As this was my last day in Hong Kong and I was not leaving the hotel till 6ish I took my time and packed my bags then checked out at 12 noon and then just went to look for a copy of the 'Lonely Liar' for Australia (but the prices were horrendous) I just spent the rest of the day walking the various market areas and parks on the peninsular and then back to9 the Hotel to get my bag and take the coach back to the Airport. Gutted at the Airport, I had planned to get a small bottle of Whisky but Australia (and the USA) have banned ALL carry-on liquids more than 100ml – including duty free's (luckily you can buy it on arrival at Brisbane)
Free Wifi again at Hong Kong airport, why not in rip-off-Britain?
The flight was good and considering it was over 9 hours, following an evening meal I slipped into a deep sleep and woke only for breakfast on the plane about 2 hours before we landed.
My Map
Friday, January 29, 2010
Hong Kong Day 2
I had seen lots of interesting things out and about yesterday not least was effectively a huge electrical and electronics street market near to where I had bought my radio. I went back up there with the intention of trying to find a small MP3 player for when I will be driving later. I ended up buying a Multimedia player which seems to play anything including video and lasts for over 8 hours on a charge ideal for a flight and putting in a car when the local radio is not worth listening to! I went back down to the water front in the early evening to watch the Light show which is put on every night. Standing on the Avenue Of Stars you can see across the water to Hong Kong Island, music is played through speakers behind you and the sky-scrapers on the opposite bank are lit in sequence to the music along with lasers and spotlights sweeping the straits between. After the show I headed back to the Hotel and mis read a sign and ended up at the Tsim Sha Tsui EAST MTR station, and as I had already entered the platform area had to take a huge round trip of the system to get to the station I wanted (which was only 3 stops from Tsim Sha Tsui MTR – the two are not linked without surrendering your ticket)
Hong Kong Day 1
I didn't rush to get up (The hotel Concierge had told me most shops don't open till around 10/11am) but I set out with a plan to find the Hong Kong Scout HQ and take a trip on the Star Ferry, find where the electronics shops were. I walked out from the Hotel and onto Nathan Road which is the Main road which runs through the main shopping districts on the Kowloon Penisular and walked the couple of km's down to the Scout HQ. It was huge, it comprises a full 4* hotel (which it owns) and the Scout Shop is on the 11th floor then the HQ offices are above that. The lobby is dwarfed by a huge painting of B-P which is flanked by various flags. Taking the express lift to the 11th floor it opens out into a huge shop selling every thing a Scout could want from uniform to activity wear and equipment. There is also a large museum which charts the history of Scouting in Hong Kong. I bought a shirt and some badges form the shop and then set of to see the rest of the city area. Out side the HQ i came across a Cub Scout and some Scouts in Uniform and got some pictures.
Not far from the Scout HQ is the Star Ferry terminal which takes you across the river to Hong Kong Island. I took a ticket and went across on the short journey. It was really cold on the water and when dropped at the Island terminal the wind had really got up soI walked up to one of the Malls and had a look around but again this was one of the high end shopping mals and not my scene so I took the Metro(MTR) from here back over the river and up to the Sham Shui Po area to look at the electronics. I succumbed here and bought my self a New Amateur radio walkie talkie. On walking back to the hotel to play with my new toy I came across a local event being 'managed' by Scouts. I spent a while here chatting with them and having photo's taken and swapping badges etc.
Not far from the Scout HQ is the Star Ferry terminal which takes you across the river to Hong Kong Island. I took a ticket and went across on the short journey. It was really cold on the water and when dropped at the Island terminal the wind had really got up soI walked up to one of the Malls and had a look around but again this was one of the high end shopping mals and not my scene so I took the Metro(MTR) from here back over the river and up to the Sham Shui Po area to look at the electronics. I succumbed here and bought my self a New Amateur radio walkie talkie. On walking back to the hotel to play with my new toy I came across a local event being 'managed' by Scouts. I spent a while here chatting with them and having photo's taken and swapping badges etc.
Hing Kong Bound
Up at 6am for a taxi to the airport at 7:30am and it was coming down stair-rods. I got to Hanoi airport no problems and checked in and then went to find some way to 'waste' my Vietnamese Dong I had left. What I had left wasn't worth changing, amazingly I found a shop selling Lofthouse's Fisherman's Friend's – in Vietnam, packed in Malaysia, made in Fleetwood! They were just what I needed to clear the cold symptoms for the flight. The flight was only a couple of hours an left around lunch time but with the time difference I arrived early evening in Hong Kong and getting through Customs ok this time I found the Shuttle bus to the Hotel and waited for it at the arrivals hall. The Coach was really posh only 3 seats across and all leather and wood seating. Once I checked in to the hotel I took a walk out to the local shopping are which was about 5mins walk from the hotel. The temperature was a little cooler than Hanoi but at least it wasn't raining. The streets we heaving and it was like a mad Saturday on Market St, Manchester but a little more eclectic than the almost sterile Singapore. Back near the hotel I found a supermaket and bought some snacks and a couple of beers and headed back to the room to relax.
Hanoi Day 2
This is where my cold really came out and we were up early to go and do some sight seeing. I made getting up and going to KOTO a local version of Jamie Oliver's Fifteen which means Know One Teach One. The place had been set up by an Australian chef about 20 years ago to help street kids and is now very much renowned in Hanoi. The food was great and the buffet spread went from local Vietnamese through Continental breads and cakes to full English. However after the Breakfast we were due to go and see Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum which would have meant walking in silence for about an hour in and out of heavy rain. My cold was now taking a good hold and I didn't fancy making it worse for the flight the next day so I opted out and Hahn had the Driver drop me back at the hotel. I slept through most of the day only waking around 4ish when the laundry man banged on my door despite the Do Not Disturb sign on the door. I felt a lot better now so joined the rest of the group to go out for our last meal at a swanky restaurant in town ( which cost more than we had expected we would need. ) Hanh again produced the confetti bombs – 4 of them this time for the last group photos and then we returned to the hotel to pack.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Hanoi Day 1
he bus picked us up at the port and we drove on first to see a ceramics centre and then to a Arts centre for disabled people. We checked into the hotel mid afternoon and some of us walked out for a coffee, the place Hanh suggested was strange in that you had to leave your shoes at the door and reclined at low tables on cushions scattered around. Strangely there were also two girls fast asleep under a load of cushions in the corner and we have no idea why. In the evening we first took a cyclo tour around the city. Each one seats or rather lounges one person in the front and the driver (cyclist) sits behind. This was an excellent way to see the sights and sound of the evening town, especially now that we were used to Vietnamese traffic. We eventually stopped in the centre of the Town and went in to see the Water Puppet show. This is different to string puppets in that the puppets move about on and in a large pool of water. They are controlled by rods and cables by operators who also stand in the pool but behind a screen. The effect was incredible with dancing and fighting scenes. Altogether about 15 different acts took place over about an hour. After the show we went to a nearby restaurant for food then back to the hotel to sleep.
Ha Long Bay
Hahn had us up early this morning for the 4.5 hour drive to Ha Long Bay. Up so early that we had to wait for the bread to arrive for breakfast (on a moped) and ended up leaving 30mins late. The along the way we stopped at a cafe where they had huge jars of liquor with whole cobra snakes in and one allegedly had a Bear's 'best bit's' in it – very strange.
Later we stopped at a roadside stop to have mini pineapples which you ate like a lolly, fresh coconut milk straight from the nut, and also fresh groundnuts (peanuts); so fresh you had to brush the soil off the shell. There were about 15 stalls doing the same along the road and as soon as the bus slowed loads of women came running out of the stall's each vying for business, for some reason we stopped at the one with the very pretty young lady whom Hanh seemed to be on very good terms with, hmm. Eventually we got to the port and boarded the Junk that was going to take us out into the bay. I had no idea what to expect for this part of the trip and it was amazing. We had our own boat 3* boat no less individual A/C rooms all ensuite and the food was fantastic; although the pool (sea) was damn cold when I jumped in off the boat later.
first we were allocated our rooms and I got the only room on the middle deck everyone else was down below, whats more it was exactly 5 paces from my room to the bar; result! I even had a balcony. Lunch was served as we cruised out into the bay by white suited staff and it was all a big contrast from the previous 24hours.
Ha Long Bay is made up of hundreds of islands of limestone rock which tower up out of the water a coupe of hundred feet. some are just small pinnacles whist others are larger and have vegetation on them. The views were awesome – if you discounted the other god knows how many other junks doing the same thing. Small floating 'villages' appeared and disappeared around each corner as we sailed through the rock formations. Eventually we docked on one of the islands to do a cave visit. These caves were proper show caves and we followed the lines of tourists climbing the steps up to the entrance. The caves were only relatively discovered and had been lit up with various coloured lights to give some amazing effects. They were much bigger than the last lot we had visited and well worth seeing, along with Hanh's running commentary. Back on the boat we sailed around the corner to a spot where the crew brought along side a load of kayaks and we paddled around another island to find a water tunnel through to an enclosed lagoon. The lagoon was huge about, twice the size of the lake at Middlewood. In one corner there were lots of boats and kayaks gathered near a rock which stood out from the edge. On the flat top was a monkey and people were throwing food up to it. I couldn't work out if this was a 'good luck thing' or just something people did though. Back at the boat we got back just in time to get some sunset photos over the surrounding islands and then take the plunge off the side of the boat into the water. Only myself and Hayley managed it – it was freezing, and I think thats why everyone else chickened out. The evening meal was again excellent with a few pre-dinner cocktails beforehand. Hanh gave us a late start of a 9:30 breakfast (woohoo!) and we had that then slowly motored back to the port. This was a amazing way to almost end the trip and very relaxing.
Later we stopped at a roadside stop to have mini pineapples which you ate like a lolly, fresh coconut milk straight from the nut, and also fresh groundnuts (peanuts); so fresh you had to brush the soil off the shell. There were about 15 stalls doing the same along the road and as soon as the bus slowed loads of women came running out of the stall's each vying for business, for some reason we stopped at the one with the very pretty young lady whom Hanh seemed to be on very good terms with, hmm. Eventually we got to the port and boarded the Junk that was going to take us out into the bay. I had no idea what to expect for this part of the trip and it was amazing. We had our own boat 3* boat no less individual A/C rooms all ensuite and the food was fantastic; although the pool (sea) was damn cold when I jumped in off the boat later.
first we were allocated our rooms and I got the only room on the middle deck everyone else was down below, whats more it was exactly 5 paces from my room to the bar; result! I even had a balcony. Lunch was served as we cruised out into the bay by white suited staff and it was all a big contrast from the previous 24hours.
Ha Long Bay is made up of hundreds of islands of limestone rock which tower up out of the water a coupe of hundred feet. some are just small pinnacles whist others are larger and have vegetation on them. The views were awesome – if you discounted the other god knows how many other junks doing the same thing. Small floating 'villages' appeared and disappeared around each corner as we sailed through the rock formations. Eventually we docked on one of the islands to do a cave visit. These caves were proper show caves and we followed the lines of tourists climbing the steps up to the entrance. The caves were only relatively discovered and had been lit up with various coloured lights to give some amazing effects. They were much bigger than the last lot we had visited and well worth seeing, along with Hanh's running commentary. Back on the boat we sailed around the corner to a spot where the crew brought along side a load of kayaks and we paddled around another island to find a water tunnel through to an enclosed lagoon. The lagoon was huge about, twice the size of the lake at Middlewood. In one corner there were lots of boats and kayaks gathered near a rock which stood out from the edge. On the flat top was a monkey and people were throwing food up to it. I couldn't work out if this was a 'good luck thing' or just something people did though. Back at the boat we got back just in time to get some sunset photos over the surrounding islands and then take the plunge off the side of the boat into the water. Only myself and Hayley managed it – it was freezing, and I think thats why everyone else chickened out. The evening meal was again excellent with a few pre-dinner cocktails beforehand. Hanh gave us a late start of a 9:30 breakfast (woohoo!) and we had that then slowly motored back to the port. This was a amazing way to almost end the trip and very relaxing.
Cuc Phong National Park
We drove out in the morning to see Hoa Lu which at one time was another Capital of Vietnam but lost it's hold on the people as it had a tendency to flood in the rainy season (so they moved it to Hanoi) The building and temples still exist but strangely there is a lot of 21st Century construction going on around the old buildings to make it 'more authentic' (hmm tourist trap?) The location was amazing though, all around the land is flat then these huge limestone monoliths climb vertically up to the sky giving a strange boxing in feeling. You can understand why it was chosen as a site for a capital, no one could get close without being potted entering one of the narrow entrances, on the other hand getting out was awkward when the floods came!
We moved on getting to the Cuc Phong National Park for about lunch time. Only to be told we were 3 minutes late for access to the park (we think it closes for lunch but we're not really sure) so we parked up and went to check in to our rooms for the night. The problem with this site was that as its so remote and there is only one restaurant the owner can serve pretty much what, how and when she likes; and she does! We HAD to have the set menu (there were too many of us!). The food was fairly basic and we ate because we were hungry. In the Afternoon we had the option to go on a trek through the park or see some show cave's, I opted for the caves and the coach took all of us down the windy road into the park. Eventually it stopped at the cave drop point and some of us got off to go and have a look. First we crossed a ravine on a concrete walkway then climbed a load of steep steps and a ladder at one point to reach the entrance. The cave's weren't up to much but I did get a couple of good pic's including a spooky one with the red light from a head torch.
Back down the steps again and we then realised we had to walk the 8km back to the park entrance! oh well so much for not going on the park trek!
The evening meal was – well a meal at the same place but then we gathered outside at a little cafe to celebrate Alyte's birthday complete with beer, wine, a big cake, and a huge confetti bomb that sprayed us and the area with finely chopped tin foil (I'm still finding bits of it days later) Some of the group went off to do the optional Night spotting but after my experience in India I passed on that on and planned to spend my time typing up the blog.) Hahn suggested I stay at the little cafe and 'guard' the beer which seemed like a good Idea as I was the only one drinking it!. The owner of the cafe returned (after we had spent ages brushing up the confetti) with her 3.5 year old daughter to lock up. We had seen the girl earlier while we were waiting for tea and she had been sat on a little stool 'reading' a Vietnamese-English Dictionary and this time she came over to look at my laptop. Then she wanted to have a go so I started up the Mr Potato head program and within 15minutes she had mastered the mouse and was having great fun much to her mum's amusement. Eventually the others came back and by now it had got fairly cold (you could actually see your breath – the first time since November for me!) and I think this is why I came down with a cold myself a couple of days later. As it was so cold they all decided to fore go the late night drink and went to bed so I pick up the box of beer and wines and went myself and it was only 9:30!
We moved on getting to the Cuc Phong National Park for about lunch time. Only to be told we were 3 minutes late for access to the park (we think it closes for lunch but we're not really sure) so we parked up and went to check in to our rooms for the night. The problem with this site was that as its so remote and there is only one restaurant the owner can serve pretty much what, how and when she likes; and she does! We HAD to have the set menu (there were too many of us!). The food was fairly basic and we ate because we were hungry. In the Afternoon we had the option to go on a trek through the park or see some show cave's, I opted for the caves and the coach took all of us down the windy road into the park. Eventually it stopped at the cave drop point and some of us got off to go and have a look. First we crossed a ravine on a concrete walkway then climbed a load of steep steps and a ladder at one point to reach the entrance. The cave's weren't up to much but I did get a couple of good pic's including a spooky one with the red light from a head torch.
Back down the steps again and we then realised we had to walk the 8km back to the park entrance! oh well so much for not going on the park trek!
The evening meal was – well a meal at the same place but then we gathered outside at a little cafe to celebrate Alyte's birthday complete with beer, wine, a big cake, and a huge confetti bomb that sprayed us and the area with finely chopped tin foil (I'm still finding bits of it days later) Some of the group went off to do the optional Night spotting but after my experience in India I passed on that on and planned to spend my time typing up the blog.) Hahn suggested I stay at the little cafe and 'guard' the beer which seemed like a good Idea as I was the only one drinking it!. The owner of the cafe returned (after we had spent ages brushing up the confetti) with her 3.5 year old daughter to lock up. We had seen the girl earlier while we were waiting for tea and she had been sat on a little stool 'reading' a Vietnamese-English Dictionary and this time she came over to look at my laptop. Then she wanted to have a go so I started up the Mr Potato head program and within 15minutes she had mastered the mouse and was having great fun much to her mum's amusement. Eventually the others came back and by now it had got fairly cold (you could actually see your breath – the first time since November for me!) and I think this is why I came down with a cold myself a couple of days later. As it was so cold they all decided to fore go the late night drink and went to bed so I pick up the box of beer and wines and went myself and it was only 9:30!
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Ninh Binh
Today we did the usual up at the crack of dawn to get the train from Hue to Ninh Binh. The Vietnamese trains are narrower than Indian ones but of a similar standard to Indian ones but you cant open the doors whilst on the go. (In fact the attendants actually padlock them shut whilst on the go – which was a bit unnerving when Hahn insisted on showing us where the emergency hammers were to break the windows - just in case!) 9 hours later, a few card games, long chats and a couple of pot noodles we rolled in to Ninh Binh and piled into a car and a tranny van minibus to the hotel for tea and bed.
We had tea at the hotel and a quick drink at the hotel bar then off to bed so we could get off in the morning.
We had tea at the hotel and a quick drink at the hotel bar then off to bed so we could get off in the morning.
Hue
Early Bus again today to Hue. This town has a large Citadel and we took a tour of part of it, poor Hahn was doing his usual tour guide thing, which was excellent but I think we were all a little jaded after the long bus ride up to Hue. The town had once been the Capital of Vietnam (which is funny because most of the towns we have stopped at seem to have been the Capital at some time in history!) It took us all a while to understand what the 'flat' pole was until we realised that we were looking at the 'flagpole' out side the Citadel on a large mound. It was huge and the flag flying from it massive.
Inside the Citadel we went for a wander around some of the building that were still standing after many years of fighting and fed the fish; huge coy carp in a pond that went into a mass frenzy when you tipped a bag of fish food into the lake. Our evening meal here was a 'dress-up do' where we we all put on traditional costumes of the Kings and Queens, the food was ok and we had a group of local musicians playing music. We all got a bit silly though and I'm not sure they saw the funny side, first of all we all cross dressed (not that you could tell as all the gowns and headgear looked pretty similar to us) Also we were only 10 of us in a room that could seat about 200 so it was a little empty with us being waited on by almost as many staff as us, and a 6 piece band!
A second night in Hue and we took an early boat ride up the 'Perfume River' so called as it was once the route by which herbs and flowers we taken to be exported and the scents of these could be smelt all along the river. These days all you can smell is diesel fumes. The most obscure part about this river trip was having to stop twice in the middle of the river on the boat to 'complete formalities and pay taxes' with the local police who are moored on boats in the middle of the river. We stopped at a Buddhist temple to have a look around and it was teaming with tourists, I know I am one but this was heaving with them and it lost it's appeal. Back on our bus (which had come up to meet us) we drove out to another one which is still active just in time to catch the end of the monks chanting, this was much more 'natural' as there was hardly anyone there (tourists!) and the place was very relaxing. Back on the bus to our next stop which was a place where they make and sell incense sticks and we were shown how they are made by rolling a paste onto a thin stick and then left to dry. Outside the stall the coloured sticks had been arranged and stacked into patterns to advertise the stalls, We had a coffee here and then a short ride on to a viewpoint high above the river where we had a couple of group photos taken. Back on the bus again (are you getting the idea there's a lot of bus rides in this trip yet?) we visited a serene kings burial site, Hahn went into tour guide mode again and some of us sloped off to take pictures of the site which was huge and deserted.
Time for lunch and we went to visit an Orphanage which Intrepid supports. The children here come for all sorts of reasons and it is run by Buddhist Nuns. First we had lunch there which was prepared and served by the young people, the food was really good and filling, and was used as a way of giving the young people a skill they can use when they leave the Orphanage. Then we took a tour around it to see and meet with the children and young people who live there. The place was very clean and the children seemed very happy, no where was 'out of bounds' and we we free to wander the place, however it was a heart-string puller. The night before we had been out at Hahn's suggestion to the local supermarket and bought bags and bags of toys, books, pens, coathangers and the little blighter's were desperate to have a rummage in the bags so we had to keep a tight grip on them until we could hand them over to one of the nun's for distribution. After the tour around the site we stopped in a large area where the kids sand a couple of songs for us and I taught them 'Boom Boom, Do you want to be Crazy!' and 'Ony... Ony... Ony... Wah... Wah!' much to there delight. It was hard to leave the kids there and we were all a little somber on the way back. Some of them were just babies but the centre works with them all to get them through the local schools and has even sent some on to university. There is no requirement for them to leave when they are old enough (one man is 35 and has become a helper since being brought up there).
Our evening meal this night was at an Italian Restaurant and the Pizza's were a nice change to the normal menu.
Inside the Citadel we went for a wander around some of the building that were still standing after many years of fighting and fed the fish; huge coy carp in a pond that went into a mass frenzy when you tipped a bag of fish food into the lake. Our evening meal here was a 'dress-up do' where we we all put on traditional costumes of the Kings and Queens, the food was ok and we had a group of local musicians playing music. We all got a bit silly though and I'm not sure they saw the funny side, first of all we all cross dressed (not that you could tell as all the gowns and headgear looked pretty similar to us) Also we were only 10 of us in a room that could seat about 200 so it was a little empty with us being waited on by almost as many staff as us, and a 6 piece band!
A second night in Hue and we took an early boat ride up the 'Perfume River' so called as it was once the route by which herbs and flowers we taken to be exported and the scents of these could be smelt all along the river. These days all you can smell is diesel fumes. The most obscure part about this river trip was having to stop twice in the middle of the river on the boat to 'complete formalities and pay taxes' with the local police who are moored on boats in the middle of the river. We stopped at a Buddhist temple to have a look around and it was teaming with tourists, I know I am one but this was heaving with them and it lost it's appeal. Back on our bus (which had come up to meet us) we drove out to another one which is still active just in time to catch the end of the monks chanting, this was much more 'natural' as there was hardly anyone there (tourists!) and the place was very relaxing. Back on the bus to our next stop which was a place where they make and sell incense sticks and we were shown how they are made by rolling a paste onto a thin stick and then left to dry. Outside the stall the coloured sticks had been arranged and stacked into patterns to advertise the stalls, We had a coffee here and then a short ride on to a viewpoint high above the river where we had a couple of group photos taken. Back on the bus again (are you getting the idea there's a lot of bus rides in this trip yet?) we visited a serene kings burial site, Hahn went into tour guide mode again and some of us sloped off to take pictures of the site which was huge and deserted.
Time for lunch and we went to visit an Orphanage which Intrepid supports. The children here come for all sorts of reasons and it is run by Buddhist Nuns. First we had lunch there which was prepared and served by the young people, the food was really good and filling, and was used as a way of giving the young people a skill they can use when they leave the Orphanage. Then we took a tour around it to see and meet with the children and young people who live there. The place was very clean and the children seemed very happy, no where was 'out of bounds' and we we free to wander the place, however it was a heart-string puller. The night before we had been out at Hahn's suggestion to the local supermarket and bought bags and bags of toys, books, pens, coathangers and the little blighter's were desperate to have a rummage in the bags so we had to keep a tight grip on them until we could hand them over to one of the nun's for distribution. After the tour around the site we stopped in a large area where the kids sand a couple of songs for us and I taught them 'Boom Boom, Do you want to be Crazy!' and 'Ony... Ony... Ony... Wah... Wah!' much to there delight. It was hard to leave the kids there and we were all a little somber on the way back. Some of them were just babies but the centre works with them all to get them through the local schools and has even sent some on to university. There is no requirement for them to leave when they are old enough (one man is 35 and has become a helper since being brought up there).
Our evening meal this night was at an Italian Restaurant and the Pizza's were a nice change to the normal menu.
Hoi An
I though we had had our lot of early starts but alas no... up at 5:30 for a 6am get away Groan! we did get to see the sun rise over the South China Sea, which was nice!
We had a log drive again in the bus stopping for a coffee on the way and also at the My Lai Memorial Village. This was a very sobering visit to an area that has been preserved as a memorial to those that were massacred in the Vietnam War when troops were sent in to 'clear out dissident VC fighters, unfortunately whole villages were destroyed and the villagers – men, women and children were killed. It was a very chilling experience and showed us again the horrors of war.
We arrived in Hoi An in the late afternoon just as the rain started and after checking in went for an orientation walk around the ancient town. The buildings and architecture managed to survive much of the fighting and wars over the years and is a charming place. However the reason most people (and Top Gear) come to Hoi An is to get clothing. Suits Dresses, Frocks and shoes can be made here literally overnight and allegedly a lot cheaper than anywhere else in the country. I managed to resist the temptation to spash out on a new suit or snake-skin shoes but the ladies in the party seemed to buy up most of the town.
The next morning we took out cycles from the hotel and went on a tour of the surrounding countryside then back into the town for a BBQ lunch. We chilled out in the afternoon and then instead of going out just to eat dinner, we went to one of the many Cooking classes on offer in the town where you get to learn how to cook Vietnamese food (and eat it) The 'teacher' was a young lady with an excellent humour and also excellent English who had us in stitches for most of the meal. The food was excellent and we came away with recipe books, cooking chopsticks and full belly.
We stayed another night in Hoi An and I took a day out to relax and wander the town whilst some of the group went to see an ancient Hindu Temple near by (I had had my fill of Hindu Temples in India). Wandering the town I passed through the tiny streets and took pictures of the scenes around about. Near the Japanese Bridge I came across a couple having wedding photos being taken wearing traditional clothing and I managed to get a really good shot of them just as the 'official' photographer had posed them (much to his disgust I think, as I was stood where he wanted to be). Walking down another street I came across a restaurant with the Scout Fleur-de-Lis and the word Scouts over the door, intrigued I want in and ask the the staff why this was over the door as Scouting is not currently recognised in Vietnam, it cost me a beer, but apparently the site had been used by a Scouting Organisation in years before.
In the evening we went for an excellent meal over on the the far side of the river where we could sit and watch the happening in town across the river from a first floor restaurant.
Back at the hotel Hanh had arraged for the 'Post Office' to come to the hotel at night to enable people to mail good back home to save on excess baggage fees. All went well as the various boxes were filled with the newly purchased items and the documentation done. Then the two postal workers took out the boxes and balanced them on the back of two mopeds and rode off, no straping or ropes to hold them on - just balanced on the back. There were one or two worried looks as they disappeared in to the darkness!
We had a log drive again in the bus stopping for a coffee on the way and also at the My Lai Memorial Village. This was a very sobering visit to an area that has been preserved as a memorial to those that were massacred in the Vietnam War when troops were sent in to 'clear out dissident VC fighters, unfortunately whole villages were destroyed and the villagers – men, women and children were killed. It was a very chilling experience and showed us again the horrors of war.
We arrived in Hoi An in the late afternoon just as the rain started and after checking in went for an orientation walk around the ancient town. The buildings and architecture managed to survive much of the fighting and wars over the years and is a charming place. However the reason most people (and Top Gear) come to Hoi An is to get clothing. Suits Dresses, Frocks and shoes can be made here literally overnight and allegedly a lot cheaper than anywhere else in the country. I managed to resist the temptation to spash out on a new suit or snake-skin shoes but the ladies in the party seemed to buy up most of the town.
The next morning we took out cycles from the hotel and went on a tour of the surrounding countryside then back into the town for a BBQ lunch. We chilled out in the afternoon and then instead of going out just to eat dinner, we went to one of the many Cooking classes on offer in the town where you get to learn how to cook Vietnamese food (and eat it) The 'teacher' was a young lady with an excellent humour and also excellent English who had us in stitches for most of the meal. The food was excellent and we came away with recipe books, cooking chopsticks and full belly.
We stayed another night in Hoi An and I took a day out to relax and wander the town whilst some of the group went to see an ancient Hindu Temple near by (I had had my fill of Hindu Temples in India). Wandering the town I passed through the tiny streets and took pictures of the scenes around about. Near the Japanese Bridge I came across a couple having wedding photos being taken wearing traditional clothing and I managed to get a really good shot of them just as the 'official' photographer had posed them (much to his disgust I think, as I was stood where he wanted to be). Walking down another street I came across a restaurant with the Scout Fleur-de-Lis and the word Scouts over the door, intrigued I want in and ask the the staff why this was over the door as Scouting is not currently recognised in Vietnam, it cost me a beer, but apparently the site had been used by a Scouting Organisation in years before.
In the evening we went for an excellent meal over on the the far side of the river where we could sit and watch the happening in town across the river from a first floor restaurant.
Back at the hotel Hanh had arraged for the 'Post Office' to come to the hotel at night to enable people to mail good back home to save on excess baggage fees. All went well as the various boxes were filled with the newly purchased items and the documentation done. Then the two postal workers took out the boxes and balanced them on the back of two mopeds and rode off, no straping or ropes to hold them on - just balanced on the back. There were one or two worried looks as they disappeared in to the darkness!
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Quy Nhon
Early start again for the drive to Quy Nhon. The usual Vietnam countryside of paddy field after paddy field, stopping for coffee and lunch along the way. All along this part of the coast were huge sand dunes which hid the view of the coast for much of the drive but the occasional pot hole or bridge kept us awake sat in the back the bus as we bounced along, Hahn had warned us that there was not much to see in this town but we would like the hotel, which turned out to be a large 4* hotel on the beach called 'The Seagull'; the rooms were massive, I had 2 double beds and still had room to swing and elephant never mind a cat, but the restaurant food was typical 4* toned down Vietnamese food for a 'Western pallete'. We didn't eat out as this was the best food we could get in the town according to Hahn. We arrived early and so Jenny and I decided to walk up to the local trading center AKA shopping mall to have a look around it was like a KwikSave mall with a load of independent trader shops and a Supermarket all rolled into one big building. I found a counter in the store selling 'Ipod's' for 40 pounds it seemed rather cheap to me so a quick text back home to Joe confirmed that, and, on taking a closer look, and switching it on showed that it was a fake; the box, instructions, case were all Ipod the inner workings were a rough mp3 player.
Later we went to the Nguyen Nga Disabled centre where they make the day-sac's that Intrepid use. The young people here all learn skills they can use in the world and are encouraged to go out and set up their own businesses when they are ready with help from the centre. They entertained us with some music and traditional dances they had learned which was very impressive as the musicians were blind and the dancers deaf and dumb. We had a quick walk around the centre to see the other skills that were being taught here and then bought some things from the centre's shop. I tried to buy a t-shirt but they only had small sizes so I left a donation instead.
Later we went to the Nguyen Nga Disabled centre where they make the day-sac's that Intrepid use. The young people here all learn skills they can use in the world and are encouraged to go out and set up their own businesses when they are ready with help from the centre. They entertained us with some music and traditional dances they had learned which was very impressive as the musicians were blind and the dancers deaf and dumb. We had a quick walk around the centre to see the other skills that were being taught here and then bought some things from the centre's shop. I tried to buy a t-shirt but they only had small sizes so I left a donation instead.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Na Trang Day 2
The next morning we had a leisurely rise to go out on a boat trip around the islands
firstly stopping to see local village life which mainly consisted of fishing and erm fishing. The local boat here for 'bobbing about' on the water is a coracle made from woven coconut leaves and then sealed with cow manure and then lacquered, normally the men sort of kangaroo them out to their larger boats in the bay but we were taken out to our boat by two local ladies with a paddle each.
Once back on our normal boat we motored to the next island about 20 mins further out and took snorkel and masks and jumped into the warm water and swam towards the shore to see the coral around the island. It was amazingly warm in the sea but the water was slightly cloudy so the colours were not brightly vivid like you would expect but it was brilliant all the same. After about 40mins or so we went back to the boat and Richard an I took the challenge from the boat owner to jump in the sea of the room for the boat. It was only about 15ft but it looked a heck of a lot higher when you were stood up there. The food was now ready and we dried off and tucked into a mass of fresh seafood, meat, veg and rice dishes which the boot's cook had been preparing since we had set off. It was all washed down with a couple of beers and all I needed was a lie down, which is what we got... we had sailed over to a beach area and were able to relax under palm leaf umbrellas on deck chairs listening to the sea wash over ....zzzzzzz. Yes we spent the afternoon here and slept for most of it, and it was bliss.
firstly stopping to see local village life which mainly consisted of fishing and erm fishing. The local boat here for 'bobbing about' on the water is a coracle made from woven coconut leaves and then sealed with cow manure and then lacquered, normally the men sort of kangaroo them out to their larger boats in the bay but we were taken out to our boat by two local ladies with a paddle each.
Once back on our normal boat we motored to the next island about 20 mins further out and took snorkel and masks and jumped into the warm water and swam towards the shore to see the coral around the island. It was amazingly warm in the sea but the water was slightly cloudy so the colours were not brightly vivid like you would expect but it was brilliant all the same. After about 40mins or so we went back to the boat and Richard an I took the challenge from the boat owner to jump in the sea of the room for the boat. It was only about 15ft but it looked a heck of a lot higher when you were stood up there. The food was now ready and we dried off and tucked into a mass of fresh seafood, meat, veg and rice dishes which the boot's cook had been preparing since we had set off. It was all washed down with a couple of beers and all I needed was a lie down, which is what we got... we had sailed over to a beach area and were able to relax under palm leaf umbrellas on deck chairs listening to the sea wash over ....zzzzzzz. Yes we spent the afternoon here and slept for most of it, and it was bliss.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Na Trang
Early Start for the drive to Na Trang on the coast.
At first we headed down a very good but winding road towards Na Trang on the coast. We figured we had done about ¾ of the journey in little less than 2 hours when we stopped a little roadside cafe for a drink. The views were stunning on the way down, constantly changing landscape of plunging cliffs and rocky outcrops in between the trees bushes and paddy fields down in the valleys. On setting off again we realised why the journey was going to take so long, the road deteriorated to nothing more than dirt as for the next 2 hours or so we slowly bounced along on the longest roadworks I've ever seen. The road was being rebuilt but they just ripped up the old surface and we had to pick our way through the diggers, levelers, piles of rubble and all the other traffic on the 'road'. At some points the driver had to stop and either wait for a digger to stop digging and move out of the way or just stop to try and work out the best route through the works.
Eventually we arrived in Na Trang which I can only describe as Benidorm 30 years ago! This is a resort in the making. If you changed the signage from Vietnamese to Spanish you could easily be forgiven for thinking you were in Spain. We even had a building site next door! Having said that, there were no hoards of drunken 18-30's out and about and it was fairly peaceful out on the beach which was just through the hotel grounds and over a wide promenade and roadway.
Our Evening Meal was a long walk down the front to a restaurant run by an Australian who has installed a Micro-Brewery and produced a number of excellent lagers,including black lager, a pale ale and fruit beers, Heaven... the food wasn't bad either! So after a few scoops we wandered down to the 'Why Not?' Bar for some rather strange cocktails served in a bucket (I stuck to beer) and then suitably fueled some of us headed of to a Karaoke Bar, this was the real deal in in the back of a seedy looking building, climbing the stairs we passed the 'massage' area and ended up in a room the size of a hotel bedroom with bench seats around 3 walls a plasma screen on the wall and a crate of beer and 2 mic's. I can't stand pub Karaoke but because it was just us in the room it was a good laugh, (and the beer probably helped!)
Lie in tomorrow – 9:30am start woo hoo!
At first we headed down a very good but winding road towards Na Trang on the coast. We figured we had done about ¾ of the journey in little less than 2 hours when we stopped a little roadside cafe for a drink. The views were stunning on the way down, constantly changing landscape of plunging cliffs and rocky outcrops in between the trees bushes and paddy fields down in the valleys. On setting off again we realised why the journey was going to take so long, the road deteriorated to nothing more than dirt as for the next 2 hours or so we slowly bounced along on the longest roadworks I've ever seen. The road was being rebuilt but they just ripped up the old surface and we had to pick our way through the diggers, levelers, piles of rubble and all the other traffic on the 'road'. At some points the driver had to stop and either wait for a digger to stop digging and move out of the way or just stop to try and work out the best route through the works.
Eventually we arrived in Na Trang which I can only describe as Benidorm 30 years ago! This is a resort in the making. If you changed the signage from Vietnamese to Spanish you could easily be forgiven for thinking you were in Spain. We even had a building site next door! Having said that, there were no hoards of drunken 18-30's out and about and it was fairly peaceful out on the beach which was just through the hotel grounds and over a wide promenade and roadway.
Our Evening Meal was a long walk down the front to a restaurant run by an Australian who has installed a Micro-Brewery and produced a number of excellent lagers,including black lager, a pale ale and fruit beers, Heaven... the food wasn't bad either! So after a few scoops we wandered down to the 'Why Not?' Bar for some rather strange cocktails served in a bucket (I stuck to beer) and then suitably fueled some of us headed of to a Karaoke Bar, this was the real deal in in the back of a seedy looking building, climbing the stairs we passed the 'massage' area and ended up in a room the size of a hotel bedroom with bench seats around 3 walls a plasma screen on the wall and a crate of beer and 2 mic's. I can't stand pub Karaoke but because it was just us in the room it was a good laugh, (and the beer probably helped!)
Lie in tomorrow – 9:30am start woo hoo!
Da Lat
Today we got a new bus that was with us for the next couple of days.
The Back seats were loaded with the bags ad we set off for the 9hour drive to Dalat which is high up in the hills.
On the way we stopped at a Village workshop where the weave cloth and produced many different kinds of brightly coulored cloths and silks which were then maid into garments. just behind the workshop we walking up to a small village to find the Chicken Monument – a huge stone chicken which was erected to remind the villagers of an ancient love story (which was highly complex and I cant remember it!) So instead we lined up in front of it and did a sort of chicken dance for photo's.
A little further up the road we stopped at a Tea and Coffee house which is grown in this area and tried some of the local brew's. The Coffee is drunk here Iced with condensed milk and is very very Sweet and not really to my taste but not bad if you ask for it straight black. The flavoured teas were 'interesting' The Artichoke tea being a specialty but not to our liking, but supposed to be very good for the body.
On nearing Dalat we stopped briefly at 'the Ghost House'. This building is on the outskirts of Dalat and is lit at night by single bulbs suspended in each room but has never been lived in as it is reputed to be haunted. No one has ever managed to stay in there a full night. We didn't go in so I didn't see any ghosts this time.
Our Hotel in Dalat was just on the edge of the town and we took the bus back into the centre and went to a French Style Restaurant for Tea and had really good food before returning to the hotel for the night.
The Next Morning we were up and after a quick breakfast took our bus out to see the sights of Dalat.
First Stop was the Crazy House. This was a house being built from the inspiration of a wife of one of the countries leaders. It seemed to be fusion of Disney and Dali and is still in construction. Strange narrow walkways, staircases, passageways and bridges interconnect various differently themed rooms. The official name is Hang Nga Guesthouse and gallery, but all the locals refer to it as the crazy house. It does not comply with any convention about house building, has unexpected twists and turns, roofs and rooms. Strange but interesting.
Back on the bus we went to a local waterfall beauty spot, however you do not walk down to it you ride down in 2 man 'sledges' that run on rails and you control the speed yourself with a brake handle. At the bottom after seeing the waterfall we got back on the sledges to get taken back up the ravine on a near vertical slope. They were so good we paid to do it a second time, (although this time we left loads of room between each of us and I hardly used the brakes at all until the bottom – much to Jenny's slight concern)
Back into the bus again and we drove over to a large Zen Buddhist Monastery which was perched on the side of a hill. The buildings and landscaping surrounding them were beautiful but we did not have long here as we had to jump in a gondola cable car just across the road which took us across a valley to meet up with our bus. The ride was very peaceful and took about 15minutes but apart from the view I could see no reason for it; there certainly wasn't any ski resort at the other end!
The bus then took us to the far side of Dalat to go and see some dancing on Music from the local indigenous Lat peoples. At first I was a little skeptical about this having sat through a few of these long winded not too interesting local culture sessions but this was really good. The music and dancing styles were a like a fusion of Polynesian and North American Indian and not at all what I had expected. They got us up to join in a few dances and then asked us to show some of ours, so the only thing was to retaliate with a rendition of "Boom, Boom, Do you want to be crazy?" which wend down very well.
By now it was the evening and we returned to the Hotel for a short walk around the town and market before meeting up at another local Restaurant for a meal and then going up onto the top floor to the 'Lounge', this was where locals were doing 'posh' Karaoke i.e. no words on a screen, just singing! The music was intensely loud and we didn't last too long before heading back to the hotel after a long day.
The Back seats were loaded with the bags ad we set off for the 9hour drive to Dalat which is high up in the hills.
On the way we stopped at a Village workshop where the weave cloth and produced many different kinds of brightly coulored cloths and silks which were then maid into garments. just behind the workshop we walking up to a small village to find the Chicken Monument – a huge stone chicken which was erected to remind the villagers of an ancient love story (which was highly complex and I cant remember it!) So instead we lined up in front of it and did a sort of chicken dance for photo's.
A little further up the road we stopped at a Tea and Coffee house which is grown in this area and tried some of the local brew's. The Coffee is drunk here Iced with condensed milk and is very very Sweet and not really to my taste but not bad if you ask for it straight black. The flavoured teas were 'interesting' The Artichoke tea being a specialty but not to our liking, but supposed to be very good for the body.
On nearing Dalat we stopped briefly at 'the Ghost House'. This building is on the outskirts of Dalat and is lit at night by single bulbs suspended in each room but has never been lived in as it is reputed to be haunted. No one has ever managed to stay in there a full night. We didn't go in so I didn't see any ghosts this time.
Our Hotel in Dalat was just on the edge of the town and we took the bus back into the centre and went to a French Style Restaurant for Tea and had really good food before returning to the hotel for the night.
The Next Morning we were up and after a quick breakfast took our bus out to see the sights of Dalat.
First Stop was the Crazy House. This was a house being built from the inspiration of a wife of one of the countries leaders. It seemed to be fusion of Disney and Dali and is still in construction. Strange narrow walkways, staircases, passageways and bridges interconnect various differently themed rooms. The official name is Hang Nga Guesthouse and gallery, but all the locals refer to it as the crazy house. It does not comply with any convention about house building, has unexpected twists and turns, roofs and rooms. Strange but interesting.
Back on the bus we went to a local waterfall beauty spot, however you do not walk down to it you ride down in 2 man 'sledges' that run on rails and you control the speed yourself with a brake handle. At the bottom after seeing the waterfall we got back on the sledges to get taken back up the ravine on a near vertical slope. They were so good we paid to do it a second time, (although this time we left loads of room between each of us and I hardly used the brakes at all until the bottom – much to Jenny's slight concern)
Back into the bus again and we drove over to a large Zen Buddhist Monastery which was perched on the side of a hill. The buildings and landscaping surrounding them were beautiful but we did not have long here as we had to jump in a gondola cable car just across the road which took us across a valley to meet up with our bus. The ride was very peaceful and took about 15minutes but apart from the view I could see no reason for it; there certainly wasn't any ski resort at the other end!
The bus then took us to the far side of Dalat to go and see some dancing on Music from the local indigenous Lat peoples. At first I was a little skeptical about this having sat through a few of these long winded not too interesting local culture sessions but this was really good. The music and dancing styles were a like a fusion of Polynesian and North American Indian and not at all what I had expected. They got us up to join in a few dances and then asked us to show some of ours, so the only thing was to retaliate with a rendition of "Boom, Boom, Do you want to be crazy?" which wend down very well.
By now it was the evening and we returned to the Hotel for a short walk around the town and market before meeting up at another local Restaurant for a meal and then going up onto the top floor to the 'Lounge', this was where locals were doing 'posh' Karaoke i.e. no words on a screen, just singing! The music was intensely loud and we didn't last too long before heading back to the hotel after a long day.
Back to Saigon
Today was an early rise probably because of the water-borne 'Dumper's' going back and forth form 5 am. We had breakfast and got back on the boat which took us back to our coach and then headed back inland towards Saigon. On the way we detoured to go and visit the recreation of a village in the centre of the Chu Chi Tunnels. These were the infamous? tunnels that the Viet Cong used in their resistance of the Americans during the wars. The place has been heavily adapted to meet the 'needs' of tourists however with Hanh's descriptions it really brought to life the resourcefulness of the people here.
I would not like to have been a U.S. conscript being required to patrol this almost jungle area. the booby traps alone were fearsome. We were shown the way they managed to live and fight against the enemy. There was also an opportunity to go down into a 'widened' tunnel which ran for about 150 around bends and up and down levels to recreate the way they moved about (although I think that the electric low level lighting was for our benefit!
They also had a firing range where you could loose off a couple of live rounds of an AK- 47 but you had to pay for the shots and the rest of the group did not want to have a go so we moved on.
Back on the bus we moved on to a Centre for Disabled Workers where they produced the most exquisite lacquer work from small key rings through to place mats, jewelery boxes and even full blown ornate 12 seater dining room tables. It was a little too much sell sell sell to me (however the craftsmanship was amazing). We returned to Saigon and checked back into the same hotel and then went out to the Street Markets for some excellent food (shared with the gecko's on the wall and a little rat that sicking it's head out of a drain about 50ft away!
I would not like to have been a U.S. conscript being required to patrol this almost jungle area. the booby traps alone were fearsome. We were shown the way they managed to live and fight against the enemy. There was also an opportunity to go down into a 'widened' tunnel which ran for about 150 around bends and up and down levels to recreate the way they moved about (although I think that the electric low level lighting was for our benefit!
They also had a firing range where you could loose off a couple of live rounds of an AK- 47 but you had to pay for the shots and the rest of the group did not want to have a go so we moved on.
Back on the bus we moved on to a Centre for Disabled Workers where they produced the most exquisite lacquer work from small key rings through to place mats, jewelery boxes and even full blown ornate 12 seater dining room tables. It was a little too much sell sell sell to me (however the craftsmanship was amazing). We returned to Saigon and checked back into the same hotel and then went out to the Street Markets for some excellent food (shared with the gecko's on the wall and a little rat that sicking it's head out of a drain about 50ft away!
Saturday, January 09, 2010
Mekong Delta
The usual early morning start and we boarded our bus to the Mekong Delta. We left our main bags at the hotel and just took a day sac as we were to return to the hotel in Saigon the following night.
After about 2 hours drive we stopped at a 'Rest Stop' on the road which was defiantly geared to the tourist but had beautiful gardens to the rear. back on the road we drove for about another 1.5 hours and then boarded a boat and gained a local guide LAU??. We were due to spent the night in a home stay lodge on the Delta but first sailed to a small village are to see some of the local 'lifestyle' and industry of the area. First off was a a shack where they make roofing out of palm like fronds then into a rice paper 'factory' where about 15 women sat for 8 hours a day on small stools in front of 2 ring gas burners with woks on, where they deftly produced fine wraps from rice batter. They used a small old tin punched with fine holes to drizzle the batter into the woks in a circular motion to create a fine lattice work on the hot wok, a quick turn of it and 30 seconds later they had the finished product on a cooling basket. All the women bar one were using 2 woks, the other one was using 3 woks and was considered the master as the timing had to be perfect to stop them from burning.
From here we walked to a sweet factory but on the way stopped at a fish sauce producer- needless to say many of us will never have fish sauce again. The fish 'bits' are effectively left to rot in large vats for a number of days (weeks) then the liquor is drawn of and aloud to ferment in secondary barrels and vats. The smell is indescribably bad – especially when you lift the tarp that covers the vats!
The sweet factory was little more than a number of covered areas where we were shown an variety of different ways of making sweets and confectionery – including how to make popped rice; You get a large wok over a strong heat and half fill it with sand. The sand is aloud to get hot as well and then dry rice is poured in and mixed in with the sand, which causes it to pop. Once all the rice has popped a large mesh is suspended over the wok and the contents of the wok are scooped up and dropped into the mesh; the sand dropping back into the wok and the pooped rice staying on the mesh. Then the rice is dropped into a large bowel and mixed with a sugar solution and rolled out onto a settling board before being cut into bars. (How does Kellogg's make it so expensive Eddie?) We also saw how coconut toffees are made and a different type of rice cracker which is made by steaming a rice batter over a cloth until it sets. It then has to be very carefully lifted of the muslin and dried on a rotating bamboo rack. We had a cup of refreshing jasmine tea here and bought a load of the rice cakes and toffees before returning to the boat via a salt distillation plant.
We motored on into the delta which was similar to the landscape in the Kerala Backwaters in India however this water is tidal. After about 30mins we stopped and transferred to small dugout canoes, each of which was piloted by a lady standing at the back rowing. We headed up a small cutting off the main waterway and it got narrower an narrower. The tide was receding and the water level was low, so much so that the lady was unable to 'row' and had to just push us along the waterway with her long oars on the banks either side. We paddled for about 15 minutes and got off to walk through the bushes to a house where we had more tea and a walk around a beautiful bonsai tree garden. We were supposed to return to the larger boat via the canoes but because of the very low tide they were now high and dry in the small cutting so we walked back to the larger boat long narrow paths past houses and gardens. Back on the larger boat we sailed out onto one of the main Mekong channels, then across its width which was fairly choppy in the middle (it's just over a mile wide here) and went to a brick factory to see how bricks are made. We just pulled up at the wharf and wandered in – i cant imagine being able to do this in the UK – H&S rules etc.! We walked into some of the huge kilns and took a couple of pics then saw how they fire the bricks using rice husks as the source of fuel. There was the obligatory wander through the factory shop to see all the different earthenware they produce then back onto the boat. The firing of the bricks takes over a month then they have to cool in the kiln for another couple of weeks and the stoker has to stay and tend the fire for the whole of this time 24/7 – apparently. We never actually saw how the bricks are formed and from what base materials and it was all sightly bizarre!. Back on the boat to cross the Main channel and try some of the local jack fruit and mandarins on the way to the home stay. Here we had time to relax and explore the large house build out onto stilts on one of the river ways. We had two dormitory style rooms with mozzie nets over each of the beds however I saw less mozzies here than in India. We had another great meal of fresh Elephant Ear Fish (So called because the gills look like Elephant's Ears). It was so fresh I watched the owner net them in his fish farm at the back of the house just before we had them for the meal. The food here in Vietnam is fantastic, fresh and really tasty. We turned in at around 10pm and tried to sleep as people drove boats up and down the river most of the night with what sounded like Middlewood dumper engines to power the props.
After about 2 hours drive we stopped at a 'Rest Stop' on the road which was defiantly geared to the tourist but had beautiful gardens to the rear. back on the road we drove for about another 1.5 hours and then boarded a boat and gained a local guide LAU??. We were due to spent the night in a home stay lodge on the Delta but first sailed to a small village are to see some of the local 'lifestyle' and industry of the area. First off was a a shack where they make roofing out of palm like fronds then into a rice paper 'factory' where about 15 women sat for 8 hours a day on small stools in front of 2 ring gas burners with woks on, where they deftly produced fine wraps from rice batter. They used a small old tin punched with fine holes to drizzle the batter into the woks in a circular motion to create a fine lattice work on the hot wok, a quick turn of it and 30 seconds later they had the finished product on a cooling basket. All the women bar one were using 2 woks, the other one was using 3 woks and was considered the master as the timing had to be perfect to stop them from burning.
From here we walked to a sweet factory but on the way stopped at a fish sauce producer- needless to say many of us will never have fish sauce again. The fish 'bits' are effectively left to rot in large vats for a number of days (weeks) then the liquor is drawn of and aloud to ferment in secondary barrels and vats. The smell is indescribably bad – especially when you lift the tarp that covers the vats!
The sweet factory was little more than a number of covered areas where we were shown an variety of different ways of making sweets and confectionery – including how to make popped rice; You get a large wok over a strong heat and half fill it with sand. The sand is aloud to get hot as well and then dry rice is poured in and mixed in with the sand, which causes it to pop. Once all the rice has popped a large mesh is suspended over the wok and the contents of the wok are scooped up and dropped into the mesh; the sand dropping back into the wok and the pooped rice staying on the mesh. Then the rice is dropped into a large bowel and mixed with a sugar solution and rolled out onto a settling board before being cut into bars. (How does Kellogg's make it so expensive Eddie?) We also saw how coconut toffees are made and a different type of rice cracker which is made by steaming a rice batter over a cloth until it sets. It then has to be very carefully lifted of the muslin and dried on a rotating bamboo rack. We had a cup of refreshing jasmine tea here and bought a load of the rice cakes and toffees before returning to the boat via a salt distillation plant.
We motored on into the delta which was similar to the landscape in the Kerala Backwaters in India however this water is tidal. After about 30mins we stopped and transferred to small dugout canoes, each of which was piloted by a lady standing at the back rowing. We headed up a small cutting off the main waterway and it got narrower an narrower. The tide was receding and the water level was low, so much so that the lady was unable to 'row' and had to just push us along the waterway with her long oars on the banks either side. We paddled for about 15 minutes and got off to walk through the bushes to a house where we had more tea and a walk around a beautiful bonsai tree garden. We were supposed to return to the larger boat via the canoes but because of the very low tide they were now high and dry in the small cutting so we walked back to the larger boat long narrow paths past houses and gardens. Back on the larger boat we sailed out onto one of the main Mekong channels, then across its width which was fairly choppy in the middle (it's just over a mile wide here) and went to a brick factory to see how bricks are made. We just pulled up at the wharf and wandered in – i cant imagine being able to do this in the UK – H&S rules etc.! We walked into some of the huge kilns and took a couple of pics then saw how they fire the bricks using rice husks as the source of fuel. There was the obligatory wander through the factory shop to see all the different earthenware they produce then back onto the boat. The firing of the bricks takes over a month then they have to cool in the kiln for another couple of weeks and the stoker has to stay and tend the fire for the whole of this time 24/7 – apparently. We never actually saw how the bricks are formed and from what base materials and it was all sightly bizarre!. Back on the boat to cross the Main channel and try some of the local jack fruit and mandarins on the way to the home stay. Here we had time to relax and explore the large house build out onto stilts on one of the river ways. We had two dormitory style rooms with mozzie nets over each of the beds however I saw less mozzies here than in India. We had another great meal of fresh Elephant Ear Fish (So called because the gills look like Elephant's Ears). It was so fresh I watched the owner net them in his fish farm at the back of the house just before we had them for the meal. The food here in Vietnam is fantastic, fresh and really tasty. We turned in at around 10pm and tried to sleep as people drove boats up and down the river most of the night with what sounded like Middlewood dumper engines to power the props.
Saigon Day 2
We were up and out in a taxi at 8:30am to take in the morning 'city tour'. First stop was the War Remnants Museum. This museum describes the results of many years of war and suppression that the Vietnamese suffered under rule firstly by the colonial French and then later by the American's (The Vietnam War is known here as the American War) The country was divided in half with the North being controlled by the Communist's and ruled from Hanoi whilst the South was ruled from Saigon and the Americans came in after the 2nd World War the initially support the French however most of the fighting was done in the South) The museum has a large collection of photos depicting the war and it atrocities from both local, Japanese and American war reporters as well as collections of the types of armaments and machinery used in the war, some of which was rather brutal. The use of Agent Orange (defoliant chemicals used destroy crops and jungle areas of all plant life was extensive in the central areas of the country and has caused many generations to suffer both mentally and physically) The most moving part of the museum was the reconstruction of one of the prisons in use in both the French and American era's of the conflicts. The detention methods and torture used in the prison were horrifically brutal and left me deeply moved and sadden.
From the Museum we walked down to the Reunification Palace which is where the Vietnamese people finally re-took control of their own country. The building had been built in the French Colonial times as the seat of their rule but was renamed the Reunification Palace following the war's. From here we walked on towards the General Post Office stopping at the Notre Dame Cathedral which had been built in the French period to reflect the associations with Paris, in fact all the masonry for the church had been shipped out from France. Next door was the very ornate Post office, outside the frontage was built in classical French style with the names of classical modern European scholars in-laden into the relief work around the building. Inside was just as grand with a large hall surrounded on thee walls with a long counter and wooden telephone booths (some of which had been converted to ATM booths). Huge chandeliers hung from the ceilings above large circular leather covered seating areas. Our 'city tour' ended here and we were free to roam until we met up later to go out for an evening meal so I went back to the electronics department store I had found the other day and bought a web cam for my laptop. I tried to get it working but don't have the drivers for my little laptop so gave up after 2 hours of trying and walked down to the river and then back up through another market area before joining up for tea with the rest of the group for a fantastic meal in the street restaurants near the market
From the Museum we walked down to the Reunification Palace which is where the Vietnamese people finally re-took control of their own country. The building had been built in the French Colonial times as the seat of their rule but was renamed the Reunification Palace following the war's. From here we walked on towards the General Post Office stopping at the Notre Dame Cathedral which had been built in the French period to reflect the associations with Paris, in fact all the masonry for the church had been shipped out from France. Next door was the very ornate Post office, outside the frontage was built in classical French style with the names of classical modern European scholars in-laden into the relief work around the building. Inside was just as grand with a large hall surrounded on thee walls with a long counter and wooden telephone booths (some of which had been converted to ATM booths). Huge chandeliers hung from the ceilings above large circular leather covered seating areas. Our 'city tour' ended here and we were free to roam until we met up later to go out for an evening meal so I went back to the electronics department store I had found the other day and bought a web cam for my laptop. I tried to get it working but don't have the drivers for my little laptop so gave up after 2 hours of trying and walked down to the river and then back up through another market area before joining up for tea with the rest of the group for a fantastic meal in the street restaurants near the market
Saigon
My first morning in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) I had a nice lie in and just made the inclusive breakfast for 11am, luxury! I went for a walk around the local streets and a park in the middle of a boulevard. The French were here as colonials for many years and the central layout of the city is topically trench in style with ;large wide avenues and boulevards. Wandering a little further out I found a large electronics store and had a browse in there. It was obviously the January sales and the place was packed but the prices seemed a little steep. Going back to the hotel I relaxed in the room and started to upload a load of photo's making full use of the free Fifi.
At 6pm I went down to the restaurant to meet the rest of the group for my 3rd Intrepid Tour. Our Tour leader is Hanh and there are only 4 Brits and the rest are Ozzies, also apart from Hanh and myself there is only one other male – Richard. Hanh introduced us to the tour and what to expect and doled out the Intrepid cloth bags, which this time have a zipper. We then went out in 2 taxis to another hotel to have a group meal on the 14th floor of a hotel restaurant. The prices here are a lot less than in India and we had an excellent meal. After the meal we went up onto the roof garden to have a look at the city. Then back to the hotel in readiness for the now standard Intrepid early starts.
At 6pm I went down to the restaurant to meet the rest of the group for my 3rd Intrepid Tour. Our Tour leader is Hanh and there are only 4 Brits and the rest are Ozzies, also apart from Hanh and myself there is only one other male – Richard. Hanh introduced us to the tour and what to expect and doled out the Intrepid cloth bags, which this time have a zipper. We then went out in 2 taxis to another hotel to have a group meal on the 14th floor of a hotel restaurant. The prices here are a lot less than in India and we had an excellent meal. After the meal we went up onto the roof garden to have a look at the city. Then back to the hotel in readiness for the now standard Intrepid early starts.
Leaving Singapore
Up at 8 this morning -almost a lie-in!. As I planned to take public transport back to the Airport the hotel staff suggested I leave at 9am for a 1:30pm flight. I walked out of the hotel and across the road and asked a lady at the bus stop for the best bus to the Metro Station. Luck was with me as she was also going to use the same line as I needed to get to the Airport. So she made sure I got off at the right stop which was about 10 mins form the Hotel. It was still quiet as it was Saturday and not much traffic on the roads. and then we descended down into the fantastic Metro system and boarded the train towards the Airport. The lady left after about 5 stops and and I thanked her for her help. Everyone is very friendly here and I was a bit sad I had only had a short but enjoyable visit. On arriving at the airport I stopped for a coffee and some breakfast as I had got there for 10am and couldn't check in till 11:30 then I went and got a access for the Free Wifi at the Airport. Internet access is completely free all over the Airport and you can use Wifi or any of the hundreds of terminals set up everywhere to access the Net. What a brilliant idea! I checked in wit no problems and I think I was the 2nd to do so – (Phil Rowe would be proud of me) and then went through to the Departure area, I found a quite cafe area and bought a drink and settled down to do some more internet time then made my way to the Gate. Here you get a second hand baggage scan and body check at the Gate and having passed through om I sat down to wait for boarding. It was here I decided to put my phones on 'flight mode' for the plane and then we boarded on time and set off for Vietnam. It was about halfway to Vietnam when I thought I would change the time zones on my phones only to realise my old PDA had gone AWOL. I searched all my bags and pockets but I couldn't find it. I informed the Stewardess who advised me to contact the Lost & Found desk at arrivals. Slightly annoyed I waited for us to land at Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) The flight was good and the food fine on the flight and we were soon touching down. Thinking back I can only think I must have left my old phone on the seat next to me when we boarded. I still have my new one but my O2 sim was in my old phone. Immigration took ages at Saigon and they really studied the passports and visas but I got in ok and went to the Airline desk once I got my bag off the belt. The Desk too a report of my lost phone and gave me a card to call them later as they would have to check with Singapore airport. Leaving the arrivals hall I found the ATM's to get some money out, but I had no idea of the exchange rate so I sneaked back in to the arrivals areas and asked at a Bank Money Changer booth, It turned out it was 28,500 Dong to the pound so I went back to the ATM and withdrew 2 million!!! Dong. At last I'm a multi-millionaire! sort of. My joy was not long lived as the machine payed out just 4 notes; 500,000 each. Hmm small change for a taxi was going to be a problem. I then fought my way back through the taxi touts to the official taxi rank and negotiated a ride into town for $10US (luckily I had some US Dollars as well which are used as a second currency here) That meant the taxi ride as only 180,000 – about ｣6 for a 40 minute drive. The traffic in Saigon is very similar to India – a slightly chaotic but a lot more motorbikes – thousands of them inf act. Saigon as a city was developed by the French and the Architecture in the central districts.. I checked in to the hotel and went for a walk around town. Just next to the Hotel was the central market and I walked through just as it was starting to pack up for the night. I walked around a couple of streets then cam back around to the market building which had now closed but all around it a load of street restaurants had appeared. Feeling a little peckish I found the busiest one and was led to a long table and sat between a load of locals. The man to my right spoke very good English and explained them menu to me and I had some excellent prawn and pork dishes with noodles and a couple of beers for less than 4 pounds, a lot cheaper than Singapore!
Monday, January 04, 2010
New Year's Day
This was not an early start! (apart from the 8am phone call's!)
I left the hotel around 12ish and wandered down into the city centre, which was strangely quiet. Already all the litter and detritus of the previous nights partying had gone and the place was spotless again. I had a coffee at Burger King and took the Metro down to the Waterfront at the Vivo centre which is a huge entertainments centre and the obligatory shopping centre. After wandering around for a while I took the Metro over to near Raffles Hotel and had a wander around it, just as I was about to go in a huge party of people turned up and there seemed to be security everywhere so I only got a view of the outside. A re-plan of things to do was in order and looking on the Map I noticed that only a couple of streets down was the Funan Centre. This is a huge mall dedicated to all things electronic. 5 floors of computers, laptops, cameras, and gadgets. I was like kid in a sweet shop. However the usual Singapore price range dissuaded me from buying anything. Walking back to the hotel I made my way back to the river and then came across a guy called Michael flying one of powered kites. I got talking to him about the kites and Singapore in general and we ended up comparing Singapore nad the UK for about the next hour just sat on the edge of the park land where he had been flying his kite. Back to the hotel I packed the bags ready for the flight out to Vietnam tomorrow.
I left the hotel around 12ish and wandered down into the city centre, which was strangely quiet. Already all the litter and detritus of the previous nights partying had gone and the place was spotless again. I had a coffee at Burger King and took the Metro down to the Waterfront at the Vivo centre which is a huge entertainments centre and the obligatory shopping centre. After wandering around for a while I took the Metro over to near Raffles Hotel and had a wander around it, just as I was about to go in a huge party of people turned up and there seemed to be security everywhere so I only got a view of the outside. A re-plan of things to do was in order and looking on the Map I noticed that only a couple of streets down was the Funan Centre. This is a huge mall dedicated to all things electronic. 5 floors of computers, laptops, cameras, and gadgets. I was like kid in a sweet shop. However the usual Singapore price range dissuaded me from buying anything. Walking back to the hotel I made my way back to the river and then came across a guy called Michael flying one of powered kites. I got talking to him about the kites and Singapore in general and we ended up comparing Singapore nad the UK for about the next hour just sat on the edge of the park land where he had been flying his kite. Back to the hotel I packed the bags ready for the flight out to Vietnam tomorrow.
Sunday, January 03, 2010
Special Post for Facebook Users
I'm now in Vietnam, I have no access to Facebook here. If you want to post a comment or reply to my blog please do so directly on the blog at http://inglisway.blogspot.com and not with a FB comment 'cos I won't get it till February!!
I'm still on Skype where possible but I'm about 8hrs ahead of the UK.
Otherwise email will do - see my Facebook info page for my contact details and say Hello!
Cheers
Mike
PS I'll will update the rest of the Singapore trip soon.
I'm still on Skype where possible but I'm about 8hrs ahead of the UK.
Otherwise email will do - see my Facebook info page for my contact details and say Hello!
Cheers
Mike
PS I'll will update the rest of the Singapore trip soon.
Saturday, January 02, 2010
New Years Eve
I got up and about for 10ish, a lie in at last! and went out to get some breakfast and a wander around. and I walked through a maze of high-rise buildings until I made my way on to Orchard Street - The Oxford Street of Singapore. This turned out to be the equivalent of The Trafford Centre combined with King Street combined with Bond Street and wend on for about a mile and half on 2 sides of the wide road. Shopping Mall after Shopping mall all seemingly virtually interlinked or if not only about a 40 yard gap to cross a road then in to the next. If your married never ever bring a credit card happy wife here you'll be broke before you get to the 3rd Mall.
Walking back down the Main street I found a Metro Station and bought a pass and took the line to China town. I wandered around for a while and then found a restaurant foll of locals so figured it was a good place to eat, and it was, I got a huge bowl of Noodles and green leaves with stewed beef and 2 large beers for about S$15 and it was really good. Moving on up the road I came across The People's Park Complex a huge mall come Market hall dull of tiny Shops selling everything under the Sun. On the grond floor was the Chinese Hawkers Market and food court. Hundreds of small independent food outlets selling many wierd and wonderful Chinese dishes. Note to come back here!
Still with time on my hands and keen to see more of the island I jumped back on the Metro and decided to take the big loop line around the island figuring that it wouldn't be underground all the way. It took me about one and a half hours to do the complete round trip and once out of the city centre the trains ran on an elevated trackway around the rest of the island. I hadn't realised the Island of Singapore was so big. The line passed through many complexes of apartment blocks and also past big lakes and industrial areas. By the time I got back into the city it was about 7ish and I headed back to the Hotel calling in at the Petrol Station next door to the hoel for some relatively cheaper booze and some sandwiches which I had in the room before getting changed and going out to see in the New Year.
I walked back down towards Clark Quay on the river and as I crossed over an area of park lad suddenly noticed some wierd flying LED lit 'planes' above me. It turns out they are powered kites and are amazing. Covered in LED's and made from fibre-rods and lightweight material tye have a single flexible prop at the front. The guys that were flying them were amazing, doing loop-the-loops, twists and turns and apparently they are very easy to master. Go and look at the video at www.goflykite.com.sg I want one of those!
Walking down the river everyone was getting in the spirit (very expensive spirit) but the atmosphere was really relaxed. Eventually I got down to just next to the Esplanade Boulevard bridge which was 'the' place to watch the fireworks (as told to me by the friendly customs lady) the crouds were huge but I eventually got close to the bridge but a police auxillary was letting people out but not on to the Bridge . The Bridge is a huge dual carriageway road which has been closed for the night across the edge of the Harbour bay area. Suddenly the officer went to the left to stop some one climbing over the barrier about 30yds down, in unison about 100 people including me went for the gap, and we were in! I had no choice (honest) I was virtually at the front of the crowd and the 80 behind decided it for us. Now sorry to sound selfish but it was at this point I realized how good it was to be there on my own. There were hundreds of people and many were all ringing each other to try and meet up or regroup, I could go anywhere with out having to worry about where the rest of the group was. But it was also a bit sad that I wasn't able to directly share it with anyone else.
The firework show was amazing and went on for about 8 minutes and just seemed to get bigger and louder as it did. Still the atmosphere was electric but happy and chilled.
Walking back after loads of people we just chilling on the grassy banks or partying with others, no one was aggressive and everyone was out for a good time. One thing i did notes was the little and rubbish - This is a really big thing for Singapore, it's a big no-no, S$500 on the spot fines for the first offence an even imprisonment of community service if you get caught a 2nd time dropping litter. Oh and chewing gum is completely banned here too, and crossing the road except at a recognised crossing, and you have to wait for the green man, Serious. (The enforcement officers must all have had a night off tonight)
I wandered back to the hotel slowly taking pic's as I went and eventually got back about 3am. Shattered after a long day out about.
Happy New Year all.
PS it was at 4PM UK when we celebrated, Thanks to all those who rang me at 8AM (local) to wish me Happy New Year UK time - it was appreciated.
Walking back down the Main street I found a Metro Station and bought a pass and took the line to China town. I wandered around for a while and then found a restaurant foll of locals so figured it was a good place to eat, and it was, I got a huge bowl of Noodles and green leaves with stewed beef and 2 large beers for about S$15 and it was really good. Moving on up the road I came across The People's Park Complex a huge mall come Market hall dull of tiny Shops selling everything under the Sun. On the grond floor was the Chinese Hawkers Market and food court. Hundreds of small independent food outlets selling many wierd and wonderful Chinese dishes. Note to come back here!
Still with time on my hands and keen to see more of the island I jumped back on the Metro and decided to take the big loop line around the island figuring that it wouldn't be underground all the way. It took me about one and a half hours to do the complete round trip and once out of the city centre the trains ran on an elevated trackway around the rest of the island. I hadn't realised the Island of Singapore was so big. The line passed through many complexes of apartment blocks and also past big lakes and industrial areas. By the time I got back into the city it was about 7ish and I headed back to the Hotel calling in at the Petrol Station next door to the hoel for some relatively cheaper booze and some sandwiches which I had in the room before getting changed and going out to see in the New Year.
I walked back down towards Clark Quay on the river and as I crossed over an area of park lad suddenly noticed some wierd flying LED lit 'planes' above me. It turns out they are powered kites and are amazing. Covered in LED's and made from fibre-rods and lightweight material tye have a single flexible prop at the front. The guys that were flying them were amazing, doing loop-the-loops, twists and turns and apparently they are very easy to master. Go and look at the video at www.goflykite.com.sg I want one of those!
Walking down the river everyone was getting in the spirit (very expensive spirit) but the atmosphere was really relaxed. Eventually I got down to just next to the Esplanade Boulevard bridge which was 'the' place to watch the fireworks (as told to me by the friendly customs lady) the crouds were huge but I eventually got close to the bridge but a police auxillary was letting people out but not on to the Bridge . The Bridge is a huge dual carriageway road which has been closed for the night across the edge of the Harbour bay area. Suddenly the officer went to the left to stop some one climbing over the barrier about 30yds down, in unison about 100 people including me went for the gap, and we were in! I had no choice (honest) I was virtually at the front of the crowd and the 80 behind decided it for us. Now sorry to sound selfish but it was at this point I realized how good it was to be there on my own. There were hundreds of people and many were all ringing each other to try and meet up or regroup, I could go anywhere with out having to worry about where the rest of the group was. But it was also a bit sad that I wasn't able to directly share it with anyone else.
The firework show was amazing and went on for about 8 minutes and just seemed to get bigger and louder as it did. Still the atmosphere was electric but happy and chilled.
Walking back after loads of people we just chilling on the grassy banks or partying with others, no one was aggressive and everyone was out for a good time. One thing i did notes was the little and rubbish - This is a really big thing for Singapore, it's a big no-no, S$500 on the spot fines for the first offence an even imprisonment of community service if you get caught a 2nd time dropping litter. Oh and chewing gum is completely banned here too, and crossing the road except at a recognised crossing, and you have to wait for the green man, Serious. (The enforcement officers must all have had a night off tonight)
I wandered back to the hotel slowly taking pic's as I went and eventually got back about 3am. Shattered after a long day out about.
Happy New Year all.
PS it was at 4PM UK when we celebrated, Thanks to all those who rang me at 8AM (local) to wish me Happy New Year UK time - it was appreciated.
Singapore
I arrived in Singapore in the evening of the 30th. The Qantas flight was good and didn't seem like 5hours. The walk from the gate to Immigration took ages and then I went down to the Baggage Claim and waited and waited and waited. Eventually a supervisor came over as there were 2 of us left at the carousel. She radioed someone and assured us our bags were on the way. Eventually they came through but surprise surprise we both got stopped at Customs. Not sure why they stopped the other passenger but they rescanned my bag and then wanted me to open it. Apparently it was becaus I was carrying a folding camping Knife Fork Spoon Set but it was passed as ok and also because my PackSafe Metal Mesh was folded in the bag and was giving a funny reading. THe lady customs officer was so apologetic about stopping me and even told me the best place to go and see the New Year's Fireworks the next Night. Once past the custom's I went out to the Arrivals hall to work out how to get to the Hotel and found a shuttle bus service to the Hotel for S$9 (4GBP'ish) and then went out side to wait and then the humidity hit. Blimey it was warm! The bus took about 15 mins to arrive and then about another 40 mins to do the rounds of the Hotels till I got to mine which was just up the River from the City Centre. My initial impression was wow... no one is beeping and everyone is in lanes, my first post-India 'reverse' culture shock.
The Miramar hotel was a typical city centre Business/Tourist Hotel with lounges on the ground floor and 16 floors of rooms. The bedroom could have been any-room, Anywhere.
Duming the bags I took a walk out of the hotel and armed with a city map headed down-river, and after about 10 minutes I came to Clark Quay, a huge Complex of restaurants, bars and clubs all linked in a star fashion a central square. The buildings looked like they had all been refurbished but to be honest it could have been new-build. One the 'streets about 3 stories up were huge semitransparent umbrella type canopies all inter locking to give complete coverage from any rain and then on the columns were A/C blowers pointing down the 'streets. This is the fistplace I've everbeen where whole outdoor streets are air-conditioned!
I looked in at a few of the bars and got my first price-wake up S$17 for a pint of lager - that's at least 8 quid a pint!!! I never even bothered to look at the food prices but they were all double figures. I kept on walking then a Burger King just sort of jumped out at me and at 5 quid for a complete meal (alright Iced Tea not Beer) but a real beef burger it had to be done.
I wandered round the area for sort while then went back to the hotel and enquired about the 'free' WiFi - which turned out to 10 ponds an hour. Something was telling me this was a damn expensive place. Time for sleep.
The Miramar hotel was a typical city centre Business/Tourist Hotel with lounges on the ground floor and 16 floors of rooms. The bedroom could have been any-room, Anywhere.
Duming the bags I took a walk out of the hotel and armed with a city map headed down-river, and after about 10 minutes I came to Clark Quay, a huge Complex of restaurants, bars and clubs all linked in a star fashion a central square. The buildings looked like they had all been refurbished but to be honest it could have been new-build. One the 'streets about 3 stories up were huge semitransparent umbrella type canopies all inter locking to give complete coverage from any rain and then on the columns were A/C blowers pointing down the 'streets. This is the fistplace I've everbeen where whole outdoor streets are air-conditioned!
I looked in at a few of the bars and got my first price-wake up S$17 for a pint of lager - that's at least 8 quid a pint!!! I never even bothered to look at the food prices but they were all double figures. I kept on walking then a Burger King just sort of jumped out at me and at 5 quid for a complete meal (alright Iced Tea not Beer) but a real beef burger it had to be done.
I wandered round the area for sort while then went back to the hotel and enquired about the 'free' WiFi - which turned out to 10 ponds an hour. Something was telling me this was a damn expensive place. Time for sleep.
Moonlght Flit from Kerala
The drive to the airport was relatively quiet and there were a few people about however all the cars on the road seemed to have big posters in the widows showing the reason for being out and the drivers were visibly nervous. Our car's had 'Airport Urgent' in big letters posted on the front and back windows. as my flight was not till 1pm and it was now 6am we found a spot outside the Airport entrance to settle down and try and get a few hours rest in. The Airport is covered by a no strike rule and was surrounded by police and security. The other problem with small Indian Airports is that they don't let you enter the airport building unless your flight shows on the board and that only happens when check-in is open. So I had to wait until 11:30 until I could go into the airport – even just to get a drink.
Finally I got in the Check-in queue which took for ages with lots of people pushing in at the desk. The big problem was that the flight had been over booked and they were trying to bump people. There was no way I was going to bumped, a; I had my Singapore flight the next day and b; I didn't want to waste the 100gbp plus I'd pre-paid for the 5* Leela Hotel I'd booked for the overnight in Mumbai. In the ensuing melee the Check-in guy through booked me to Singapore meaning I probably wouldn't have seen my rucksack again. This the took ages to uncheck me in and deal with everyone else the recover my bag and re- tag it to Mumbai. He then shoved all my documents back in my had and told me to 'move quickly to security' so off I set and went through the security check sat down in the lounge and started to sort all my bits and pieces back into their rightful place only to discover; no passport, aaarggg... that knot tightens in your stomach and your life passes before you. One of the Police/Security guards came over seeing me frantically emptying every pocket bag and zip I had. He quietly told me to put every thing back in my bag and follow him. So I did thinking things could not get any worse. He took me back to the bag scanners where the Man from the Check-in gave me my passport and before I could get a word in groveled and apologized for keeping my passport on his desk and not giving it back to me. Phew!!!
Watching the TV in the Departure lounge showing rolling local news of deserted streets and the odd burnt out or bricked bus that had dared to try and provide a service. (Reading the local paper the next day quotes were made of over 2000 arrested across the state!) The flight back to Bombay was fine, however on arrival at the domestic terminal, following instruction already given to me I took the Inter-terminal bus to the International Terminal to get the Hotel courtesy bus to the Leela. At the International terminal no bus and no Leela staff. So I got the number of the hotel from a tourist desk and rang them only to find that my car was waiting at the Domestic terminal but I hadn't seen the driver as the bus leaves from a different exit. After finally getting to the Leela I settled in a went down to get a the biggest buffet meal I've had in 2 months and it was damn good.
Finally I got in the Check-in queue which took for ages with lots of people pushing in at the desk. The big problem was that the flight had been over booked and they were trying to bump people. There was no way I was going to bumped, a; I had my Singapore flight the next day and b; I didn't want to waste the 100gbp plus I'd pre-paid for the 5* Leela Hotel I'd booked for the overnight in Mumbai. In the ensuing melee the Check-in guy through booked me to Singapore meaning I probably wouldn't have seen my rucksack again. This the took ages to uncheck me in and deal with everyone else the recover my bag and re- tag it to Mumbai. He then shoved all my documents back in my had and told me to 'move quickly to security' so off I set and went through the security check sat down in the lounge and started to sort all my bits and pieces back into their rightful place only to discover; no passport, aaarggg... that knot tightens in your stomach and your life passes before you. One of the Police/Security guards came over seeing me frantically emptying every pocket bag and zip I had. He quietly told me to put every thing back in my bag and follow him. So I did thinking things could not get any worse. He took me back to the bag scanners where the Man from the Check-in gave me my passport and before I could get a word in groveled and apologized for keeping my passport on his desk and not giving it back to me. Phew!!!
Watching the TV in the Departure lounge showing rolling local news of deserted streets and the odd burnt out or bricked bus that had dared to try and provide a service. (Reading the local paper the next day quotes were made of over 2000 arrested across the state!) The flight back to Bombay was fine, however on arrival at the domestic terminal, following instruction already given to me I took the Inter-terminal bus to the International Terminal to get the Hotel courtesy bus to the Leela. At the International terminal no bus and no Leela staff. So I got the number of the hotel from a tourist desk and rang them only to find that my car was waiting at the Domestic terminal but I hadn't seen the driver as the bus leaves from a different exit. After finally getting to the Leela I settled in a went down to get a the biggest buffet meal I've had in 2 months and it was damn good.
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