Ao Nang, Thailand - the bloody flu....Mar 21, 2009
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Unfortunately, I have not been up to much since my tour of James Bond Island due to the bloody flu! I have pretty much stayed in bed for the last few days, only venturing out for fags and something to eat! Lucky I copied a load of films from my brother before I left! The people at the hotel I'm staying at have been great. The chef had gone home early today, but one of the girls that mans the reception said she would make me a Thai green curry that should blow out the crap - boy was it hot. Hopefully it works. I have spent my time looking at the practicalities of the rest of my tour of Thailand and Vietnam - booking flights and hotels etc. I got onto the Lonely Planet Forum where a few people recommended I don't travel alone by train in Vietnam for a number of quite scary reasons! I have found a cheap alternative of booking private cars to take me from place to place - funnily enough, through the same company that provided the guides on our Vietnam leg of the bike ride in 07. I was put in touch with some crazy south Vietnamese bloke who runs a motorbike tour company with an American Vet. They both fought together in the Vietnam War. After chatting to a few people online, this guy emailed me and said he was really excited that I was interested in seeing the significant Nam war sites. He has offered to arrange a bike tour at a decent price for me where he will take me to Hamburger Hill, the site of My Lai massacre, Cu Chi Tunnels and Danang, all with homestays included - him and his American business partner have friends and family all over the South and central Vietnam that we can stay with to cut down costs. He said not many people like to ask for this type of tour for fear it might offend, but he is delighted that I want to see and hear about the events from people who actually lived through it. He has promised to make it the best trip I have ever been on and added that seeing Nam by motorbike is THE best way. I'll have to wait until I get into Saigon to sort that out though. He said if I put aside a week to 10 days that should be enough to really immerse myself in the realities of the war. being the sicko I am, I bit his arm off. I love this kind of shit. Very depressing, but very humbling at the same time. Lets be honest, my interest in Vietnam started due to the war, there is something strangely romantic about it for me - a morbid curiosity! Anyway, back to Thailand. I'm here at the Ao Nang Cozy Place for 2 more nights and then off to Phi Phi for 3 nights before getting the ferry back to Ao Nang for the night (staying somewhere with tea/coffee facilities in the room so I can have a decent brew - PG Tips), it wasn't cheap but just one night of luxury really. I then fly out to Bangkok on 27th March, stay there for 3 nights and then I will fly to Chiang Mai for 3 nights before flying back to Bangkok for a 2 night stay and my flight to Hanoi. I've pretty much got a plan again, which is very good! Hopefully my flu will bugger owf so I can enjoy the paradise that is Phi Phi... only time will tell! Off to watch yet another film now and then bed. Will write again soon when have something to tell you and have not been in bed all day!
