Blogs from Vietnam, Asia - page 7

09.04.12 Es dauerte ziemlich lange, bis ich endlich einen lokalen Bus fand, der mich bis zum Busterminal fuhr. Als ich nach dem Preis für die nächste Destination fragte, sagte man mir natürlich wieder einmal einen höheren Preis, doch als ich mein Ticket am Schalter kaufte, war es praktisch nur noch der halbe Preis. Als ich jedoch mein Gepäck in den Minibus geben wollte, verlangte derselbe Mann nochmals Geld für das Gepäck. Ich weigerte mich, etwas dafür zu bezahlen und stieg ein. Ich war mir jedoch fast sicher, dass er irgendwann während der Fahrt anhält und mich rauswirft, wenn ich nicht bezahle, aber es verlief alles bestens. Als ich in Ho Xa ankam, durfte ich mein Gepäck in einem Restaurant deponieren. Danach machte ich mich auf den Weg zu den Vinh Moc Tunnels. Die Strecke von 14 ... read more

An aside to the holidaying: I bought a book while I was in Hoi An, which I have just finished reading, heavily photocopied and with some of the pages stuck together, called 'The Sorrow of War' by Bao Ninh (winner of the Independent Foreign Fiction Award). Bao Ninh was born in Hanoi in 1952 and during the Vietnam War served with the Glorious 27th Youth Brigade. Of the 500 who went to war with the Brigade in 1969, he was 1 of only 10 to survive! The novel is a harrowing story of a young, North Vietnamese man, Kien's experiences of war, love, loss and betrayal. It starts after the war has ended, during his role as part of the MIA (Missing In Action) body collection team. What a gruesome but necessary part of war that ... read more

Sunday, 15th April 2012 (Day 01) My Jetstar plane touched down at Ho Chi Minh Tan Son Nhat International Airport at 8.30am this morning. Having spent a couple of days in the city in late 2010, there was a sense of familiarity as I passed through the arrivals on my way to the bus-stand. My 2 nights stopover in HCM was a bonus given that my main purpose was to visit the city of Vientiane during my 1 week break from work. While the airport bus 152 had since upped it rates from 3,000 dong to 8,000 dong (what a rip-off), this was still the most economical way for me to get to my hotel in District 1. My bedroom wasn't ready by the time I arrived at url=http://www.tripadvisor.com.sg/ShowUserReviews-g293925-d1439250-r128376074-Saigon_Mini_Hotel_5-Ho_Chi_Minh_City.htmlSaigon Mini Hotel 5 @ 196 Bui Ven ... read more

The last day in Saigon is a slow day. Ellen and Alex are trying to throw off lingering tummy bugs and I was keen that these are arrested before we undertake the next stage of travel, a lengthy trip by bus through the Mekong Delta to the Cambodian border. Loc and I meet in the evening for few beers to say goodbye. He had come back from Vung Tau earlier that day and was carrying a bag of cooked horseshoe crabs to take to a mates place for a house warming. These were a special treat rarely seen in Saigon and we devour one at the roadside café we are drinking at. The next day, after fond goodbyes to Mrs Long, we take the Phung Tran sleeping bus for a six hour ride to Rach Gia. ... read more

Well I survived Room 101 but someone else did get flooded in the night (via their faulty air con) so maybe I projected it onto them - do it to Nat, do it Nat! (George Orwell's 1984 reference if you didnt' know.) Today was to be a blissful one of relaxation, relaxation and maybe a bit more relaxation thrown in for good measure. We set off from the busy port at Nha Thrang in a wooden boat with our guide for the day An and a massage/nail lady too. We were barely out of the port before our girls were sitting having their nails done. We were heading to the island of Mieu where the population are mostly children (they love big families there - up to 6 or 7 in a family is common). The ... read more