Hanoi the last

We're just waiting for a taxi to take us to the airport for the flight to Saigon. Today we played ultimate tourists... Started with bad breakfast, then off to buy shoes (REAL adidas ones, honest). We were picked up by a guy driving a tuk tuk (oh twist my arm, you don't want me to walk?). That was cool. Kind of like a cyclo, with purpose. :-)

Went to Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum. Shuffled through in a big line with everyone else, to look at stuffed dead guy... very amusing. Noted huge hammer and sickle (if that is spelled wrong I blame Word, coz I looked it up!) on wall behind the sarcophagus. Then we walked around the entire Mausoleum complex looking for the One Pillar Pagoda... without success. After which we walked to the Literary University. That was very very cool!! Next we picked up a couple of motorcycle taxis (breathe mum, both of them) who took us to the large catholic cathedral, in the style of Notre Dame (only smaller). They insisted on waiting for us, so they could take us to the next place... which was Hoa Lo prison, aka the Hanoi Hilton. Wondered around reading the stilled view that The People's Democratic Replublic of Vietnam would like people to see. All the worst treated inmates were communist political fighters. The American soldiers never had it so good... ;-)

And then it was off, Honda Om style, to the Hanoi Hilton, aka the Hanoi Hilton, for photos of both. ;-) This is next to the Opera House, in front of which was a bridal party (the second of the day). They LOVED having their picture taken (others in the party, the bride and groom were busy with a professional photographer). Unluckily I do not have an analog camera, and they did not have email, so no exchange possible.

We walked down to sort out our Mekong cycle tour (read, pay for it). And then back to the hotel. Passing a kindergarten, candid photos all round. We mooched a room to use the shower (no, we paid for it, that's not mooching). And now we wait.......

More from the dirty south.
Lots of Love
GBFSB

Hanoi Bo'n (accents missing)

Been here so long now we're fluent. ;-)

So, where were we? Ah, still on Cat Ba waiting to go to floating restaurant. It was FAB. Best meal we've had here. We just offered them 100,000D (about US$7) and asked them to provide a meal for us. We had small salt and pepper crayfish (looked like scampi), squid, a whole sea bass, some yummy asian vegetable, spring rolls (different from all the others we've had, as usual) and a plate of fries! Needless to say, the fries did not get touched, but everything else was demolished! Sitting on the porch of a floating restaurant looking back over the shore with the flashing disco lighting and hearing the occassional sound check on the huge sound system... :-) This whole event was perfected by the man who rowed us back to shore in one of the woven, tar-bottomed boats we've seen in the floating villages (it was a motorised boat to get out there, no newer but less quaint).

The second night in the hotel was as blissfully quiet as the first. :-) Breakfast was a badly done as all "European" breakfasts here. But we had the fabulous entertainment of witnessing one british woman go completely bananas at the wait staff. Because she was shouting and swearing at them in English (which they barely understand in a slow careful voice, explained a couple of times) their response to her was laghter... which incited more rage. Man was she pissed! In fact, it seemed to us that she had the same trouble I did the previous day... getting some jam for her toast, when she'd ordered the eggs. The trouble was that she didn't "get" the solution quickly enough (offer to pay... which, by the way, never did turn up on the bill). And the waiter must have poiinted animatedly to her eggs, and touched them (by mistake, or because it's not such a big deal to touch peples food in Vietnam). She went ballistic about him poking his fingers in her food... etc. etc. etc. Later we heard that it was probably the same woman who had trouble with the hotel restaurant the night before (while we were having fab dinner on a boat). It seems she wasn't getting the service she ovbiously thought she deserved. We think she's in the wrong country!

The trip back to Hanoi was pretty uneventful. The day was clear to start with and we watched islands and fishing boats slide by, whilest reading our books. It fogged in, until we had true pea-soup fog as we neared the Ha Long City wharf. Our boat obviously didn't have SATNAV because we zigged and zagged all the way back into the bay to avoid hitting other boats, and trying to follow someone who knew where they were going. We found a military looking boat going in a staright line eventually, and followed that home. :-) The one interesting event on the way was when our boat pulled alongside another one and our guide was trying to transfer us to the second boat (which had better deack chairs on the roof). The other boat had broken down, so we didn't transfer (the passengers on the other boat looked rather like they would have liked to switch the other way). Not sure what it was all about, maybe a cheaper fare? But the owner of the boat we were on was trying to convince us to stay on his boat, rather than follow our guide. Yeah right!

We had lunch at the same restaurant in Ha Long City. Not as good this time, but still pretty good. Then we bussed back to our hotel, which had sold out (despite our reservation). Fortunately they did the right thing and taxied us at no charge to a sister hotel. It turns out that our new room is easily as good as the old one, and we slept until 7:30AM before the light and traffic woke us the next morning!

Went for an emergency stroll before dinner to find a chemist to sell us distinctly illegal looking drugs for Flash's sore throat. Don't be getting sick Flash, we have two days of cycling on the Mekong Delta starting Friday!

Then we went for dinner at Highway 4 with Lan Anh and husband (sorry still not sure how to spell his name). This was a place I'd heard about but didn't realise we were at until we left. It was good. Of course. Owned by an ex-pat Aussie I think, but the chefs were obviously local. :-)
Thursday's agenda is seeing the last of Hanoi's hotspots, and buying fake Nikes for Flash. :-)

More later
GBFSB

P.S Did I mention that neithe one of us can walk very well. downward stairs are a killer on all those screaming muscles from yesterday's hike. Getting off the boat at lunch time was fun. There was so much traffic (boat) that we couldn't get close to the steps. So we had to climb up (ouch) onto the side of our boat and jump down (wearing heavy packs, ouch ouch) onto the next boat, and then repeat the process a couple more times until we got to the jetty. Thursday's tourism is going to involve a lot of taxis! :-)

Hanoi Tres (Cat Ba Dos)

Woke naturally at 6AM today (after early night). Blissful silence. Being in the country is great. Even if the motorbikes start early there is not enough traffic for beeping to be necessary.

Had non-vietnamese breakfast, which involved a heated debate as to whether I could have jam with my toast. "But you ordered the fried egg and bread, not the jam and bread. "I'll pay extra for teh jam". Debate resolved. Needless to say, I got the jam :-)

Tour bus collected us for short (slightly scary) trip to Cat Ba National Park. This included some faffing about as tourists boarded and then jumped off again to rush back and get stuff they had let behind. (Typical Aussies) Met local tour guide on bus. He spoke less English than the other guides, but enough, and was really very sweet. A true local, living on Cat Ba Island all his life.

The trek was 14km of advanced hill-climbing. It was much harder work than anyone present expected (except the guide). Flash and I were expecting to leave some of the group behind and have to wait for people to catch up. But we ended up with the uber-hiking group from... 'Nam. :S The group was generally a good bunch, although I am bugged about spending too much time with non-vietnamese. if I wanted to meet Aussies, I'd go to Oztrailier. ;-)

It was full on hiking with minimal stops. We are tired, and slightly sore. It was beautiful! In fact, I kept feeling like I'd come home, the whole way along. It was very similar to northern NZ bush. Especially the bit where it got all clay and wet and slippery. Although, the cement-with-stones trail most of the way was a bit foreign, and disconcerting. As was the variety of largish insects "very poisonous" along the way.

The lunch in traditional village was good food, and the village was great. We watched the process of quarrying (by hand) roacks, and turning them into fine gravel and sand for brick making! People still live like that???!!!

On the way back around the island (by boat) we stopped for a salt water swim. Only two people had togs, but at least 6 of us were in the water. :-)

We returned. Same room for the second night, that's a new one so far. Took a walk around the bay, harrassed by girls selling postcards. We "promised" to buy them if they saw us when we came back. They saw us!!! They also grossly overcharged us, which we discovered when offered the same cards by a boy. Apparently one should always buy from boys. They are less business savvy! I figured it was 10000D for the cards (standard price) and 45000D for the entertainment. :-)

On the way around we were approached by a bunch of local kids playing in the street. They had spotted my camera and I realised (after a few seconds of smiling incomprehension) that they wanted me to take their picture. I obliged! Posed photos of Vietnamese kids clowning around in front of a camera... a tourists dream. The digital age is wonderful, because then I could turn the camera around and show them the pictures of themselves, which is what they Really wanted. I'm so obliging. :-D

Flash collected video footage of gaudy flashing street decoration, to a lovely backdrop of over-loud sound-testing! Some festival tomorrow night, shame we won't be here.... :-S

Off now for dinner on floating restaurant on the bay. "What not eating at hotel? But you pay for it in tour.....". Heard good things about the food out on the bay... and it's floating!

Yay. So Much Fun!
GBFSB

Cat Ba - The ultimate sound effects collection

Well, we're now in Cat Ba. Halong Bay is AB FAB, I have SOOOO many photos and video clips (and now postcards...).
We spent the day doing a 14km trek today. Was pretty serious going. We spent the first three or four hours going up and down wonky concrete stairs (rocks with concrete between them). At the final summit we were at 600m (having started at sea level).
We then took a 10 minute detour (I think we were running ahead of schedule... coz' we're so buff) to clamber to the top of the final summit. That bit was uber tricky and on a few occasions I thought "What would OSH make of this?". The view was stunning, absolutely stunning. We spent 10 minutes or so up there (Coz' of the breeze)and then we clambered back down. From there it was a fairly straight forward trek down to the bottom of the valley where we found what looked like a regional school hut (read: thatched roof hut with scribbles on the wall). We walked a bit more, I fell down a hole... after avoiding injury through all of the dangerous bits... but no injury, just felt like an idiot.
We stopped at a village for lunch, more photos... it was breathtaking. The valley was surrounded by ranges and the plains were all rice paddies with buffalos grazing and everything. Lunch was spectacular, included the obligatory spring rolls of course, but also had fried peanuts (yumm!!!) one of the guys on the tour had a grandmother in Saigon and knew how to make the peanuts so we exchanged recipes ;-)
A bit more walking and a boat ride and we were back in Cat Ba (short interlude in the middle of the boat ride for some of the tour to jump in for a swim).
We have showered and gone for a walk along the promenade (listening to a sound effects sampler cd being played through the giant PA system and admiring the multitude of neon lights). Went further along the bay to the local houses and waved at all the kids (vietnamese kids are seriously cute!).
We managed to get some photos of the kids when a handful of them started buzzing around our legs gesturing for us to photograph them. The joys of digital cameras, we could photograph them and then instantly show them the photo, they thought that was wonderful.
Bought some postcards off two girls on the promenade, they were an absolute rip off but the story that went with the sale was well worth the extra :-) Apparently I was singlehandedly supporting her education and I would be a great guy for buying them. The two boys further along the promenade were seriously miffed that we had already bought postcards, and when we told them we had paid 3x the going rate they exclaimed "it's those girls!"
Capitalism fighting through...
Well, we're now off to find a little boat to take us out to the floating village for dinner at one of the restaurants in the bay. Food at the hotel is very average and we've heard the floating restaurants are very good.
More blogging tomorrow evening no doubt when we get back to Hanoi (catching up with Lan Anh and husband for dinner).
See you all soon.

Liam.

(ps. no Delhi belly yet!!)

Hanoi Dos

Woken this morning at 4:45AM by a rooster next door and the start of the motorbike tooting competition. By 6AM Flash and I were both up... that is SOOO not like either one of us!! Of course, the hotel guys were still asleep on their fold-out beds in the reception area when we went down for "breakfast at 7AM before the tour". So, of course, the tour guide came for us a few minutes early and we weren't ready. Lucky we were the first pick up, so none of the time-conscious westerners were waiting for us...

Bus to tourist trap ("for handicapped kids" in huge red letters. Wonder what handicapped kids is in Vietnamese) on the way from Hanoi to Halong City and boat tour around Halong Bay. Passed small towns, pony and carts, the usual insane cyclists and motorcyclists. Of particular note the water bufflao and strange stacks of hay in giant toadstool shapes. ? I have been wondering what it is that causes business confidence to be high enough to fund some of the new hotels and other structures along that road... in between the broken down shacks and rice paddies (tended by women in conical hats, as you might expect).

Did I mention it rained all morning? Not a bad time to be in a bus I suppose.

Another strike of the Flash Custard.... boat tour started late (after fab Vietnamese lunch) due to engine trouble with our boat. An alternative (small!) boat was found, which took us only as far as the first island, before a bigger boat took up the chase. The "surprising" cave/grotto really was. The disco lights and fake fountains were the most surprising features! We have much footage and photos. The second cave was ho-hum in comparison, and we were being hustled to catch up with the group... who obviously don't have the appreciation for nature, and need to capture it on as many media as humanly possible, that we do. We are but slaves to our art. I hate group tours. Especially the whole "spend the day with foreigners instead of locals" thing.

Witnessed the floating houses... these people don't live on boats. They live in houses built on rafts. Tiny prettty deco coloured (like a lot of everything here) single room houses. Purchased the obligatory bananas from local boat peddler. And sampled the 'milk' of young coconut. It was very proper.

Finally arrive at Cat Ba as it was getting dark. Everything was going fine on the bus from the jetty to the hotel, until we came in view of the HUGE concert spotlights, the flashing neon street decorations and the Michael Jackson at 40000 decibels! Aargh, I'm in Hell... ;-)

The room is a suite. :-) But we are sharing the room with the two beds away from the street. Fortunately, I haven't had trouble with the aircon in this room. ;-) The shower has a curtain, for the first time. And the music from the street has stopped, has also the hum from the water heating unit. Sigh, maybe it IS heaven after all...

Well having had 5 hours sleep each night for the past 4 straight. I'm off to bed at 9PM. And I don't think there will be much motorcyle beeping in the morning. This place isn't very big. :-)

"Trekking" tomorrow. At the moment it seems like it might be just us and a guide. Now that would be something!!!

GREAT! Soooo much FUN!
Love and Hugs
GBFSB

Filling in the gaps

Ok, couldn't be bothered blogging yesterday, but today I'll attempt to fill in some gaps so far. We have moved from 'Light-Stars' to 'Stars', the hotel is heeeeeaps better and the staff are really helpful. The only issue seemed to be the air cond. unit that wouldn't work no matter how much GBFSB harrased the remote. After calling the reception to have them fix it I tried pressing the power button... ;-)
Spent the day exploring the old quarter of Hanoi, got seriously ripped off by an old grumpy cyclo, went to the Traditional Water Puppets (veeeery cool!) and then walked through the night markets on the way home.
We met up with Lan Anh and husband in the evening and spent half an hour chatting before dinner. They are both really cool and it was a huge relief to finally meet them, was getting quite concerned that we'd leave Hanoi having not met them.
My Global Roaming phone didn't work... surprise surprise... so I bought a sim card for the local MobiPhone network. I had been trying to contact Lan Anh during the day at 'Light Stars' but I'm pretty sure they were intentionally phoning the wrong number because they wanted me to take one of their Hanoi tours rather than get in contact with my friend.
Buying the sim card was rather fun. Walked into a small store and spent 15 minutes trying to convey that I needed a sim card, and wanted to know how much they were. We finally deduced 130,000 dong (when she wrote it on a piece of paper). I rounded up the conversion rate and offered her the equivalent US dollars but that caused a fairly negative reaction. Turned out the Sim card had 130,000 credit on it, but was 180,000 to buy. Having gone around in circles (and thinking it was $80 USD at one stage) we finally worked out a deal and I handed over $15USD (again we rounded up. For the sake of a few dollars I was quite happy with the deal)
During the day GBFSB walked up to some stranger as we were walking around one of the central lakes and asked him "where are you from?". The guy turned out to be Dutch, but was wearing a Maori bone carving. Turns out he had been given it by a girl in Malaysia who had got it in New Zealand.
We discovered lots of statues and official buildings, didn't have any idea what any of them were, but Lan Anh later gave us a quick run down of the history of the city, and what some of the names mean. We also chatted about how all of the small stores are clustered into areas (there is a street for buying saucepans, one for crappy european toys, one for hello kitty etc...) turns out not only are the shops clustered into areas but the street names are a description of the things there. The restaurant we were in was on 'Fried Fish Cake' Street. There ya go...

Filling in the gaps

Ok, couldn't be bothered blogging yesterday, but today I'll attempt to fill in some gaps so far. We have moved from 'Light-Stars' to 'Stars', the hotel is heeeeeaps better and the staff are really helpful. The only issue seemed to be the air cond. unit that wouldn't work no matter how much GBFSB harrased the remote. After calling the reception to have them fix it I tried pressing the power button... ;-)
Spent the day exploring the old quarter of Hanoi, got seroisly ripped off by an old grumpy cyclo, went to the Traditional Water Puppets (veeeery cool!) and then walked through the night markets on the way home.
We met up with Lan Anh and husband in the evening and spent half an hour chatting before dinner. They are both really cool and it was a huge relief to finally meet them, was getting quite concerned that we'd leave Hanoi having not met them.

During the day GBFSB walked up to some stranger as we were walking around one of the central lakes and asked him "where are you from?". The guy turned out to be Dutch, but was wearing a maori bone carving. Turns out he had been given it by a girl in Malaysia who had got it in New Zealand.
We discovered lots of statues and official buildings, didn't have any idea what any of them were, but Lan Anh later gave us a quick run down of the history of the city, and what some of the names mean. We also chatted about how all of the small stores are clustered into areas (there is a street for buying saucepans, one for crappy european toys, one for hello kitty etc...) turns out not only are the shops clustered into areas but the street names are a description of the things there. The restaurant we were in was on 'Fried Fish Cake' Street. There ya go...

Filling in the gaps

Ok, couldn't be bothered blogging yesterday, but today I'll attempt to fill in some gaps so far. We have moved from 'Light-Stars' to 'Stars', the hotel is heeeeeaps better and the staff are really helpful. The only issue seemed to be the air cond. unit that wouldn't work no matter how much GBFSB harrased the remote. After calling the reception to have them fix it I tried pressing the power button... ;-)
Spent the day exploring the old quarter of Hanoi, got seroisly ripped off by an old grumpy cyclo, went to the Traditional Water Puppets (veeeery cool!) and then walked through the night markets on the way home.
We met up with Lan Anh and husband in the evening and spent half an hour chatting before dinner. They are both really cool and it was a huge relief to finally meet them, was getting quite concerned that we'd leave Hanoi having not met them.

During the day GBFSB walked up to some stranger as we were walking around one of the central lakes and asked him "where are you from?". The guy turned out to be Dutch, but was wearing a maori bone carving. Turns out he had been given it by a girl in Malaysia who had got it in New Zealand.
We discovered lots of statues and official buildings, didn't have any idea what any of them were, but Lan Anh later gave us a quick run down of the history of the city, and what some of the names mean. We also chatted about how all of the small stores are clustered into areas (there is a street for buying saucepans, one for crappy european toys, one for hello kitty etc...) turns out not only are the shops clustered into areas but the street names are a description of the things there. The restaurant we were in was on 'Fried Fish Cake' Street. There ya go...

Hanoi Uno

Well, nervousness about not being able to utter a single word of Vietnamese disslved upon discovery that everything has Engrish subtitles, and most people speak some also (except our cyclo!).

Arrived late yesterday. Could see Flash waiting through the plate glass before I even picked up my bag (It might have been the height (unusual for him!), or the colour of skin). First offer of cab started to lead us off into a darkened parking lot... needless to say, there was a second offer!

Hotel Flash found was NOT the one he was looking for. There goes his custard... right from the start! Room was Ok, people were kind of OK, bathroom was NOT Ok. We checked out next morning and found the correct hotel. Much better (after two insistents of needing TWO beds), but I don't think the aircon works. Obviously didn't pay the upgrade for that!

Hmmm, talking until 2AM might not have been such a good idea, we discovered upon being woken at 6AM by horns honking in street below. :-)

We wimped and had european style breakfast... on a lake front. Very nice. Good coffee too... first in years!!! Witnessed the first of my VN traffic on the way... 3 adults on one 90cc motorbike! No rules at the intersection below the balcony... quite amusing/scary to watch.

Took cyclo from new hotel to Post Office.... NOT. Round and round old quarter "one hour OK?". Eventually ended up near water puppet booking office... ditched cyclo (after being seriously ripped off!). Silly man, he loses our ongoing business. Can't wait to meet Dalat in Saigon.

Lots of walking round lakes today. Incense in temple, etc. No neon halos on Buddha yet, still looking. Have bought several kitsch gifts for people already. :-)

Met Lan Anh and husband (name half way between hung and hong). Learned how to pronounce Honda Om, will need that on Thursday, when back from Cat Ba. Ate first Vietnamese food this evening. GOOD! And more good coffeeeee :-D

Off to Water Puppets now.

We're having SOOOO MUCH FUN! And you should see the video footage of us crossing a busy street I think we have the hang of VN traffic now.... :S (message for Flash's Mum.... deep breathe... in... out... in....)

BTW DLA, tried for Korean 1000, no new ones sorry.

Love and Hugs
GBFSB

Hanoi day one

Ok, so now I'm in Hanoi.
The trip continued to be more than a little odd. Was sitting next to NZ's answer to Kath and Kim, busy critiquing Doris mags, thank god for iPods!
On departing the plane we were guided through the galley but had to stop in our tacks as the Ozzie in front of me was puking all over the floor (just cos' the booze is free doesn't mean you should drink it ALL!!!)

Got to Hanoi, love the communist soldiers everywhere. There was a little girl on the plane (either of Thai or Vietnamese descent) with shoes that had squeakers in the soles. With every step she made a very cute squeak. Was a bit odd being surrounded by military in all their regaila, and a little girl going squeak-squeak-squeak.
At the point when she tried running away from her Mum (customs obviously wasn't stimulating enough) the sqeaks became more of a continuous "EeeEeeeEeeeEeeEeee..."

So got through customs, spent 15 minutes trying to find the Vietman Airlines desk (for buying flights to Saigon). Turns out it's the 'excess baggage' terminal (of course). Booked my flight but needed Sunny's passport even for a domestic flight, so couldn't book hers (oh well....) Turns out there are VN airlines offices everywhere.

Haggled with taxis and got one for $10, very proud of myself as Lan Anh had said it'd be about $15. However 5 minutes into the trip became obvious the driver didn't REEEEALY know where the hotel was, and was phoning friends to find out where it was.
I had told him I already had a booking so as to avoid the whole "I take you to better hotel" thing.
So I was delivered to Stars, which was all good, and didn't realise until some time later that it was "Light-Star" not, "stars" and I was in the wrong district, having seen, booked and paid for a room (ok room, scummy bathroom, 1st floor overlooking road :-S), not the sort of thing you should do after 22 hrs in a plane.
So I've been for a wander around. I think I know where I am now. Will go and get Sunny, stay here the night and then sneak off to the other Stars tomorrow.

Bugger is that I really need to get taxi back to airport to pick up Sunny, and I'll have to arrange it through the hotel which is more expensive but there's no way I'd be able to find my way back here otherwise.

But the more important stuff. It's nothing like I expected, a lot more china-town.
Lots of horticulture on the way here (to be expected) at least of the people driving Honda90's had helmets (how times are changing!!).
Have taken lots of photos and will attempt to upload them later.
Will post again tomorrow :-)

Liam.

One night in Bangkok...

la la la la la la... (must admit I don't really know the words past that point).

What is it about International travel that brings out the surreal? (you might have guessed from the title that I'm currently in Bangkok Airport)
On the way to Auckland airport we drove past a very large Bendon billboard which I'd swear featured my old flatmate Sasha... I'll have to wait 10 days to verify that one. She'd always talked about getting into modelling, but still a shock to see her scantily clad (no shock there, she was renowned for milling around semi-dressed) and 5 metres tall.

The next surreal experience occurred only an hour later in the departure lounge toilets of Auckland Airport, "always go before you go!" ;-) It was blatantly obvious the guy in the next cubicle was enjoying a last joint before boarding the plane. This in itself isn't that odd, but what got me was that they waited until after the customs checks before inhaling the evidence! Some people...

SO I've now flown 3 hours to Brisbane, luckily the stop over was only 45 minutes, and then another flight to Bangkok. Not sure how long the flight was but it's now 5am local time, which is 10am NZ time.
Got to wait until 7:10am local time to check in for my flight to Hanoi, but at least that flight is quite short. We arrive in Hanoi at 9:30am (they are in the same time zone as Bangkok).
I saw the day rooms that Mum and Dad have talked so favourably about... but not much point for 2 and a bit hours, so I've opted for 1.5 hours of internet access for $3USD (it fixes what ails ya!)

I'm guessing that GBFSB has left too by now, and is no doubt experiencing different but equally surreal experiences. Maybe it's the sleep deprivation?

Next post Hanoi!!

The Hare is Too Slow!

I am embarrassed to admit that I only just "got" the title of this blog Flash. How can the Hare not recognize her own name???

It's 8:30PM March 24 in USA. My flight is at 7AM March 25. Less that 12 hours to take off. I'm SO EXCITED! We are going to have SO MUCH FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!

South East Asia won't know what's hit it. :-)

More from the other side.....
GBFSB

Roll on 4pm

Everything is packed, even have printouts of all the info I may need in Hanoi airport just in case I flatten my iPod battery on the plane... The most important printout has my phonetic versions of "hello, goodbye, yes, no, thank you, please" and Lan Anh's phone number (in case it all goes horribly wrong ;-) Couldn't find the most important audio clip: "I'm sorry", will have to get Lan Anh to teach me that one on arrival :-)

It's a bit concerning that everything of value has ended up in one small bag, cameras, iPod, flight documents etc... however it is the most secure bag I have, and will be strapped to me on arrival. I think the worst scenario would be if I fell on it :-S

So now I have to kill time until 4pm... and then the travelling begins.... and won't end until 9:30am Hanoi time (2:30pm NZ time tomorrow). Yaa, 22:30 of travelling... that seems very odd for a place that looks about 5 hours away. I think there is quite a lengthy stop-over in Seednee.

Our intrepid journey into the unknown has become an uber-organised 10 days with everything scheduled to the minute. Watches will be synchronised on arrival. This isn't very surprising though. Hopefully all our plans will fall over on the first day and we'll end up spending the 10 days making it up as we go along (like normal people would...)
We'll just have to wait and see... ;-)

Next post from somewhere in Asia....

Burp

Went to a Vietnamese restaurant last nite. Daaaaaaamn it was good. Ate way too much, wobbled home...If the food over there is that good I'll come back even porkier than I am now :-S
Not sure the food was specifically Vietnamese (I had Wonton noodle soup) but I'd imagine they have a fairly strong Chinese influence, wot with it being just over the border and all...

Telecom are scum

Several months ago Mum's little country school tried to get broadband... after being told jetstream was available the school bought a DSL router, line filters, and Todd and I installed a network for them. Two weeks later Telecom reneged and said the school couldn't have jetstream because the line between the road and the school was fibre optic (lol - not bad for a school built in the 50's!) We later learnt from one of their tech.s that the exchange box across the road needed upgrading and Telecom weren't willing to do it (even though they are obliged to provide broadband to every school in the country as part of project probe).

After this little episode it kinda goes without saying that Mum and Dad were more than a little cautious when Telecom delivered pamphlets to their RD area "You can now get Jetstream".
They checked the line on the jetstream website, but of course that says it's available regardless so they also contacted Telecom for a line test to establish wether it would work. A few days later they got the news that they could indeed get Jetstream. Several years of waiting for broadband were over.... they promptly bought a DSL router, line filters and Todd and I set up their network. We contacted an ISP and ordered an account.
37 days later.... turns out when the Telecom tech. went to the exchange to upgrade the connection there weren't enough spare ports... so upgrading the exchange has been put on the list of things to do... no estimation of how long that will take...

Why would anyone do a specific pamphlet drop to an area where they don't provide service? Are they intentionally trying to piss people off?

Auf Wiedersehen Pet

Said good bye to Xandra and Sebastian yesterday. Was all rather emotional. Xandra has been working at Flash for the last 4 months as an intern, and Sebastian has been in the country for the last 4 weeks. We had many fun filled days with them (fishing, BBQ'ing, Surfing the net pretending to work...) so it was quite sad to say good bye. They are now doing a 16 day tour of the country in a rather swish campervan before flying home. I'll be in Vietnam when they fly out, so yesterday was the big farewell. However....
I let them know of GBFSB and my plans to travel to Europe next year (you'd better still be keen GBFSB!!!). They have offered us a place to stay in Berlin, and Sebastian is keen to take us to Norway for a fishing/skiing holiday.
In the mean time there will be lots of TXT's and Emails :-)

Makes ya proud to be a Kiwi

Ah.... remember the good ol' days :-)
www.landp.co.nz

God doesn't want me to exercise

Got up early the other day and did a spot of mountainbiking in an attempt to start getting fit again. Boy that was harder than I remembered! Who would have thought that after a few years of inactivity getting back on a bike would require some sort of effort?
Managed to cycle to the botanic gardens between Snells Beach and Algies Bay... (anyone that knows the area will verify that this isn't very far from my house) and to think I used to do 20km+ through the bush every weekend.
However my plan to get fit has been thwarted. My bike now has a puncture and I can't find my puncture repair kit... oh well... back to being a slob.
:-)