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Published: February 7th 2011
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Hello bloggers
We have had an action packed few days since our last blog. Where Carrie left you we were just preparing to do a cooking course which we did. Have to say not the most exciting morning - basically choping lots of veg then watching a lady stir it in a pan but hopefully we have something new to cook when we get home. We then got the bus to Phonm Pehn, Cambodia's capital.
In Phonm Pehn, we went to the Killing Fields which is a pretty grim place to go. First thing you see is thousands of skulls on display and the video/museum goes into detail about what happened (I will spare you the details). We then went to the Royal Palace which was ok but not very exciting compared to Angkor. We were then planning on heading to the coast but decided that we would have a few extra days at the coast in Vietnam to save the 10 hr round trip and the hassle of working out how to get into Vietnam from some beach resort in the middle of nowhere. So we headed to Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon for those of
you old enough to remember) which is where we are now.
Ho Chi Minh is a vigrant place with plenty going on. It was Chinese new year when we arrived so there was lots of partying going on by the locals. We took a tour to see the Vietcong tunnels near bye which was a good day out. We got to go through a (widened) tunnel which was an experience, especially when I am not a fan of confined spaces. I have decided that I wouldn't have made much of a guerilla soldier in the VC as the Beaumont backside prevented me from squeezing into the sniper holes (see photo t be added). We both fired an AK-47 which I enjoyed but Carrie not so much (think it is more of a boy thing). Having not watched any Vietnam war films, my reciting of movie quotes was completely wasted on Carrie.
Next day we heading to the Reunification Palace which was ok and introduced us to the first propaganda (we were offered the chance to pay thanks to those who fought for Vietnam's glorious victory against the evil USA), then we went to the War Remnants museum which
was interesting although I was a little dubious of the historiacal accuracy of some of the information presented in the Room of Historial Truths!
Anyway we then went on a 2 day tour of the Mekong Delta which offered lots but was actually crap. The sights were a bit like those people who got done for pre-selling tickets to a Winter Wonderland a couple of years ago and when the guests arrived it was just a portacabin in a field. The highlight was being ferried as a group to a local village to hear some local music. It was like listoning to the people who appear onthe final of X-Factor - not the finalists but the really shit people who they invite back to humiliate once more. I declined their offer to tip them! After the visit to the floating market (4 boats selling pineapples) we then had a 6.5 hour coach trip on the world's most uncomfortable bus back to Saigon. It was nice to get back to the city and we met up with Lou Westman (now a Saigon resident) who I was in halls with in 1st yr at Uni which was good fun.
We
are flying to Nha Trang this afternoon for some chill time on the beach. We are also considering our options for after Vietnam. We were planning to going to Loas but not sure if it is really worth it and we may head back to Thailand and go downto the islands. If anyone has any thought please let us know (preferably if you have been to any of these places rather than a wild punt!).
Right - off to stop Carrie spending more money (how many massages does one person need? But at least she is not making me do it)
Until next time...the backpacking Beaumonts.
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Alison Durston
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Trouble
Heard on the radio this morning that there was trouble on the Cambodia/Thailand borders Firing missiles at each other. Hope that you are not heading off in that direction. Sounds that you are having a great time. Ellen is the one who knows about the Thai islands as she has been twice.