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Published: July 30th 2006
shopping for breakfast
a breakfast that consisted of deer jerky, some dried fruit jam and nuts. pretty much anything werid we could find,Hi
Well I have finally figured out how to blog and it only took me half me trip. Here is a little recap of events so far. I stated in Bali meeting up with me baby sister. We traveled around to the Gili Island for a few days of sun and fun and a lot of diving. After that we took a 4 day boat trip down to the Komodo area to see the dragons and had a blast along the way. When we reached Flores it was a few more dives and snorkeling with Manta Rays!! Before moving down the island at an incredibly slow rate (roads are horrible and full of turns) towards the volcano. After a short but cramped plane ride we were back in Bali for a few days of shopping before flying out to Bangkok.
I had to wait a day in Bangkok for Addie to arrive, as we had different flights and that was about enough time for me to remember that I really don't like that city that much. When Addie arrived we sent one more day there to get transportation sorted and then it was off to Cambodia. After a 19
diving in vietman
before we go in everyone is all smiles hour slow bus ride which was supposed to take 12 we arrived in Siem Reap in the middle of the night and out of complete pride we choose not to stay at the hotel where we were dropped, since they had be paid a to bring us there and that is why the trip took so long, but to grabbed our bags and walk the streets with 6 other people to find our own accommodation. After seeing Angkor wat and the surrounding temples we headed off to Phnom Penh. We stayed by the lake which was nice but I had forgotten how noise travels on water and I had also forgotten that they love karaoke over here. We went the killing fields and the S-12 museum, which was a school until the Khmer rouge took it over as a prison to hold and intricate. That evening we watched the moving the killing field at the guest house we were staying at. I still can not understand how a country that has gone though so much pain and destruction can have such a open heart, and how they hold no ill will towards the men and women who killed millions of
their people. We were going to head father south but the whether was turning rainy so instead of the beach we went to a town where we were able to visit a deserted city which had once been home to the French. During the war it had been abandoned and no one had ever really gone back. All the buildings we windowless and door less and because of the rainy conditions flog creaped throught them as well as any bullet holes. The town had a very haunted feeling but the creepiest place was the old casino where we had lunch. Eating curry off a plastic table, the floor covered with water; flog rolling in and out, looking out the hole that was once a window and being eye level to the clouds. After that it was a quick stop in Phnom Penh again to get our Vietnam visas and visit a local orphanage to have dinner and play with the children ( one of my favorite things so far).
Crossing over to Vietnam was very interesting. I was shocked at how openly officials are bribed and how it is almost the normal thing to do.
We stared our
Viet man adventure in Saigon. one of the only big cities I been too that I really liked. We were so impressed with the friendly HAPPY guide that had met us at the boarder that we booked a trip to the tunnel that run for hundreds of mile just out side the city. It is where 20,000 Vietnamese lived during the war. We also did a trip down the Mekong Delta; it was interesting to see how people still live on the water in these little shakes with ducks swimming in and out and children going to school in their canoes. We got to see how Coconut candy is made ( don't worry I got some so most of you will be able to see how it taste as well) we held a large snake and went down small rivers in four person canoes with our traditional grass hats on with the perfect point. After spending a few days in Saigon we moved on to a sea side town named Mui Na. Not much to do in town and the water was rather dirty, but we made arrangements to hire a jeep with these guys we had meet in Saigon
crazy house
why are all honeymoon places so tacky. I think this town is worse then the falls. to see the near by sand dunes the next day. After an evening of food and drink the second more then the first, we headed to bed looking forward to the next day.
We started off going to what looked like a dirty creek beside restaurant, but a few meters upstream turned into one of the most beautiful tranquil stream I have every seem. It water was angle deep and the sand was dark red, even though the walk was to get to a waterfall it was really getting there that was the most fun. We went to the white sand dunes next and we were jumped on by loads of little kids. They sort of claim you by holding your hand. As we headed out onto the dunes it was like walking into a desert, the wind blowing sand everywhere and nothing in front of you but dune after dune after dune. Adrienne and I didn't realize that you went done head first on these piece of plastic, quite like a crazy carpet used for snow at home. We also didn't realize that the kids jump on your backs half way down. After a few tries we went
adrienne in wonderland
this is really a hotel thatyou can stay at down one slope that lead to a lake, we all went in fully dressed. The water was so nice we spent a while there just playing with the kids and throwing them around. After a very quick period to dry off we went to the red caverns, an area of hard sand that has been carved out by water. It is alright to climb but as Chirs and I found out when it starts to crumble it crumbles fast. Now I was completely covered in orange / red sand we headed to the red sand dunes for sun set. After climbing up we realized that it was too cloudy to see the sun so the boy started playing football with some local kids who had set up sledges as goals and Addie and I relaxed in the sand.
The next day we were up and out early heading inward and upward to Dalat. Chris and Daniel stayed an extra day at the beach but we met Sophie on the bus and soon enough were thick as thieves. After a very squished bus ride, a mini bus for 12 held about 16, we were there. We ended up staying where
the bus dropped us, we usually don't do this but the girl at the front desk was so lovely that we gave it a go. 3 night 4 days in Dalat and we had 3 night s and 31/2 days of rain. It was so cold that I had to go and buy a fleece! Addie and I went horseback riding, well more like horse back walking, but it was my first time and a lot of fun. Once the boys met up with us we were off again back towards the beach and hopefully the sun.
All the pictures posted on are from the next stop Nha Trang, except the shopping for breakfast that was in Dalat.
We spent forever tiring to find a good hotel once we reached Nha Trang and when we did it was only available for two nights.
Second day there we all sent out on the dive boat. Addie Sophie and I went diving and Imran Chris and Daniel went snorkeling. I must say that it was the worse dive I think I have done. Well with a dive company, Patrick and I tried off the beach in Florida and that
was quite horrible. The crews were perverts, there was no dive plan, no buddy checks, they rushed us off the boat and the two guys we went down with I don't think were even dive masters. One kept kicking Adrienne and the other was touching everything from Coral to clams. When we left that morning I was planning how long we could stay for so I could dive a ton but by the time we set off back there was no way I wanted to go with that company again. That night we went out and had a few happy hour drinks before dinner. Then we had a few happy hour buckets after dinner. Let me just say that I really don't remember much of the night but I do know that at 8 in the morning I was awake because a crazy girl was in our room trying to call the boys who were in the next room so they could pay for the snorkeling trip form the day before, Which they had already paid for! It was a great way to wake up and I don't think the banging left my head for the rest of the day.
when geokos attack
the dragonfly was twice his size I am going to publish now because this is getting way to long and I am sick of trying to catch up. I will write more tomorrow, I am only a few days behind now.
Later
Claire
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Stringer
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About time!
Hey Claire! Thanks for the call this morning. Nice work on the blog. It's nice to finally hear what you guys are up to! (That's all the guilt I am giving you for not including me on the email list) Adrienne will get hers when I see her! I read the whole thing and as expected am terribly jealous. Sounds like a great time on all fronts. Emma is showing a fair bit now, and we have both felt the baby moving around. I am really quite shocked but I don't think that she wants to find out what sex it's going to be!!! You know how terrible she is with surprises and all. We'll see if she can last another 4 months not knowing. ;-) Glad to hear that you are both having fun and we look forward to seeing you both in a couple weeks. I am sure Pat is missing you too. Save travels, sis! Mike