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Published: September 5th 2012
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Kidnapper in pointed hat!
No wonder the little bugger covered her face - she was a little cowboy! Well after yesterday and the torrential rain we wake up to sun shining again - oh how lucky are we. Mike feels a lot better this morning so happy days all around.
We decide after breakfast to go to find a second hand book shop called Randy's as we want to trade in our Lonely Planet South East Asia book in for one on Australia. To be honest the South East Asia Book although gives all the countries and good tips we found you need one which is specific to the country you are visiting as this gives you more comprehensive information. Don't tell anyone but we brought a pirate Lonely Planet Vietnam book and it has been brilliant. May try to trade this in in Hanoi just before we leave.
Anyway we decide that we will take the boat ride which we can get for free from the hotel into town and the jetty is just outside our room (remember this when the old lady comes into play!).
We find Randy's bookshop really easy and inside a real nice guy called, yes you guessed it "Randy" showed us where the english books were and low and behold
Lady Fishing
Was she an accomplice? there is one there on Australia (another knock off I might add). Then Randy starts telling us that business is really bad now due to e-books and how he is going to try to offer downloading e-books for people. After such a story about how business is bad we then go and buy another 2 books off him. Where did we forget that we have to carry everything we buy? Anyway Randy tells us of a bar called "Gecko" which I remembered was also in our Vietnamese knock-off Lonely Planet Guide as a real chilling out place, so off we trot for a drink (mine was a juice before you think anything else). Before leaving we meet the owner and guess where he is from Halifax a small world or what! He then goes on to tell us about all his family so we end up there for at least another 1/2 hour - he did know about the Trough of Bowland though which was quite impressive.
So it is now getting to 12 oclock and we are on the wrong side of the island with the sun beating down on us and nowhere to get out of it
Look at this face
How serene - saw her at the temple and asked if I could take her photo. and then it happens. A little old lady offers to take us over in her little wooden boat for 5$ each (hate it they all think we are American!) after much discussion we get her down to 2$ each and get in the boat - now comes the canny part she gets us away from shore and then decides that we should take the 1/2 hour tour for 5$. We say no no all we want is to get to the otherside but, good on her she keeps saying no, no 1/2 hour 5$ in the end we know we cannot win so 5$ for 1/2 hour it is. And then the little "bugger" gets us into the middle of the river and says 'you want an hour?" She got the message from our chorus of Nooo. The best, best part is not knowingly she takes us up to our hotel via the river and turns the boat around just as you can see our room from the riverside - What did we catch this morning the free boat from our hotel into town, ha ha
Anyway tonight went to get a fitting for my shorts and Mike's long shorts and then I eyed a shoe shop and saw some really nice sandels which were a brilliant price and then the lady showed me a pair that she can also make for me and again after a bit of bargaining got 2 pairs for £18. Then by Joe she asks me to take off my shoes and measures my feet so I am in total shock I am having 2 pairs of made to measure sandels for £18 - how good is that.
Mike is not well again so we have had to come back early - lets hope he gets better as I am getting a bit bored now staying around the hotel.
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