Motorbike tour

Heres a bunch of pictures from the motorbike tour I took today, it was great. (Cafe on Thu Wheels- if anyone's going to Hue, they're awesome). I opted for the bike rather than a boat tour cause you don't get to see a variety of things on the boat, and after the lovely Halong Bay cruise, the little dragon styled fishing boats seemed sad. This is Thien Mu Pagoda, famous for it's unusual shape. My driver took me all over the place, glad not to be driving myself, he had some impressive manuevering skills around puddles and on dirt tracks. Learned about the history of Hue and the buildings I saw, and also got to see some of the surrounding countryside which was my favorite part, its nice to see how people live and to get out of the congestion for awhile.

Nerd Alert

Is it just me, or does this remind you of the wizards chess game in the first Harry Potter book?

More Secret Garden-esque at Tu Duc Tomb

Royal Tombs

Tu Duc Tomb

I visited one of the many royal tombs on my tour, its a huge space, with several temples and structures, and the lovely pond.

Arena

They used to have lion and elephant fights in here

Perfume River

This view is from a bunker hill where the Americans used to hide out from the Viet Cong

Meditating Monks

These guys were singing in English, surprisingly well! Got a little video clip of it

Check it out Mom, covered bridge!

This bridge is supposed to be Japanese- though it doesn't look Japanese at all to me, what do you reckon? It is lovely though, and was used back in the day only by the Mandarins. It's on a small road in the country side, a beautiful place.

Check out those veggies

Market

This market is across from the covered bridge

Hue

Spent the afternoon walking around the citadel and old Imperial residences of Hue, absolutely charming. The citadel is still largely in ruins with lots of overgrown plants, so it reminded me of the Secret Garden and I pretended I was in the book, always fun :-) Hue is much calmer than Hanoi, more bicycles than motorbikes, though that doesn't stop the motorbikes that are there from asking you if you want a ride every 5 seconds. Tomorrow I'm going to take a motorbike tour around to some more of the sights, so that should be fun.

Imperial Entrance

Taking a Reading Break

Gate to the Queen Mother's residence

By the old moat

Doesn't it look like it could be in the Secret Garden?

Halong Bay

I took a 3 day tour on Halong Bay, north Vietnam, and it was lovely. Our tour guide was very enthusiastic, and everything ran like clockwork, the organization of the tours is pretty amazing. I'm still full from all the food they stuffed us with- its like being at your grandmas house, all the food they give you!

The first day we went on a lovely boat through the bay, there are beautiful limestone rock/islands everywhere. We stopped at one to go through a cave, and at another where the rest of the people climbed to the top, while I waited on the beach. We spent the night on the boat, I had a nice room to myself, nicer than some of the hotels I've stayed in! Went swimming off the boat in the late afternoon while the sun was starting to go down, perfect! The next day we spent on Cat Ba Island, where there is a national park. We went kayaking (Daddo, you would have loved it!) in the bay, it was great, the water is so calm and flat that its not difficult to steer. We went under a rock archway into a lagoon, where there were schools of tiny flying fish, very cool. The we took the boat to monkey island, where you guessed it, there were monkeys, and did some swimming as well. The next morning it was back on the junk to journey back to the mainland. Sat on the top of the boat and enjoyed the sun and view- absolutely beautiful! And it was kinda nice to be babied for a few days and not have to think about anything, though I'm glad to be off the guided tour , it was really scheduled and we were definitely overfed! But the price was unbelievable for everything you get, definitely recommend it.

Took the night train to Hue, where I have a lovely hotel with internet in my room, yippee! Gonna relax and walk around town today, take in some sites of the old city. Will probably post more soon!

Boat market

on the boat

Junk Boat

View from an Island Cave

Sunset

Halong Bay

That's a bike under there

This is from the Ethnology museum, I haven't seen a bike this overloaded yet but some have come close. I rode on a motorcycle twice today- I feared a bit for my life but it wasn't as scary as I thought. Nothing like having your first motorcycle ride weaving through traffic sans-helmet, in a city where traffic signals are mere decoration and everyone does what they want in a complete free for all. Maybe this will make me less nervous about driving again when I get back, at least people obey simple traffic laws.

One Pillar Pagoda

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

Water Puppet Show

Now can't remember if in the main blog I mentioned I went to a water puppet show today- it was so fun! I was happy to see some folk art, and add it to my puppet list. This is a picture of the dragon puppets- they spray water and sparks, pretty cool. Water puppets are unique to Northern Vietnam, and started in the rice paddies. Got to hear some traditional music during the performance, lovely.

Sidewalk badminton game!

Tortoise stones

Ngoc Son Temple

Temple of Literature

Hanoi

Had my first day in Hanoi today, and it was lovely. The city is a bit crazy with all the motorbikes, but I'm getting to be a pro at crossing seemingly un-crossable traffic. Just walk slow like the guidbooks say. My favorite thing about Hanoi so far is that there is a shopping street for everything. Today I walked down several item-specific streets- glasses, commercial paint, sewing machines, silk, knives and scissors, toys, shoes, restaurant supplies, it was fun. Never thought I'd see a sewing machine street.

I walked around the old quarter and visited a temple on the lake in the quarter's center, which was nice. I also went to the women's museum, which was kind of like a trophy case for women soldiers and patriots who had served in the American war (obviously here they don't say Vietnam war) and women who had otherwise served the country. There were lots of displays on scientists, teachers, farmers, pretty interesting. I went to the Temple of Literature, which has nice architecture including these weird turtle shaped monuments to the teachers.

Did a bit of shopping, bought a knock off north face for $12, sweet! Might buy some fake trainers as well, why not. Figure its late enough in my trip that I can buy some stuff, only have to carry it around for 3.5 weeks now. Time is flying by!

Last night in Thailand

Simon, this blue cocktails for you :-)

Last look at Haad Rin

Tim, what is this thing?

On the way back from diving, saw this weird funnel cloud thing that was making a whirlpool in the water, though it had stopped by the time we got close to it

On the Dive Boat, Koh Tao in the background

Koh Tao

Haad Rin, just before it started to rain

Haad Rin, Koh Phagnan

Chaweng Beach, Koh Samui

Green Curry + Beach = Happy Summer

Beach side restaurant on Koh Samui

Diving!

I went on 3 dives today, at the best sites in the gulf of Thailand, and it was absolutely amazing! I love having my open water license! The water was a beautiful clear blue, 20-25 meter visibility, and no current at the first 2 sites- glorious! The coolest thing was on dive 2 when we saw heaps of grey reef sharks, so amazing! They sometimes swim fairly close to you, but it's suprisingly not scary at all, they're just going along not bothering anybody. At one point we saw 5 all together, an awesome site. Another highlight was the the chimney at Sail rock, as you can imagine it's a coral-covered chimney like rock you can swim inside. Saw heaps of other cool fish as well, and colorful anemones, all so lovely. Quite the day, a highlight of the trip for sure. Don't have any underwater pics, but will post pics soon of the islands. I fly to Vietnam on Tuesday and supposedly the guesthouse has free internet, so I'll do my posting then.

My Day

So now I'm at the beach again, on Koh Samui. It's low season so it's pleasantly not that crowded, apparently normally you can barely see the beach for the people, but its not anywhere close to that now. I'm staying at Chaweng Beach, the main one, and it has lovely water and white sand, though it still can't touch the Perhentians. This was my day-

Wake up
Eat breakfast
Lay on the beach, swimming occasionally
Late afternoon decide to have lunch
Walk down the beach
Decide to be productive and visit travel agent's beachside hut
Lay on the beach some more
Shower
Go to travel agent to book ticket to Vietnam for next week
Internet

Pretty nice eh? So I leave for Vietnam next Tuesday, yay for more beach time! Will probably head to Koh Phyanang (not sure if thats spelled right) the day after tomorrow, and hopefully do some diving this weekend, that should be enough rest time for the ankle as long as I don't go crazy with the fins. Will post pictures of the beach soon!

Doctor gives the A-OK!

Since I know everyone cares so much about hearing details about my injury, thought I'd let you know the doc gave me the OK to keep traveling, as the swelling has went down and it looks normal size again, and I can walk, though still slowly. I haven't even taken any extra pain meds today! Sweet! Anyway he told me to rest for another week, so I'm heading to the beach tomorrow. Since it's rainy season I'm just hoping for the best- gonna head to Ko Samui cause it has the best weather right now, and then after some rest time might take a boat up to Ko Tao, a great dive spot. Gotta get some use out of that new license!

Back in Bangkok

Hi all, Stef left very early this morning so I hope she is on her way and not stuck in an airport somewhere like her trip out here. Her trip didn't go quite as planned, but she was a good sport about everything- the flight drama, walking at a snails pace, et- and should have some good stories. We spent 2 nights in Pattaya, and what an experience that was! It was the first time I've experienced culture shock on this trip, though what culture I was shocked at I'm not sure. let's just say its a lot of old, fat, balding European men who come for the young, scantily clad, local women- i'm sure you can imagine the rest. And if you can't, you're better off. Tony, who Stef had met during the long journey here, was also in the area, and we were glad to have him around. I'm never the one to say this- but it was nice to have a big man walking around with us! Although no one really bothered Stef and I, except a little girl pulling on my chair trying to get me to buy gum. Silly girl, little did she know i taught kids and i can ignore a bratty child all day!

We returned to Bangkok on Friday and did some shopping- and discovered a Loft! You Japan folk will appreciate my excitement! It wasn't anywhere near as great as the ones in Japan, but it was nice to have a feeling of home after Pattaya. We went to another store that was very japan-like too, I began to forget what country I was in. The Thai's also make some similar noises to japanese people, which i find comforting in a way.

Today was a rest day, just went to bookstores (am letting myself get used to bigger English book sections slowly so i don't OD when i get back!) and watched a movie at the theater. So I don't think i mentioned yet the extreme king worshipping that goes on here. They LOVE their king, his picture is everywhere, plus it was recently his birthday so people are still walking around with i love the king shirts on. At certain times of the day the national anthem is paid and everyone has to stop what they're doing and stand respectfully, it's like someone hit the pause button cause it goes back to chaos after that. At the beginning of every movie it is also played, which I knew about, so i also stood with the crowd- i'm not sure but I think it's actually the law. I wasnt' prepared for the hilarity of the video clip that goes with it- a montage of the country and it's people, plus shots of the king travelling around, with an operatic soundtrack, it was hard for me not to laugh. can you imagine if in the states they played the national anthem with a video of Bush trying to look intelligent in various situations? There'd be a riot! Started by me!

Grand Palace

forgot to post this one earlier, i like these statues

Meeting with an old friend

I thought it would be so long before we met again! And you were waiting for me in Bangkok(*-*)

post- parasailing

Having 1 tourist experience under her belt, are now thinking about partaking in the area's other attractions and getting ourselves a hooker.

Stef went parasailing!

Pattaya is um, interesting...

These guys are cool

Grand Palace, Bangkok

Reclining Buddha, Wat Pho, Bangkok

Tuk tuk?

Hey all, wanted to post some Bangkok pictures but this computer isn't recognizing my camera for some reason, so nest time. My foot is feeling so much better, though I still walk really slow and only for short periods of time, so we'll see what happens. Yesterday Stef and I moved to Kao San, the main backpacker area of Bangkok and it's crazy, backpackers everywhere, shops selling identical stuff and lots of bars. I have happily bought my everybody-buys-them-in-Thailand, backpacker-chic pants, and they are fabulously comfy. The first day here we just shopped around a bit, got a massage, and didn't do too much which was good, and we actually ran into Andrea (one of my German travel buddies) which was cool.

Today we went to the Grand Palace and Wat Pho. Right after we got to the palace a torrential downpour like I've never seen started up, and of course we didn't have an umbrella, so we darted from shelter to shelter for awhile until finally it cleared up. The palace grounds are huge and very bright with all the gold and small mirrors on the outer walls. So different from Japanese buildings in every way! (Speaking of Japan I really miss eating with chopsticks- I'm so sick of this fork and spoon crap, how am I supposed to eat noodles with those?) We finally felt like we are in Thailand after our hospital day and backpackery day. Wat Pho has the famous reclining Buddha which is so much bigger than I'd imagined, and it is stunning, gold and bright and amazing. I think it might be bigger than the one at Todaiji, hard to say cause its in a different position. We got another massage today, because why not really, at the school that's attached to the temple, and it was fantastic! Made the muscles of my legs feel so much better after walking slow everywhere, it was great. On the way back to Kao San it started pouring again, but luckily I'd bought a long umbrella to use as a walking stick so we were kind of OK, but Stef still got soaked anyway. We refused to take a taxi cause we'd taken one there even though its really close to Kao San to save my foot a bit, and the taxi driver took us in a ridiculous loop and it was at least 3 times as much as it should have been. We expected him to take a bit of a detour but it was really uncalled for, so we were displeased. But the awesomeness of the sights made us forget it, so it was all good.

Tomorrow we are going to Pattaya, a beach a few hours from Bangkok. It's not the best, but it is a beach at least, and what with Stef's flight getting cancled and my foot problems thats all we have time for. But just give me a few days on they beach and I'll be good to go! Going back to the doctor on Sunday, hopefully he'll give me a good verdict. Fingers crossed.

Stupid foot

So Stef and I finally made it to the guesthouse at around 4 am, slept till 11:30, and then we got to go to the hospital, woohoo! What an exciting first day of vacation for her! The doctor told me to rest and stop walking, and he and 2 others rewrapped me with tape so my ankle won't move, so now it feels like burning needles are being jabbed in it, yay. anyway heres me at the hospital, i must say we were impressed with the service, they started looking after me right away and we were done in 30 minutes! the point of this rambling is that i may have to cut my trip short if it doesn't get better, clearly I can't walk around sightseeing if I can only hop on one foot- he didn't give me crutches, probably to force me to rest. and i have to go back and see him next week. but he said i could go to the beach, so we are determined to find one to lay on soon, if i can at least hobble around a bit tomorrow, we'll see.