We have spent the last few days travelling further south in the hope that we might catch up with the sunshine. Unfortunately not! So in between seeing lovely Hue then learning to play Shithead in a surf shack on China Beach and wandering the even more lovely Hoi An we have been getting soaked through to our undies.
We really like Hoi An. It's a world heritage site filled with beautiful old merchant houses that now sell every colour of silk you can possibly imagine. It's currently flooded due to the river bursting it's banks from the torrential rain but that hasn't stopped the locals from trying to make money from the inconvenience. The boat that usually takes you along the river can now be taken through the flooded streets......another perfect example of the Vietnamese strong spirit.
It doesn't look like the weather is going to let up so with waterproofs on we are going further south on Sunday to Nha Trang and then Da Lat.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Born to be Wild
We hired a motorbike today (a Honda 1.25cc for Adams interest) and took ourselves out of the dusty city that is Ninh Binh to Kim Soc 30km away. May I add we looked pretty foxy in our pink and blue helmets.
Our aim was to reach Kim Soc, to visit an old Phat Diem Cathedral, in one piece and take some nice photos. This we did, although we did have 2 near death experiences along the way - not our fault.
Phat Diem is a catholic cathedral and sits in the middle of a region that I can only describe as having (bizarrely) a very english feel. We passed through various villages, all with churches and respective church spires and also white, thatched cottages. Strange but beautiful.
A great day but we are both suffering from the non tarmaced roads - sore bottoms!
Our aim was to reach Kim Soc, to visit an old Phat Diem Cathedral, in one piece and take some nice photos. This we did, although we did have 2 near death experiences along the way - not our fault.
Phat Diem is a catholic cathedral and sits in the middle of a region that I can only describe as having (bizarrely) a very english feel. We passed through various villages, all with churches and respective church spires and also white, thatched cottages. Strange but beautiful.
A great day but we are both suffering from the non tarmaced roads - sore bottoms!
Western Giant Vs Diminutive Vietnamese
Since our arrival in South East Asia we have noticed a significant difference in our size to the locals. So much so that clothes shop owners have actually laughed at us when we have seen something we liked and asked if it came in our size. Consequently I am travelling around Vietnam feeling like a giantess.
Bearing this in mind, Andrews keenness to interact with the locals landed us in trouble yesterday. A group of local men and boys were playing their version of volleyball (using a football) when their ball went astray. Andrew desperately wanting to help went running after the football and chose kicking the ball as a means of getting the ball back to them. The first kick, with his giant like feet, went flying into one of the teams motorbikes making it shudder in fright. Not to be put off by his first miscalculation he used his giant, weighty feet to kick a second time. This time the ball went wooshing into one of the players heads, knocking his motorbike helment from his head and sending the poor guy a greater shade of red.
As the onlooker I saw all of this happen in slow motion and could all but put my hands to my mouth in horror as the events unfolded. I imagine a similar thing happened to Andrew because as soon as the football struck the mans head he went running over to him to console him and profusely apologise. Luckily the guy that Andrew attacked was a nice soul and let it go. I, in the meantime, had to leave the incident because I was wetting myself and feared I would lose my tasty icecream in the heat.
Bearing this in mind, Andrews keenness to interact with the locals landed us in trouble yesterday. A group of local men and boys were playing their version of volleyball (using a football) when their ball went astray. Andrew desperately wanting to help went running after the football and chose kicking the ball as a means of getting the ball back to them. The first kick, with his giant like feet, went flying into one of the teams motorbikes making it shudder in fright. Not to be put off by his first miscalculation he used his giant, weighty feet to kick a second time. This time the ball went wooshing into one of the players heads, knocking his motorbike helment from his head and sending the poor guy a greater shade of red.
As the onlooker I saw all of this happen in slow motion and could all but put my hands to my mouth in horror as the events unfolded. I imagine a similar thing happened to Andrew because as soon as the football struck the mans head he went running over to him to console him and profusely apologise. Luckily the guy that Andrew attacked was a nice soul and let it go. I, in the meantime, had to leave the incident because I was wetting myself and feared I would lose my tasty icecream in the heat.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Down South
We sadly left Hanoi, heading south, on the Reunification Express. The Reunification Express is a rattling old train that travels north to south and visa versa picking up what feels like the whole of Vietnam on the way. Despite it's age it has a very posh new tv that shows musical asian soap operas for the entire journey........very loudly!
We are now in a lovely, clean hotel in Ninh Binh after checking out what is locally known as the Inland Halong Bay. Essentially limestone outcrops set amongst waterways that you can sail upon in a sampon. We hired bicycles to check out other local sights such as temples and caves that exist on the waterways along the way. A great day apart from having to navigate Highway 1, which is the backbone motorway of Vietnam. Everything and everyone travels on it and at great speed, honking as they go along at anything that it happens to be passing. Let's say it was a stressful experience but very peaceful once we were off Highway 1.
One thing to mention is Ninh Binh Water, a local liquor, that can only be described as paint stripper. Apparently Vietnamese woman consume it by the bottle.
Tomorrow we get a sleeper coach to Hue, the Imperial City of Vietnam and hopefully after that we will laze on a beach for a few days. As we're pooped!
We are now in a lovely, clean hotel in Ninh Binh after checking out what is locally known as the Inland Halong Bay. Essentially limestone outcrops set amongst waterways that you can sail upon in a sampon. We hired bicycles to check out other local sights such as temples and caves that exist on the waterways along the way. A great day apart from having to navigate Highway 1, which is the backbone motorway of Vietnam. Everything and everyone travels on it and at great speed, honking as they go along at anything that it happens to be passing. Let's say it was a stressful experience but very peaceful once we were off Highway 1.
One thing to mention is Ninh Binh Water, a local liquor, that can only be described as paint stripper. Apparently Vietnamese woman consume it by the bottle.
Tomorrow we get a sleeper coach to Hue, the Imperial City of Vietnam and hopefully after that we will laze on a beach for a few days. As we're pooped!
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Friday, November 7, 2008
Hanoi- 1st Impressions
It's amazing!!!!! Everyone needs to come and experience it. At this point I think it beats New Zealand after this 1st day.
We are staying in the old quarter of the city and its very chaotic with people selling and walking everywhere as well as scooters and cars driving all directions, at the same time. But the city is fantastic and people are really friendly. Emma says it reminds her of the Montmartre area of Paris. Yesterday we hungout in Old Quarter, visiting a temple on Hoan Kiem Lake and going to the Water Puppet Theatre. We found an excellent modern/traditional properganda poster shop called Dogma and I got a cool T-Shirt.
We went to a great restaurant for lunch, Highway 4, where Emma had soft shell crab. In the UK we get them imported and usually found in chinese supermarkets. Here they were freshwater crabs and looking like mini versions of our brown crabs. They had been boiled and stir fried in chilli and garlic. A very strange experience putting them into your mouth. You can feel their legs and crawls when you bite down. They also had dog, turtle, horse and sparrow on the menu but one step at a time. No adverse stomach problems yet!!!
Today we did Highway 4's traditional cookery course - soft shell crab soup, special fried rice and catfish spring rolls-mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!! It also involved a market visit to buy the ingredients to cook with which is located just outside of our hotel. We then took a cyclo to one of their restaurants where the head chief demostrated what we were going to do before we got on and cooked the dishes which we then ate. mmmmmmmmmmmmm
http://www.highway4.com/
It was great. Afterwards we had their Son Tinh liquor, straight its not great but in cocktails quite nice [so Emma says].
We are exploring the city for the rest of today and tomorrow and then we are off to Ha Long bay and Cat Ba island. I think tonight will be beers and street entertainment.
We are staying in the old quarter of the city and its very chaotic with people selling and walking everywhere as well as scooters and cars driving all directions, at the same time. But the city is fantastic and people are really friendly. Emma says it reminds her of the Montmartre area of Paris. Yesterday we hungout in Old Quarter, visiting a temple on Hoan Kiem Lake and going to the Water Puppet Theatre. We found an excellent modern/traditional properganda poster shop called Dogma and I got a cool T-Shirt.
We went to a great restaurant for lunch, Highway 4, where Emma had soft shell crab. In the UK we get them imported and usually found in chinese supermarkets. Here they were freshwater crabs and looking like mini versions of our brown crabs. They had been boiled and stir fried in chilli and garlic. A very strange experience putting them into your mouth. You can feel their legs and crawls when you bite down. They also had dog, turtle, horse and sparrow on the menu but one step at a time. No adverse stomach problems yet!!!
Today we did Highway 4's traditional cookery course - soft shell crab soup, special fried rice and catfish spring rolls-mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!! It also involved a market visit to buy the ingredients to cook with which is located just outside of our hotel. We then took a cyclo to one of their restaurants where the head chief demostrated what we were going to do before we got on and cooked the dishes which we then ate. mmmmmmmmmmmmm
http://www.highway4.com/
It was great. Afterwards we had their Son Tinh liquor, straight its not great but in cocktails quite nice [so Emma says].
We are exploring the city for the rest of today and tomorrow and then we are off to Ha Long bay and Cat Ba island. I think tonight will be beers and street entertainment.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Oh, things I liked about Christchurch
Christchurch is dull. Not enough people and not enough going on, although it does have a beautiful botanical garden and the art gallery isn't bad either.
However, there were 2 highlights for me. The first being the terrier that lived at our backpackers in Sumner. He had Lassie like qualities in that he liked to run away and have adventures in the big city. He is quite famous for this and given that Sumner is a 20 minute bus journey from Christchurch I think he's a plucky little fellow. Apparently whenever he is spotted by the backpacker guests his owners receive a call and the little adventurer is dragged kicking and barking back to normality. This amused me lots.
The second highlight (a bit of a weird one) was the bus exchange in the centre of town. It reminded me of so many American movies where transient and sinister goings on happen night and day........although probably not in Christchurch!
However, there were 2 highlights for me. The first being the terrier that lived at our backpackers in Sumner. He had Lassie like qualities in that he liked to run away and have adventures in the big city. He is quite famous for this and given that Sumner is a 20 minute bus journey from Christchurch I think he's a plucky little fellow. Apparently whenever he is spotted by the backpacker guests his owners receive a call and the little adventurer is dragged kicking and barking back to normality. This amused me lots.
The second highlight (a bit of a weird one) was the bus exchange in the centre of town. It reminded me of so many American movies where transient and sinister goings on happen night and day........although probably not in Christchurch!
Vietnam Crazy
The arrival here was somewhat stressful. After a white knuckle ride in the taxi along the highway surrounded by scooters literally coming in all directions we had arranged to stay at a hotel found on the internet, however, when we got there the rooms were not as depicted on the internet..........sparking electrics, smoking a/c and damp walls. My backpack has never moved so fast!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyway, found a more suitable place to stay around the corner in The Old Quarter.
We hit the Bai Hoi's (drinking dens) for some Vietnamese beers, which cost around 10p per glass! At this point Andrew's jet lag kicked in and after 2 beers his eyes were spinning and began waffling absolute nonsense so time for bed.
This morning we woke early and took a walk around the food market at the bottom of the street. A myriad of weird and wonderful things were for sale.....live frogs (tied together in bunches), rabbits, snails, fish, fish heads oozing with blood and still moving, usual farmyard stuff and something that I was not entirely sure about..... a big tail that was still having the dark fur scraped off. Dog is a speciality here but Andrew thinks it was cow. I'm still pondering that one.
Anyway, found a more suitable place to stay around the corner in The Old Quarter.
We hit the Bai Hoi's (drinking dens) for some Vietnamese beers, which cost around 10p per glass! At this point Andrew's jet lag kicked in and after 2 beers his eyes were spinning and began waffling absolute nonsense so time for bed.
This morning we woke early and took a walk around the food market at the bottom of the street. A myriad of weird and wonderful things were for sale.....live frogs (tied together in bunches), rabbits, snails, fish, fish heads oozing with blood and still moving, usual farmyard stuff and something that I was not entirely sure about..... a big tail that was still having the dark fur scraped off. Dog is a speciality here but Andrew thinks it was cow. I'm still pondering that one.
Singapore briefly
Well it really was brief but enough to give us a taste of the city. We checked into a great homestay and essentially managed to sample some of the local cuisine, see the locals go about their daily chores and fit in a Singapore Sling in the Long Bar at Raffles Hotel. It's a very modern, affluent city and it's blooming humid!
Great to see but other places to be..........................................
Great to see but other places to be..........................................
Monday, November 3, 2008
The End of New Zealand
Well we have finally arrived in Christchurch. It's grey and cool and on first glance of the city centre I do not think anyway as nice as the other parts of the east coast of the south island.
We gave up the Wickered camper-car which was a blessed relief, 3.5 weeks in it, after doing over 1000km and only 4 nights in m/hotels to escape the rain and claustrophobia of it every night [photos to come].
We fly to Singapore tomorrow and then onto Vietnam. We are expecting a massive culture shock because New Zealand has so many references to the UK, from loads of TV programmes to 70's style tea shops/hotels/ to the music on the radio/in the shops. Everyone speaks English and its easy to get around and experience the islands. Its definitely worth visiting New Zealand as its a beautiful island with some breath taking landscapes. That said, I have found that it is full either old people, who are either tourists or whom live here, or working visa kids. That means the majority of the activities are aimed that them so you are always on it or go so slow you might fall asleep. If any one is thinking about visiting then you definately should but try and give yourselves as much time as possible and possibly concerntrate oneither the north or south island.
Anyway, I went cycling around Queenstown, a 50K ride to Arrowtown and nearly crippled myself. I was riding a new saddle, had new cycle shoes on and didn't have padded shorts on, ouch!!! really ouch!!!!! Afterwards I found it hard to sit down and I walked like John Wayne.
I will try and uploads some more photos before I leave - tandom wine tasting, glacier walking, absailing down100m!!!!
We gave up the Wickered camper-car which was a blessed relief, 3.5 weeks in it, after doing over 1000km and only 4 nights in m/hotels to escape the rain and claustrophobia of it every night [photos to come].
We fly to Singapore tomorrow and then onto Vietnam. We are expecting a massive culture shock because New Zealand has so many references to the UK, from loads of TV programmes to 70's style tea shops/hotels/ to the music on the radio/in the shops. Everyone speaks English and its easy to get around and experience the islands. Its definitely worth visiting New Zealand as its a beautiful island with some breath taking landscapes. That said, I have found that it is full either old people, who are either tourists or whom live here, or working visa kids. That means the majority of the activities are aimed that them so you are always on it or go so slow you might fall asleep. If any one is thinking about visiting then you definately should but try and give yourselves as much time as possible and possibly concerntrate oneither the north or south island.
Anyway, I went cycling around Queenstown, a 50K ride to Arrowtown and nearly crippled myself. I was riding a new saddle, had new cycle shoes on and didn't have padded shorts on, ouch!!! really ouch!!!!! Afterwards I found it hard to sit down and I walked like John Wayne.
I will try and uploads some more photos before I leave - tandom wine tasting, glacier walking, absailing down100m!!!!
Saturday, November 1, 2008
1 Month
1st November was our 1 month away mark. We ended up staying in Queenstown for Halloween but it turned out to be very disappointing because the hundreds of working visa 'teenagers' take over and get drunk. It made us feel old!!
We left there and headed across to the east coast and for ended up in a beautiful fishing village called Moeraki.
http://www.moerakivillageholidaypark.co.nz/
The weather is beautiful and best of all it has a great restaurant called Fleurs.
http://www.fleursplace.com/
Fleur is a famous restaurateur in NZ and we had great food and wine there last night. I tried a local speciality - a Muttonbird, basically a seabird. Well its an acquired taste. Its meat it like puffin but it has a layer of fat just below the skin which is not nice, yak!!!! But I ate it and had juice all over the place as you have to eat it with your hands.
We have decided to stay for here tonight because the weather is so nice and go to see the penguins and Moeraki Boulders.
We left there and headed across to the east coast and for ended up in a beautiful fishing village called Moeraki.
http://www.moerakivillageholidaypark.co.nz/
The weather is beautiful and best of all it has a great restaurant called Fleurs.
http://www.fleursplace.com/
Fleur is a famous restaurateur in NZ and we had great food and wine there last night. I tried a local speciality - a Muttonbird, basically a seabird. Well its an acquired taste. Its meat it like puffin but it has a layer of fat just below the skin which is not nice, yak!!!! But I ate it and had juice all over the place as you have to eat it with your hands.
We have decided to stay for here tonight because the weather is so nice and go to see the penguins and Moeraki Boulders.
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