Page 5 of John from Totnes Travel Blog Posts


Asia » Vietnam » Red River Delta » Hanoi February 25th 2011

Arrived in Hanoi at 4.30am after a bumpy night's ride on the Green Train from Lao Cai. Feeling sleep deprived we had an early check in at our hotel and spent most of the morning recovering before preparing ourselves for an afternoon of sightseeing around the city. Our first stop was Hoa Lo Prison Museum which in the French colonial days served as a detention centre for political opponents of the administration. Lots of pictures of those who suffered and some were even executed by guillotine, which is amongst the exhibits. The prison's claim to fame came about during the Vietnam War as it was the detention centre for those USA pilots shot down. The Americans named it the Hanoi Hilton!!! Lots of pictures of the captured pilots being cared for alongside photographs of the terrific ... read more
Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum
Uncle Ho
Presidential Palace

Asia » Vietnam » Northwest » Lao Cai » Sapa February 22nd 2011

After travelling from Hue to Hanoi we caught the overnight Green Train to Lao Cai in the mountains on the Chinese border. The train left Hanoi at 9.00 pm and we had a four berth compartment to ourselves. However, luxury was in short supply with shared loos and one washbasin for the carriage and it was a very rickety ride, making sleeping difficult. We arrived at Lao Cai at 5.30 am the following morning and were met by a guide who took us for a very early breakfast at a nearby restaurant. After breakfast we went to the bridge where one can cross over to China. The bridge is open from 7.00am to 7.00pm each day and we watched a steady stream of Vietnamese making their way over the bridge where apparently they purchase cheap Chinese ... read more
Market scene at Bac Ha
Colourful market woman
The misty landscape of Sapa

Asia » Vietnam » North Central Coast » Thua Thien - Huế » Hué February 20th 2011

Hue (pronounced 'Hay') situated in Central Vietnam, was, up until 1945, the capital of the country. From the beginning of the 19th century to 1945 the country's royal family resided in a grand palace in Hue known as The Citadel. It was grand in all respects and had to accommodate the emperor, his main wife and his many minor wives. One of the emperors was a rather greedy chap and had up to 500 minor wives and over 100 children, all of which had to be accommodated within The Citadel. Unfortunately, many of the fine buildings within The Citadel were either damaged or destroyed during the Vietnam War and many suffered as a result of American bombing. There has been a UNESCO programme of restoration and repair and this is ongoing but, due to a lack ... read more
The Throne Room at The Citadel
Part of The Citadel
A dyanstic urn.

Asia » Vietnam » South Central Coast » Quảng Nam » Hoi An February 17th 2011

On Tuesday we left the island of Phu Quoc, where we had spent 4 days of leisure so as to get our strength up for the remainder of our journey. Our destination was the historic town of Hoi An which in 1999 was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Our flight from Phu Quoc to Hoi An took us via Saigon on two very efficient Vietnan Airways planes but took us the best part of the day. On Wednesday we set about exploring this delightful town which was comparatively easy as the preserved part is a pedestian only and it was such a relief not to do battle with the scooters and motorbikes. The reason that Hoi An came to prominence was as a result of it being an important trading port from 16th to 18th ... read more
Lynne on Japanese Bridge
Hoi An - street scene
Another street scene

Asia » Vietnam » Southeast » Ho Chi Minh City » District 1 February 13th 2011

Saigon is a city on the move in all respects. The city roads are clogged with a mass of motorbikes and scooters. Crossing the busy roads is challenging to say the least as the bikes and scooters appear from all directions and appear to have no regard for the traffic lights. The city is also on the move economically with new high rise blocks of offices and apartments appearing out of the ground and sitting alongside those already dominating the skyline. It will not be too long before the city rivals the likes of Singapore and Hong Kong with the country's economic growth being one of the largest in the region. Officially this is a communist country but following recent economic reforms by the government free enterprise is coming to the fore and this is reflected ... read more
Reunification Palace - corridor of power
A trophy of war
John and Lynne with Vietcom fighters

Asia » Vietnam » Mekong River Delta » Tien Giang » My Tho February 9th 2011

We left Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, on Sunday by speedboat to set as on our way down the Mekong River towards Saigon, the capital of Vietnam. The Mekong is one of the largest rivers in the world and passes through 6 countries starting in Nepal. It is a busy and thriving river with various forms of water transport such as large cargo ships transporting goods such as rice down to small man made canoes containing a solitary fisherman going about his business. We were there for leisure but most of those on the river were there for their work or trade. The speedboat took us to our first overnight stop at a city called Chau Doc, being on the Vietnam side of the border. We stayed at the Victoria Hotel overlooking the river and ... read more
Two Vietnamese ladies
Typical house along the banks
Boat girl and friends

Asia » Cambodia » South » Phnom Penh February 5th 2011

Yesterday we travelled over 300km by road from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. We left at about 9.30am and arrived in the capital at about 3.30 after one enforced stop as our car broke down (which had to be replaced) and a couple of rest stops along the way. The countryside along the way was very flat and fertile with many paddy fields abutting the highway. The road was busy with a mixture of mopeds, cycles, cars trucks and coaches and the horn is a vital part of the motorist equipment being used by our driver every 2 to 3 minutes. Today has ben a day out in Phnom Penh exploring the city and with it has come mixed emotions. The morning started with us admiring the splendour of the Royal Palace ... read more
The Royal Palace
Temple of the Emerald Buddha
Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum

Asia » Cambodia » North » Angkor February 3rd 2011

On Tuesday we left Bangkok and flew to Siem Reap in Cambodia to spend a few days exploring the complex of Angkor which at its height in the 12th century had a population of about 1 million. At the time London had a population of just 50,000. Angkor was the capital of Cambodia at that time but as its influence waned the seat of power shifted to Phnom Penh, the current capital (which is our next stop). As a result of this shift of power Angkor's temples and palaces were abandoned and left to the elements. Now it is in ruins (but still very grand) and recently has developed into a major tourist attraction with visitors from all over the world. At the heart of the abandoned city is Angkor Thom. This was the administrative centre ... read more
John and Lynne at Angkor Wat
Sunset at Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat

Asia » Thailand » Central Thailand » Bangkok January 31st 2011

Wat is a temple literally! Yesterday we visited Wat Pho, Thailand's biggest temple and built in the 16th century. The temple being close to the banks of the river that flows through the city meant that we were able to take a boat to the quay close to Wat Pho. Just across the river is Wat Arun another grand temple which we visited today. Not far from these temples is the Grand Palace which contains yet another grand temple known as Wat Phra Kaew which we visited after Wat Pho. So we have certainly seen our fair share of Buddha and his glorious surroundings. Bangkok is a city that is often misrepresented and I have been pleasantly surprised by how inviting it is for tourists. The locals are friendly and the atsmosphere is both relaxing and ... read more
Golden Buddha
Guarding the Temple
More Buddhas

Africa » Morocco » Marrakech-Tensift-El Haouz » Essaouira November 14th 2010

After spending a few relaxating days in the Atlas Mountains we travelled to the coast at Essaouira being a journey of about 4 hours. Parts of the journey were across desert and the arid landscape reminded me of Kuwait, in the Middle East ,where we spent some time many years ago. Essaouira, also known as Mogador, is a most likeable seaside town which is dominated by the medieval-looking battlements surrounding the medina. It reminded me so much of St Malo in Brittanny with parts of its town wall being adjacent to the sea. We stayed in a very friendly riad known as Riad Watier situated conveniently in the medina and where we had two enjoyable evening meals round a large dining table with other guests. Good to exchange travel stories. A trip to Essaouira is not ... read more
More of the port
The battlements
The port from the battlements




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