Hello folks
Hope you are all well and that you all had a very merry Christmas and a happy new year!
1 ½ hours later and we FINALLY made it home to bed bringing in Christmas. I had a fabulous Christmas which consisted of me sitting in a very western restaurant for 6 hours with my friends and basically jus sitting and eating and then waiting until we felt hungry again so we could eat some more! It. Was. Awesome.
I had the opportunity also to experience a completely unique Christmas eve experience. I was lucky enough to witness - not the actual game, but the aftermath - of Vietnam def Thailand in an Away game of great importance, apparently :S!
It basically consisted of my friend Georgie and I trying to get home to her place - a meer 10 minutes away from the centre - through what I truly believe to be about 600 people, supporting VN with there flags and general excitement and there songs and there banners and pots and pans and everything else that helped create sound.
I think I should briefly explain… The Hanoi that I am most familiar with consists of Hoan Kiem Lake and surroundings. H K Lake is obviously a lake and thus round but the road circling it is one way. The effect is good during normal hours with limited, or even just peak hour traffic, but throw in a large celebration and everybody decides to meet at H K and circle as many times as they can. Basically everything becomes a complete standstill.
So as Georgie and I tried to make our way, against the traffic home, there were hundreds upon hundreds of people all on bikes all with flags and singing and cheering and then there were these two western girls trying to pick our way through all the traffic., One being rather tall and wearing a Santa hat and cheering “Vietnam Number 1!!!!” as loud as they could. The effect was also very interesting. AS people began to get annoyed with the traffic and thus be lulled into silence, the Santa hat wearing westerner would come along, singing my song, and I would get large groups of previously silent VN cheering and screaming all over again. I don’t know if they got into it because I was western or because I was cheering for Nam or what, but it was a fabulous outcome.
Everybody got together and generally spread the Christmas joy on Christmas and continuing on until the Saturday when everybody came and crashed our humble abode… Everybody arrived in little old Song Cong and slowly we made our way to our street. We started with the Pho Bo that I have been raging about just non-stop and I am pleased to announce that our Pho was voted the best by all of the gappers. :D
Dinner wasn’t very traditionally Australian… but very Vietnamese and we were able to dassle people with the menu. Naturally a heavy night of drinking was had also, just in the spirit of Christmas.
So our “party” was a success and everybody got a chance to experience the “true” Vietnam that Bridget and I have experience for the past 4 month. Now however, we have finished and our school is now actually on holiday’s - a little early - for TET.
Theo and Mum arrived safely and we are now enjoy peace and quiet in Halong Bay.
I think that is enough now, so I will love you all and leave you
sleep out!
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
is once again sick of all the vietnamesses...
hey folks.
So i told some of you that i was going to write a post about my christmas and stuff... and i did! i swear... i wrote alot actually. But in true Vietnamess style the internet conked out half was through and i didnt notice and so i had to save what i had written to the desktop of the computer i was on. This should all be fine, i have done such a thing before... But the only problem now is that the computer i saved it on is rather a popular one and so is always taken by somebody playing Counter Strike or Dance Mania. Damn those Vietnamese and there need to play games...
So long story short, there is a post. It is comming. Just as soon as i manage to communicate that i need THAT number 15 computer
sleep out,
Oh and happy new year
So i told some of you that i was going to write a post about my christmas and stuff... and i did! i swear... i wrote alot actually. But in true Vietnamess style the internet conked out half was through and i didnt notice and so i had to save what i had written to the desktop of the computer i was on. This should all be fine, i have done such a thing before... But the only problem now is that the computer i saved it on is rather a popular one and so is always taken by somebody playing Counter Strike or Dance Mania. Damn those Vietnamese and there need to play games...
So long story short, there is a post. It is comming. Just as soon as i manage to communicate that i need THAT number 15 computer
sleep out,
Oh and happy new year
Monday, December 22, 2008
merry christmas
Hey guys,
So we got our christmas tree today. Well our students got it for us. I say "got" and not "bought" becuase they stole it from somewhere around song cong town - they wouldnt tell us where. Ms Yen told us that students would be at the front gate in about 10 minutes and that they had brought us something for christmas. Natural we were somewhat excited, but with the track record of presents so far, we had a vague thought that it wouldnt be anything to write home about... Boy were we wrong - well seeing as i am writing home about it :P
We walked outside and there on the nature stripe was a pine tree. We started to get rather excited and our teacher said that it was a tree for christmas. Awsome. I immediatly picked it up and it was taller than me! good sign... But now it possed the problem of getting it through the front door, up four flights of stairs and through our tiny front door and out another door onto the balcony! Luckily for Bridget and I it was quite light and after arguing with the doors for a couple of minutes, we only managed to drop a few pines for the cleaning lady who doesnt clean to pick up and get it out safely onto the balcony. Now the walk through the school with a Ginormous tree being carried by two westerners didn't go unnoticed and we caused quite a stir as everybody took one look, and then did the double take and then the question face and then the "ohh, western, christmas, tree." links in there heads. It was quite fun :D
We ended up standing in our room with many a visiting teacher - 6 all up i think - who had never been in our rooms before simply admiring the tree. It is rather spectacular and there is going to be many a photo of it when its all pretty.
And so now we have a tree. A stolen tree, from our students, which makes it all the better :D
And "why do we need a tree if we are only going to be here for another week after christmas?" i hear you ask. Becuase we are having all the Gappers from Hanoi over to our little house in the hills, in the middle of no-where for christmas. I can hardly wait to show the city slickers what there missing and show them around the real Vietnam - that i am now so used to that the persistant blackouts have lost there charm and now mean that i end up abusing song cong, Thai Nguyen and Vietnam, terrible i know... Anyway, so there all coming up, all 20 of them and were going to book the only restaurant in our street - well the only place within 5 kms... - and visit our local Bia Hoi for rediculously cheap 1.300 dong beers and chill out in our oddly inclosed balcony and sing christmas carrols and well, i wont deny it, have a bit of rice wine and generally be merry :P We have organised a KK so there will be a nice exchange of gifts also.
Anyway, Brdgets mum just called and i have to go...
Missing all who is reading this!
Sleep out!
So we got our christmas tree today. Well our students got it for us. I say "got" and not "bought" becuase they stole it from somewhere around song cong town - they wouldnt tell us where. Ms Yen told us that students would be at the front gate in about 10 minutes and that they had brought us something for christmas. Natural we were somewhat excited, but with the track record of presents so far, we had a vague thought that it wouldnt be anything to write home about... Boy were we wrong - well seeing as i am writing home about it :P
We walked outside and there on the nature stripe was a pine tree. We started to get rather excited and our teacher said that it was a tree for christmas. Awsome. I immediatly picked it up and it was taller than me! good sign... But now it possed the problem of getting it through the front door, up four flights of stairs and through our tiny front door and out another door onto the balcony! Luckily for Bridget and I it was quite light and after arguing with the doors for a couple of minutes, we only managed to drop a few pines for the cleaning lady who doesnt clean to pick up and get it out safely onto the balcony. Now the walk through the school with a Ginormous tree being carried by two westerners didn't go unnoticed and we caused quite a stir as everybody took one look, and then did the double take and then the question face and then the "ohh, western, christmas, tree." links in there heads. It was quite fun :D
We ended up standing in our room with many a visiting teacher - 6 all up i think - who had never been in our rooms before simply admiring the tree. It is rather spectacular and there is going to be many a photo of it when its all pretty.
And so now we have a tree. A stolen tree, from our students, which makes it all the better :D
And "why do we need a tree if we are only going to be here for another week after christmas?" i hear you ask. Becuase we are having all the Gappers from Hanoi over to our little house in the hills, in the middle of no-where for christmas. I can hardly wait to show the city slickers what there missing and show them around the real Vietnam - that i am now so used to that the persistant blackouts have lost there charm and now mean that i end up abusing song cong, Thai Nguyen and Vietnam, terrible i know... Anyway, so there all coming up, all 20 of them and were going to book the only restaurant in our street - well the only place within 5 kms... - and visit our local Bia Hoi for rediculously cheap 1.300 dong beers and chill out in our oddly inclosed balcony and sing christmas carrols and well, i wont deny it, have a bit of rice wine and generally be merry :P We have organised a KK so there will be a nice exchange of gifts also.
Anyway, Brdgets mum just called and i have to go...
Missing all who is reading this!
Sleep out!
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Hoi An
Hey guys,
Thats right, I am currently in Hoi An. for the few of my readers who are a little geographically challenged, that is in the middle of Vietnam. It is also the place to go for tailor made stuff. Dresses, shoes, coats, shirts, pants the list seems endless! It is a beautiful little place almost surrounded by water. There is a river and the ocean which I will admit that I have yet to visit yet, but I do have some spiffy boardies for when I do finally get a chance to get there!
I say "get a chance" because we have been so hell raisingly busy. This is our one week holiday and it is really nice to know that i dont have to teach at all this week, i think it was driving me a little insane! But we flew down from Ha Noi on friday - me with a massive hangover becuase it was Laura - mentioned her before - birthday and i had my first Pint, but anyway i recovered and we romed the streets and visited some tailors.
There was only a small group of us and it was really nice and chilled and relaxed and we just sat down and had some dinner in prep for Saturday. More people were flying in and they came knocking on our door at an un-godly hour of the morning. We continued all day to scour the tailors for cheap prices and go to fitting and then collapse for a meal of some sort.
Sunday after breakfast we went for a walking tour of Hoi An. It is a beautiful little place where some of the streets are blocked off to cars, so there are lots of little streets were you can wander and get lost in and its just beautiful. There are very few street stall to get food which is a little annoying and so we end up in restaurants quite alot, but its worth it. We visited 5 locations including a museum and the red Japanese Bridge. It just expanded my knowledge of Hoi An so much!
Monday was a little different from the very begining. The night before we planned a trip to My Son (pronounce me son). It is about 10km south of Hoi An, and we planned on taking Motor Bikes. 3 people took a Xe - om and the rest of us hired 4 bikes form the hotel and drove our selves the whole way. It was INCREDIBLE! i wont lie, i managed to drive the bike back from my Son, and being an auto it was really really easy. The traffic had died down ant it was really easy and sooooo much fun.
But why did we go to My Son??? Well there are these ancient relics that have been discovered and its quite a nice day trip out to see them and do a bit of a walk to get to them and find them and it is just really pleasent. As a result, My son is just awesome, but only worth a day....
Today was another good day actually. we booked our self in for a cooking class. It was really cool and included a guided visit to a market to buy the food, a boat trip and a chance to actually cook. It was like being back in Mrs Mac's cooking classes, but no where near as good! We got to eat our creations - as usual - and we sat in a restaurant by the river and some enjoyed the wine. It was really nice. The rest of the day - once again - was spent at the tailors.
For all the time i have spent there, i haven't gotten too many things. My first purchase was a pair of jeans - perfect - and dupilcates of my favourite tee-shirt. Also as a previously mentioned the board shorts and now i have a fab summer dress and a LBD on the way with some shoes. i'm pretty excited actually and pretty happy that i havnt gone off tat. Some people are spending SOOO much.
Anyway, i had to write it donw now - as a so far - becuase i am already struggling with recounting these past few days - let alone a whole week!
Hope all is well
Eat out
Thats right, I am currently in Hoi An. for the few of my readers who are a little geographically challenged, that is in the middle of Vietnam. It is also the place to go for tailor made stuff. Dresses, shoes, coats, shirts, pants the list seems endless! It is a beautiful little place almost surrounded by water. There is a river and the ocean which I will admit that I have yet to visit yet, but I do have some spiffy boardies for when I do finally get a chance to get there!
I say "get a chance" because we have been so hell raisingly busy. This is our one week holiday and it is really nice to know that i dont have to teach at all this week, i think it was driving me a little insane! But we flew down from Ha Noi on friday - me with a massive hangover becuase it was Laura - mentioned her before - birthday and i had my first Pint, but anyway i recovered and we romed the streets and visited some tailors.
There was only a small group of us and it was really nice and chilled and relaxed and we just sat down and had some dinner in prep for Saturday. More people were flying in and they came knocking on our door at an un-godly hour of the morning. We continued all day to scour the tailors for cheap prices and go to fitting and then collapse for a meal of some sort.
Sunday after breakfast we went for a walking tour of Hoi An. It is a beautiful little place where some of the streets are blocked off to cars, so there are lots of little streets were you can wander and get lost in and its just beautiful. There are very few street stall to get food which is a little annoying and so we end up in restaurants quite alot, but its worth it. We visited 5 locations including a museum and the red Japanese Bridge. It just expanded my knowledge of Hoi An so much!
Monday was a little different from the very begining. The night before we planned a trip to My Son (pronounce me son). It is about 10km south of Hoi An, and we planned on taking Motor Bikes. 3 people took a Xe - om and the rest of us hired 4 bikes form the hotel and drove our selves the whole way. It was INCREDIBLE! i wont lie, i managed to drive the bike back from my Son, and being an auto it was really really easy. The traffic had died down ant it was really easy and sooooo much fun.
But why did we go to My Son??? Well there are these ancient relics that have been discovered and its quite a nice day trip out to see them and do a bit of a walk to get to them and find them and it is just really pleasent. As a result, My son is just awesome, but only worth a day....
Today was another good day actually. we booked our self in for a cooking class. It was really cool and included a guided visit to a market to buy the food, a boat trip and a chance to actually cook. It was like being back in Mrs Mac's cooking classes, but no where near as good! We got to eat our creations - as usual - and we sat in a restaurant by the river and some enjoyed the wine. It was really nice. The rest of the day - once again - was spent at the tailors.
For all the time i have spent there, i haven't gotten too many things. My first purchase was a pair of jeans - perfect - and dupilcates of my favourite tee-shirt. Also as a previously mentioned the board shorts and now i have a fab summer dress and a LBD on the way with some shoes. i'm pretty excited actually and pretty happy that i havnt gone off tat. Some people are spending SOOO much.
Anyway, i had to write it donw now - as a so far - becuase i am already struggling with recounting these past few days - let alone a whole week!
Hope all is well
Eat out
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
been a while...
Hey guys,
so its been a while since my last post,l but nothing much is really happening.
A few little things have happened though, that have made me appreciate the contry i am in. For example, last sunday i was on my way home. Well i was trying to get home, but i was on the other side of Ha Noi to go to my usual bus station, so i got a xe-om driver to drive me to another one that i had heard the name of. After barganing him down - much to low i realise now - i hoped on the back and we went off through the Ha Noi peak hour traffic. After an early establishment that i couldnt speak VN and he couldnt speak Eng, we moved on in silence untill we were outside the bus station. It too about 15 minutes to get there and it was already quite late in the afternoon, so i was getting worried that i would miss my last bus into TN and i would have to stay in Ha Noi. Somehow, he asked me where i wanted to go and i replied TN, and he said "no."
Just a simple "no" and i was in a tiss. What do you mean no. "No" i dont understand. "No" Dont get off here. "No" there are no busses to TN from here. It turned out to be the latter answer. I ran through the bus shelter and after noticing that the station was vertually vacant of buses, i did panic a little. I ran back out to where i left my Xe om driver and even though he was speaking VN it was like he was saying "see, i told you. There are no buses from here to TN. You made me drive all the way out here on one of the cheapest prices ever in peak hour. Your an idiot." Eventually he also said Gia lam. Now i know Gia Lam. Its a very good reliable bus station that i use very frequently, in the beggining i just though i was closer to the other station. Turns out i wasnt...
He handed me the helmet without another word and i showed him my watch. 5:27. Lonely Planet said the last bus from TN leaves Gia Lam at 5 - but i did have previous experience with them leaving at 6. We still had time, but i knew it was vertually completely across town and then some. He understood what i ment though and with vertually no words needing to be spoken, we were screaming through traffic and traffic lights and all sorts of other traffic things, accross town in peak hour with tones of police out on the roads and on route to Gia Lam. Despite his hurry, he was a very cautious driver. He checked and double checked intersections befor he ran a red light and he slowed down when school kids where in the middle of the 3 lane road on there push bikes.
We pulled up at Gia Lam station and he even drove around to were all the long distance buses leave the station, just to check that the TN bus wasnt about to leave, then he dropped me off at the entrace of the station. I handed him some amount of money - i have no idea how much really - handed over the helmet and ran inside. Lucky for me there was a TN bus. about 10minutes later i happened to glance out the window - we were still parked in the station - and there was my xe-om driver, making sure i had gotten to my bus. I ended up hanging out of the bus window, shaking his hand and offering to buy him a dumpling from the man selling dumplings along side the bus. Once he knew i was on the bus, he seemed to be content and he happily drove away.
With the most basic translation he understood what i needed and were i needed to go and he really cared that i got there. It was really nice.
Another story, just about today really... i had the funniest class. well actually for some reason they found me Hilarious. They were in fits. I am really tired, and so i really dont understand why i was so funny, but it lifted my spirits and makesme think that not all classes are classes from hell! just wanted to share that little apiphony...
sleep out and i'll see you guys soon...
we celebrated our 3 month aniversary three days ago, so were over the hump and kinda on the home straight!
so its been a while since my last post,l but nothing much is really happening.
A few little things have happened though, that have made me appreciate the contry i am in. For example, last sunday i was on my way home. Well i was trying to get home, but i was on the other side of Ha Noi to go to my usual bus station, so i got a xe-om driver to drive me to another one that i had heard the name of. After barganing him down - much to low i realise now - i hoped on the back and we went off through the Ha Noi peak hour traffic. After an early establishment that i couldnt speak VN and he couldnt speak Eng, we moved on in silence untill we were outside the bus station. It too about 15 minutes to get there and it was already quite late in the afternoon, so i was getting worried that i would miss my last bus into TN and i would have to stay in Ha Noi. Somehow, he asked me where i wanted to go and i replied TN, and he said "no."
Just a simple "no" and i was in a tiss. What do you mean no. "No" i dont understand. "No" Dont get off here. "No" there are no busses to TN from here. It turned out to be the latter answer. I ran through the bus shelter and after noticing that the station was vertually vacant of buses, i did panic a little. I ran back out to where i left my Xe om driver and even though he was speaking VN it was like he was saying "see, i told you. There are no buses from here to TN. You made me drive all the way out here on one of the cheapest prices ever in peak hour. Your an idiot." Eventually he also said Gia lam. Now i know Gia Lam. Its a very good reliable bus station that i use very frequently, in the beggining i just though i was closer to the other station. Turns out i wasnt...
He handed me the helmet without another word and i showed him my watch. 5:27. Lonely Planet said the last bus from TN leaves Gia Lam at 5 - but i did have previous experience with them leaving at 6. We still had time, but i knew it was vertually completely across town and then some. He understood what i ment though and with vertually no words needing to be spoken, we were screaming through traffic and traffic lights and all sorts of other traffic things, accross town in peak hour with tones of police out on the roads and on route to Gia Lam. Despite his hurry, he was a very cautious driver. He checked and double checked intersections befor he ran a red light and he slowed down when school kids where in the middle of the 3 lane road on there push bikes.
We pulled up at Gia Lam station and he even drove around to were all the long distance buses leave the station, just to check that the TN bus wasnt about to leave, then he dropped me off at the entrace of the station. I handed him some amount of money - i have no idea how much really - handed over the helmet and ran inside. Lucky for me there was a TN bus. about 10minutes later i happened to glance out the window - we were still parked in the station - and there was my xe-om driver, making sure i had gotten to my bus. I ended up hanging out of the bus window, shaking his hand and offering to buy him a dumpling from the man selling dumplings along side the bus. Once he knew i was on the bus, he seemed to be content and he happily drove away.
With the most basic translation he understood what i needed and were i needed to go and he really cared that i got there. It was really nice.
Another story, just about today really... i had the funniest class. well actually for some reason they found me Hilarious. They were in fits. I am really tired, and so i really dont understand why i was so funny, but it lifted my spirits and makesme think that not all classes are classes from hell! just wanted to share that little apiphony...
sleep out and i'll see you guys soon...
we celebrated our 3 month aniversary three days ago, so were over the hump and kinda on the home straight!
Monday, November 10, 2008
Back to thursday
hey folks, let me take you back a few days for the start of this entry.
So now were back to thursday. Thursday afternoon after i have just had a 2 hr class with our most annoying class and im back on the back of a motorbike heading home. The wind is in my face, and the sun is reflecting off the guys white tee shirt, so i cant even open my eyes. Were moving quite quickly, but he is a cautious drive, and uses the horn alot! He has already given me the enveolpe with the 100.000 dong in it so i can just hope off the bike and hand over the helmet, and head back inside. By now its about 3:10 and i have to finish packing. I have 3 long shirts, 2 jumpers, shoes and my sandals and im set. Im packed for the best weekend yet!
Finally B and i get a bus heading for Ha Noi, 2 hours later were outside the backpakers having a drink during happy hour with some Gappers beofre dinner and then... the train.
There were 8 of us all together. Somehow, it turned out to be all the country bumpkins from around Ha Noi. Just before the train however, i had a small incident were an atm ate my card and i couldnt get it back. But after a few phone calls i resolved to pick it up once i came back into Ha Noi. So we almost missed the train, like we were standing going "wow. this is kool. Were are we???" and the train started to pull away from the platform. Eventually we fumbled our way around and found our private compartment. We had paid extra for a hard sleeper which was just the bomb. Very comfortable, but VERY cramped. i woke up to one of my friends saying "Sao Cao. He isnt that were we get off?" It was 5:30 in the morning and even though she had been taking pictures of the sun comming up, she totally didnt notive the rest of the train getting off. There was a mad scramble, but eventually all 6 of us in that compartment got packed and we were off standing in the early morning sun, following the rest of the people through the station.
We found a bus and then hit the road. It was windey and went around and around up the mountain. There was a light fog, but also the clouds were making there way through the centre of the valley, with the mountains poking there heads up from either side of the cloud. It was a beautiful sight. There were waterfalls all the way along, and so many of the mountains had rice fields cut into the side of the mountains. after about 45 minutes, we finally arrived in SAPA. We got dropped off at our hotel, and then headed out to "Bagette and Chocolate" for some breakfast.
Sapa is a mountainous village to the north of Ha Noi. It is renoun for its hill tribes who wear their villages traditional clothing. It is very cold in Sapa and is generally raining or foggy or just cloudy. There have been lots of rain recently which has lead to many landslides which have blocked roads and even killed villages. The people there a beautiful. They have a very unique way of trading and bartering. Instead of the classic "You want. buy. buy. buy" trading in Ha Noi, they use a "you buy from me, ok? tommorow? you buy from me." Its nice and you dont even realise how anoying the process is becuase you dont feel like there bugging you at all! its wonderful!
We organised a tour to a really big waterfall - were there are pictures - and that was beautiful but only lasted aout 2 hours. We had a traditional VN dinner and then headed back to our lucsurious beds for an early morning start.
At 6:30 we all met back up in the lobby, all decked out in our treking gear. We had organised a guided trek through some local villages that was to take us all day. After some breakfast, we met our guide - a beautifully dressed young girl - and we were off. We made our way slowly down the mountain - there are photos - into the valley, through a village, across to the other side of the valley, over many streams and waterfalls and over bridges. It was still quite slippery and muddly, so somehow we picked up an extra woman each who held our hands while we made our decent. Tell you one thing, my lady saved my life more than once! We walked through villages and farmyards and even became features of the rice fields that were cut into the landscape. It was just beautiful. We stopped for lunch, and our ladies who were traditionally dressed, some with hand made baskets on there bakes proceeded to bring out there things to sell to us - as payment and thanks for all the help down through the mountains.
We moved on after lunch at a much slower pace - after beeing told that we were walking Very quickly. (so quickly that even the ladies who walk the same path 3 times a week were panting with the effort! whoops, just fast walkers i guess.) it was very leasurly but easier to walk anyway. Oh and i forgot to mention, after the cool morning the day turned absolutly beautiful and we had absolutly clear blue skys and a loverly sun all day. Crystal clear 360 degree views. Apparently they hadn't had a day like that for weeks! the rain had stopped and the sky had cleared just for us :D. some of us even ended up with a bit of sun burn!
we kept the pace and ended up running into bus loads of tourist who basically visited 2 shopping villages and thought they got the realy experience after have to trudg through a pig farm. One of the quotes of the day was when we were approaching this endless line of tourists "we dont look like them. Go away. I know, Quick i'll feed the pigs, Sanchia you milk the cow and Liana you feel the ducks." We had just been for this beautiful trek, we live in VN and we were suddenly ambushed by all these obvious tourists with the money and too clean clothing. Sure some of them wanted to real experience, but they certainly were not getting it there!
We eventually made our way back home again after no troubles and ended up realaxing back in Bagette and Chocolate. i think the name says it all, but its basically a french training cookery place. lots of crossants and the like.
it is so relaxing in Sapa and everything is just so beautiful, and the fct that we were blessed with such a beautiful day just put the icing on the cake. We headed back to our beds once more after the best walk with the best company, ready for the next day.
Sapa is also known for its sunday Markets. Its about 4 hours from actual Sapa and includes a long bus trip back to the train station an then another trip back out to the markets. It was basically tourist bus heaven. People arrived at the markets by the bus load, flooded the markets and then left, all at the same times. they would only spend about 1 1/2 at the actual markets, even though it takes about 3 hours to get there, before there tourist bus took them back again. Somehow we managed to pull a extra hour at the markets and it was surprising how things quietened down. It was a bit of a let down actually. Becuase these markets did attract so many tourist, prices were massivly inflated. They new that people thought they were getting a bargan, but when they tried the same prices on us, we knew we were getting riped off, so we tried to bargan it down. Unfortunatly, my barganing didnt get me anywere, becuase the traders didn't care if i didnt buy anything. They new they could sell it at much higher prices to another poor tourist. it turned out not to be a very pleasent environment.
Eventually, and after another 3 hour bus trip we were back at the train station and waiting for the train trip home. it was pretty booked out so we had to get soft seats this time, instead of a sleeper. We were not looking forward to it at all! It wasnt too bad in the end. The train ride is at night and about 10 hours, but we managed to get the lights off and it was like being in an airplane, but nicer becuase the chairs really reclined. Most of us slept well. we arrived in Ha Noi at 6:30 am and proceeded to find that nother was open. I had to get my ATM card back so i left to do that and people went home, and others went to buy Dvds. That was then end of the best weekend. So maybe my writing doesnt let on to how good it really was. Emphasis my not be on the appropriate points, but it was the bomb, and definitly a must see if you visit North VN. you would be crazy to miss it!
When i finally did get back to Viet Duc, B and i were watching a movie through our eye lids, and ended up bailing and going for a nap. It was 3 in the afternoon, but when we woke again it was 6:30 am. Somehow we both managed to sleep all through the night into the next day. It was nice.
So thats it. That was my weekend and it was the bomb
Hope you are all well
Sleep out
So now were back to thursday. Thursday afternoon after i have just had a 2 hr class with our most annoying class and im back on the back of a motorbike heading home. The wind is in my face, and the sun is reflecting off the guys white tee shirt, so i cant even open my eyes. Were moving quite quickly, but he is a cautious drive, and uses the horn alot! He has already given me the enveolpe with the 100.000 dong in it so i can just hope off the bike and hand over the helmet, and head back inside. By now its about 3:10 and i have to finish packing. I have 3 long shirts, 2 jumpers, shoes and my sandals and im set. Im packed for the best weekend yet!
Finally B and i get a bus heading for Ha Noi, 2 hours later were outside the backpakers having a drink during happy hour with some Gappers beofre dinner and then... the train.
There were 8 of us all together. Somehow, it turned out to be all the country bumpkins from around Ha Noi. Just before the train however, i had a small incident were an atm ate my card and i couldnt get it back. But after a few phone calls i resolved to pick it up once i came back into Ha Noi. So we almost missed the train, like we were standing going "wow. this is kool. Were are we???" and the train started to pull away from the platform. Eventually we fumbled our way around and found our private compartment. We had paid extra for a hard sleeper which was just the bomb. Very comfortable, but VERY cramped. i woke up to one of my friends saying "Sao Cao. He isnt that were we get off?" It was 5:30 in the morning and even though she had been taking pictures of the sun comming up, she totally didnt notive the rest of the train getting off. There was a mad scramble, but eventually all 6 of us in that compartment got packed and we were off standing in the early morning sun, following the rest of the people through the station.
We found a bus and then hit the road. It was windey and went around and around up the mountain. There was a light fog, but also the clouds were making there way through the centre of the valley, with the mountains poking there heads up from either side of the cloud. It was a beautiful sight. There were waterfalls all the way along, and so many of the mountains had rice fields cut into the side of the mountains. after about 45 minutes, we finally arrived in SAPA. We got dropped off at our hotel, and then headed out to "Bagette and Chocolate" for some breakfast.
Sapa is a mountainous village to the north of Ha Noi. It is renoun for its hill tribes who wear their villages traditional clothing. It is very cold in Sapa and is generally raining or foggy or just cloudy. There have been lots of rain recently which has lead to many landslides which have blocked roads and even killed villages. The people there a beautiful. They have a very unique way of trading and bartering. Instead of the classic "You want. buy. buy. buy" trading in Ha Noi, they use a "you buy from me, ok? tommorow? you buy from me." Its nice and you dont even realise how anoying the process is becuase you dont feel like there bugging you at all! its wonderful!
We organised a tour to a really big waterfall - were there are pictures - and that was beautiful but only lasted aout 2 hours. We had a traditional VN dinner and then headed back to our lucsurious beds for an early morning start.
At 6:30 we all met back up in the lobby, all decked out in our treking gear. We had organised a guided trek through some local villages that was to take us all day. After some breakfast, we met our guide - a beautifully dressed young girl - and we were off. We made our way slowly down the mountain - there are photos - into the valley, through a village, across to the other side of the valley, over many streams and waterfalls and over bridges. It was still quite slippery and muddly, so somehow we picked up an extra woman each who held our hands while we made our decent. Tell you one thing, my lady saved my life more than once! We walked through villages and farmyards and even became features of the rice fields that were cut into the landscape. It was just beautiful. We stopped for lunch, and our ladies who were traditionally dressed, some with hand made baskets on there bakes proceeded to bring out there things to sell to us - as payment and thanks for all the help down through the mountains.
We moved on after lunch at a much slower pace - after beeing told that we were walking Very quickly. (so quickly that even the ladies who walk the same path 3 times a week were panting with the effort! whoops, just fast walkers i guess.) it was very leasurly but easier to walk anyway. Oh and i forgot to mention, after the cool morning the day turned absolutly beautiful and we had absolutly clear blue skys and a loverly sun all day. Crystal clear 360 degree views. Apparently they hadn't had a day like that for weeks! the rain had stopped and the sky had cleared just for us :D. some of us even ended up with a bit of sun burn!
we kept the pace and ended up running into bus loads of tourist who basically visited 2 shopping villages and thought they got the realy experience after have to trudg through a pig farm. One of the quotes of the day was when we were approaching this endless line of tourists "we dont look like them. Go away. I know, Quick i'll feed the pigs, Sanchia you milk the cow and Liana you feel the ducks." We had just been for this beautiful trek, we live in VN and we were suddenly ambushed by all these obvious tourists with the money and too clean clothing. Sure some of them wanted to real experience, but they certainly were not getting it there!
We eventually made our way back home again after no troubles and ended up realaxing back in Bagette and Chocolate. i think the name says it all, but its basically a french training cookery place. lots of crossants and the like.
it is so relaxing in Sapa and everything is just so beautiful, and the fct that we were blessed with such a beautiful day just put the icing on the cake. We headed back to our beds once more after the best walk with the best company, ready for the next day.
Sapa is also known for its sunday Markets. Its about 4 hours from actual Sapa and includes a long bus trip back to the train station an then another trip back out to the markets. It was basically tourist bus heaven. People arrived at the markets by the bus load, flooded the markets and then left, all at the same times. they would only spend about 1 1/2 at the actual markets, even though it takes about 3 hours to get there, before there tourist bus took them back again. Somehow we managed to pull a extra hour at the markets and it was surprising how things quietened down. It was a bit of a let down actually. Becuase these markets did attract so many tourist, prices were massivly inflated. They new that people thought they were getting a bargan, but when they tried the same prices on us, we knew we were getting riped off, so we tried to bargan it down. Unfortunatly, my barganing didnt get me anywere, becuase the traders didn't care if i didnt buy anything. They new they could sell it at much higher prices to another poor tourist. it turned out not to be a very pleasent environment.
Eventually, and after another 3 hour bus trip we were back at the train station and waiting for the train trip home. it was pretty booked out so we had to get soft seats this time, instead of a sleeper. We were not looking forward to it at all! It wasnt too bad in the end. The train ride is at night and about 10 hours, but we managed to get the lights off and it was like being in an airplane, but nicer becuase the chairs really reclined. Most of us slept well. we arrived in Ha Noi at 6:30 am and proceeded to find that nother was open. I had to get my ATM card back so i left to do that and people went home, and others went to buy Dvds. That was then end of the best weekend. So maybe my writing doesnt let on to how good it really was. Emphasis my not be on the appropriate points, but it was the bomb, and definitly a must see if you visit North VN. you would be crazy to miss it!
When i finally did get back to Viet Duc, B and i were watching a movie through our eye lids, and ended up bailing and going for a nap. It was 3 in the afternoon, but when we woke again it was 6:30 am. Somehow we both managed to sleep all through the night into the next day. It was nice.
So thats it. That was my weekend and it was the bomb
Hope you are all well
Sleep out
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
The beach
Yes thats right folks i went to the beach. It was just a day trip, which ment that we had to start our day at 4:30 in the morning. You probably arnt aware, but at the moment all i really do with my time is sleep. Sometimes i can sleep all day if i dont have any classes. But even when i have a full day, i have a class, come home and nap till my next one and repeat the process. Some how i still manage to sleep all through the night so somthing must be wrong! Anyway so ive been sleeping alot, and so a 4"30 wake up call was not high on my list of things to do. I should also explain that i was going to the beach with the Saoviet school i am teacing at in Thai Nugyen.. ($15 usd an hour and its absolutly worth it!) its basically teaching a class that want to be taught every single day! and they generally have good english.
So we were off, and sposed to have leaft Thai Nguyen by 5:30 at the lastet. There was some trouble however as school organised trips tend to be and after about 2 hours we were away again. So much for an early start! The whole 4 hours there was VN singing and games and boy was i going crazy. I could not sleep for the life of me, but finally i saw the ocean first! i will add that i was the only person playing that game, but i played and it was a relief to see the sea.
The beach was beautiful, though after some seriouse thought on the matter, bridget and i decided that it was like Geelong beach, only slightly prettier. There were lots of large sun umbrellas and deck chairs all laid out and in faided pretty colours. It had just been raining, and there was a port just around the corner, so the water was a little murky... but it didnt stop the kids (about 50 from all different Saoviet schools through Ha Noi, TN and Hai Phoung) from taking a dip, and dragging B and i in kicking and screaming. B was first and then they realised i was still dry so they all came a running! eventually they got me in, i dont know why i struggled, but i paid for it in spades. I now have cuts on my knees and i look like a 10 yr old wo fell out of a tree - it is rather embarassing!
Any way, once b and i were both wet, we got some energy and decided to do an Iron Girl comp. Now picture this if you will. The only two western girls for miles, fully clothed and absolutly drenched like two drowned cats, sprinting with all there might up the beach for no apparent reason and then hitting a wall and then running back again for equally no apparent reason and sprinting into the water and swimming off. WELL i can safely say that the VN crowd was very confused, but rather impressed that we girls could swim. We got a rousing round of applase which streached for ages half way around the bay!
There were some games played on the beach between Saoviet schools, again from all over, and TN managed to win a game of tug of war and won themselves some prize money. B and i once again got some energy and decided to join in. Unfortunatly we lost interest pretty quickly cause it was all in VN even though everybody there was learning English at the Saoviet school and so i think there should have been instructions in English. Apparently nobody eles agreed, and after trying to get an interpreter the games were for money so we didnt want to ruin TN chance of more money for the school.
One thing i would like to pay special mention to is the shower bathing situation at the beach. So there was a big open room with a GIANT vat of cold, clean water with a pile of clean buckets next to it. There were already two girls there and they filled us in on the etiquet. "Bath like nobody is watching" is probably the main point, but in the end we just ended up having a massive water fight with buckets FULL of water and just making a mess! It was good fun, and despite the water prob being absolutly freezing, it was surprisingly refreshing. We ended up in a tiny cubical after our shower/bath/water fight and then we were all nice and clean a dry and shuffled off to a Saoviet bus heading to Ha Noi.
3 Hours later - which doesnt actually make all that much sence but anyway - 3 hours later we were dropped off in a random street in the middle of the old district in Ha Noi and heading for the backpackers before heading for the kebab house - yes Kebabs in Vietnam which are surprisingly good, despite being on slightly sweet bread - and the Bia Hoi for some good cheap beer. 4 Beers later, in approximatly 20 minutes, we were off and racing. No not really, we had a quite night just hitting our local bars and meeting new people from across the world. The night ended like it usually does for us in Ha Noi, with the Police, but it was 3 in the morning and prob time i went to bed seeing as i had nearly been up for 24 hrs straight! Dad, we werent in trouble, The police cut all night life in Ha Noi after midnight. It is there rule, but most of the bars owners dont agree and try and keep you in there bar for as long as possible. It is all kinda leagal, but the VN started it, i guess its complicated, but i havnt been in any trouble! promise :D
And so that was my weekend. Rather uneventful i must say, but wat i needed nun the less. Teaching has been a bit tedious and unwanted and after spending last week in Viet Duc i need to see people who didnt need everything said really really slowly to them.
yep thats me.
Sleep out yall!
So we were off, and sposed to have leaft Thai Nguyen by 5:30 at the lastet. There was some trouble however as school organised trips tend to be and after about 2 hours we were away again. So much for an early start! The whole 4 hours there was VN singing and games and boy was i going crazy. I could not sleep for the life of me, but finally i saw the ocean first! i will add that i was the only person playing that game, but i played and it was a relief to see the sea.
The beach was beautiful, though after some seriouse thought on the matter, bridget and i decided that it was like Geelong beach, only slightly prettier. There were lots of large sun umbrellas and deck chairs all laid out and in faided pretty colours. It had just been raining, and there was a port just around the corner, so the water was a little murky... but it didnt stop the kids (about 50 from all different Saoviet schools through Ha Noi, TN and Hai Phoung) from taking a dip, and dragging B and i in kicking and screaming. B was first and then they realised i was still dry so they all came a running! eventually they got me in, i dont know why i struggled, but i paid for it in spades. I now have cuts on my knees and i look like a 10 yr old wo fell out of a tree - it is rather embarassing!
Any way, once b and i were both wet, we got some energy and decided to do an Iron Girl comp. Now picture this if you will. The only two western girls for miles, fully clothed and absolutly drenched like two drowned cats, sprinting with all there might up the beach for no apparent reason and then hitting a wall and then running back again for equally no apparent reason and sprinting into the water and swimming off. WELL i can safely say that the VN crowd was very confused, but rather impressed that we girls could swim. We got a rousing round of applase which streached for ages half way around the bay!
There were some games played on the beach between Saoviet schools, again from all over, and TN managed to win a game of tug of war and won themselves some prize money. B and i once again got some energy and decided to join in. Unfortunatly we lost interest pretty quickly cause it was all in VN even though everybody there was learning English at the Saoviet school and so i think there should have been instructions in English. Apparently nobody eles agreed, and after trying to get an interpreter the games were for money so we didnt want to ruin TN chance of more money for the school.
One thing i would like to pay special mention to is the shower bathing situation at the beach. So there was a big open room with a GIANT vat of cold, clean water with a pile of clean buckets next to it. There were already two girls there and they filled us in on the etiquet. "Bath like nobody is watching" is probably the main point, but in the end we just ended up having a massive water fight with buckets FULL of water and just making a mess! It was good fun, and despite the water prob being absolutly freezing, it was surprisingly refreshing. We ended up in a tiny cubical after our shower/bath/water fight and then we were all nice and clean a dry and shuffled off to a Saoviet bus heading to Ha Noi.
3 Hours later - which doesnt actually make all that much sence but anyway - 3 hours later we were dropped off in a random street in the middle of the old district in Ha Noi and heading for the backpackers before heading for the kebab house - yes Kebabs in Vietnam which are surprisingly good, despite being on slightly sweet bread - and the Bia Hoi for some good cheap beer. 4 Beers later, in approximatly 20 minutes, we were off and racing. No not really, we had a quite night just hitting our local bars and meeting new people from across the world. The night ended like it usually does for us in Ha Noi, with the Police, but it was 3 in the morning and prob time i went to bed seeing as i had nearly been up for 24 hrs straight! Dad, we werent in trouble, The police cut all night life in Ha Noi after midnight. It is there rule, but most of the bars owners dont agree and try and keep you in there bar for as long as possible. It is all kinda leagal, but the VN started it, i guess its complicated, but i havnt been in any trouble! promise :D
And so that was my weekend. Rather uneventful i must say, but wat i needed nun the less. Teaching has been a bit tedious and unwanted and after spending last week in Viet Duc i need to see people who didnt need everything said really really slowly to them.
yep thats me.
Sleep out yall!
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