Nov 22, 2009 - An American Blonde Tourist in Vietnam

So, I've been asked for my autograph 3x today and 5+ times for my picture.So, I've been asked for my autograph 3x today and 5+ times for my picture....

Nov 22, 2009 - Incredible 7th wonder

I woke up on Sunday 11.I woke up on Sunday 11....

Nov 22, 2009 - Luggage? Who cares!

So I wake up at 6am.So I wake up at 6am....

Nov 22, 2009 - Hue - Nov 20-22

Nonetheless, I am determined to make the most of our short time in Vietnam and Cambodia before that – after our time in Hanoi, we have just 3 nights in Hue, 2 nights in Hoi An and then I think four more in Saigon before a week in Cambodia. ... After the short flight to Hue (incidentally not pronounced Hue but kind of like “H-way”), we were picked up at the airport by our hotel. ... The menu here was full of local Hue specialities and they had a number of set menus which allowed you to taste a number of items. ... We were leaving our large bags in Hue and just taking the small bags with us for the 2 night trip to Hoi An. ... Despite the weather and the inauspicious start, Hue had been a nice little stop for us. ...

Nov 21, 2009 - Meeting Miki in Mui Ne

It was an early start from Da Lat. One puncture and much sign language later, I arrived in Mui Ne, beach resort about 200km north from Sai Gon. ... Their arrival back will be a boon for Kilkenny pub sales, not least Syd Larkins! Mui Ne is a relatively upmarket beach resort with 12 km of sand and is famous mostly for watersports. ... We got ourselves settled in a guesthouse and caught up over beers and food.It was an early start from Da Lat. One puncture and much sign language later, I arrived in Mui Ne, beach resort about 200km north from Sai Gon. ... Their arrival back will be a boon for Kilkenny pub sales, not least Syd Larkins! Mui Ne is a relatively upmarket beach resort with 12 km of sand and is famous mostly for watersports. ... We got ourselves settled in a guesthouse and caught up over beers and food....

Nov 21, 2009 - What do you mean my luggage is lost?

I arrive early.I arrive early....

Nov 20, 2009 - Delightful Da Lat

Pretty much everything grows well in this climate and Da Lat is the de facto 'Garden of Viet Nam' which is pretty obvious once you make your way out of the town. ... Next stop was the old Railway Station of Da Lat (called the Cremalliere) which is a museum like place. ... (There are no longer any trains running to Da Lat. ... A part of the old line is now in use for tourists so took the train to a small village close to Da Lat called Trai Mat. ...

Nov 20, 2009 - Hanoi - Nov 16-20

Once at Hanoi, we had to queue for our visas, a process which was remarkably inefficient and time-consuming! Rather than get our visas ahead of time, we were “informed” that the quickest way was to get an online approval letter and queue at the airport. ... Having gotten our bags quite quickly and left the airport, we found our pickup waiting for us and we ventured off into the Hanoi traffic which was an experience in itself. ... The scooters and bicycles were everywhere and the road seemed to have a hierarchy – buses stopped for no-one, cars only stopped for buses, scooters stopped for buses and cars and pedestrians stopped for everyone! This resulted in a few close calls as the cars just pulled out without looking and expected the bikes to stop, which they generally did! We checked in at the hotel and headed straight for the room and pretty quickly we fell asleep – we didn’t have much time around Hanoi and 2 of our 3 days we were going to be out in Halong Bay so we wanted to be fresh for tomorrow for a full day, especially as we had to visit the US Embassy, too. ... Our hotel is in the Old Quarter of Hanoi and the streets here and narrow and compact. ... Even a stop at a tacky tourist place didn’t help ease the pain on the buttocks much! We arrived at the Halong City to catch our boat around 4 hours after leaving Hanoi and once our passports had been checked we boarded the junk boat. ...

Nov 19, 2009 - Da Lat - Le Petit Paris of Vietnam

Nightmare long bus ride from Nha Trang to Da Lat (and this was a daytime one!) There were a number of unexplained stops so the trip seemed to take an eternity. ... Somebody had warned me the mixtures can be potent in Viet Nam but did I listen?? Anyhow arrived about 2 hours later than predicted to Da Lat which is inland and high (about 1400m) in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. ... It has a similar feel to Sa Pa.Nightmare long bus ride from Nha Trang to Da Lat (and this was a daytime one!) There were a number of unexplained stops so the trip seemed to take an eternity. ... Somebody had warned me the mixtures can be potent in Viet Nam but did I listen?? Anyhow arrived about 2 hours later than predicted to Da Lat which is inland and high (about 1400m) in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. ... It has a similar feel to Sa Pa....

Nov 18, 2009 - Nha Trang - by Day and by Night

After the downpour and mixed weather yesterday, I was in two minds about taking the boat trip.After the downpour and mixed weather yesterday, I was in two minds about taking the boat trip....

Nov 18, 2009 - Good Morning Vietnam

Hello there.Hello there....

Nov 17, 2009 - Miss Saigon; I don't think so

After our few days at the beachside town of Hoi An we flew to Ho Chi Minh city (aka Saigon)for another dose of fast-paced city life.After our few days at the beachside town of Hoi An we flew to Ho Chi Minh city (aka Saigon)for another dose of fast-paced city life....