Blogs from Ho Chi Minh City, Southeast, Vietnam, Asia - page 251

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Asia » Vietnam » Southeast » Ho Chi Minh City February 6th 2006

So it's the first day back to work after Tet holiday. Last night I took a bus from Nha Trang to Saigon. It was supposed to be an 10 hour bus, so when we left at 8PM, we should have arrived at 6AM... but we were actually early so it was only 8 hours of cramped, uncomfortable, hot sweaty sleeping on a bus. Oh well, it only cost 180,000 vnd (or $13.84can) so I shouldn't really complain. Besides, I was able to sleep which is more than I can say for my german travelling companion. What was I doing taking an 8 hour bus and arriving the morning of my first day back to work? Well, that's just what people here do. They stretch their vacations out as long as possible... and believe me, it's worth ... read more

Asia » Vietnam » Southeast » Ho Chi Minh City February 5th 2006

CU CHI TUNNELS. It really was incredible the way those Viet Cong soldiers lived, so determined. A mere 60KM from Saigon were able not only to live but also launch multiple attacks on US positions all around the capital. In this area alone, there were over 250 KM of underground tunnels with kitchens, studies, bedrooms and armament factories. The tunnels are tiny, it was amazing crawling through them thinking that some thirty years ago the VC were running around in them carrying machine guns and grenades. They have widened some of them for us tourists but nonetheless they were really narrow. It was a bit scary to be honest, it is pitch black, so hot and stuffy and you can't turn around or stand up. At one stage i got to a dead end and freaked ... read more
This is the one
USA big guns
Good old agent orange

Asia » Vietnam » Southeast » Ho Chi Minh City February 4th 2006

Happy New Year! Tet, the end of the lunar year was happening whilst I was in Saigon. Crazy times, people celebrate for 3 days straight. Ok, but before I tell you about it all I have to mention that the hotel I was staying in Bi Saigon had not 1 not 2 but FOUR South African sports channels, supersport. Amazing. It was so bizarre sitting that first night and watching WP cricket on TV live in Vietnam. Needless to say I spent a great deal of time watching sport. I am sure there is a lot more to Saigon than I saw, but I did not care on iota. Watched SA trample Sri Lanka in cricket live, brilliant. Ok, sorry. So Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon is a nice place. About 7 million people running ... read more
Wadd up mr policiman
New year princess
NEW YEAR

Asia » Vietnam » Southeast » Ho Chi Minh City February 3rd 2006

HANOI, VIETNAM: Our taxi driver dropped us off across the street from our hotel in the Old Quarter of Hanoi. He sped away. We stood with our packs, completely at a loss. We could see our hotel across the narrow street, but we had no idea how we would get there. Motos with families of 5 perfectly propped on the seats whizzed by us at full speed. A moto with a man balancing a full size television set of the side followed. Orange trees and peach trees for upcoming Tet celebrations seemed to be driving themselves down the street. Women selling fruit in traditional hats passed by. A cyclo nearly scooped us up from behind: "$1 for 1 hour sir!" And just like that, we'd arrived. Needless to say, we finally mustered the courage, dove head ... read more
Women of Hanoi
Hanoi's Old Quarter
Timing is Key

Asia » Vietnam » Southeast » Ho Chi Minh City February 3rd 2006

We have been in Vietnam for two full days now and loving it! Yesterday we did touristy things and visited the War museum and the Reunification palace. The war museum was a very sobering experience and clearly showed you the real casualties of war. After leaving the war museum I suggested walking home as I thought I had my sense of direction working beautifully! Alas, I got us completely lost as each street looked like the last. Just as Paul started to look pretty pissed off we managed to catch a taxi which took us back to to the hotel. The weather is here if hot hot hot (well for me anyway) and quite humid so your pretty sticky after a short while on the streets. We also found the backpackers area yesterday and managed to ... read more
View from Reunification Palace

Asia » Vietnam » Southeast » Ho Chi Minh City January 31st 2006

Sorry for the slackness, Vietnam, to be honest, kind of confounded us. It's really a worthwhile place to see, but we spent quite a lot of our time either being pissed off, or feelling guilty for being pissed off. The thing is that we went through Thailand and Laos in a state of pretty much constant enjoyment. People ask you if you want a tuk tuk, you say no thanks, and they leave you in peace. Someone offers to sell you something and most of the time if you don't want it, they leave you in peace. Not in Vietnam. We just felt really exposed there, and it was virtually impossible to avoid being hassled. We knew the reasons why, and don't think we didn't feel bad if we got annoyed, but it's just so bloody ... read more
Halong Bay II
Our Junk
Halong Bay III

Asia » Vietnam » Southeast » Ho Chi Minh City January 30th 2006

Hey hey! I apologise for delay in news! It's tricky to find a place that allows me to upload my photos onto my blog and therefore I tend to not want to write until I can get most of my pictures on a CD, making it easier to upload. I know how boring it is to read the blog without pictures!!! Although I am updating this blog now these news were from before TET holiday so before the end of January - net update will be Tet holiday and then after that more current news! I'm so sorry I'm a bad friend!!!! Last month my neighbours bought a dog. An old puppy, not quite yet an adult, and the younger ones were quite keen to show off the dog - the "Look what we got" kind ... read more
The dead dog

Asia » Vietnam » Southeast » Ho Chi Minh City January 29th 2006

Vietnam 29 January - 20 February 2006 For our tour of Vietnam visiting Saigon, Mui Ne Beach, Nha Trang, Hoi An, Hue and definately our highlight, the Mekong Delta region - click on the link below. Click here to see Kat & Scott's tour of Vietnam Diary ... read more
Floating Market
Sunset on the Mekong Delta

Asia » Vietnam » Southeast » Ho Chi Minh City January 23rd 2006

Election day in Canada is starting... and I'm about to head home from work for the day. Glad I already voted, because I think finding a polling station here might be abit of a challenge. I have been having a fantastic time so far, and I apologise for my tardiness in posting pictures, but it's just been really busy at work - then really hectic in the evenings - then this past weekend was spent on about a 20km stretch of white sandy beach in Mui Nei. I was sunburnt - yes - but it was worth it. You should have seen this place... it almost took my breath away. I want to thank everyone for their encouraging comments to my blog. It's been less than 2 weeks here, and it feels like a month. Saigon ... read more
Work Party for Tet
The Beach
Partying

Asia » Vietnam » Southeast » Ho Chi Minh City January 21st 2006

******WARNING******** THIS BLOG HAS SOME GRUESOME (ANIMAL-RELATED)CONTENT********THOSE WHO ARE POTENTIALLY WEAK OF HEART/STOMACH SHOULD NOT READ BEYOND THE FIRST PARAGRAPH. FURTHERMORE, DON'T LOOK AT ANY THE PHOTOS AFTER THE FIRST ONE. ********* Moving on, I went on my first road trip last week with Brian. We motorbiked to Vung Tao, a beach town 100 km from Ho Chi Minh. It took us about two hours, and was well worth it. Escaping the city was AMAZING!! The beach was pretty deserted because it was a wednesday and winter time. I brought the frisbee, so we tossed around a bit, swam, and then played soccer/frisbee with the locals on the beach. We had a seafood dinner, then drove home. In addition to getting away, this was good practice for our upcoming Tet trip. We're motorbiking (along with another ... read more
Fido skinned on the motorbikes
Sunday Roast
What's up?? Just Grillin'.




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