Vietnam. Final Thoughts.

31st March 2014. Lucky hotel, district 1,Saigon.

We are sitting in our hotel room at the Lucky Hotel Saigon for our last few hours here. The only thing lucky about this hotel is that we are lucky we did not have to sleep here. It's a bit of a dump,it stinks and the air con is crap. Luckily I only booked it for a night knowing we do not have to sleep here. We are just using it as a base before our flight just after midnight.

Although I have called this post "final thoughts" there can never be final thoughts of Vietnam. I will always remember our time here and have so many memories of this brilliant country.
From arrival at Hanoi Airport the drive into centre of Hanoi was hilarious. Watching the the crazy traffic, especially the motorbikes was to become a daily form of entertainment. There is nothing these people can not get on the back of a moped.

Not so secure. security guard.

The highlights are numerous. We have sailed in the Gulf of Tonkin at the glorious Halong bay. We have swam in the South China Sea, slept on the night trains, mixed with the tribes of the black Hmong. I have had my haircut in Hanoi and my throat cut in Hoi an. Well not quite, but the open cut razor that the Vietnamese lady used on me felt very close.

We have eaten street food Vietnamese style, Deb ate crocodile meat. We have seen coffee plantations and rice terraces that are pure genius and a result of Vietnamese engineuity.

We have taken a paddle boat along the Famous Mekong Delta, marvelled at the citadel in Hue. We
have traversed the longest over sea cable car in the world to the Fabulous Vinpearl and watched the
sharks swimming over our heads in the breathtaking aquarium.

Saigon  Baggies.

On a personal level I have fulfilled many of the things I wanted including the War museums of Hanoi and Saigon, also the infamous Hanoi Hilton.
Inside the regional market in Hue we were stared at like we were a couple of Martians. On many
occasions people have requested for us to have their photos taken with us.
Most of all from this amazing adventure I will remember the people of Vietnam. Where do I start? They are humble, hard working, resourceful, friendly, helpful and tough. So bloody tough.
Watching the road workers outside of Dalat made me realise why this country prevailed against the
might of the USA.

Their ability to work so hard in such archaic conditions puts us to shame with our
health and safety police making it impossible for our kids to grow up without any danger. The Vietnamese are proud, every street and most buildings fly the national flag.
But most of all the children and young adults are so refreshingly happy. They always smile, always wave and the students love to engage you in conversations to practice their English skills.
When you hear 15 year olds talking about how tourism is boosting their economy and being vital to their country's growth it shows a collective togetherness. The children's school day starts early and finish late. Their education is SO important to them.
 I hope this country doesn't change too much. There is no evidence of drugs or alcohol addiction, everyone works in whatever way it takes to earn a crust. People work or will work whenever there is money to be made. No nine til 5 here.


Finally, by the time we get home we have been in 10 hotels, 4 sleeper trains, 1 sleeper bus, 17 mini buses or coaches, 24 taxis, 3 motorbikes, 2 cable cars, 7 boats and 1 jeep. We have travelled 1650 miles on buses and trains between our locations in Vietnam.
I have taken around 9000 photos and can't wait to have a look at them and some of the video clips I took, but could not upload due to my laptop struggling the render the heavy files.
This blog has had 1148 page views so has been worthwhile doing. Thanks to all at home who have followed our trip including, Laura and Jason, Yvonne and Les, Aron and Jenni, Vicki and Taylor, Pamela and Donna, Pete Pauline and mom. And some of the lads from Royal Mail.

It's been a real adventure, a real eye opener. It's been funny, exhausting, exhilarating and relaxing all at the same time. Although it's another line ticked off my bucket list I would love to think we could return one day. It's been a real " dream journey".

Mekong Delta Tour

29th March 2014. Mekong Delta

Today we set out on possibly the last tour of the trip. We were collected from our hotel and transferred to the tour bus for the two hour drive to My Tho.

Mekong Delta Boat

There we boarded a boat on the magnificent Mekong river for a short hop to Dragon Island. Throughout the day we were swapped from boat to boat to be paddled down the tributaries of the Mekong Delta. We went to Unicorn Island and Turtle island.
We visited villages to try honey straight from the hive, coconut drinks, rice wine before a free lunch of spring rolls rice & vegetables with some unidentifiable meat.

Deb with the bee hive

I got to have a giant snake around my neck while Deb stuck her finger in a bee hive.
We spent most of the day with a fellow Brit who now lived in Australia and he ordered crocodile meat for his lunch. I never tried it myself but Deb did and was impressed.

Me with a snake. 

We eat exotic fruit, listened to local musicians and vocalists before stumbling upon a bunch of mad Vietnamese  youngsters up to their waists in mud trying to catch fish by hand. They were loving it and happy to pose for photos.

 Local singers & musicians

A final boat ride took us back to the mainland for the journey back to Ho Chi Min City.
On return to the hotel Deb asked the young lad at the hotel if he liked football. He said he loved it and Deb asked him if he wanted an Albion shirt she had bought with her.
You would have thought she had given him the winning lottery ticket. He was so grateful he kept bowing and saying thank you. I hope he doesent look at the league table tonight or he might bring it back.

Like the hat !

Local drink. With crab

Mad locals having fun

 Caught by hand

Deb enjoys the heat-Mid 30s.

Boat person

Anyone for crocodile meat?

Or Fish

Saigon-Ho Chi Min City. Unbelievable.

27th March 2014. Ho Chi Min City/Saigon

Yesterday evening our sleeper bus inched its way in to the heaving mass of a city that is now officially called Ho Chi Min City but is still called Saigon by most Westerners.

Our sleeper bus

We did not have much time to explore the place at the late hour after we had found our hotel, courtesy of a taxi driver with a very dodgy meter.
This morning after a very nice breakfast we walked to the War remnants museum a few blocks from the hotel. Its made up mostly of photographs from the conflict although there are several planes, tanks and helicopters on show outside.

Deb at War Remnants Museum

 Its a distressing experience with many photos showing the damage caused by "agent orange" that left so many disfigured. Also many images from the Mai Lai massacre in which a platoon of Americans killed over 500 men, woman and children without a shot being returned in anger.

Distressed victims

It can be a bit ghoulish looking at these things but if we are to learn from our history its important to see the mistakes that were made, much like at Auschwitz.

War munitions

From here we headed into town, spending a brief period in the Culture park where people did their exercises, played instruments and took photos. We had to return to the hotel not long after as the blistering heat was proving too much for Deb.

 Culture park

Pineapple drink seller

I got to try his paddle

On the evening I went for a walk and had a bite to eat in a local roadside cafe packed with locals. I became a source of amusement as they were all keen to talk to me but communication was a major problem.

Just sitting at the cafe for half an hour was an experience. This city is a sea of humanity. It is said to be the 36th most populated city on earth. Just walking within a few blocks of our hotel I could feel the energy of the place. Everywhere you look there is something, someone or some site that captures your attention. I cant really describe it but the place is awesome. It  even puts Hanoi in the shade. I cant wait to see more of it tomorrow.

Bike of the day

Saigon at Night

 

Photo Studio

 

View from my roadside cafe

On the Road again to Mui Ne

24th March 2014: Mui Ne

We had a prompt pick up at 7am from Dalat. The small mini bus was packed to the rafters with people and luggage and the journey on the terrible pitted roads made for a nauseous few hours.

George and Ellie from the mini bus ride

Today we met people closer to home starting on the bus with a young couple, George from Stoke and Ellie, his partner from Solihull. It helps pass the time when you have fresh faces to talk to so the 3 and a half hour journey passed quite quickly.

I practiced my hammock skills

Our hotel is quite pleasant, right on the beach with its own private section with sun beds and shady areas.
We were both so tired we slept for 3 hours before venturing out along the long Russian dominated road into the centre. We booked a sunset tour for tomorrow where we will be picked up by jeep and taken to a few locations before the sunset that is said to be beautiful here.

View from our hotel room

We found a bar near the centre that sold western food and despite the fact that this is a fishing village that has every sort of sea creature on show along the front, Deb had burger and chips and I had a pizza. Talk about Brits abroad. There was live entertainment from a lovely guy from Manila with a distinct "Cat Stevens" style.
His melancholy music together with his easy going connection with the audience made for an enjoyable evening. He even serenaded Deb with his own arrangement of "your song".

Its a little bit funny, this feeling inside

Deb enjoys the sunshine.

In the bar we met a couple even closer to home. Rick from Nuneaton and Samantha from Smiths Wood have been travelling for 14 months through Asia and had us in stitches about their tales about India. They had also worked as English teachers in Thailand.
This was our latest night out so far as we returned after midnight ready for a nice kip followed by a busy day tomorrow.

Our hotel

Strange sea creatures

Anyone for a crab ?

Dalat Landscape Tour. Superb

23rd March 2014. Dalat

After a bit of a drab day yesterday today was the total opposite. We were picked up at 0900 hours for a tour of local farms factories and villages. Not too thrilling you may think but it was a real enjoyable day. Along with two French girls, an American, two Israelis, A Londoner, a couple of Japanese and a guy from Montreal. I know he was from Montreal because he began every sentence with " back home in Montreal". We were on the road to a flower farm. Dalat only has two seasons unlike our four,we were told so it makes it a perfect climate for growing flowers among other things.

Minority Village Character

We went next to a minority village to see how the real poor people live in Vietnam. For all I know they could all be character actors but if they are not they are certainly characters. There were monkeys chained by the neck and pigs in cages.

Poor monkey

 Poor but smiling

Then onto the cricket farm where they are bred as a delicacy. We were offered a sample to eat but I declined. I'm more of a slug man myself and besides, I didn't want to spoil my dinner.

Crickets on the Menu. No thanks.

We also went to a coffee plantation where I purchased a coffee gadget that they use here plus a bag of prime coffee. I just hope they let me through customs with it.

On then to the magnificent Linh An Tu Temple with its Giant Buddha. I had a few minutes of panic when I tought I had lost my Gopro camera but was relieved to find it later in a place I do not usually put it.

Deb's on Big Buddha

Next it was to the Elephant Waterfalls. We were invited to climb down some steps to see them. My god, health and safety has not arrived in Vietnam yet. The perilous decent would have tested Chris Bonnington and my rickety knees were rebelling.

Elephant Falls. Awesome

The falls were magical. So we took a few minutes taking photos before a further decent underneath the falls where it was possible to swim. (Not for me).

Following this it was lunch time, Vietnamese style. With my recently abused digestive system sensing a problem I nibbled away at the food. All sorts of meets and veggies with rice and spring rolls. It must have been good because ten thousand flies joined us for a bite to eat themselves.

Lunch. The Flies loved it

We still had more to do including watching young woman working in a silk factory. They work for 9 hours a day for about ten dollars a day in terrible conditions.

Silk factory worker

We then made our way back to Dalat on a road that is undergoing some major improvements. We had encountered the road on the way out. There were loads of blocks working. Some were bashing away at giant rocks with a 12 inch chisel and a small lump hammer. These are tough blokes. Carrying baskets full of rocks on their shoulders. Pushing wheel barrows overloaded with incredible loads. Respect. Real respect.

Respect for these real tough guys.

We had a bizarre stop off to Dalat Railway station that is no longer in use. I dont really know why we went there but I did get to snap another married couple. I also had my photo taken by one of the Vietnamese wedding photographers who I got chatting to. Apparently the young couples do their wedding photos before their day so that they can enjoy the actual real wedding day more.

Thanks guys. 

I gave him my business card and he said he would contact me and I was to look him up when we get to Saigon. He also knewe all about the Albion and the Premier league. He said Albion were a tough team but should have kept Lukaku. Spot on.

We had one final stop off to the "Crazy House". The title says it all. Its a house built with rooms and staircases going off in all direction and funny shapes.

Deb at the Crazy house

We were then dropped back at the hotel. A seven and a half hour tour, with food for about £8.00 each. Remarkable value for money.

Now we are off again in the morning for a 5 hour journey to Mui Ne. Another Russian summer playgroundon the coast and our last stop off before Siagon.