thoughts escaping my mind
Today, I opted to be guided by a student from the Hanoi University. They take you on a walking tour of things you want to see. But of course, knowing that nothing is for free, especially in Vietnam, I knew that I had to tip them, in addition to the entrance fees, the transportation and meals you’re going to have to pay for while they’re with you.
It seems like a good deal but I think I hit a dud.
Another early day starting out at 7am breakfast with Pho at the hotel.
Continue reading “Vietnam 2013 Day 6 – Van Lung and Phat Diem and return to Hanoi”
It’s only Day 5 out of 18 and yet I feel like I’ve been on a great adventure already.
Today started out with breakfast at the hotel. Again, another wonderful baguette. With a simple omlette and salt and pepper and butter. I had some Vietnamese green tea with it and I was also given a plate of cut fruit of banana and pineapple.
Continue reading “Vietnam 2013 Day 5 – Outskirts of Ninh Binh”
The morning agenda planned by the tour company is 0630 of tai chi with the sunrise. I was out of my room with no intention of tai chi-ing. Instead, I wanted to take photos. There was no sunrise to speak of.
Still, I enjoyed the quietness of the place and heard the birds awaken and start singing, I noticed the tai chi leader nodding off in her chair as she waited for no one to appear.
Continue reading “Vietnam 2013 Day 4 – Halong Bay to Ninh Binh”
Day 3 and I was picked up by a guide who took me to a waiting bus to get to Halong City and then transfer to a boat.
The bus ride takes 3.5 hours and 0.5 hours are spent at a miserable gift shop which has toilet facilities with very short doors. I felt like I was in kindergarden again.
Today, I spent quite an inefficient day exploring the old quarter. According to my GPS track, I walked 28km. I returned to the hotel three times in between, so had many repeated routes.
Continue reading “Vietnam 2013 Day 2 – Hanoi, the Old Quarter”
Note: This all happened 21st of August 2012.
From the little town of Lairg, we headed back out to the coast. From here on, it was an easy drive.
Our first stop is an unplanned one at Brora just for the toilet at the public car park.
There was a sign board there on the history of the town, and a path you could walk. It was not very long, so we decided to walk it. They used to harvest salt here and this town was the first in North Scotland to get electricity.
This morning, I headed to the Pulau Tikus Market in Penang.
I heard some ang mo who was carrying her Tesco cool bag in one arm and a re-useable shopping bag in another, say to the stall owner “How are you?” before paying for her goods.
10th August.
Our journey to Taos was extended for over an hour as we were diverted from the main highway from what appeared to be a bad car crash.
Okay, I’m skipping ahead many, many days, because it’s clear I won’t catch up till I’m home, till today. Maui. The last island before returning to Honolulu and reaching the end of the holidays.
A very quick summary.
Visited Haleakala National Park. Haleakala is a dormant volcano.
