Taxi You are right about taxi trouble, event thought Vietnamese be cheated by them. Government is trying to find way to protect vistors in this matter but it may take more time...hoho. The Saigon Airport taxi and 'black taxi' (we call black taxi coz they are private car not taxi company who come to you offer 'good rate', it's risky if you forget your belonging on the taxi, you can't get them back), these two taxi are cheated customers always. As leaving the airport terminal, you turn left to get taxi such as Mai Linh - green taxi most of drivers are from army, I like them!! or Vinasun Taxi-white taxi, they always use meters.
Don't forget to write down the taxi number and phone, just in case you need to call them back.
Hello Raja,
I'm responding to this cause I think it is absolutely hillarious. You make so many assumptions in this post I don't even know where to start. For one, I fail to see how this post suggests that I am in anyway promiscuous or a bitch for that matter, also why would I go to India if I were racist? I actually enjoyed my time in India, so much so that I intend to make a return trip sooner rather than later. Please lighten up, there is no need to take yourself so seriously, I sure as hell don't.
You racist slut bitch, who asked you to come to India. Karnataka state alone exports 50 billion dollars of software. Who needs white trash like you visiting our beautiful state with your condescending cliched bull crap about Indians. You probably spent the equivalent of 50$ in your whole trip.Cheap red neck trash like you, skimming off the system, living in flea bag hotels and making comments, thats rich!
PS PS info on the backwaters, Kochi, and other places in Kerala is welcome, too!
I'll be in Coimbatore in mid January to March, if you want to drop by.
info on staying w locals?? I enjoyed reading your write up on your travels through Kerala: just got the page on Varkkala - Kerala Backwaters - Kochi. But that was perfect, as it is exactly what I am considering, too! But I had chosen Varkkala because it is supposed to be secluded, quiet, out of the tourist route. And from what you describe, it seems it is quite noisy and touristy? Also, I read elsewhere that the waters are not the best for easy, relaxed swimming ... Is it true that the waves are quite strong and big? Is there another beach you would recommend that would be secluded, quiet, out of the tourist route and with easy swimming? Hmm, and Iyengar yoga, and scuba ...
But most importantly, from what I read, it seems you have stayed with locals. Could you please tell me how you contacted them? For I went to a "hoome-stay" page, and it turned out to be expensive hotels! Info on student hostels is also welcome ...
Thank you very much and best wishes on your travels!
By the way, in Karnataka state you can get wonderful early-bird yoga classes for free, as there is a network all over the state providing them. In Mysore one place is in a temple only a few blocks from the Palace.
Quite interesting experiance :) First of all like to tell that i reached your blog through one of the pic on your this blog page,"the pic in which you are standing in front of India Gate, Delhi" . :)
I have also posted one comment in your kerala visit page too...
Pics are good, "definetely award winning pics :) haha" you described the things in a very natural way... as i was feeling i am moving in delhi :) haha... nice way...
ever again have any chance to come to delhi then do not forget to write me :) may be i will meet u in delhi :) some day...
takecare... wishes... dharm :)
Interesting to read your visit to india :) hii, my name is dharm... i am from Delhi, India... i was searching some pics on google and reached to your blog :)... nice to know ur experiance in india :) quite funny too... yes there are lots of truth in your words about india the traffic rules just for name and other things... :)...
I saw some pics on your blog too ... nice shot :)... you are looking pretty as well ;)...
Rgds.
Dharm
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David Ng Vietnam Tourguide
jealous a ot i feel myself lucky i met this blog of urs..wide opened my view of travel ideas..as a lover of nature vietnam was nowhere for me but now can see that one of must seen places before death..i hope i can oneday ,if cant before death ,God has alot to answer me there if there is one..
ps:ananoymous is noone to respond ever..
Wow, Anonymous, you are clearly someone who has been wronged by an Australian/white person, but you're also very arrogant and ignorent to assume anything about someone's life after reading a page of travel blog let alone use their nationality and race as an insult. I can guarantee that whatever country you come from also has its bad past and to use that against someone is just sad. So considering that you spend your time trawling throught blogs intended for family and friends with no point but to start arguments, it seems to me that "your tone of writing expresses your stupid, stingy behavior that definitely makes your life miserable. "
Dear 'anonymous',
I'm going publish this because I believe everyone is entitled to their own opinion. If you don't like my blog don't read it, quite simple. I write this for my friends and family at home, not you. If you had bothered to read then you would have realised that money really isn't the issue here and I don't hate Vietnam, I am more than happy to pay foreigner prices, the issue is being lied to. Either way, perhaps next time you should seek some ground for your insults rather than attack someone whose background you have no knowledge of.
If you hate Vietnam, you'd better get out immediately. Why staying there? You are just some offsprings of the criminal prisoners who robbed land of aborigines? Your tone of writing expresses your stupid, stingy behavior that definitely makes your life miserable. USD 5 are big to you, then at your home what do you normally eat? Sh*t, right? Stay at home, those poor, stingy, uneducated whites!
Riding elephants looks like a quite a thrill, although it's a shame the tubbing scene failed to deliver (you were so excited prior to leaving). It looks as though you may have actually developed a tan, Kate. To quote a few ex-Eastwood Public students, "that bitch", haha.
Haha, you just wait till I spend the last 2 weeks of this trip at the beaches of the Thai Islands, then you will see the full force of my tan!!
Don't know why you seem to think I am not enjoying myself or that I am homesick! On the contrast I am having an excellent time and whilst I miss the comforts of home and family and friends I am in no way ready to come home. Both Merric and I agree that Angkor has been the best thing that we have seen on this holiday. If you are referring to our experiances in Vientaine and Pakse, we knew before coming they were places which we would find dull - both were visited simply as a means to get elsewhere.
Either way, I will admit that SE Asia has not captured me in the same way as India did... but I think that's mainly due to the fact that India is so challenging to travel in (and thus more rewarding) and not as touristy. Where as SE Asia is so easy to travel in and EXTREMELY touristy... even when you try and get off the tourist trail.
I'm not sure what gave you the idea I wasn't moved by the Killing Fields. My visit there certainly did not make me feel any better after the couple of hours I had just spent at Toul Sleng. Whilst for me, it was no where near as horrifying as Toul Sleng it is not a place I am keen to return to.
Not travelling to Amritstar was one of the hardest decisions we have had to make on this trip. You have to understand, if it was up to us, we would have gone. However, it was only once we got to Jaisalmer we realised that we couldn't go to Amritsar directly (even if a train line connects it, doesn't mean there is a train running!) and once there we simply didn't have enough time. It would have taken almost 3 days straight travelling (Jaisalmer has no active airport due to its proximity to the Pakistan border) which would have given us 1 day in Amritsar and then a day to get to Dehli by train to get the flight out. As we have come to realise, it is not unusual for trains to be cancelled due or many hours late. You'll see sometimes things don't work out when you are travelling and thats just the way it is. Not to concerned though as I am already planning a return journey taking in much of the North West and North East I didn't get to see. You need at least 6 months to do India justice, so really, I'm not even halfway there!
The King of Bus is a concept that may very well work in Kings Cross, haha. Nevertheless, I was shocked to see you sporting a tan.
Sounds as though South-East Asia hasn't quite met your expectations yet. I'm hoping it improves in the coming weeks, although remember that your increasing homesickness may be dulling your take on proceedings (try to counter that by thinking about how hard I am working and the lack of a life I now lead due to being employed full-time).
Kate, I was surprised to hear the Killing Fields didn't capture you more than was indicated above. From what other friends have told me, they were brought to tears by the dispicable actions that the scene depicts. Perhaps, though, they were especially upset because they felt obligated to be rather than due to a underlying feeling of death. I'm interested to hear your thoughts, nevertheless.
Doesn't seem to matter where you go the scenery is breath-takingly beautiful. Asians sure know how to commemorate their leaders and gods! Puts the Harbour Bridge and Opera House to shame. What did greatly surprise me was that Cambodia was markedly cleaner than India. I expect such stories of Vietnam or Thailand but I had no idea Cambodia's tourist industry was so developed.
Hello!
I have just finished my undergrad science degree and am off travelling for 5 months around India and South East Asia. Here I will keep you up to date on my latest adventures and post my award winning travel photographs.
Look forward to seeing you all in 5 months,
Kate
... full info
Kal C
non-member comment
Very nicely taken. Wonder what time of the day it was.