JB on Xmas day. (Wearing his Xmas prezzie T shirt)
Monday 28 December 2009
Phase 3: The Beach
And so we arrived on Ko Phi-Phi for the festive season. The island, as I'm sure you know was the setting for the film, The Beach. (Though it was mostly filmed on the next (uninhabited) island).
Thoughts on Vietnam.
Hanoi is a really busy, frenetic place, with lots of big name shops, like Cartier; there's even a Mont Blanc pen shop! But 2 or 3 k outside the city, the people live in a fair amount of poverty. I saw farmers using water buffalo to plough the fields, and there were gangs of workers resurfacing the roads by hand. I mean they were actually breaking up the old surface with hammers!. Amazing. Not sure if this is what Uncle Ho had in mind when he set the people free in 1947.
Hanoi is a really busy, frenetic place, with lots of big name shops, like Cartier; there's even a Mont Blanc pen shop! But 2 or 3 k outside the city, the people live in a fair amount of poverty. I saw farmers using water buffalo to plough the fields, and there were gangs of workers resurfacing the roads by hand. I mean they were actually breaking up the old surface with hammers!. Amazing. Not sure if this is what Uncle Ho had in mind when he set the people free in 1947.
I left my skin on Cat Ba Island
Ok. SO. Yes I hired a motorbike. Yes, I fell off the motorbike almost immediately. And yes, I was wearing only shorts & a T shirt. Not too much damage really. ( to the bike at any rate). I sprained my ankle, skinned my elbow & possibly had concussion. (so hard to tell). Still, it's nice to think that thers's a small bit of a Vietnamese road that will be forever English......
Saturday 19 December 2009
The story so far.....
Having left it 3 weeks and 2 countries to get going on this blog, I fear this will be a long one missus.
Right then, Started in Bangkok..
Noisy and really full of life. Everyone wants to sell you something, but not too much hassle if you say no. JB a big hit with bar girls (Well we assumed/hoped they were girls), but managed to restrain himself. Saw lots & lots & lots of temples(Wats) but were denied entrance to the Grand palace for being "improperly dressed".
Took a day trip to River Kwai, frolicked in a waterfall & rode over the bridge of death. And they say entertainment's dead.....
Travelled up to Chiang Mai on the overnight sleeper train (more of which later). We were mercilessly plied with drink by an Irishman we met & so arrived somewhat the worse for wear.
Chiang Mai lovely. Did quite a bit of climbing & went for a 2 day trek up into the hills, staying at a hill village overnight. Had a great time & managed to squeeze in some white water rafting, bamboo rafting & elephant riding on the way home.
Set off on overnight train back to Bangkok & connection to Hanoi. Woke to find was covered, literally, from head to foot in bed bug bites. Gross. Think on reflection would prefer to be plied by mad Irishmen.
Arrived Hanoi, and was disappointed at the ease with which we were able to enter the country. Had hoped for full body cavity search, but not even a raised eyebrow.
Hanoi totally crazy. Packs of motorbikes, up to 50 or 60 strong roam the streets, riding 6 abreast. You just have to step out & hope when crossing the road.
Feels a little more edgy than Bangkok, but like it all the same.
On to Cat Ba Island. A Vietnamese out of season holiday resort, but handy for climbing. First few days weather was good, but last couple been quite cold.
Which pretty much brings us up to date.
Right then, Started in Bangkok..
Noisy and really full of life. Everyone wants to sell you something, but not too much hassle if you say no. JB a big hit with bar girls (Well we assumed/hoped they were girls), but managed to restrain himself. Saw lots & lots & lots of temples(Wats) but were denied entrance to the Grand palace for being "improperly dressed".
Took a day trip to River Kwai, frolicked in a waterfall & rode over the bridge of death. And they say entertainment's dead.....
Travelled up to Chiang Mai on the overnight sleeper train (more of which later). We were mercilessly plied with drink by an Irishman we met & so arrived somewhat the worse for wear.
Chiang Mai lovely. Did quite a bit of climbing & went for a 2 day trek up into the hills, staying at a hill village overnight. Had a great time & managed to squeeze in some white water rafting, bamboo rafting & elephant riding on the way home.
Set off on overnight train back to Bangkok & connection to Hanoi. Woke to find was covered, literally, from head to foot in bed bug bites. Gross. Think on reflection would prefer to be plied by mad Irishmen.
Arrived Hanoi, and was disappointed at the ease with which we were able to enter the country. Had hoped for full body cavity search, but not even a raised eyebrow.
Hanoi totally crazy. Packs of motorbikes, up to 50 or 60 strong roam the streets, riding 6 abreast. You just have to step out & hope when crossing the road.
Feels a little more edgy than Bangkok, but like it all the same.
On to Cat Ba Island. A Vietnamese out of season holiday resort, but handy for climbing. First few days weather was good, but last couple been quite cold.
Which pretty much brings us up to date.
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