http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/coco94/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from coco94 en-us Wed, 06 Jan 2010 04:34:23 +0000 Wed, 06 Jan 2010 04:34:23 +0000 12th May 2009After a toasted sandwich breakfast we completed our packing and caught a taxi to the airport. As we walked into the airport we were greeted by a travel agent tout who informed us that we might need to pre book our transport to the port and then a boat to the island. Going against our practise of doing all our transportation booking ourselves we decided to follow the agent to the trave http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/blog-409799.html 9th May 2009 BANGKOKAfter breakfast we checked out of our room and took a small walk about around the markets again. By the time we get to the airport a raging storm has covered the city itrsquos a little spooky because when we first arrived in Saigon we arrived in a serious storm that flooded the streets and now as we leave the same thing happens weird At the check in another nightmare unra http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Central-Thailand/Bangkok/blog-409043.html 6th May 2009We arrived in the costal town of Nhu Trang at 600am. The 12hr journey had been horrendous the bucks were to small and the road I use that word cautiously was one long series of pot holes we felt every jump roll jerk and bottoming out we slept for maybe an hour so we were wrung out when we arrived at the 62 Tran Phu Hotel. Pili headed straight fro the shower and bed. I decided to http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/South-Central-Coast/Nha-Trang/blog-405284.html 2nd May 2009We woke to the sound of rain again and worried about our journey back to the bus stop in the local town. A huge spider was on the ceiling opposite my side of the bed so I grabbed my camera and tried to get a shot in the gloom to no avail so I turned on the flash which I hate using and got a nice picture. The spider didnrsquot like it at all and immediately the flash went off he dropp http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/South-Central-Coast/Hoi-An/blog-405271.html 30th April 2009 Bach Ma National Park The minibus collects us at 815am from our hotel National Park here we come ha ha no way. Wersquore dropped just two minutes later around the corner from the hotel at a travel agent to wait in the street for a bus This really is getting boring it would be easier finding Elvis than getting the service that you actually pay for here in Vietnam. We we http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/blog-404959.html 27th April 2009This morning over breakfast we decide to give Laos a miss it mostly comes down to money which is starting to be stretched. Laos will be down on our list at some point just not this trip.At midday after a morning relaxing and a little writing we book a sleeper coach down to Hue and ask for our bill at the hotel. The manageress charges us an extra half a day for todayrsquos use of http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/North-Central-Coast/Hue/blog-404915.html 26th April 2009We all met for breakfast in the hotel at 730am followed by the hiring of two automatic mopeds for our planned day out in Tam Coc. All fingers were crossed that the storms wouldnrsquot continue and ruin the day.Pili took first turn with driving the bike through the crazy traffic as I wanted to take photos while clinging onto the back. We stopped to top up on petrol and Jonathan a http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/Red-River-Delta/Tam-Coc/blog-404272.html 24th April 2009 Cat Ba Island to Ninh BinhWe were up early and ready to move on. Our coach picked us up at 900am and drove us across the island to catch our hydrofoil to the mainland. The hour trip was very smooth but with little to see. On land we caught a coach to Hai Phong which was a very hectic typical Asian city I donrsquot think Irsquoll ever get used to the chaotic traffic that comes http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/Northeast/blog-404237.html 22nd April 2009Today went exactly as wersquod planned. We breakfasted at the hotel met our Spanish friends and walked to 23km along the coastline and finally ended up at Cat Co Beach. We did stop off for a swim in the cool sea along the way. The scenery was magnificent steep cliffs and islands covered in dense vegetation. I even saw a few birds which was a nice surprise. I was especially plea http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/Red-River-Delta/Cat-Ba-Island/blog-404230.html 21st April 2009We were up early and went looking for some breakfast easier said than done in Halong City. It took us a good forty minutes walking around and asking in every caf for coffee with no success until we stumbled on one empty place who did serve us. We finally manage to get an omelette from a street stall near the hotel. We were amazed that a tourist city based at one of the most popula http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/Red-River-Delta/blog-394323.html 20th April 2009This morning started with bad attitude from the guy on reception at the hotel. Yesterday wersquod washed our clothes and asked if we could dry them on the sun terrace with the rest of the staffs' washing. We were told no problem but when we returned in the afternoon the terrace was locked so we couldnrsquot retrieve our clothes until 800am today when the person with the keys re http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/Red-River-Delta/Halong-Bay/blog-394229.html 18th April 2009The flight to Hanoi took just a little over two hours we flew over the famous Gulf of Tonkin where the history of the Vietnam War was shaped and expanded by the USA after the notorious lsquoGulf of Tonkinrsquo incident. Looking down at the peaceful water itrsquos hard to imagine what suffering occurred here forty plus years ago.On the mini bus into town we met a couple from F http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/Red-River-Delta/Hanoi/blog-394221.html 16 17th April 2009In the morning we were picked up by the same little old guy with his Xich Lo bicycle and carriage who had collected us from the boat yesterday on our arrival. He took us to the bus station for our ride to Ho Chi Minh City formerly known as Saigon. This poor little guy struggled with both of us and our entire luggage I happily gave him a couple of dollars for his effort.Our http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/Southeast/Ho-Chi-Minh-City/blog-394213.html 15th April 2009Todayrsquos journey into Vietnam started with an hour bus journey from Phnom Penh to Kaam Samnor on the banks of the Mekong River where we took a 3hr leisurely boat trip to the Vietnam border crossings at Vinh Xuong and then onto the town of Chau Doc in the Mekong Delta. The trip down the Cambodian part of the river was very boring. I sat on the edge of the boat poised with camer http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/Mekong-River-Delta/Chau-Doc/blog-394202.html 12th April 2009This morning at 700am we caught our coach to the capital Phnom Penh. We pick up our Vietnam visas tomorrow and also wersquoll be there for the Khmer New Year the Cambodians throw water at each other to wash away their sins Irsquom gonna get a soaking They also throw talcum powder which doesnrsquot sound so great.Our bus was a heap yet again. It was raining in the mornin http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Cambodia/South/Phnom-Penh/blog-393730.html 8th April 2009Our minibus arrived to pick us up at the guest house at 700am to take us to the bus station. As wersquove come to expect our bus was old and foul and we had a 9hr journey ahead of us. The plan was and what we thought wersquod paid for was a bus to Kompang Cham to then be met by a minibus that would take us the rest of the way to Kratie yoursquod think this would be simple http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Cambodia/blog-390574.html 6th April 2009I woke Pili at 535am we were running a little late but it didnrsquot really matter as it had been raining during the night and the sky was overcast no sunrise. I suggested that we cancel and get picked up at 1000am and do the normal tour Pili and I had discussed this the previous night. WRONG Pili in her usual morning grumpy mood decided we should go anyway as we were alrea http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Cambodia/blog-390442.html 34th April 2009 Singapore After a very restless night Pili and I finally check out of Lucyrsquos Guest House in Kota Kinabalu. Lucyrsquos was genuinely sad to see us go and we were also going to miss her shersquos looked after us very well and I shall also miss my late night conversations with her. Anybody reading this blog and who are thinking of visiting Borneo please take my advise STA http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Cambodia/North/Siem-Reap/blog-389348.html 30th March 2nd April 2009I lay wide awake most of the night listening to chorus of sounds outside in the forest. At 430am I went outside to see what was crawling around I discovered a chestnut coloured Rhinoceros Beetle again lay on his back waiting to be rescued again I photographed him and sent him on his way.Reluctantly Pili got up at 5ish and wersquore in the forest for 600am. We stal http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Malaysia/Sabah/blog-387351.html 29th March 2009I was up before dawn this morning it had been a cold and restless night for me so eventually I gave up trying to sleep and took my camera outside to see what beasties I could find. Again I was disappointed I found a large and fantastic beetle with huge mandibles it was pretty aggressive. I flipped him the right way up so I handled it with extreme care and got my photos. As the su http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Malaysia/Sabah/blog-386723.html