30/06/13
I got up at 09.00 and after a shower I went downstairs for my free breakfast which consisted of a baguette with jam. I finished packing and checked out just before 11 and then spent the next 2 hours watching 'Friends' on my laptop. Just before 13.00 I was taken on the back of a motorbike to a waiting minibus. The minibus was crammed full of people all wanting to go to the airport. After an hour we were dropped off and those of us going to Bangkok/Heathrow had to wait about an hour before check-in opened. Straight from check-in I went through passport control and just like when entering Vietnam they took ages to check my passport, scanning and rechecking it a number of times, finally I was allowed through to departures. In the departures lounge I walked round looking for somewhere to charge my laptop but there were no sockets anywhere so I read after it ran out of juice. I also walked round looking for George and Rob but I only saw them in the departure line. They had had some trouble getting here from Bangkok and we actually got on the plane they had vacated less than 30 minutes previously. For he whole journey to Doha I didn't have anybody sitting next to me (I was centre of a triple). I spent the time watching films or sleeping. At Doha we had to wait 4 hours so we bought a drink and chatted to spend the time. The journey to Heathrow went very much the same as the previous flight although we were sitting together. When we arrived in Heathrow we didn't have to wait long to pick up our bags once we had gone through passport control and we were greeted in arrivals by George's mum. We went for a drink at Costa whilst we waited for Rob's parents. They had got the wrong time so we all travelled back together. When I arrived back there was nobody home, although mum did turn up within 10 minutes. It's good to be back.
Wednesday, 3 July 2013
Day 117 Right as Rain
29/06/13
It was a good job it was sunny this morning as we were dropped off on the edge of the tourist district, just after 06.00. By 06.25 I was in the lobby of a hostel with a $5 dorm bed promised. I was told to wait half an hour for someone to check out who was going on a tour later. Nearly an hour later I was shown to a single room.. another 10 minutes until I was shown the dorm. I can't stand people who lie, he knew exactly what time the guy was checking out as the tour had been booked through him!! It grinds my gears! I found a cafe for breakfast where I wrote up a couple of days worth of blogs. I then walked halfway across the city to the botanical gardens that I went to last time I was here. It took up a surprisingly long amount of time and it was 3 by the time I got back. After a shower and change and a check of fb it was 17.00 and time for free beer. The nect two and a half hours were spent chatting with other travellers. I got on really well with 2 English guys, Matt and Ben. The 3 of us went to a water puppet show. We were told that they were sold out but after I mentioned that it was my last night in the city thy said they could squeeze us in. Matt and I found the whole thing hilarious, many because one guy was horrifically out of time during the whole thing, I don't think many other people found it quite so funny. Afterwards we went to a street restaurant and had some fried chicken and a couple of beers. It was a good evening to end the trip on.
It was a good job it was sunny this morning as we were dropped off on the edge of the tourist district, just after 06.00. By 06.25 I was in the lobby of a hostel with a $5 dorm bed promised. I was told to wait half an hour for someone to check out who was going on a tour later. Nearly an hour later I was shown to a single room.. another 10 minutes until I was shown the dorm. I can't stand people who lie, he knew exactly what time the guy was checking out as the tour had been booked through him!! It grinds my gears! I found a cafe for breakfast where I wrote up a couple of days worth of blogs. I then walked halfway across the city to the botanical gardens that I went to last time I was here. It took up a surprisingly long amount of time and it was 3 by the time I got back. After a shower and change and a check of fb it was 17.00 and time for free beer. The nect two and a half hours were spent chatting with other travellers. I got on really well with 2 English guys, Matt and Ben. The 3 of us went to a water puppet show. We were told that they were sold out but after I mentioned that it was my last night in the city thy said they could squeeze us in. Matt and I found the whole thing hilarious, many because one guy was horrifically out of time during the whole thing, I don't think many other people found it quite so funny. Afterwards we went to a street restaurant and had some fried chicken and a couple of beers. It was a good evening to end the trip on.
Day 116 Deluge
28/06/13
It took a while to persuade myself to go and get breakfast in the rain so it ended up being more of a brunch. My meal was huge, I ordered the set breakfast of coffee, mango juice and an omelette. The omelette came with 6 pieces of bread, overkill if I have ever seen it. I actually wanted to see some of the countryside around Sapa so when it stopped raining , even though the clouds were still low, I set off towards a nearby tribal village. Not 500m down the road and it started to rain again, I decided to wait a couple of minutes to see what direction the rain would take, unfortunately it got heavier so I turned back. I spent the next couple of hours looking out of my window, hoping it would stop but no joy. Just after 16.00 I checked out and got some linner (lunch/dinner) then I made my way to the bus station for 17.30, although it was nearer 19.00 by the time we set off. As per usual the bed was uncomfortable (mine didn't even recline properly) so I didn't get any sleep.
It took a while to persuade myself to go and get breakfast in the rain so it ended up being more of a brunch. My meal was huge, I ordered the set breakfast of coffee, mango juice and an omelette. The omelette came with 6 pieces of bread, overkill if I have ever seen it. I actually wanted to see some of the countryside around Sapa so when it stopped raining , even though the clouds were still low, I set off towards a nearby tribal village. Not 500m down the road and it started to rain again, I decided to wait a couple of minutes to see what direction the rain would take, unfortunately it got heavier so I turned back. I spent the next couple of hours looking out of my window, hoping it would stop but no joy. Just after 16.00 I checked out and got some linner (lunch/dinner) then I made my way to the bus station for 17.30, although it was nearer 19.00 by the time we set off. As per usual the bed was uncomfortable (mine didn't even recline properly) so I didn't get any sleep.
Friday, 28 June 2013
Day 115 Loving Life
27/06/13
I ate the remaining 3/4 of yesterdays chocolate croissant but it didn't make me feel any better. It was raining nearly the whole day and the clouds were low so not surprisingly I spent the majority of the day in my room, although I did venture out for lunch and dinner. For lunch I went on a hunt for a cafe that had been described as "Looking like something transplanted from the Pembrokeshire coast". Sound nice? I thought so too but after walking past where it should've been 4 times I realised it was the building with the decorators in it so I settled for a less than average restaurant instead. Pizza was on the menu for dinner (I didn't really fancy beef noodle soup) and I called it a night around 10 o'clock. During the day I had to visit the gentleman's room a number of times, which wasn't very joyful, especially as my toilet didn't flush and you had to 'flush' it with the 'bum-gun' (what the locals use instead of wiping).
I ate the remaining 3/4 of yesterdays chocolate croissant but it didn't make me feel any better. It was raining nearly the whole day and the clouds were low so not surprisingly I spent the majority of the day in my room, although I did venture out for lunch and dinner. For lunch I went on a hunt for a cafe that had been described as "Looking like something transplanted from the Pembrokeshire coast". Sound nice? I thought so too but after walking past where it should've been 4 times I realised it was the building with the decorators in it so I settled for a less than average restaurant instead. Pizza was on the menu for dinner (I didn't really fancy beef noodle soup) and I called it a night around 10 o'clock. During the day I had to visit the gentleman's room a number of times, which wasn't very joyful, especially as my toilet didn't flush and you had to 'flush' it with the 'bum-gun' (what the locals use instead of wiping).
Day 114 Bed
26/06/13
After the terrible nights sleep I had I was pounced upon by a minibus driver wanting my money (the train only takes you to Lao Cai 38km from Sapa). I knocked his original price down to 40% but it was still $10. When we arrived I couldn't find the hostel I wanted to stay at so I ended up staying at the bus drivers hotel where he offered me a room for the same price as the hostel. After a cold shower I had a restless nap for a couple of hours until midday when I decided to explore the town. The thing I noticed first was how similar it was to Namche Bazar in Nepal. Sapa is situated at 1650m and Namche Bazaar is at 3440m but the actual layout and the atmosphere is similar. Both are perched on the hillside, totally developed for tourism, local hill people everywhere, every building is a outdoor gear shop, those that aren't are restaurants or hotels. I don't like either, everyone I have spoken to has said that Sapa is great, the best thing since sliced bread but I totally disagree, maybe if you get away from all the touristy bits it changes dramatically. I went into a cafe for some food but I physically couldn't eat the chocolate croissant I had bought. Not feeling great I booked a bus ticket back to Hanoi for the 28th, the bus was practically 1/3 of the price of the train ticket. After a little walk I went back to bed. Not my favourite day of travelling so far.
After the terrible nights sleep I had I was pounced upon by a minibus driver wanting my money (the train only takes you to Lao Cai 38km from Sapa). I knocked his original price down to 40% but it was still $10. When we arrived I couldn't find the hostel I wanted to stay at so I ended up staying at the bus drivers hotel where he offered me a room for the same price as the hostel. After a cold shower I had a restless nap for a couple of hours until midday when I decided to explore the town. The thing I noticed first was how similar it was to Namche Bazar in Nepal. Sapa is situated at 1650m and Namche Bazaar is at 3440m but the actual layout and the atmosphere is similar. Both are perched on the hillside, totally developed for tourism, local hill people everywhere, every building is a outdoor gear shop, those that aren't are restaurants or hotels. I don't like either, everyone I have spoken to has said that Sapa is great, the best thing since sliced bread but I totally disagree, maybe if you get away from all the touristy bits it changes dramatically. I went into a cafe for some food but I physically couldn't eat the chocolate croissant I had bought. Not feeling great I booked a bus ticket back to Hanoi for the 28th, the bus was practically 1/3 of the price of the train ticket. After a little walk I went back to bed. Not my favourite day of travelling so far.
Wednesday, 26 June 2013
Day 113 Muscle Man
25/06/13
I found it quite hard to get to sleep last night but I eventually dropped off, only to wake at 06.30 and try as I might I couldn't get back to sleep. Just after 08.30 we disembarked in Hanoi where I went straight to the ticket office where I hoped to book myself onto a train to Sapa (very northern Vietnam), unfortunately the only train left a 21.50. I bought the ticket and began the cafe waiting game along with my heavy rucksack. My first pit stop was "one of Hanoi's best kept secrets" you accessed it through a silk shop then up a couple of flights of stairs, providing nice views over the lake, although the coffee was pretty average. I had already bought a pastry for breakfast and to kill time before lunch I went in the search of a cinema, I walked up and down the short street it was meant to be on but my search proved fruitless. I walked back in the direction of the station to Kinh Do Cafe which featured in the film Indochine, I really have no idea why as it wasn't anywhere near the greatest cafe I have been in by a long chalk but the beef noodle soup wasn't bad. I purposefully tried to lose myself on the way back to the lake and it sort of worked as I had to get my guide book out. At the lake I trudged up 3 flights of stairs to a chain coffee house, Highlands Coffee. It has free wifi and I was able to stay there for 3 and a half hours buying just one £1 drink. Having had enough of cafes I walked round the lake and found a free bench to sit at and read in the sun. A little while later an old Vietnamese guy came and started talking to me. His english was very good as he had studied in Australia, we just chatted for half an hour then I said my goodbyes and went for dinner. It didn't take me long to find some noodle soup. By the time I arrived at the station I had a bad headache and my legs were very painful. I had to wait 20 minutes to get my ticket but I was then escorted to the train. Unfortunately I layed down on the wrong bed which was embarrassing. My room this time was more upper class with only 4 beds and nicer furnishings. In my proper bed I tried going to sleep but my legs made it painful, I fell asleep eventually but I kept waking up because I was too hot/cold.
I found it quite hard to get to sleep last night but I eventually dropped off, only to wake at 06.30 and try as I might I couldn't get back to sleep. Just after 08.30 we disembarked in Hanoi where I went straight to the ticket office where I hoped to book myself onto a train to Sapa (very northern Vietnam), unfortunately the only train left a 21.50. I bought the ticket and began the cafe waiting game along with my heavy rucksack. My first pit stop was "one of Hanoi's best kept secrets" you accessed it through a silk shop then up a couple of flights of stairs, providing nice views over the lake, although the coffee was pretty average. I had already bought a pastry for breakfast and to kill time before lunch I went in the search of a cinema, I walked up and down the short street it was meant to be on but my search proved fruitless. I walked back in the direction of the station to Kinh Do Cafe which featured in the film Indochine, I really have no idea why as it wasn't anywhere near the greatest cafe I have been in by a long chalk but the beef noodle soup wasn't bad. I purposefully tried to lose myself on the way back to the lake and it sort of worked as I had to get my guide book out. At the lake I trudged up 3 flights of stairs to a chain coffee house, Highlands Coffee. It has free wifi and I was able to stay there for 3 and a half hours buying just one £1 drink. Having had enough of cafes I walked round the lake and found a free bench to sit at and read in the sun. A little while later an old Vietnamese guy came and started talking to me. His english was very good as he had studied in Australia, we just chatted for half an hour then I said my goodbyes and went for dinner. It didn't take me long to find some noodle soup. By the time I arrived at the station I had a bad headache and my legs were very painful. I had to wait 20 minutes to get my ticket but I was then escorted to the train. Unfortunately I layed down on the wrong bed which was embarrassing. My room this time was more upper class with only 4 beds and nicer furnishings. In my proper bed I tried going to sleep but my legs made it painful, I fell asleep eventually but I kept waking up because I was too hot/cold.
Tuesday, 25 June 2013
Day 112 Orient Express (almost)
24/06/13
For breakfast I went in search of some street food, the first stall I found was 'manned' by a young lady and she was selling an odd but surprisingly tasty concoction. There was a base of sticky rice lavishly topped with cheese, coconut, peanuts and sugar, one of the best breakfasts I've ever had. After reading in my room for an hour I checked out at 11. My next move was to walk for an hour to get to a cafe. The Bread of Life cafe was on the other side of town and it is an American style cafe, served by deaf people. A little over 2 hours later, after a coffee and burger I left for the train station. It was still half an hour before the train left but it was already in the station so I boarded. I was bunk 1, berth 1. I entered my assigned berth and took stock of my surroundings; 2 parallel bunks, 3 beds high, the middle bed folded up on both sides to allow enough headroom to sit on the bottom bunk (bunks 1 and 2), there was also a small table in front of the window, 2 lights and an AC fan. I had just placed my bag on the ground when 4 of my berthies (like roomies) crammed into the confined space. There wasn't enough room for all of us and our baggage so we stowed the bags under the bottom bunks. The first 30 minutes we were perched on the cliff, following the coast line, providing stunning views. I spent the rest of the journey looking out the window, reading or accepting food from the locals. I also watched a film when they turned their music down low enough to hear it. The 6th berthie never materialised and the others played cards and loud music for most the journey, but at least they were very polite and friendly unlike nearly every other Vietnamese I have come across.
For breakfast I went in search of some street food, the first stall I found was 'manned' by a young lady and she was selling an odd but surprisingly tasty concoction. There was a base of sticky rice lavishly topped with cheese, coconut, peanuts and sugar, one of the best breakfasts I've ever had. After reading in my room for an hour I checked out at 11. My next move was to walk for an hour to get to a cafe. The Bread of Life cafe was on the other side of town and it is an American style cafe, served by deaf people. A little over 2 hours later, after a coffee and burger I left for the train station. It was still half an hour before the train left but it was already in the station so I boarded. I was bunk 1, berth 1. I entered my assigned berth and took stock of my surroundings; 2 parallel bunks, 3 beds high, the middle bed folded up on both sides to allow enough headroom to sit on the bottom bunk (bunks 1 and 2), there was also a small table in front of the window, 2 lights and an AC fan. I had just placed my bag on the ground when 4 of my berthies (like roomies) crammed into the confined space. There wasn't enough room for all of us and our baggage so we stowed the bags under the bottom bunks. The first 30 minutes we were perched on the cliff, following the coast line, providing stunning views. I spent the rest of the journey looking out the window, reading or accepting food from the locals. I also watched a film when they turned their music down low enough to hear it. The 6th berthie never materialised and the others played cards and loud music for most the journey, but at least they were very polite and friendly unlike nearly every other Vietnamese I have come across.
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| Triple decker |
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