no one knows. It was ethnic cleansing and genocide, and we toured a high school turned prison camp where people slept 50 to a room chained to the ground or in cells hardly big enough to lay in. Almost everyone that went through the camp was tourtured, questioned and then sent to the Killing fields to be killed and thrown in mass unmarked graves. So that's not fun, but well worth the trip to understand where Cambodia was, and how far it has come today. The afternoon was spent checking out the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda (where they have 5,000 Kilograms of silver plates on the floor) That was a nice change of pace. We had a great lunch inbetween and an even better indian food dinner. Tomorrow we take a nice little 7+ hour bus ride into Saigon to experience, once again, all that is Vietnam in a whirlwind tour of the country.
i heAR you'rew all up in the snow... lucky. i don't remember what cold feels like, unless it's at night when you rip off your clothing because your back is stuck to everything and your face is drowing in sweat... but then again, it's winter here and the cold season. lets see how i feel in april/may
love you all and tell chase to get out here, he'd love it!
tHE NEXT DAY WE OPTED TO GET AHEAD OF SChedule and went to Phenom Phen, with a bumply little 6-7 hours bus ride. Phenom Phen is the capital city, but with few buildings over 3/4 stories, it's hard to remember that you're in a huge city. We scoped out the sights near and around our guesthouse the first day.
The following day was devoted to the shopping experience that is the Russian Market and Central Market. Here you can get real brand name clothing (as much of it is made here) for dollars. you can get watched and necklaces and shirts and pants and sildk and scarfs and anything else you want for dollars. It was fun. Luckily we can't carry too much so I had to limit myself to a couple items, the best of being a birthday gift for my brother. (check the mail ill send it to mom and dad unless i find good internet and get your address.) There were some other little things, dont worry grandma and mom, and maybe dad and shelley and nick... and mom's classroom... We spent a full day shopping around twomarkets. the first one, the russian market it a giant mess of stalls mere feet apart with little isles and paths around. it is caotic, as you can be in clothing one second and with pig snouts the next.
the central market is in a big building that is a huge done with 4 wings full of merchandise. same same stuff. this one had a lot of beautiful floral arrangements outside as well.
Today, the 12th, we spent in a sombering tour of S-21 and the Killing Fields. It was the Khmer Rouge that devistated the country in the late 70's killing anywhere from 300000 to a couple million people... no one knows. It was ethnic cleansing and genocide, and we toured a high school turned prison camp where people slept 50 to a room chained to the ground or in cells hardly big enough to lay in. Almost everyone that went through the camp was tourtured, questioned and then sent to the Killing fields to be killed and thrown in mass unmarked graves. So that's not fun, but well worth the trip to understand where Cambodia was, and how far it has come today. The afternoon was spent checking out the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda (where they have 5,000 Kilograms of silver plates on the floor) That was a nice change of pace. We had a great lunch inbetween and an even better indian food dinner. Tomorrow we take a nice little 7+ hour bus ride into Saigon to experience, once again, all that is Vietnam in a whirlwind tour of the country.
i heAR you'rew all up in the snow... lucky. i don't remember what cold feels like, unless it's at night when you rip off your clothing because your back is stuck to everything and your face is drowing in sweat... but then again, it's winter here and the cold season. lets see how i feel in april/may
love you all and tell chase to get out here, he'd love it!
Friday, February 8, 2008
Cambodia
Two years ago, I was denied entry into this country due to a "random" selection on Semester at Sea Fall 2005. I blame the government, global warming and India. Today, after waking up at 420 AM, taking a 4 hours bus, 2 hour border crossing and 3 hour taxi ride, I arrived in this hidden country. Exhausted. The bus was good, except for the 2 thai girls and one thai guy that started to vomit on the floor. The border crossing went smoothly, ignoring the fact visa's are 20 bucks and making you pay 33. The taxi ride was ok, from the mafia, who drives 60 mph on a dirt road littered with potholes, turned, construction, chunks of rock and cement, 1000 bikes and moto's with dead pigs hanging off the back... it was a long day....
But we're in Cambodia! Bet Chase is jealous. We plan do do a all day sunrise to sunset ankgor wat temple exploration tomorrow. look into buying tons of fake merchandise, and eat for 1-2 bucks a meal. good times. We left out house in hua hin, retirement capital of Thailand, and went to BKK for two nights, saying goodbye to our Canadian friends and out Ennglish friend we'd been traveling with for 2 weeks. We met up with an old TEFL friend at his new apartment, which was great with 16th story views of BKK skyline.
Other than that, I got a call from Shelley, which was great. Hope all the family is doing well, hope mom got my text for her anniversary. ok, more later
But we're in Cambodia! Bet Chase is jealous. We plan do do a all day sunrise to sunset ankgor wat temple exploration tomorrow. look into buying tons of fake merchandise, and eat for 1-2 bucks a meal. good times. We left out house in hua hin, retirement capital of Thailand, and went to BKK for two nights, saying goodbye to our Canadian friends and out Ennglish friend we'd been traveling with for 2 weeks. We met up with an old TEFL friend at his new apartment, which was great with 16th story views of BKK skyline.
Other than that, I got a call from Shelley, which was great. Hope all the family is doing well, hope mom got my text for her anniversary. ok, more later
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Southern Thailand
So, I'll make this as quick and detailed as possible.
We left Hua Hin to do a border run to Burma, which was really cool. We took a little longtail boat across a big river, stopping at little Immigration Island Checkpoints. It was beautiful and being out on the water was really fun. By far, it was the best border run Ive done to date. We then hitched a bus to Surat Thani to catch a night ferry to the island of Koh Pha-ngan, where the legendary Full Moon Party is held. The boat was unbelievably fun, it's like a floating camp. The top floor is all mats where you all cram in and sleep. Everyone gets drinks so you just chat and hang out and have fun. Then I met some Malaysians and we decided to go sit on the front of the boat, which was loaded with produce. So we climbed over grapes, lettuce, oranges all sorts of stuff and sat at the front of the boat on produce. It was really fun, dangerous, but really fun. We got to the island at 6 a.m. and walked all the way down to our little beachside bungalo. It was a shack, but right on this whitesand beach with mangrooves and it was gorgeous...
The full moon party was unbelievable. thousands and thousands of people dancing the night away out on this huge beach. sometimes there can be as many as 25000-30000 people there. it was really really cool. we danced and partied till about 530 am, then i had to retire for the night. It is a really fun island, and I even got to meet up with a friend from home, which was really fun.
We then took the boat back and went to a place called Khao Sok National Forest. This was what you consider a Jungle to be. Huge trees, vines hanging everywhere, lush green vegetation. it was realy really fun. we did two different hikes. the first one was about 7 K round trip to a waterfall called "sip ed chan" which means 11 layers. It was cool, but we got leaches on our feet and then I was attacked by a swarm of bees who liked the way i smelt (like a dirty sweaty mess) The hike was really fun though. My feet got torn up by my keens, and the leaches, so the next day was tough
The following day we did what I like to call the Death Hike. It was about 16-18 K roundtrip, took us about 7 hours roundtrip. It was fun at first, really easy, then it turned to straight vertical climbs, where you needed to hold onto vines ad tree roots to pull yourself up and climb down. the killer was the heat and humidity. you sit there and sweat and sweat and sweat. we both took 2 liters of water and they were gone half way. the shirt i was wearing would probably have been drying if i jumped in a pool. imaging doing a hike, a hard rigerous hike, in a sauna. then imagine you do it with clothes that just came from the hot dryer. That's about half of what it felt like. hoooooooot. but after it was fun to look back. the waterfall was really cool, with a nice pool to swim in to cool off. sadly i was once again attacked by bees and had a "unstable" moment of flailing my arms about.
After the national forest we went to Phuket, to spend the evening before going to Koh Phi Phi. We found the most delicious store in the world Banana Variety. Imagine...
We then took a boat out to Koh Phi Phi, a stunning island in the South of Thailand. It was really cool and we spent one whole day kayaking around the bay. it was exhuasting but we got to see some really amazing parts of the island, limestone cliffs jetting straight up out of the ocean, then i tipped the kayak, then we went to monkey beach and around to a little cove that was stunning.
Jo's birthday was the 29th, so that involved a lot of buckets of liquor and a bar that lets drunk friends fight in the ring for buckets. we went straight upstars to the dancing portion and watched some liquid enduced entertainment and dances and had a really good time. it was fun.
the next day was a recovery day, then an all you can eat buffet, which made us all sick. so we evacuated the island and went to phuket for a night in patong, a lively night area and then took a 12 hour bus ride back to Hua Hin to relax and rest up before starting a 4 weeks SE asia whirlwind expedition...
hope that was a decent update!
We left Hua Hin to do a border run to Burma, which was really cool. We took a little longtail boat across a big river, stopping at little Immigration Island Checkpoints. It was beautiful and being out on the water was really fun. By far, it was the best border run Ive done to date. We then hitched a bus to Surat Thani to catch a night ferry to the island of Koh Pha-ngan, where the legendary Full Moon Party is held. The boat was unbelievably fun, it's like a floating camp. The top floor is all mats where you all cram in and sleep. Everyone gets drinks so you just chat and hang out and have fun. Then I met some Malaysians and we decided to go sit on the front of the boat, which was loaded with produce. So we climbed over grapes, lettuce, oranges all sorts of stuff and sat at the front of the boat on produce. It was really fun, dangerous, but really fun. We got to the island at 6 a.m. and walked all the way down to our little beachside bungalo. It was a shack, but right on this whitesand beach with mangrooves and it was gorgeous...
The full moon party was unbelievable. thousands and thousands of people dancing the night away out on this huge beach. sometimes there can be as many as 25000-30000 people there. it was really really cool. we danced and partied till about 530 am, then i had to retire for the night. It is a really fun island, and I even got to meet up with a friend from home, which was really fun.
We then took the boat back and went to a place called Khao Sok National Forest. This was what you consider a Jungle to be. Huge trees, vines hanging everywhere, lush green vegetation. it was realy really fun. we did two different hikes. the first one was about 7 K round trip to a waterfall called "sip ed chan" which means 11 layers. It was cool, but we got leaches on our feet and then I was attacked by a swarm of bees who liked the way i smelt (like a dirty sweaty mess) The hike was really fun though. My feet got torn up by my keens, and the leaches, so the next day was tough
The following day we did what I like to call the Death Hike. It was about 16-18 K roundtrip, took us about 7 hours roundtrip. It was fun at first, really easy, then it turned to straight vertical climbs, where you needed to hold onto vines ad tree roots to pull yourself up and climb down. the killer was the heat and humidity. you sit there and sweat and sweat and sweat. we both took 2 liters of water and they were gone half way. the shirt i was wearing would probably have been drying if i jumped in a pool. imaging doing a hike, a hard rigerous hike, in a sauna. then imagine you do it with clothes that just came from the hot dryer. That's about half of what it felt like. hoooooooot. but after it was fun to look back. the waterfall was really cool, with a nice pool to swim in to cool off. sadly i was once again attacked by bees and had a "unstable" moment of flailing my arms about.
After the national forest we went to Phuket, to spend the evening before going to Koh Phi Phi. We found the most delicious store in the world Banana Variety. Imagine...
We then took a boat out to Koh Phi Phi, a stunning island in the South of Thailand. It was really cool and we spent one whole day kayaking around the bay. it was exhuasting but we got to see some really amazing parts of the island, limestone cliffs jetting straight up out of the ocean, then i tipped the kayak, then we went to monkey beach and around to a little cove that was stunning.
Jo's birthday was the 29th, so that involved a lot of buckets of liquor and a bar that lets drunk friends fight in the ring for buckets. we went straight upstars to the dancing portion and watched some liquid enduced entertainment and dances and had a really good time. it was fun.
the next day was a recovery day, then an all you can eat buffet, which made us all sick. so we evacuated the island and went to phuket for a night in patong, a lively night area and then took a 12 hour bus ride back to Hua Hin to relax and rest up before starting a 4 weeks SE asia whirlwind expedition...
hope that was a decent update!
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