Time flies when you`re in Vietnam. I LOVE that country, and I can`t believe that we`re already through with our trip there. The people are absurdly nice, the food is amazing, and the weather is stinking hot. I`m now in Tokyo, Japan and have yet to get a good feel for it, but I`ll get to that in a moment. First, some notes about the trip so far.
As I mentioned earlier we ended up in Singapore rather than Vietnam for our first stop. This turned out to be as uneventful as an international mixup landing could be. We got to Singapore, found a mediocre hostel, figured out our Vietnam visa and flight situation, ate some delicious food, and marveled at how low key and kind of boring Singapore is. It`s very quiet on the streets, very clean, you can apparently only get gum with a doctor`s prescription - it`s that clean. We did go to the top of a boat on three skyscrapers, and the view was amazing, but really the chinese food was the highlight of Singapore. I was just ready for Vietnam.
After a two day delay we arrived in Ho Chi Minh City and the madness began. That place is
insane. Thousands of motorbikes rule the road and the only rule for driving or walking is that if you get there first you win. So you don`t wait at a cross walk, people don`t stop for red lights, you just go and let people that beat you to a spot go first. It`s terrifying and hilarious. It`s also incredible how quickly you adapt to it.
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Jake always wears this now |
The highlight of old Saigon was the spontaneous decision to eat dinner on a boat. We were walking along the river at dusk when a woman in a white sailor suit called over to us. There were about 10 women in white sailor suits lining a red carpet leading up to a boat that was lit up with Christmas lights. She said it was two bucks to get on, then whatever the cost of what you ate and drank, the boat would go up and down the river for an hour and it was cool. She said this quite differently, but this was the message. So on we went and soon we found ourselves on a boat full of Vietnamese folks singing along to a live band and lady with a mic that she shared readily with the crowd. There were probably four birthday songs sung to different people in the crowd, and we clapped and sang along to all of them. As the boat floated down the river there was a fire show where a woman had three flaming hula hoops going, among other feats accomplished with flame.
But with Ho Chi Minh City the fun is way more in the constant insanity than any one event. There were rooftop bars and bartering at markets and mototaxi rides to sketchy karaoke bars, but the overall experience left me in awe of that place. The events that happened in the smaller towns, however, where much more noteworthy.
On the train ride to Nha Trang we met a woman named Vy (pronounced Vee) who offered to hang out with us while we were in town. We met up with her twice and had so much fun both times. First she brought us to this bar that brewed its own beer (not bad) and then brought us to a delicious street vendor selling fish soup. Two days later she had us over to her house where she fed us a feast of traditional Vietnamese food, including full-bodied little squidies, and supplied us with copious amounts of beer. Her brother and friend also spoke English and joined in the fun. Her husband didn`t speak any English, but he loved to drink and so would join in the conversation often with a celebratory `YO!` which means cheers. He also introduced us to some Vietnamese wine, which was hooch that had soaked in a jug full of dead geckos. It was delicious in a way that I would not want to experience too many times.
Also in Nha Trang we became certified SCUBA divers! This was incredible.
You may have noticed that there are currently no pictures on this post. This is because I do not read Japanese and I haven`t figured out how to access my camera on this computer without the words to guide me. This is unfortunate, as there were some good pictures from the day of our dive. We got to see some amazing coral, lots of fishies, and we got to BREATHE UNDERWATER. The whole day was amazing, my favorite of the trip by far. We had a great adventure and met some awesome people as well. If it weren`t for the fact that my right ear is still popping every time I swallow I would be considering a new career path in some warm-water paradise as a scuba instructor. I may be considering it anyways.
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Team Scuba with our trainers |
Then it was on to Quy Nhon, another seaside town but without the western tourists. Basically we were three of eight white people in the town, and it made it easy to get out amongst it where you were quite conspicuous. The people there are so nice, though, and we made dozens upon dozens of friends despite the complete lack of verbal communication. The highlight of our days there was definitely a motobike ride led by Andre which had us driving over a giant bridge, through some desert, or at least super dune-y areas, and ending up in a tiny village named Nhon Ly. We showed up and were immediately surrounded by every child in the town. Half of them were under 12, and so had to go back to school after 20 minutes. The other 15 or so, however, escorted us to an epic swimming spot in the ocean amongst giant rocks but it definitely wasn`t dangerous. We swam and communicated with gestures and laughed a lot, then rode home through the desert and hung out on the roof of our hotel. Go to Vietnam. You will love it.
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It looks like desert to me |
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Tour Guides |
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Swimming Hole |
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Nhon Ly Greeting Committee |
It's the first time I have heard a person call the land between Quy Nhon and Nhon Ly desert:) It's really interesting
ReplyDeleteI was very amazed that you guys can drive motorbike. Although it's easy to drive, I think motorbike is not a popular means of transport in Western countries.
We (Jade, Natalie and me) are very happy that you love Vietnam despite something bad such as traffic condition, environmental pollution...
And, we apologize for the unfriendliness of our school's body-guard. Luckily, you guys did't mind abt it and still think VNese people are nice.
Ru.
A, could you please send us the photos we took that day? Nat'd like to post them on her facebook's wall.
DeleteRu.
Ru! We are having trouble uploading photos at the moment, but we will send you all of them when we get the chance.
DeleteIt's very hot and there is nothing but sand. I'm sure desert is not the official term, but that's definitely how it felt.
Your school's guards acted appropriately. We are a sketchy looking group and shouldn't be trusted around schools. But thank you so much for showing us around Quy Nhon and introducing us to Sugar Cane juice drinks! And thanks for reading the blog!
Pete!
ReplyDeleteThis blog is great and I am so glad to read about your journeying! Keep it up! :-)
"Go to Vietnam. You will love it," could be the country's next travel industry slogan-- it's worked on me!
Thanks again for the great post!