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Published: March 2nd 2006
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Havoc in Hanoi
Such a contradiction with the beautiful balloons and the horrible traffic. Hi guys, sorry it has been so so long since we have last updated our blog, so much has happened and we have hardly had time to sit down and do this thing!
We will start were we left off in Viet Nam heading to Hoi An. We flew down on Saturday 11.02.06 after driving around and around for hours looking for a new camera since our flash broke. No luck with the camera but they ordered one in for us, so the photos from Hoi An are not as great as we wanted, but we are back in action now with a flash camera and video camera, which Jen loves. We found a beautiful hotel because of a random stop that was $15 a night, just like a resort, (we were going all out) and walked around the beautiful little town for the night, having dinner and drinks. We fell in love with this town as soon as we got off the airplane because it was tidy and the smiles. The people here were so beautiful, not quite as beautiful as Cambodians, but nearly. Dinner was great, in a beautiful bar called Before and Now, lanterns everywhere, no
My Dieu
Our little Hoi An cutie motorised traffic on the road for Tourism Year 2006 for Hoi An. Two for one drinks as well! We walked home boozey and ordered A LOT of shoes to be made for us (the girl could hardly speak English, but could pick up a pair of shoes and say ‘so hot right now’!!!), and we learnt our lesson about shopping whilst drunk! We went home to a possible snake in our roof, the noise was so distinct, and after getting a little lost in translation, we finally managed to get a new room (upgraded to a $18 room for the same price - might have to try that trick again), no snake.
On our second day in Hoi An, Jen found the best chicken burgers in the world, and we started shopping for clothes. We decided to try a few different tailors to start with so that we could find the best one, and our favourite ended up being My Deiu, who was a little cutie, spoke really good English and became our new best friend. She had great style so it was easy to explain what we wanted. We ended up spending $1000 US on clothes, having suits
Hoi An
What a beautiful town. made for $40 each, 100% cashmere, and shorts, shirts, skirts and bikinis! We had dinner that night after our big day at Omar, an Indian restaurant, and except for the dirty fat perverts watching us, had a really tasty dinner.
On our second day, while we were waiting for clothes to be made, we headed to the beach. We got free bikes from our hotel and pedaled our way out there. It was a great way to see the town and although my arse was killing me for days, I really enjoyed it. We stopped once on the way to ride a yak and have our photos taken. The beach in Hoi An is really beautiful, with a row of palm trees lining the sand, but unfortunately quite rough surf, and not too suitable for swimming. Which didn’t bother me because I got a manicure and pedicure for $1 each, a massage and hair removal with a method called stringing, where they run a twisted string up and down your leg, pulling the hair out as they went. Ouch! Washed down the perfect day with a pineapple, mango and beer on the beach. My kinda heaven. We rode home,
Heaven
Massages on the beach, nearly as good as cuddles! bought Jen’s bro some shirts, and an awesome painting from an artist right by the beach.
Day three we woke up late in the afternoon, feeling lousy, and really sick. We needed to try on some clothes later that afternoon, so we ordered a pizza to be delivered from Before and Now, and ate some pizza before struggling out the door, to try on clothes. I was really suffering and stumbled home soon after only to become devastatingly sick for the next 7 days. After hours of vomiting, a doctor came to see me in the Hotel room and gave me a needle in the butt, antibiotics, anti-nausea and anti inflammatory tablets as well. I was suffering, but Jen looked after me so so well, and even went and picked up all our shoes which made me feel a little bit happier! I was still sick on our last day in Hoi An but could walk, so we picked up all our clothes, said goodbye to all our new friends, then had dinner in a new found part of Hoi An, which was more beautiful than the rest of it, called Old Town, (don’t ask me how we didn’t
Little Hoi An Ladies
So damn cute, they were our massagers and fruit and beer sellers find that part before! We had missed the best bit).
We flew home to Hanoi the next day, and my health went downhill again. We called the doctor from Hoi An from our rip off new hotel, Hanoi Star II (don’t go there!!) who advised Jen to take me to Hospital, where I stayed for most of the night on a drip, antibiotics by IV and more anti nausea medication. It was horrible, I was miserable and feeling sorry for my self. I have never been so sick in all my life, all I wanted was my own bed, my mummy, and I was stuck in a miserable rainy town where I didn’t want to be. But I am feeling better now ($500US later I better be! Thank god for insurance!), and I vowed never to drink ice or dodgy food ever again while here! Jen finally got to pick up our awesome new camera! We also posted 50kg of luggage home to Australia the next day, $166 US! Our packs are a lot lighter now, and it will be like Christmas when we finally get our stuff in five months time! Spent the rest of the next day
Little Hoi An Ladies
So damn cute, they were our massagers and fruit and beer sellers in bed, watching Oprah and other trashy TV which was great.
Saturday 25.02.06 we went on an overnight tour to Halong Bay, sleeping overnight in a beautiful Junk ship. The drive out there was made bearable by a great tour group, all of us young, including Germans, English and an Irish guy called Keet (It really is Keith, but the Irish have commitment issues with their H’s and never pronounce them, ‘so call me Keet’ it is). Halong bay was freezing cold, but unbelievably beautiful, and we explored caves in the islands, which were unbelievable, but once again, people were allowed to touch and climb on everything which would NEVER be allowed in Australia. Jen went kayaking through the caves as well, but I just stayed on the boat because I still wasn’t 100%.
Jen here: Well kayaking was a lot harder than expected, only one hundred metres into the paddle my arms started to really ache and my back hurting (lucky I quick smoking or I'd add my lungs in there too) the scenery was devine, crystal blue water and large green rock formations in the water. Halong Bay in covered in over a thousand islands, so
Riding the Bikes
It's true when they say that you never forget how! its amazing. We paddled for over an hour and finally came to the national park were it was an easier paddle as the water had no current. We kayaked through caves and between close touching islands. We quickly turned around and realized we were out for way to long and coming back through the tunnel we were paddling against a rip. After a painful mission back unable to stop or we would have dragged backwards we arrived back to the boat to find my girl awake and feeling much better thank god. I was really proud that I kayaked over 6km in current. Next mission Mt Kinabalu.
Well kids, as soon as we get another chance we will update this again with our new stories, hopefully will be in two days time.
love your guts
Erin and Jenny PS Mum we are safe happy and healthy, how are you?
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Bex
non-member comment
Hello girls
Hey there ladies I would like to say first off that both you girls looking devastatingly gorgeous in your photos. Why is it only me that sux in pictures? :) It's so great to be able to read about your adventures and I am already planning my own trip, inspired by the two of you. Your discriptive commentary is fabulous and if I close my eyes, I can almost imagine...until I am rudely interrupted by someone banging on my office door with files in hand... :( Poor Erin, you look so sick in the picture. Lucky it was only bad food (?) and not some horribly exotic and nasty disease. I am both so terribly jealous and excited for you both. Be safe and keep the messages and pictures coming. Love Bec xx