Koalat

We took a well-deserved sleep-in and almost missed breakfast. After yesterdays experience - I was not getting excited about pickled herrings, pickled cabbage, dubious looking meat cold cuts. Just stuck to the water scrambles eggs, overcooked bacon and toast. In "western" hotels - I hate it when they water down all the juices. It was no different here. Watered down orange, apple and multi-vitamin juices. Still - I need to have some to wash down the aforementioned food. Decided on tea this morning instead of the extra strong coffee. We decided to try the "Metro" and go to St. Isaacs church. I did not try the Metro in 1980 - but I knew that the Metro in Moscow was spotless so knew it would be the same in St. Petersburg. 45 rubles (1AU$) let's you ride ... read more

Our Austrian White Christmas tour finished after breakfast this morning - and we had to depart the hotel early to get to Munich Airport by 09.30am for check-in on our flight to St. Petersburg. I was last in this city (when it was known as Leningrad) in August 1980. I was a Tour Manager (then called "courier") for NAT Eurotours. My special areas of guiding beforehand had been Europe and North Africa. As the company was winding down it's camping tours - I was advised that as the particular tour called Scandinavia, Russia and the Greek Islands would be the last offered - I should do it. It was not a hard decision to make! My driver for this tour would be Neil H. - who had done this particular tour earlier in the year. He ... read more

I had been warned not to have breakfast at the hotel because it was not included in the price and was also not so good. While waiting for G&V to come down from their room - I retrieved my insulin from the hotel fridge. Hearing what sounded like a soft cackle coming from near a sink - I saw a caged chook under the drain pipe from the sink and over a trap. Looks like the house chook is also the "garbage disposal" and eats any of the food scraps that come down the drain pipe. I guess that's OK until you are fat enough to look like a good meal and become part of "com ga". We went a few meters to the next corner where we had Ca phe Saigon (frothed-up" black VN coffee ... read more

Had a good night sleep in the Jade Hotel. Quite a nice little property with excellent staff who make up for the lack of elevator and a few other fancy features. Simple breakfast - fresh fruit, toast, omelette, tea, coffee. Our first stop this morning was at the Elephant and Tiger arena (Ho Quyen) just a short distance from the centre. During the mid 19th and early 20th century there were annual "till death" battles between Elephants (noble) and Tigers (evil) for the entertainment of the Emperor and Lords. As the tigers (and sometimes leopards) were often tethered and de-clawed and their teeth filed down - it was inevitable that the elephant would win - often by trampling the tiger to death. Nearby is a shrine where the elephants are buried. From here we continued north-west ... read more

You do need to have transportation (other than Shanks' Pony) when you are living here. Whilst many places are walkable - in the cooler period over TET it's OK - but not so comfortable during the summer months. Last year when we were here - we bought a Yamaha scooter in partnership with local friend Minh. The deal is that we use it when we are here, and when we are "gone" - he can rent it out to guests staying at the nearby villa where he works. Using the bike - I return to Ba Le market - the local one just a couple of minutes ride from the unit - to re-aquaint with friends and market merchants we used on previous visits. The bike will come in handy to go to Da Nang (where ... read more