Page 2 of SuzieQnSteven2 Travel Blog Posts


Asia » Vietnam » Southeast » Ho Chi Minh City » District 1 June 11th 2011

We have had beautiful weather for the past few days. Light breezes, and in the shade really comfortable. Eating on the street, drinking in the street pubs, and getting treats at the local bakery-it feels like home! We visited the War Remnants Museum. Again, deeply disturbing on so many levels. The shocking photos, the artillery, bombs, and planes, and the cleverly crafted propaganda made for a dreary but fascinating afternoon. I came back to the room to have a quick nap and Steven headed to the pub. I tried to sleep but the cleaning lady made me get out (we are no longer treated like guests, we are treated like family) , so I went down to find Steven. I went into the first one and asked where my husband was and the guy yelled "he ... read more
War Remnants Museum
Transport Helicopter
Tank

Asia » Vietnam » Southeast » Ho Chi Minh City » District 1 June 9th 2011

Arrived in Saigon after Steven terrified a little boy on the plane, you know how scary that beard is. But he gave the little guy a spider ring and all was well. Quick cab ride to our hotel Red Sun and another warm greeting by the girls. Our alley looked the same and it felt like coming back home. This is by far the least luxurious place we stay but we it is all about the people. En and Hien, our girls that run the hotel, treat me yes, like their mother. And their English is almost fluent now. Three years ago it was a struggle to understand them-now they even know the slang. Hugs and kisses all around (En got me on the lips), we dropped the backpacks off and down the street to eat. ... read more

Asia » Vietnam » South Central Coast » Quảng Nam » Hoi An June 6th 2011

Vue Mom Nam...Happy Half New Year today! It is a Vietnamese holiday-we have been invited to our friend's home for lunch to celebrate. We went to the market this morning to buy flowers as a gift. I brought some back for the girls in the hotel-of course they argued over who had the biggest bunch of flowers :). I can now "talk good price" in the market ( a sign of respect), point using my whole hand in a waving gesture as pointing with one finger is rude, order a drink/get the check/say hello all using slightly different head nods, yelled at a pedicab to get out of the way while riding my bike, and can eat noodles morning noon and night-sounds good all the time. Yes, turning Vietnamese. Yesterday our friend invited us with her ... read more
Celebrating with Friends
Steven and I on our best behavior

Asia » Vietnam » South Central Coast » Quảng Nam » Hoi An June 5th 2011

Yes, this is the third time we have done the day trip to Cham Island. Again, we booked with the same dive shop, Blue Coral Diving, and Captain Steve aka the Ginger Panda was as gracious and helpful as ever. Patrick, from Canada and Vanessa from Switzerland rounded out the crew. Our first snorkeling sight was a little different this time. The crew had volunteered with a local agency to help eradicate the coral reef of a sea star called "crown of thorns". These are red and purple sea stars with one inch spines that are poisonous. They have no predators and are breeding like crazy, Can't cut 'em, can't smash 'em-they have to be taken out whole. The divers were using curved rebar to pry them off of the coral-which they are eating. When we ... read more
Blue Coral Diving
Professional Snorkelers!
Crown of Thorns

Asia » Vietnam » South Central Coast » Quảng Nam » Hoi An June 3rd 2011

Well...what is a holiday in a foreign country without food poisoning and losing your ATM card? After eating on the streets of Laos we ate in a couple of different restaurants that we have eaten in many times before, I managed to get food poisoning last night. I was laid up for 36 hours-feeling really, really bad. But, if I am going to get sick this is the place to do it. The girls at the hotel kept me going with hugs, bananas, some kind of herbal medicine which I took no questions asked (that is how bad I felt) and now I am better. We rode bikes to the ATM for some cash. I was so happy to be in the ATM -they are air-conditioned and nice and cool that I forgot to take my ... read more
Post Office Phones
Post Office in Hoi An, aka
Danger High Voltage

Asia » Vietnam » South Central Coast » Quảng Nam » Hoi An June 1st 2011

We were delayed in Hanoi by almost a half day due to JetStar's inability to ever take off on time-never again! Same thing happened last year. Sat in the airport for two and a half hours listening to a huge widescreen tv turned up to full volume, kids running around everywhere, and running low on local currency-the lounge with the couches was too much money :(. Took off and arrived in Danang. Want to know one of the best sights you could ever see? A taxi driver holding a sign that said SUZIE JOHNSTON. Whisked away and made it to one of our most favorite places on the planet, Hoi An and the Thien Thanh Hotel. We arrived-big hugs all around from the girls. The girls call me mama-just like the kids at the hotel and ... read more
My girls
Steven and Van
Suzie and Van

Asia » Vietnam » Red River Delta » Hanoi May 30th 2011

We are surviving the craziness of Hanoi. Woke up, ate, walked a bit, and went back for a nap. Back up and we decided to go to Hoa Lo Prison, aka Hanoi Hilton. 10,000 Dong to get in (fifty cents) and in we went. Quite an experience. Originally built by the French for Vietnamese prisoners, mostly political, complete with solitary confinement quarters, leg chains, tools of torture and a guillotine. Moved through the museum to watch a short video of The American War with pictures of American pilots in the prison playing basketball, decorating for Christmas, and putting Vietnamese souvenirs in their packs going home. Two pictures of John McCain were on display, one when he was brought to the prison and the second on his visit to the prison later in life. Feeling over-whelmed you ... read more
Inside the prison cells
Artwork on prison walls
Entrance to Hoa Lo Prison

Asia » Laos » West » Luang Prabang May 29th 2011

I have a new nickname from Steven-"Ms. Adventure", pronounced misadventure. Also, "crash". A few items to clear up before this story begins. I managed to do something to my knee, probably had something to do with taking 250 stairs at a time, so I emailed my wonderful doctor at Kaiser, Dr. Lee, and he gave me instructions: ace bandange, ibuprofen, and ice. The ice was the hard part to come by as it just melts in a couple of minutes. Gave the international sign at the pharmacy for ace bandage, moving your right hand around your left arm, paid fifty cents, took some motrin and doing ok. I really, really wanted to ride an elephant so I signed us up for the Elephant Trek tour. The tour was advertised as a mountain bike trek for about ... read more
Biking
Fields of Laos
Pineapple plantations

Asia » Laos » West » Luang Prabang May 27th 2011

Tuk-tuk ride twenty-three kilometers over highway and eleven kilometers of rough winding road through the jungle, then a short walk through a tiny village, climbed down a muddy hill, onto a long boat that we had to help bail the water out of as we crossed the river, up two hundred steep steps to a group of elderly gentlemen laughing at my red face and sweat-drenched shirt to see Pak Ou Cave! A huge collection of Buddhas throughout the cave-we needed a flashlight to see a foot in front of us. Gave the village kids spider rings-the rings have been a big hit with them. Now the kids in town know who I am and drag their friends over to get one. :) Came back to our room, rested and cooled down a bit,and went to ... read more
Our ride
Village at Pak Ou Cave
Village at Pak Ou Cave

Asia » Laos » West » Luang Prabang May 26th 2011

Not really sure what happened to yesterday. We ventured out and ate sandwiches and fruit shakes on the street, came back to the hotel and had a couple of beers, then fell asleep around five o'clock and just woke up this morning. We are attributing the fatigue to travel-not old age! Had a simple breakfast of eggs and fresh baked baguettes (thank you France) and it is now raining. We are going to town to rent bikes, see some Wats, and book our adventures which I am just too excited about! Some observations of Laos: the people are shy, and this country is very poor. The people are not quick to say hello or talk, but once a conversation is started they open right up. The countryside is beautiful with greenery and blooming flowers everywhere. The ... read more
Our noodle shop
Our Guesthouse in Luang Prabang
Landscaping




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