Sunday, July 21, 2013
The Overdue End of Southeast Asia
Looking back on my blog, I see the last month of Southeast Asia went undocumented. From Sapa, we traveled down Vietnam and stopped in all the major cities, including NhaTrang, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), etc. I hate to admit it, but by the time we got to most of Vietnam, I was burned out of traveling. We still did some pretty amazing things and I will try to write about them at a later date...
It has been almost a year since Maggie and I started our trip around the world. It seems like yesterday. The journey was eye opening to say the least. The things I learned are countless and I am beyond happy that I took the opportunity to explore when I did. I don't think anyone can grasp the life of a backpacker until they have committed themselves to it for at least a few weeks. To be a backpacker, a person has to have a love for change. They have to seek new and exciting changes, embrace growth, and be ready for temporary housing and friends. Personally, I have a love for consistency and schedule. Change is intimidating and I fear it. I love to travel and there is nothing better than a good vacation, but for now, you will find me living an American life, setting up a bedroom that I can call my own for more than three days at a time.
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Vietnam- day 75
Day 75 Saturday 11/10
We started the day at the Women's Museum and learned about Vietnam's history and women over time. We found a cinema and watched Skyfall (the James Bond movie), the one English film at the theatre and enjoyed some theatre caramel popcorn and fountain drink cokes. The night was spent on the train to Sapa, Vietnam, the only cold weathered destination on our map. We had a four person room and got put with a local couple and their baby.
We started the day at the Women's Museum and learned about Vietnam's history and women over time. We found a cinema and watched Skyfall (the James Bond movie), the one English film at the theatre and enjoyed some theatre caramel popcorn and fountain drink cokes. The night was spent on the train to Sapa, Vietnam, the only cold weathered destination on our map. We had a four person room and got put with a local couple and their baby.
Vietnam- day 74
Day 74 Fri 11/9
We enjoyed our last breakfast on the island before hopping on the boat and heading back. We were served lunch on the boat and had a nice relaxing back through HaLong bay. The bus ride back was another 4 hours or so and everyone was exhausted. When we got back, I found us a great room with a much needed hot shower. Maggie went to church and we enjoyed an early night in our own room. It had been days since we had a room to ourselves, and the price difference from the backpackers hostel was just a dollar.
We enjoyed our last breakfast on the island before hopping on the boat and heading back. We were served lunch on the boat and had a nice relaxing back through HaLong bay. The bus ride back was another 4 hours or so and everyone was exhausted. When we got back, I found us a great room with a much needed hot shower. Maggie went to church and we enjoyed an early night in our own room. It had been days since we had a room to ourselves, and the price difference from the backpackers hostel was just a dollar.
Vietnam- day 73
Day 73 Thurs 11/8
The time day on Castaway island was relaxing. At 8 am the group that greeted us started their journey back to Hanoi, while we enjoyed the day kayaking around the islands, laying on the dock and beach, rock climbing, and just hanging out. We were also supposed to go wake boarding, but the boat broke before our turn, and we were compensated instead, which we were totally happy about. We welcomed the other group in the afternoon with welcoming them to the island and putting a slip of paper in their right hand that said "Buffalo" and making them shotgun their beer with their right hand before reading the paper in their left. We shared another fun night on the island.
The time day on Castaway island was relaxing. At 8 am the group that greeted us started their journey back to Hanoi, while we enjoyed the day kayaking around the islands, laying on the dock and beach, rock climbing, and just hanging out. We were also supposed to go wake boarding, but the boat broke before our turn, and we were compensated instead, which we were totally happy about. We welcomed the other group in the afternoon with welcoming them to the island and putting a slip of paper in their right hand that said "Buffalo" and making them shotgun their beer with their right hand before reading the paper in their left. We shared another fun night on the island.
Vietnam- day 72
Day 72 Wed 11/7
We woke up early and met the forty other backpackers who joined us as we journeyed three days/two nights through HaLong bay. The trip started from Hanoi with a four hour bus ride to the port where we loaded onto a boat to Castaway Island. The tour we chose was the most popular among young backpackers, but is also known as the "party tour". In the bus we met a lot of the others from around the world, many from Canada, Australia, England, and Germany. There was one other American with us from California, which turned into a nice bus conversation, because about an hour into the ride, Obama got elected. Justin (the Californian) was very knowledgable on politics and what exactly has been happening in the world and the rest of the bus was very interested in American politics as well. We got to the boat around noon and cruised through the gorgeous HaLong bay for about four hours, viewing over 1500 islands with huge rocks, gorgeous greenery, and scattered beaches. We also enjoyed drinking games on the party boat and learned the rules of the island: if you drank anything with your right hand, you got buffaloed and were forced to chug your drink on spot and go replace it at the bar, and if you said the words "mine" or "ten", you had to do ten push-ups. We stopped for a swim break for about an hour and arrived at the island around 5:30, where we were welcomed by the group that arrived the day before us. We knew a few of them, because we had roomed with them for a night in Hanoi before they left for HaLong bay. Our welcoming was the group painting themselves and acting dead on the island and as we arrived the popped up, made a tunnel and slapped us as we ran through onto the beach. The little beach has about six bungalows that each sleep around ten people each(a mat, blanket, and mosquito net around each one), five bathrooms, four showers, and a covered pavilion area for food and company. The night was fun. We celebrated Diego the Argentinians birthday and the Californian got into a fight with a Canadian who was 6 ft 4 in. Unfortunately, Justin's nose broke and he accompanied the welcoming group home the next morning.
We woke up early and met the forty other backpackers who joined us as we journeyed three days/two nights through HaLong bay. The trip started from Hanoi with a four hour bus ride to the port where we loaded onto a boat to Castaway Island. The tour we chose was the most popular among young backpackers, but is also known as the "party tour". In the bus we met a lot of the others from around the world, many from Canada, Australia, England, and Germany. There was one other American with us from California, which turned into a nice bus conversation, because about an hour into the ride, Obama got elected. Justin (the Californian) was very knowledgable on politics and what exactly has been happening in the world and the rest of the bus was very interested in American politics as well. We got to the boat around noon and cruised through the gorgeous HaLong bay for about four hours, viewing over 1500 islands with huge rocks, gorgeous greenery, and scattered beaches. We also enjoyed drinking games on the party boat and learned the rules of the island: if you drank anything with your right hand, you got buffaloed and were forced to chug your drink on spot and go replace it at the bar, and if you said the words "mine" or "ten", you had to do ten push-ups. We stopped for a swim break for about an hour and arrived at the island around 5:30, where we were welcomed by the group that arrived the day before us. We knew a few of them, because we had roomed with them for a night in Hanoi before they left for HaLong bay. Our welcoming was the group painting themselves and acting dead on the island and as we arrived the popped up, made a tunnel and slapped us as we ran through onto the beach. The little beach has about six bungalows that each sleep around ten people each(a mat, blanket, and mosquito net around each one), five bathrooms, four showers, and a covered pavilion area for food and company. The night was fun. We celebrated Diego the Argentinians birthday and the Californian got into a fight with a Canadian who was 6 ft 4 in. Unfortunately, Justin's nose broke and he accompanied the welcoming group home the next morning.
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Vietnam- day 71
Day 71 Tues 11/6
We woke up and ran around the big lake, located in the middle of the city. The city is one big car accident waiting to happen. The number of traffic lights in the huge city can be counted on one hand and the attitude of drivers is do what you can to make it to the road you need. There is no such thing as a one way street nor a rude honk, the honk is used so commonly, it's regarded as normal. Look both ways before crossing the street is a joke in Hanoi. To cross the street you simple step in front of a bus and leave it to them to avoid hitting you. Pedestrians don't really get honked at as much as honking at other cars. Maggie and I crossed a street at a busy five way intersection, totally mauling right through the middle, no assessment of street conditions needed. On Wednesday, we are leaving on a three day cruise of Halong Bay.
We woke up and ran around the big lake, located in the middle of the city. The city is one big car accident waiting to happen. The number of traffic lights in the huge city can be counted on one hand and the attitude of drivers is do what you can to make it to the road you need. There is no such thing as a one way street nor a rude honk, the honk is used so commonly, it's regarded as normal. Look both ways before crossing the street is a joke in Hanoi. To cross the street you simple step in front of a bus and leave it to them to avoid hitting you. Pedestrians don't really get honked at as much as honking at other cars. Maggie and I crossed a street at a busy five way intersection, totally mauling right through the middle, no assessment of street conditions needed. On Wednesday, we are leaving on a three day cruise of Halong Bay.
Vietnam- day 70
Day 70 Mon 11/5
Crossing the border into Vietnam was a lot harder than any we had passed thus far. We had to preorder Visas and they're only suitable for a month. It took over an hour to get past the border, and about an hour past the border, the bus was stopped by soldiers and the compartments under the bus were searched, including one bag randomly getting thoroughly checked. The entire day we only stopped for food once,which really killed me, and around 6:40 pm we made a stop to drop off lodging wood at one of the workers houses (illegally of course). The wood was stored in a bus compartment that could only be opened by making the backseats of passengers exit the bus. We finally arrived in Hanoi at 10:00 pm and four others and I found the Backpackers hostel downtown. Luckily, Maggie was there at the front door when we walked up and we grabbed some dinner, my second meal of the day...
Crossing the border into Vietnam was a lot harder than any we had passed thus far. We had to preorder Visas and they're only suitable for a month. It took over an hour to get past the border, and about an hour past the border, the bus was stopped by soldiers and the compartments under the bus were searched, including one bag randomly getting thoroughly checked. The entire day we only stopped for food once,which really killed me, and around 6:40 pm we made a stop to drop off lodging wood at one of the workers houses (illegally of course). The wood was stored in a bus compartment that could only be opened by making the backseats of passengers exit the bus. We finally arrived in Hanoi at 10:00 pm and four others and I found the Backpackers hostel downtown. Luckily, Maggie was there at the front door when we walked up and we grabbed some dinner, my second meal of the day...
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