Just had to rub in that another day was spent on the beach today! We arrived at 7am and being too tired for anything but lay down, what better place to do that than at the beach? This was a funny thing to see across the water. Vietnam's Hollywood?
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Days 28, 29, 30 Beaches, buildings and tailored clothes
The next day in Hoi An was spent entirely at the beach. From morning to night the dutch girls, Jacqui, Lotte and myself sprawled on sunbeds drinking iced vietnamese coffee and getting golden! It was a great day and one of the first days that I spent entirely at the beach. I am proud to say I am no longer the powder white that had become the norm while I was in Korea!
The following day I decided that I needed new clothes! In Korea I had stopped buying clothes a few months before I left as I hated most of the stuff I found and was sick of throwing things away because my washing machine ate the shitty cloth. Hoi An is known for it's custom tailoring. For 70USD I got three dresses, a pair of really nice black shorts and three pairs of sandals made specifically for me! Everything turned out really well besides one pair of sandals but I am happy to have some new threads to wear for the next few months. Also, as I meandered around looking at tailors I took some great pictures of the old town. Part of the charm of Hoi An is the French inspired architecture.
I made so many new "friends" they were always trying to help me out with good deals on bracelets or postcards....this little one tried to show us how to "open our hearts, open your wallets" during breakfast...
My new love. Iced White Coffee......strong coffee brewed over a bit of condensed milk and then chilled on ice.....delish!
The "Covered Japanese Bridge"
Hoi An Old Town
Finally the last day in Hoi Ann was spent at the beach again. We had a night bus that evening and there was little to do but soak up the rays. That night we continued to Nha Trang for New Years!
Lotte Mermaid
The following day I decided that I needed new clothes! In Korea I had stopped buying clothes a few months before I left as I hated most of the stuff I found and was sick of throwing things away because my washing machine ate the shitty cloth. Hoi An is known for it's custom tailoring. For 70USD I got three dresses, a pair of really nice black shorts and three pairs of sandals made specifically for me! Everything turned out really well besides one pair of sandals but I am happy to have some new threads to wear for the next few months. Also, as I meandered around looking at tailors I took some great pictures of the old town. Part of the charm of Hoi An is the French inspired architecture.
I made so many new "friends" they were always trying to help me out with good deals on bracelets or postcards....this little one tried to show us how to "open our hearts, open your wallets" during breakfast...
My new love. Iced White Coffee......strong coffee brewed over a bit of condensed milk and then chilled on ice.....delish!
The "Covered Japanese Bridge"
Hoi An Old Town
Finally the last day in Hoi Ann was spent at the beach again. We had a night bus that evening and there was little to do but soak up the rays. That night we continued to Nha Trang for New Years!
Lotte Mermaid
Day 27 Motorbikes and My Son Ruins
I left for this trip with some transportation boundaries. I will always pay the extra dollar or so to take a proper taxi. Or at least that is what I did for the last month or so. Then one day the phrase, "Wanna rent some motorbikes and ride out to these ruins for the day?" freaked me out for a few minutes then got me stoked for some driving time. I haven't drove a car for almost two years, so some time behind the wheel or handlebars was pretty fantastic.
Riding a motorbike isn't all that difficult. There were some coordination problems at moments and when the big buses drove by I moved the side and couldn't help but close my eyes, only for a second. It took us loads longer to get the My Son ruins than we thought but the scenery was fantastic so there was no complaining. If I find myself in Vietnam again I will be coming back to this place to go out on my own with a camera and no destinations. There were numerous moments I wanted to pull over and snap a shot or fifteen.
I wish I could have stopped to take 20932849203 more photos. The view was so beautiful!
Jacqui and Lotte posing with our bikes, the only bike shot I took :(
My Son Ruins
The My Son ruins themselves were pretty interesting. They are the most expansive collection of ruins in Vietnam. We took a few pictures and hung around for a bit but really we had to book it back to Hoi An before dark.
Both the ruins and bikes were exciting but at the end of the day we were exhausted and called it an early night....ready for some beach time in the morning!
Riding a motorbike isn't all that difficult. There were some coordination problems at moments and when the big buses drove by I moved the side and couldn't help but close my eyes, only for a second. It took us loads longer to get the My Son ruins than we thought but the scenery was fantastic so there was no complaining. If I find myself in Vietnam again I will be coming back to this place to go out on my own with a camera and no destinations. There were numerous moments I wanted to pull over and snap a shot or fifteen.
I wish I could have stopped to take 20932849203 more photos. The view was so beautiful!
Jacqui and Lotte posing with our bikes, the only bike shot I took :(
My Son Ruins
The My Son ruins themselves were pretty interesting. They are the most expansive collection of ruins in Vietnam. We took a few pictures and hung around for a bit but really we had to book it back to Hoi An before dark.
Both the ruins and bikes were exciting but at the end of the day we were exhausted and called it an early night....ready for some beach time in the morning!
Day 26 Hoi An....Beaching it for Christmas!
After many twists, turns and quick decisions I hopped on a bus or two back up to Hoi An to meet up with two of the girls from Holland that I met on my Ha Long Bay tour. Now, I may have failed horribly at logical travel in Vietnam but oh well, better to be happy and have fun during the holidays than stick to the plan.
I arrived at 7am or so on the night sleeper bus and boy is that not a time to talk to annoying hotel owners, "you need hotel?" I don't think I made may friends that day! Having made quick decisions and not really talked to people I just headed to the beach to find a warm place in the sand to spend a few hours. After two hours I had to ditch the rays and head for the shade as I wasn't going for a repeat of the horrific burns I got in Bali.
Because I lack the knowledge of the metric system every middle schooler has conquered in lands other than America I took the worlds longest walk to the beach, there were some sights that made it worth it! However, there is a whole worn into the bottom of my flipflop and a blister to match.
Goin' for a ride
Pretty boat.
Fishing Vietnam Style
My holiday view.
When I got back to my hotel I met up with the girls and went out for a night of dinner and holiday cocktails. Never underestimate the ability of a great group of people to chase away the homesick for the holidays blues.
Our Christmas Tree
I arrived at 7am or so on the night sleeper bus and boy is that not a time to talk to annoying hotel owners, "you need hotel?" I don't think I made may friends that day! Having made quick decisions and not really talked to people I just headed to the beach to find a warm place in the sand to spend a few hours. After two hours I had to ditch the rays and head for the shade as I wasn't going for a repeat of the horrific burns I got in Bali.
Because I lack the knowledge of the metric system every middle schooler has conquered in lands other than America I took the worlds longest walk to the beach, there were some sights that made it worth it! However, there is a whole worn into the bottom of my flipflop and a blister to match.
Goin' for a ride
Pretty boat.
Fishing Vietnam Style
My holiday view.
When I got back to my hotel I met up with the girls and went out for a night of dinner and holiday cocktails. Never underestimate the ability of a great group of people to chase away the homesick for the holidays blues.
Our Christmas Tree
Day 24 Ho Chi Minh and American Guilt
On my first and only day in HCMC I hit the sights with a guy from Germany who I had met in Hanoi and who also had one day to see the town.
The first stop was the Reunification palace. This was the South Vietnam station and where the handing over of power happened during the fall of Saigon. The place was built in the 70s and so I had a hard time taking it in as a palace.....when I think of palaces I think of some serious Cinderella type stuff....not mod furniture.
One of many rooms with a large desk, multiple phones and some sort of power item, this room had a powerful cat standing guard.
Elephant feet? Am I the only wondering where the fourth one lives?
The helicopter used in the handing over of power.
Secret document stating the troop support from other countries
Between the palace and museum we ran into this little guy, not sure why he was tied up but he was there as we walked back to the hotel as well....hmph. hope he got free at some point!
Next we meandered over to the War Remnants museum where they housed pictures and information from the Vietnam War. This is the place where being American felt like being a power hungry, crazy killer. There was an entire room of "war truths" which told their side of the war. I am sure the truth lies somewhere in the middle.....some of the pictures were gruesome and horrific and you hope that nothing this horrible could happen again. I would hate to see this museum in Iraq or Afghanistan in 30 years.
War Remnants Museum truths
Images of war
Camera saved his life
Oh and Saigon has found some christmas spirit!
The first stop was the Reunification palace. This was the South Vietnam station and where the handing over of power happened during the fall of Saigon. The place was built in the 70s and so I had a hard time taking it in as a palace.....when I think of palaces I think of some serious Cinderella type stuff....not mod furniture.
One of many rooms with a large desk, multiple phones and some sort of power item, this room had a powerful cat standing guard.
Elephant feet? Am I the only wondering where the fourth one lives?
The helicopter used in the handing over of power.
Secret document stating the troop support from other countries
Between the palace and museum we ran into this little guy, not sure why he was tied up but he was there as we walked back to the hotel as well....hmph. hope he got free at some point!
Next we meandered over to the War Remnants museum where they housed pictures and information from the Vietnam War. This is the place where being American felt like being a power hungry, crazy killer. There was an entire room of "war truths" which told their side of the war. I am sure the truth lies somewhere in the middle.....some of the pictures were gruesome and horrific and you hope that nothing this horrible could happen again. I would hate to see this museum in Iraq or Afghanistan in 30 years.
War Remnants Museum truths
Images of war
Camera saved his life
Oh and Saigon has found some christmas spirit!
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Day 23 Hellooooo Uncle Ho
Today was a transit day. I took a flight from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh as it was the same cost as the 31 hour train ride. Got to the city fairly easy enough and took a room. Found some delicious street food for a couple of bucks and called it a night. Hanoi ran me ragged and woke me up early. Today was one for recovery!
Day 22 Hanoi take two
After a great time on the boat, interesting island experience and the hostel party I was wiped. I dragged my butt out of bed and decided to not waste my last day in the city.
First stop was the temple of literature. It is a Confucius temple and I guess served as the university for some time? It was fun, I was a bit tired. I walked around and saw a group of Vietnamese women taking pictures in traditional dress.
Entrance to the temple
Incense at the temple
Taoist Templates
Girls out taking pictures in traditional Vietnamese clothes
On my walk about town I found this interesting run down little temple. The door was open and no one was around so I took a few pictures rested for a bit. It was quite peaceful!
Best temple door ever!
Offerings
The Ngoc Son Temple and I just kind of ran into each other after lunchtime. It was a simple little temple around the shopping district so I took a little peek. The rest of my day was spent doing a bit of shopping and sending people I liked off to their next destinations.
The lake
The temple entrance
The rest of the day I spent wandering around and picking up a few essential souvenirs, if there ever was such a thing....
Someone had a rough Saturday night!
This boy had his own fruit shop!
I almost shipped this lovely bike home.....I might have to recreate this magic in Seattle!
They use the sidewalks for everything BUT walking.....and they get angry when people walk in the streets...sheeshhhh
yummmmm...bird!
First stop was the temple of literature. It is a Confucius temple and I guess served as the university for some time? It was fun, I was a bit tired. I walked around and saw a group of Vietnamese women taking pictures in traditional dress.
Entrance to the temple
Incense at the temple
Taoist Templates
Girls out taking pictures in traditional Vietnamese clothes
On my walk about town I found this interesting run down little temple. The door was open and no one was around so I took a few pictures rested for a bit. It was quite peaceful!
Best temple door ever!
Offerings
The Ngoc Son Temple and I just kind of ran into each other after lunchtime. It was a simple little temple around the shopping district so I took a little peek. The rest of my day was spent doing a bit of shopping and sending people I liked off to their next destinations.
The lake
The temple entrance
The rest of the day I spent wandering around and picking up a few essential souvenirs, if there ever was such a thing....
Someone had a rough Saturday night!
This boy had his own fruit shop!
I almost shipped this lovely bike home.....I might have to recreate this magic in Seattle!
They use the sidewalks for everything BUT walking.....and they get angry when people walk in the streets...sheeshhhh
yummmmm...bird!
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