So long Saigon

One last night in Saigon. Crazy place.  It doesn't have the charm that Hanoi has. We  went to the War Museum. Pretty sad.  Also visited the famed Chu Chi tunnels just north of Saigon. Very interesting. Miles and miles of underground tunnels where the Viet Cong lived successfully when fighting the Americans. 

So Sad. Our tour is over. Last group meal.  It has been just an incredible trip. So many places each different than the next. Not sure was the favourite place was. Question was asked amongst the group. No one could say.  Trek with the H'mong in Sapa? Boat cruise in Halong? Motorbike tour in Hue. Homestay in Mekong? Tough call.

On to Cambodia to see Ankor Wat.    sezadventurescambodia.blogspot.com

The Mighty Mekong Delta

After a  brief one night stay in Hoi Chi Minh (Saigon) we were on our way to the Mekong Delta and our homestay. We had enjoyed our homestay in Sapa so much the group were really looking forward to another great experience.  A couple of hours by bus from the madness of Saigon and we were on a boat on the delta. 
The homes of the people of the delta seem to be made of tarp and tin and water stained wood all tied up perched along the shores of the Mekong. I loved how they prettied their homes up with potted flowers or trees. Boats that have seen better days ply their wares.

A short boat ride away from the hustle and bustle of this part of the Mekong we are on one of the many islands that are a part of this area. Islands with magical names like Dragon and Unicorn Island. It's like being on a tropical island, palm trees and coconut trees abound.  We visited where they made coconut toffee and drank honey tea and tried the many sweet fruits grown here.  And of course there was the friendly neighbourhood viper.

Another boat ride and tuck tuck ride and we arrived to our homestay.

 

Loved, loved the homestay. So peaceful. We slept in the open under a thatched roof made of banana leaves.

 

 

We were in store for a special treat for dinner.  Rat for the starter. Yes that's right Rat.  Barbecued Rat.(Delicious by the way) Just before it was served, a few rats were spotted by the group in that rafters of the banana leaf roof.  They had come to pay tribute to their fallen comrades.

There was a great little bridge just outside our homestay. Felt like we were on Robinson Cruiso Island.

 

 

Sadly it was time to go, more sad because we knew that we were little time left on our trip. Back to Saigon.

Hi ho Silver

Okay, I never thought I would be doing this.  We traveled by train, bus, boat, motorcycle, bicycle, cyclo.  But look at this.  ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT.

We took a morning bicycle trip through the rice field and villages. Was great!!.   We stopped in one of the rice fields for a treat. A ride on a water buffalo. Lots of fun.

 

Someone's cooking in the kitchen with Dinah

One of the popular things to do in Hoi An is to take a cooking class. Best ever cooking class I've ever taken, most fun, best food and this trip is the best group ever.  I don't think I've told you but Stephan from Germany is a dead ringer for Dexter.  I looked up images of Dexter on the internet and the English think so too. Much to Stephan's chagrin we are all calling him Dexter.  Hmmm he looked too comfortable with the knife in cooking class.

Our instructor was hilarious and had us singing all kinds of songs from Dianne Warwick to Christmas songs while we chopped up and stirred.  Of course a couple of beer helped.

I got the receipes and for sure will be trying them out at home.

Hoi An

Onto Hoi An. The group is looking forward to spending 3 glorious nights in the same hotel.  Enroute we stopped  at a beach. Strangest boats I've seen.

We also stopped at some old American and French bunkers used during the French colonial times and the American War. I wonder if the soldiers who stood guard day after day, week after week ever thought their little safe spot high on a hill would be such a tourist site.

We drove through Danang which has mile after mile of beaches. Quite pretty. We also drove by China Beach where American GI's went for some R and R. Anyone remember the TV show called China Beach?  Got a shot of a woman and her baby travelling by moped.  So cute the little baby kept on waving to us.

The pollution in Vietnam is pretty bad, some because of the mopeds and motorbikes. Almost everyone has one.  But it's a cheap way to travel. Most driver's wear a mask and it has become quite the fashion treads, all colors and designs.

At last Hoi An.  Again another Unesco World Heritage sight. Pretty little town situated on a river. It is particularly stunning at night. Thousands of lanterns adorn the shops and bridges over the river.

Children and women sell lighted lanterns near the river and we bought some to set adrift. Hopefully our wishes come true.

 

More Hue

The palaces in Hue are spectacular and make for some great shots. We took cyclos (bicycle rickshaws) to the Hue citadel. More fun.

 

Hue

Traveling by motor bike and cyclo is the best way to see Hue. Hue is full of palaces, pagodas, tombs and temples. Like many other cultural spots in Vietnam is it a Unesco World Heritage Spot. We learnt a lot here. We toured the Rice Museum which was very interesting and went on a dragon boat ride on the very picturesque Perfume river. Saw how incense was made as well as conical hats. Conical hats when held against light shows a picture of a landscape.  The woman we saw making the hats only had one hand. We learned that conical hats not only protect the local woman's head in the rain but also sun.  Whiter skin is more desireable and local women take care to keep their skin as light as possible.

The temples are fabulous!!!! Some countries are helping Vietnam restore them but I kinda like the way they look all water stained, adds a mystery to them.

Elephants are sacred in Vietnam, so much so that as late at 1904 they would have Tiger Elephant fights to the death.  But they would declaw and defang the Tiger so the Elephant would win.  Funny on so many of the beer there's a picture of a Tiger. Hmmm.

After a delicious lunch at a monastery we went for a dragon boat ride on the very picturesque Perfume River.

 

Easy Rider

Hue, Vietnam - Best Day Ever

After yet another long overnight (14 hrs) train trip we arrived in Hue. Once the capital of southern Vietnam.  A quick breakfast and we were treated to the most fabulous experience of seeing all the sights of Hue by motor bike.  At first I hung on to my driver with both arms around him in the heimlick position. Never know if a chicken bone could fly into his mouth. It soon went to "look ma no hands" with my camera in one hand shooting pictures as we flew through the little alleys and trails which wind around Hue like a maze.  I could not wipe the grin from my face.

 

Mystical Halong Bay

After another overnight train journey we journey by bus to our next destination Halong Bay. On the way we enjoyed the interesting sights out the window. Lots of bicycle and motorcycles carrying up to four people and various cargo. From freezers to a crate full of pigs. That gives the tale of this little piggy going to market a whole new spin.

It was touch and go whether we were going to get to go out on the boat for our overnight stay as it was pretty misty out but at the last second the captain gave the go ahead.

Halong Bay is a Unesco Heritage sight and one of the top world wonders.  It is made up of over 2,000 islands spectacularly rising from an emerald green sea. Halong means where the dragon descends from the sea. Legend has it that as the islands were formed when a dragon dove into the sea leaving all the islands in his wake. Sailors to this day report sightings of part of the beast.

 

We also went onto one of the islands and into a gigantic cave full of stalactites and stagagmites. Setting fit for a James Bond film. Then back out to more breathtaking views.

Back to the boat where the meals were just unbelievable. Lots of fresh seafood presented as beautifully as the scenery.  The crew must work around the clock.

We then went through some tunnels leading to a secluded bay. I was excited as they used this part of Halong Bay for the film Indochine I had watched which inspired me to travel to Vietnam.

Once through the tunnels we saw quite a few monkeys climbing on the rocks and swinging on the vines much to the delight of our group.

 

Halong Bay was everything I imagined it to be. Pure Magic.

 

 

 

Among the H'mong Trek

Had a great two day trek among the H'mong. We were greeted at the door of our hotel by about 12 women from the H'mong tribe. Really strange they followed us through the whole 5/6 hour trek  with baskets of their jewellery and various embroidery with the hope of selling us some at the end of the trek.  They were very nice and always asking "Where you from" What your name" "Shopping????". On the way up on the tough up hill climbs the woman that was following me held my hand to help me. Her hand felt like a crab claw.  No hand cream. Their clothing is very colourful and all hand embroidered. They say that girls are taught to embroider before they can walk.

The scenery on the trek was spectacular. Cascading rice paddies.

We visited a home with a water buffalo guarding the home. Great security but stinking just as we passed it decided to relief itself.

We also visited a school and really enjoyed watching the kids. Simon brought some pencils the kids swarmed him.

We were lucky we had a brilliant sunny day and had lots of breaks to look at the scenery.

Finally at last to our homestay.  It was a really interesting experience. The food was delicious and the hospitality next to none. There was a large varanda with a great view and bird cages hanging all around it. In the evening at supper the mom and dad kept on making toasts with shots of rice wine. Mot Hai Bai Yo (One Two Three, Vietnamese cheer was shouted numerous times and everyone had a great time.   Dorothy and I got a couple of beds on the main floor and in the morning it sounded like the rooster, pig and dog were right in the room with us. 

Then the trek back. Yikes. A lot of uphill. I found a H'mong woman  (who of course was waiting for us to depart ) with soft hands this time.  She was such a help and made the trek a lot of fun. I was leaping from rock to rock like a leprocan. (Yes I know I can't spell) 

Back to Sapa, then bus and overnight train to Hanoi enroute to Halong Bay. 

Sapa

The overnight train trip went well.  4 bunks to a room and Emily and I shared the Swiss girls.  Simon (from England) walked by and said let's go to the bar and whatever Simon says we do. Emily hates beer but being a good sport is trying. But after a few sips she's done and being a good room mate she says I can have it. Oh well.

Train part of journey's done, then on a bus and we arrive in Sapa. The country side is beautiful.

We're lucky we are having a beautiful day.   But it's funny all of a sudden the mist and the clouds roll in but as quickly as it envelops us it is gone. When we arrived at our hotel it has windows all along the back of it which was suppose to be a good view. All we saw was clouds. Then within seconds the cloud lifted revealing yes a stunning view.

The town of Sapa is lovely with a pretty little lake.

After exploring the town in the morning the group went by bus to a a nearby local village where we were swarmed like rock stars by the village women. Crazy but they were very nice and followed us about practicing their English which was amazingly good.

Many of the women carried their babies on their back probably from dawn to dusk trying to sell jewellery and handicrafts to visitors.  Babies take it in stride and seem very content all bundled up and warm on their mother's back. The women seemed bundled up too but most of their feet are bare and are in plastic sandals.

Tomorrow a 5/6 hr trek to another village and a homestay sleep. Should be interesting.