Adventures of Jayne and Greg

It was a bright and early start to head to Siem Reap and the bus wasn't quite as nice as the others - but we've definitely had worse. A Japanese family got on just after us and started causing a fuss about the seats that we were in (I may add that we were definitely in the right seat and the family just wanted to sit near each other) well the ticket lady was having none of it - which mightily pleased us - although the looks we got from the father were amazing! Clearly he wasn't used to being told to pipe down! It was a fairly good journey - apart from the chap behind putting his smelly feet on the edge of my seat - eugh it was not pleasant! I had already booked ... read more

Getting the bus to Kep was fairly easy and a couple of really helpful passengers sat next to us at the bus station were determined to make sure that we didn't miss our bus! By the time we got to Kep rain was threatening and it looked pretty grey! Kep was very very quiet, we got off the bus and their was noone around (well apart from the usual tuk tuk touts that seem to flock to a bus every time and then disperse with some frustrated passenger. It was a very quite place, we were dropped at the bottom of the town, the sea was right in, and barely anything was open. We looked at a few hotel rooms and couldn't find one that was right so in the end we tracked down a tuk ... read more

Our bus to Cambodia was fairly painless (although got charged more than we should have - not by much but still), Greg seems to be better today but my cold has definitely got worse! Eventually arrive in Cambodia at 4.30 after a fairly easy border crossing...get off the bus, through the customs, back on the bus! Cambodia is very flat - and so much poorer than I had imagined, straight away after the border crossing there was a mini Las Vagas and then after that a lot of poverty. We thought we had seen a lot in Laos but this was definitely on a par if not worse. There were lots of cattle pulling farm machinery - we didn't see that in Laos it was more mechanical machinery. Very pretty place though - you can see ... read more

The bus journey to Mui Ne was definitely the most bumpiest! Luckily there weren't too many people on it so we were able to spread out but every time we went over the smallest bump I flew out of my seat (several times making noises and only realising it when people turned around to look... opps!) However it was a very beautiful ride, really mountainous one minute and really flat the next. Mui Ne was pretty much one big long road. By the time we got there the rain had started - Kelly and Bean had clearly brought the rain with them! We thought we had booked into a place that was close to the main part of town and realised that we were a long way out..but eventually found Kelly and Bean lounging outside of ... read more

An early start but the bus was a sleeper bus so we got to have bed on which I slept very well for a good few hours! Although I later find out to my detrement that it probably had bugs as my back was covered in bites (not only have Mozzies gone for my legs and arms with gusto my back has now been taken over!). Da Lat scenery was beautiful, the Central Highlands are such a pretty place, very green and a bit like home! Lots of waterfalls flowing down the cliffs right next to the roads and beautiful views from the mountains. We had luckily got to our intended hotel just in time as they had one room left (well we were walking with another couple who were heading for it but out walked ... read more

After a horrible horrible bus ride we arrived in Nha Trang in a big down pore! Luckily we were only a short taxi ride away from our hotel, which seemed nice! We couldn't check in yet as it was only 7am but could use the bathroom, internet and leave our bags there while we went to get breakfast...which I for one was very much looking forward to! Our shoes had to be left at the door of the hotel (as they had so many times before). Between us taking off our flip flops and going to the counter (less than 5metres and being there less than 10mins) we went to go and have a well needed breakfast to find that Greg's flip flops were missing!! Greg was not a happy chappy and after a very long ... read more

A rarity on our journey we were actually picked up on time..although we were picked up last so probably had the worst two seats luckily though our window opened to let some good breeze in! Probably our shortest bus journey of all, and the most prettiest, going down the coast, hills on one side, sea on the other! Checked into one hotel where the bus dropped us and booked for one night and more later on in the day, well..clearly that wasn't enough for them, 30minutes later when we went back to book for two more nights they told us that we had to be out of the room by 11 the next day as they had already booked our room out to someone else! Not a great impression! Greg went next door and booked a ... read more

After a never ending bus journey, and being woken up by the driver playing Vietnamese trance music and 4am, eventually 16 hours later we made it to Hue! As soon as we got off the bus we were harassed by hotel tuk tuk drivers - well a tired and hungry Jayne does not take too kindly to being followed around!! I think I scared one of them as he backed away quite quickly when I told him I just wanted to get off the bus in peace!! Luckily Greg stepped in and got a free taxi ride to a hotel and a cheap room! I was very skeptical but the room actually turned out to be really nice and very cheap!!! After sleep and good food we were ready to see what Hue had in store ... read more

After a few days relaxing and unwinding on the beach we headed back to Hanoi to start making our way down the coast. The journey on the way back was much easier but no where near as pretty. Back in Hanoi the fun and games started!! We caught a taxi which had a meter only to be over charged at least 6 times what we should have been!! Luckily we didn't have that much on us and could show him our empty wallets. He had already put our bags outside the car so we quickly grabbed them and walked - after already paying him half of what he wanted so still getting ripped off! We decided to stay in the other side of the old quarter this time which was much nicer! How we didn't find ... read more

The bus journey to Cat Ba (Halong Bay) was an interesting one, we caught the bus with a tour group and after some misunderstanding and confusion we paid extra for the boat trip along Halong bay - it was beautiful (didn't think we were missing anything not staying on the boat!). It was a really nice day (although we got ripped off with the boat ticket - having to pay twice what others paid - when questioned about the two types of tickets I was told they are children tickets honest! hmmm) much waiting around before we actually made it onto the boat but once we were there it was really pretty! Such beautiful scenery and islets. The weather was glorious too! Met some really nice people on the boat and spent a really lovely afternoon ... read more