Where did those last three days in Nha Trang go? Seriously! We have just finished a lazy, sleepy and on occassions very drunk stint at a costal town called Nha Trang. After arriving on our first (very hellish) overnight bus at about 6am (!), we headed straight for the beach! When we got there we got ourselves some beach beds under a nice beach hut and proceeded to sleep and read our books. Some of us *cough*Jarratt*cough* managed to fall asleep under the shelter with his book on his stomach and wake a few hours later to find a sunburnt imprint of his book. Bec has affectionately been referring to him as book belly ever since.
We are now in Hoi an, and are quite happy to be here. We got another overnight bus from Nha Trang, 12 hours on a packed bus with NO toilet. PLUS the bus had an accident, two hours in!!! So we are all piled off the bus, with no idea of what is happening or how long we will be stuck for. The drivers just stood around for just under an hour before realising they can still drive the thing (in addition to being paid a large wad of cash by the truck that hit them!). But Hey?! Thats Vietnam for you!!!
We have found quite a nice hostel, with an indoor pool (SCORE!) and managed to jump on a half day tour of 'My Son'; cham temples built in the 7th century. Quiet nice but nothing on Ankor Wat!!! Plus most were destroyed during the Vietnam war by the American bombs. Our guide (like all our other guides) was all too happy to talk down the Americans. Does anybody like the Americans? Anybody? Seriously....
But other than been stuffed on a cramped bus and sweltering in the heat we are both doing well! We have been eating a fair bit of western food lately, but have promised to jump back into trying the local food tonight. Tomorrow, we're heading into the old town of Hoi An and then tomorrow night we're on a flight to Hanoi! No more buses! Yay! Well thats it folks! Love Us.
Monday, July 30, 2007
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Crazy Saigon!
Firstly, HAPPY BIRTHDAY MR WYATT (AKA Dad).
So, Saigon is one crazy city! With 9 million people in the city and 4 million motorbikes, crossing the road is like gambling with your life! Between us we have had many near death experiences, ok... well, Bec more than Jarratt! It is worst than Bangkok, The Arc de Triumph in Paris and (Laura, Lin) the roads of Rome have nothing on Saigon!!!
We arrived late on the first day and quickly organised a half day to the Cu Chi Tunnels for the following day. Our trip to the tunnels was amazing! The Cu Chi tunnels are an underground network of tunnels used during French and American invasions on Vietnam. The tunnels are incredibly small, with us hunching over the whole way through and on occassions needing to crawl through them. It was quite a claustropobic feeling to be in for about 10 minutes let alone 10 years like those poor Vietnamese! We thought the past of Cambodia was pretty horrific, but Vietnam is just as bad (if not worse!). We also visited a handicraft factory where the employees were all suffering from some form of disability brought on by Agent Orange! We finsihed the day with a stroll past the Reunification Palace and a visit the War Muesum. The muesum was quite one-sided, but all true, and very confronting! The museum contained graphic pictures of the torture on the Vietnamese and images of children affected by Agent Orange.
Today (Day three) was much cruisey. We had a boat ride through the Mekong Delta. Visiting 2 of the 12 provinces; Ben Tre and Mytho. Both were about as exciting as the other (note: sarcasm!) and the day was a little bit of a let down. We are about to board an overnight BUS to Nha Trang, should involve little to no sleep - but boy! are we excited!!! haha. Once in Nha Trang we plan to lay on a beach for 2-3 days and relax, Jealous?
Hope Australia's winter is treatin you all well :P
Love Us.
So, Saigon is one crazy city! With 9 million people in the city and 4 million motorbikes, crossing the road is like gambling with your life! Between us we have had many near death experiences, ok... well, Bec more than Jarratt! It is worst than Bangkok, The Arc de Triumph in Paris and (Laura, Lin) the roads of Rome have nothing on Saigon!!!
We arrived late on the first day and quickly organised a half day to the Cu Chi Tunnels for the following day. Our trip to the tunnels was amazing! The Cu Chi tunnels are an underground network of tunnels used during French and American invasions on Vietnam. The tunnels are incredibly small, with us hunching over the whole way through and on occassions needing to crawl through them. It was quite a claustropobic feeling to be in for about 10 minutes let alone 10 years like those poor Vietnamese! We thought the past of Cambodia was pretty horrific, but Vietnam is just as bad (if not worse!). We also visited a handicraft factory where the employees were all suffering from some form of disability brought on by Agent Orange! We finsihed the day with a stroll past the Reunification Palace and a visit the War Muesum. The muesum was quite one-sided, but all true, and very confronting! The museum contained graphic pictures of the torture on the Vietnamese and images of children affected by Agent Orange.
Today (Day three) was much cruisey. We had a boat ride through the Mekong Delta. Visiting 2 of the 12 provinces; Ben Tre and Mytho. Both were about as exciting as the other (note: sarcasm!) and the day was a little bit of a let down. We are about to board an overnight BUS to Nha Trang, should involve little to no sleep - but boy! are we excited!!! haha. Once in Nha Trang we plan to lay on a beach for 2-3 days and relax, Jealous?
Hope Australia's winter is treatin you all well :P
Love Us.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
4000 Cambodian riels = ONE US dollar!!!
Phnom Penh, the Capital of Cambodia has been a rushed and busy visit. We have only spent a grand total of a day exploring and two half days chillin out. On our exploring day we rode a tuk tuk around to see the killing fields and its accompanying museum. It was horrific! The history of this country is so sad and standing in the place of 86 mass graves really hit home with us. The killing fields also had a massive stupa filled with 17 levels of more than 8000 skulls sorted by age and gender. Clothes and bones are also embedded in the pathway you walk through out the fields.
We also visited a VERY dodgy shooting range for all of about 5 seconds where we were told no photos could be taken of the 'shooting' menu. Prices included and AK-47 for a round of 25 bullets ... it would cost you the BARGIN price of 30 USD. We also visited the central and russian markets, extremely quickly, as they were VERY smelly and crowded places. As well as the Royal Palace, for a ridiculous 6.50 USD. We also visited the National Museum, for FREE. We ran into some fellow backpackers from our hostel and did a ticket switch and they got into the royal palace for nothing and we got into the National Museum for nothing. Pretty sneaky huh?
We ended our busy day with a very relaxing dinner on the Tonle Sap harbour. We ate Amok, a fish dish and Water Buffalo (?!!?!). We washed it down with beer and wine and laughed alot at how we just spent more on dinner than our two nights accommodation! Ha!
We're about to board a VIP bus to Saigon for a rivoting 6hours including a border crossing!
Hope everyone is well,
Love bec and j.
We also visited a VERY dodgy shooting range for all of about 5 seconds where we were told no photos could be taken of the 'shooting' menu. Prices included and AK-47 for a round of 25 bullets ... it would cost you the BARGIN price of 30 USD. We also visited the central and russian markets, extremely quickly, as they were VERY smelly and crowded places. As well as the Royal Palace, for a ridiculous 6.50 USD. We also visited the National Museum, for FREE. We ran into some fellow backpackers from our hostel and did a ticket switch and they got into the royal palace for nothing and we got into the National Museum for nothing. Pretty sneaky huh?
We ended our busy day with a very relaxing dinner on the Tonle Sap harbour. We ate Amok, a fish dish and Water Buffalo (?!!?!). We washed it down with beer and wine and laughed alot at how we just spent more on dinner than our two nights accommodation! Ha!
We're about to board a VIP bus to Saigon for a rivoting 6hours including a border crossing!
Hope everyone is well,
Love bec and j.
Saturday, July 21, 2007
I'll tell you (Angkor) Wat!
Cambodia is great! Hot as hell but amazing nonetheless!
We have so far spent three and a half days in Siem Reap. Home of Angkor Wat. For those of you unfamiliar google it now, if not sooner. hehehe. We have spent three days on a personalised guided tour thing. For about 250bucks we got our own tuk tuk, personal guide, passes to the temples and a boat ride through the floating village.
The temples of Angkor Wat are amazing! You need to see them to fully appreciate and understand them. And the bas-reliefs on the walls, dont get me started! Our guide (Rin) had a particularly fun and long-winded story about EACH of the engravings on EACH wall of EVERY temple! Bec was over it by the 6th wall/story. But, Rin was particularly funny when he was practising his English on us. Casino and Beautician were words that caused him much difficulty. We taught him words like booger, hopstock and boombox! He also continually quizzed myself and "Mr J"about all things Khmer. We now have engrained in our brains the Four Buddhist noble truths = Charity, Compassion, Equality and Sympathy.
On the final day of our three day adventure he took us to met his family in his village located IN Angkor Wat!! It was very sweet, he introduced his children and wife to us and tried to involve us in his casino (a group of men gambling on a siamese fighting fish match!)
Overall Siem Reap has been lots of fun! We're looking forward to our VIP bus ride to Phomn Penh tomorrow - leaves at 7:30am!!!
Will write again soon,
Love Us.
We have so far spent three and a half days in Siem Reap. Home of Angkor Wat. For those of you unfamiliar google it now, if not sooner. hehehe. We have spent three days on a personalised guided tour thing. For about 250bucks we got our own tuk tuk, personal guide, passes to the temples and a boat ride through the floating village.
The temples of Angkor Wat are amazing! You need to see them to fully appreciate and understand them. And the bas-reliefs on the walls, dont get me started! Our guide (Rin) had a particularly fun and long-winded story about EACH of the engravings on EACH wall of EVERY temple! Bec was over it by the 6th wall/story. But, Rin was particularly funny when he was practising his English on us. Casino and Beautician were words that caused him much difficulty. We taught him words like booger, hopstock and boombox! He also continually quizzed myself and "Mr J"about all things Khmer. We now have engrained in our brains the Four Buddhist noble truths = Charity, Compassion, Equality and Sympathy.
On the final day of our three day adventure he took us to met his family in his village located IN Angkor Wat!! It was very sweet, he introduced his children and wife to us and tried to involve us in his casino (a group of men gambling on a siamese fighting fish match!)
Overall Siem Reap has been lots of fun! We're looking forward to our VIP bus ride to Phomn Penh tomorrow - leaves at 7:30am!!!
Will write again soon,
Love Us.
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