TravelStream™ news feed for member cdewet on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/cdewet en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:19:04 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cdewet/1/1221582540/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cdewet/1/1221582540/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cdewet/1/1221582540/tpod.html Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:19:04 -0400 Vietnam - Finally getting there

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Hoi An, Vietnam

We left Ha Long Bay at about 9 this morning, I could have stayed longer! And went back to Hanoi, not sure why we did it this way round? So we spent most of the morning back on the bus. My thoughts were with you today, Bron, hope it wasn't too bad and that you did stop crying when you got to work! We stopped at a Ceramics factory to use the happy house and I bought the cutest little tea-set for Susan Lee.

Back in Hanoi we could do some shopping and I ventured off on my own to look for a memory stick for my camera. I decided that I should just buy more memory and not a new camera, the budget is very tight and I would rather spend the bucks on doing nice things like having another massage - I also found two bruises but my body is not sore anymore. Speaking of my body, I think I have now finally adjusted to this time zone. I don't get so tired anymore and I can stay awake when we travel.

We then went to the airport and flew to Da Nang, got the tour bus and came straight to Hoi An, which is on the beach and in the centre of Vietnam. Tomorrow we will go and have clothes made - I really want to get something but I will have to see if it fits into my budget!

Let me tell you a bit about my traveling companions, starting with Sue. Sue is the wife of the late Mr Wilky, owner of Boswell Wilky Circus (http://www.circus.co.za/index.html), and if you ever went to see their circus years ago you will remember her, she was a flying trapeze but she also had tricks with the little dogs. She is a lovely lady and quite easy to get on with. It is a challenge sharing a room with a complete stranger but we are doing well and get on fine. Then there is Pam and Reina, Pam works for Pam Golding and she phoned me to tell me about this trip. As you can imagine Pam and I chat quite a lot and I really like her. Reina also a lovely person used to work at SAB and is now semi-retired starting a photography career - she promised me copies of all her photos.

Then there is Gill who came on her own and she runs a very successfully NGO in training and development - she promised to help me get my portfolio of evidence together for the Real Estate board. Then Terry and Anna are the naughty ones, they are always giggling and up to something they shouldn't be! Terry was a dancer/performer, now runs a printing company and Anna owns a very successful restaurant in Sandton. Then there is Dick and Judith, when someone asks about them I always say Dick & Jane and they all frown at me but it's the only way I remember them! They are British and Judith reminds me of Dame Edna, she has the same accent, not looks! And lastly there is Alex the tour organizer, she reminds me so much of Auntie Jo, my dad's sister, she has the same figure and walks the same.

I better go to bed now, it is 12:00 and it is unfair to wake Sue again so late at night. I really miss you all and wish I could have you with me, but I am really enjoying this trip so much! I have loved everything I have done, even the long trips in the bus were interesting. The houses in Vietnam are so different to ours - no estate agents that I could see! No-one owns any land here except the government, but they do own their houses, some of the houses cost around $20000 per square meter! (US not Zimbabwean!)

Please give Susan Lee lots of kisses, I can't wait to see her again! Please feed Charles, anyone! I have taken lots of photos but don't have time to put them in this blog, will show you when I get home.

Lots of Love! Write back lots, Damn it!!!!!!
Caroline
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cdewet/1/1221230460/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cdewet/1/1221230460/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cdewet/1/1221230460/tpod.html Sun, 05 Oct 2008 04:56:07 -0400 Vietnam - Finally getting there

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Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

OR Tambo airport in Johannesburg is a complete rip-off!!! I hope that all travelers leaving SA will not support the "duty free" shops. I was feeling hungry and bought some biltong to snack on, at R200 per kilo in a prepackaged packet. I can get better tasting, freshly cut biltong at my butcher for R100 per kilo! Please don't buy from these guys!!!!

Flight was quite uneventful, except for the fact that they managed to book us three seats for every two people, so we had quite a bit of space. Didn't really sleep on the plane - it was just too early! We landed at 5:10 in the morning which is 12:00 pm in SA. So the result was that we lost a night.

My roommate Sue and I decided to go into town instead of going to rest. We got a taxi which we shared with two other South Africans, not in our group, and went to see the sights in Kuala Lumpur. It was interesting and very hot, but we were quite tired and were pleased to get back into the car to go to the hotel. I couldn't keep awake and slept most of the hour drive back. Had lunch - very strange looking food, not for the faint hearted! I then went to sleep, had about three hours of very deep sleep and was woken by Pam, another lady in our group looking for Jill to go for a drink. I decided that was the only thing that would get me going again and got up to join them.

When I got down I found only Alex, the tour leader in the lobby, but Sue joined us shortly after and told us of the wonderful massage she got from across the street. As we could not find any of the others in our group and the area around the hotel seemed a bit dicey we decided to go for diner at the hotel, forgetting that everyone was about to break their fast and it seemed that the whole town decided to come to our hotel. We then ventured back into the street for our massage - EINA BLIKSEM!!! It was a very good massage but they changed "Pat you down" to "Punch you down". Poor Sue has discovered at least two bruises! Despite the pain it was excellent and I had a fabulous sleep after a supper of strange looking left overs.

On to Vietnam!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cdewet/1/1222166580/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cdewet/1/1222166580/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cdewet/1/1222166580/tpod.html Sun, 28 Sep 2008 09:25:44 -0400 Vietnam - Finally getting there

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Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia

Early to rise again today, head and tummy complaining about the drinking last night! I have finally repacked my case and suddenly I have a lot more space! We went off to the floating village of Tonie Sap Lake. The road to the lake was flooded for most of the way, it is amazing to see how the people live with water everywhere. Sometimes the water is even in their houses and they just carry on with living their lives day to day!

The lake is enormous! It got quite choppy the further we went out - not good for my hang over! We went out to get a perspective of the size and then to the floating market for some last minute shopping. Here they had some live fish and a crocodile and lots of souvenirs. They also sell snake biltong - I have no idea what it cost.

After the visit to the lake straight off the the airport. The airport is new and very nice and they were busy training staff when we booked in so it really took long, but we really had nothing else to do. Getting on to the plane the person checking our tickets asked why we were white, the only person who asked the question on our trip - I don't think the others really knew that most people from Africa are black!

We are now on our way home. We have a stay-over at Kuala Lumpur Airport for 6 hours. It is marvelous to travel with well traveled people! We have booked into the Citibank travel lounge, which means for $40 we have comfy seats, wine & beer, food, Internet, massages, etc, etc included. This will hopefully make life easier tomorrow when we get back home.

I am now really missing home and can't wait to see Susan Lee and the rest of the family and friends and of course my dogs. Cambodia was also very good but far behind Vietnam from what we experienced. I will write the blogs for these days once I get home. The only frustration on the whole trip was the Internet in Cambodia.

I am being rude sitting with my nose against a PC screen instead of chatting to my travel companions, who are now friends.

Lots of Love to all and thanks for the couple of messages I got from you, it kept my connection with home strong. Please send my condolences to the Aurets for the passing of Marie.

Love & lots of kisses for our babygirl!
Caroline


]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cdewet/1/1222099440/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cdewet/1/1222099440/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cdewet/1/1222099440/tpod.html Sun, 28 Sep 2008 08:29:55 -0400 Vietnam - Finally getting there

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Siemreab, Cambodia

We visited my favourite temple Bantay Srei or The Temple of Woman, this temple is smaller than the others and is made out of pink sandstone which is much harder than the yellow sandstone, which means it is much better preserved. There were a lot of tourists here mostly Japanese, it was the first time that I felt a bit too touristy on this trip. We saw a very old Japanese lady who still travels actively at the age of 87, it is now my goal to do this too!

After the Bantrey Srei we went for lunch on our way to Ta Prohm temple, this is the temple used in the Tomb Raider movie. This lunch was really good, much better than the one yesterday and this was the consensus around the table. I have no idea why I have no photos of Ta Prohm - I think I was really templed out by this time! Ta Prohm is the only temple that hasn't been cleaned up, so the trees are still overgrowing it, it is really something to see.

We skipped the other temples on our itinerary for the day and headed back to town. Pam wanted to buy some gemstones so we stopped at a jewelry store in town, very nice, but way outside my budget. So while Pam and Anna were negotiating the rest of us sat in the air-conditioned shop eating candy.

Back at the hotel we went swimming and just relaxed at the pool. After a nice sleep Sue and I decided to go for a final massage. I had a neck, back & shoulder massage and was quite disappointed - it was really gentle and even though I asked for harder she just said yes and carried on. The really nice thing about this spa is the ginger and honey tea you get after the massage, I always have a second cup! I nearly broke my neck leaving the spa - I was wearing the hotel slip-on slippers and slipped down the stairs bending my toe. Fortunately no more temples tomorrow with a swollen toe!

Terry, Anna, Gill, Reina, Pam and I decided to have some drinks in the hotel. Terry and Reina played some pool, something I never learned in my misspent youth! We had a good time and a couple of Margaritas too many!

Please can someone wake Charles up to come and fetch me at JHB International????
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cdewet/1/1221992820/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cdewet/1/1221992820/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cdewet/1/1221992820/tpod.html Sun, 28 Sep 2008 07:56:57 -0400 Vietnam - Finally getting there

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Siemreab, Cambodia

An early start to a day scheduled to visiting temples. We started off with Angkor Thom - it is huge and has a moat around it, not to keep people out but to supply water to the worshipers. We first went on an elephant ride around the temple. The last time I was on an elephant was in Zambia and he kept trying to shake me off, so I was really not too comfortable but glad I went in the end.

The temple was probably the size of a city back them but as far as I can remember nobody ever lived in the temple, not the king or priests. It took 500,000 people 37 years to build it. It is really so pretty, nearly all the walls have carvings on them depicting life in those times.

It is amazing that these temples survived the troubled times of this country. The genocide in this country has left a population with hardly any elderly. Pol Pot, was the Cambodian version of Chairman Mao Tse-Tung, tried to reform the country into a pure communist society. They murdered most of the intellectuals and those who survived were sent to the country to live off the land or die. He also split families into men, women and children on their own. Education also went out the window as he tried to create an ignorant nation, killing anyone in his way. In between this the Northern Vietnamese and American fought some of their war in Cambodia.

We went for lunch on our way to Angkor Wat temple, I really missed the food in Vietnam and was not impressed with lunch, it was a back to the stewed food we got in Malaysia. I think it is just too hot for such "heavy" food, the noodles in Vietnam were much better!

I forgot to charge my camera and could not take any photos here. I am sorry I didn't research Cambodia before we came, so the temples were a bit overwhelming for me and I was quite templed out by the end of the afternoon. The houses here are mostly on stilts because the Mekong River overflows in the rainy season. Nearly every household sells water and other bits and pieces outside their houses, the most fascinating item is bottles with petrol. There are no garages on these country roads so the population sells petrol by the litre outside their houses, I have no idea where they get the petrol, but just about every house sells it!

Back to the hotel, traffic is really no problem here - people are still very poor and most of them still ride on bicycles. Terry had asked Thoun to take us to go and see traditional dancing and he arranged with a restaurant, but I needed a time out and decided to stay in the hotel. I went for a swim, but got bitten by mosquito's and decided to go for a nice long massage. I had a two hour body exfoliation and deep tissue massage and felt like a different person.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cdewet/1/1221922740/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cdewet/1/1221922740/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cdewet/1/1221922740/tpod.html Sun, 28 Sep 2008 06:14:34 -0400 Vietnam - Finally getting there

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Siem Reap, Cambodia

We have now left Vietnam and are in Cambodia. Our last day in Vietnam was amazing! We had breakfast just after my entry this morning, some of us a bit hung over but we had some champagne which settled what needed settling.

Our guide, Tien, came to fetch us at 9:00 for our motorcycle ride through the streets of Saigon. The naming is very similar to Tswane and Pretoria, the inner city is still called Saigon but the district around the city is called Ho Chi Minh City, anyway back to the motorbikes. We were 6 on the bikes so Tien arranged with 5 guys to take us on a tour with him. I was fortunate that I got a guy who could speak broken English, some of them could not speak at all, all they could ask was how old are you? It is quite interesting when you meet someone in Vietnam they usually ask you how old you are. The reason for this is because they need to know what to call you and how to address you, our guide explained the intricacies of this but I can remember exactly what the protocols were.

Fortunately they had helmets for all of us, you often see people riding their bikes without helmets and most times their children don't wear helmets. They assured us that accidents are quite rare. I was a bit nervous initially but I soon relaxed and enjoyed the ride. It is quite something to be in this kind of traffic where everyone does his own thing and nobody ever stops

AND AT THIS POINT I LOST THE INTERNET and never really got it going again! I am embarrassed to admit I lost my cool the next evening when I still couldn't get it going. It is now a week later and I am going to try and remember the day as it happened - I am ashamed to admit I didn't keep a paper diary!.

My driver wanted to always be first and took a shortcut to the market where they sell American war memorabilia, only problem he went to the wrong market and he had no time on his cellphone so we tried to look for them until Tien phoned him and told him where to go. I bought some T shirts and a lighter for Charles. We then went back to the hotel to do some last minute shopping. I went with Pam & Reina and we did it very quickly at the market close to the hotel. We got back in time to join the others for lunch at Indochine restaurant, Pam stayed behind waiting for Reina, we had lost her in the market and Terry and Anna were also still shopping. Tien, Pam, Reina, Terry and Anna came to fetch us at the restaurant and we were off to the airport on our way to Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Once again a very uneventful flight. Going through customs was quite an experience, we had to hand in a photo, $25 and our passports for a visa. These then traveled down a line of about 10 officials who each did something to these and the last one handing back our passports with visa's stapled in. Our new guide is Thoun and very friendly and well prepared, keep saying "or something like that".

Then off to the hotel. Cambodia has been to hell and back and are now starting to recover from this terrible past. Tourism is a very big thing for them and they work very hard to impress visitors with the hope that they will come back and send others. Siem Reap is really the tourist area of Cambodia, I would have like to also gone to Phnom Penh - I can only do so many temples! The Cambodians look much more Indian than Chinese, I was quite surprised.

Sue, Terry, Anna and I decided to go for a foot massage in the spa - I should have done this the first time my feet started swelling! Sue and I then have dinner in the hotel and off to bed, the next day was promised to be very busy again.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cdewet/1/1221869220/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cdewet/1/1221869220/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cdewet/1/1221869220/tpod.html Sun, 28 Sep 2008 03:22:30 -0400 Vietnam - Finally getting there

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Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

But the traffic is a nightmare!

Got here yesterday and went off on a short city tour, lunch, dropped off the luggage and went off to the CU Chi tunnels. This is really something you must see if ever you get here, it is really disgusting that we still have wars. We were shown a short documentary film and then we walked through a really good exhibit, I think most of it is the real thing which has just been cleaned up a bit. The Vietnamese were really very inventive with the traps, etc they made. Looking at it from the US side it was really cruel traps, but the statistic show that the Americans almost dropped a bomb for every member of the population!

Towards the middle of the tour we could go down into the tunnels, which were widened and heightened. I am not sure how far we went but I went up the first possible exit, because it really is a bit too small and dark for me. Looking at the distance between the the entrance and exit once I was on the surface, was about twenty steps! I couldn't imagine being under there for more than 10 minutes not even thinking of living there for days. Also having bombs dropping around you all the time. Some of the bombs actually made big enough holes to damage the tunnels.
After this we left, came back to the hotel to check in, shower and go to dinner. We left the tunnels at 5:00 pm, they are about 45 km out of town, we got to the hotel after 7:00 pm, remember probably half of the distance was still quiet country roads - I will never complain about traffic again!!!

We had a really good dinner again! The only thing I don't really like is the deserts and hardly ever eat them but for the rest it is delicious! I had Pho for breakfast yesterday and have decided to have it everyday now, it is like a noodle soup and is very easy to digest, not that stuffed feeling after an English breakfast.

We really have an excellent guide here. He offered to take us to a bar called Saigon Saigon Bar and Terry, Anna, Pam and I were keen, so we dropped the rest off at the hotel and went jolling! He came with and had a drink with us, we drank and danced and had a ball! Saigon Saigon Bar is on the 12th floor of a hotel with a good view of the city and a lot of Westerners. Drinks cost around $8 a pop. We fell out of there at around 12:00 and screamed and giggled our way back in a cab. Back in the hotel we giggled and danced our way past a group of Japanese men who were very happy to see us. THAT IS WHY I WROTE NOTHING LAST NIGHT!

Up early this morning, our guide, Tien has volunteered to get a couple of guys and take us on a motorcycle tour of the city. I am quite nervous about this but won't swap it for anything!

The weather here is fabulous, and is still hot but not half as humid and although my feet are still swollen they are not sore anymore.

Well we only have a couple of hours left in Vietnam and I would love to come back it was really a lot of fun and so much to see and learn.

We are flying to Cambodia at about 3:00 this afternoon and I was warned that I am in for a shock. I don't know if I will be able to write again, will try my best but I will write in my book and post the blog maybe in the airport in Malaysia, we have a 6 hour stop over!

Lots of love to all!! I miss you and wish I could have brought you with but be warned I am going to drag you with. Mrs Coombes I would love to go to China with you, I think we will have such a ball together!

Lots of love
Caroline
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cdewet/1/1221747840/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cdewet/1/1221747840/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cdewet/1/1221747840/tpod.html Sun, 28 Sep 2008 03:16:44 -0400 Vietnam - Finally getting there

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Hue, Vietnam

Well it finally happened! I went to bed last night and once I settled down I started getting cramps, not unbearable but cramps. I had quite a good night but definitely not a happy tummy when I woke up. I got to breakfast and got a cure from just about everyone, I settled on a pro-biotic and some drops from Anna. After I drank the drops I read the bottle and the leaflet - it is chloroform, I though that was poisonous. Well, I was extremely cautious all day and it settled down quite nicely.

Our guide was not joking when he said busy day today. We started off to Hue early, on our way we stopped at a marble factory, they cut the most beautiful marble out of the mountain and create such stunning pieces. I took quite a lot of pics here, couldn't buy anything - too heavy but they are very quick to tell you that they will ship to anywhere in the world.

In Vietnamese they seem to use only one syllable words, so they use very short words, I haven't seen any word longer than 5 letters. As a result they use the same word for many things they just put thingies (~?'^) on different letters for different meanings. The funniest one I have seen to date was the name on the toilet-paper is Dong Tam and their currency is also Dong, maybe they should teach this to uncle Bob! Their currency is also in 100,000's (165,000 Dong = $1). A couple of other funny things I saw today "Fresh Ice" what would stale ice be like? Above a Hotel "Comfo Table Beds".

After the marble factory we went to see a Hindu Temple, I think it was Cham Temple. Interesting but not really what I came to see in Vietnam. It was also very hot by then and no air-conditionlng in the temple. We then traveled over a mountain through a long and winding pass to get to Hue, this was really beautiful - reminded me of the Wild coast coastline and the Transkei.

In Hue we went straight to a really magnificent lunch in a beautiful wooden restaurant, I had 2 cokes and just tasted the food, still a bit nervous although my stomach had settled down quite well. I can't think what upset my stomach, I ate everything the others ate. Except Pam introduced me to glazed ginger, we bought it on the streets of Hoi An and I ate quite a bit of it, but Pam insists that it is impossible and that the ginger will have had a healing and settling effect on my stomach.

After lunch we went to a Buddhist temple, I found this much more interesting because it was not just a museum. I also saw my first Lotus flower from up close. I find the Buddhists fascinating and enjoyed it.

Next was a trip on the Perfume River, called the Perfume River because when it was discovered it had plants with highly fragranced flowers growing on its banks. Today there was no evidence of these plants but there were many boat people on the river. Although the river did not have a perfume smell it really had no smell, not like the river in Hoi An which was also a fish market and really was quite smelly. We were all very pleased for the opportunity to just chill out on the boat and for the breeze. It is extremely humid in Vietnam. According to our guide, there are only two seasons, dry and wet, because they are so close to the equator they don't have summer or winter seasons. So the only thing that changes is the humidity levels not the temperature.

Next was the Imperial palace/grounds or what's left of it after the French and Americans shot, bombed and broke it. This again was very long and drawn out and involved a lot of walking. It looks like they are rebuilding the whole thing again because there is quite a lot of workers in the museum building and tinkering. We couldn't wait to get out of here and into the hotel, everyone was really tired.

For dinner they had arranged a royal meal for us but in the end it was only Sue, Alex and myself that went. The others were too tired and not hungry. It was really an experience, a bit like Greensleeves restaurant in Jo'burg. When we got there they took us to the cloak room and we each got an outfit and hat to wear. Alex was king, I was queen and Sue was the princess. I think it could have been such fun if we all went!

So here I am back at the hotel everyone gone to bed already. I must repack my case tonight it really is a huge mess. Tomorrow we leave the hotel at 7 for the airport and will fly to Ho Chi Minh City/Saigon and a new guide. I am really looking forward to this, everyone has spoken so much about it. After that we will leave for Cambodia.

I am really so pleased I came, it has been such a great experience. Everything and more than I expected! Thanks to all of you for encouraging me to come when I had so many doubts. All I now need is a travel companion for my next trip, I plan to do this at least once a year until I die!

Please can someone at home arrange to fetch me from the airport on Wednesday 24 September at 6:00 am, I think it should be Charles seeing that he has still not sent me a message! It is a public holiday so he can't use Varsity as an excuse!

I am off to bed now, all of you please write back, Damn it!

Lots of Love to everyone, I am starting to miss you all.

Bron, I hope you are giving Susan Lee my kisses everyday, I hate to think how much she has changed since I left, please email my a latest picture please.

Caroline
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cdewet/1/1221660000/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cdewet/1/1221660000/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cdewet/1/1221660000/tpod.html Sun, 28 Sep 2008 02:57:31 -0400 Vietnam - Finally getting there

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Hoi An, Vietnam

What a lovely day we had! It seems this trip is getting better by the day! We are really a nice bunch of women, lots of laughs and lots and lots of shopping - poor Dick!

We started off today by going on a walking tour through the old part of Hoi An. It was good as they do not allow any motor driven vehicles through the city which means you can walk about without worrying about the traffic too much. We went to the silk shop, I somehow could never work out how the cocoons we have from our silk worms as kids could convert into cloth - today I saw the whole process and took some pics. I am still too lazy to figure out how to add pics to these ramblings on of mine!

We could order clothes from the silk factory and they are busy delivering it at the moment. I decided that I can't afford spending on clothing on this trip which means I will have to come back again for the experience. I did buy a scarf or two. They are extremely organized in these shops, they take measurement and then digital photos of the ladies from all angles, I am still convinced they take these photos home to scare there children with. Everyone is at least double any one of them in size! The others weren't amused by this observation! Pam was the best/worst of us in this shop. She has traveled so much that she knew exactly what she wanted and I think she bought about 5 items.

Reana stormed in after a bit and told us about the T-shirt shop next door, so Sue and I went to shop there much more affordable. I am running out of clean clothing and have decided that Tshirts can still be gifts to family even if they were worn once! I also found some very light long shorts at about R50 each, really ideal for this weather. After shopping up a storm we decided to go on a boat trip on the river just to rest our once again swollen feet. This was great and we all took some good photos of the fishermen and their boats.

A short walk back to the bus and then off to lunch, I don't think I have been hungry once on this trip! The food is really so good and I am getting better and better with chopsticks, drinking a lot of beer also helps with the confidence, I think. I have been drinking at least 4 beers a day but in this heat it seems to evaporate before it hits your stomach. I even had chilly soup tonight and could finish it with only coughing once. We have been trying to remember is there a Vietnamese restaurant in Jo'burg? I am convinced the one next to Herbert Evans in Rosebank mall is Vietnamese but it could also be Japanese.

After lunch we came back to the hotel for the afternoon off or shopping on your own. But Sue and I thought an hour in air-conditioned room was the best idea so I spent an hour on the floor with my feet in the air and a wet towel wrapped around them. This did help but I don't think I am going to get them back to normal before I get back home. I'm just worried that they might exploded on the long flight home! Once we cooled down we went for a swim in the pool, I didn't find it very pleasant, it was so warm it felt like someone else's old bath water!

Then it was time for dinner again and now I am back at the hotel and will soon be going to bed. It looks like rain tonight, we are seeing a lot of thunder and lightning. Tomorrow we are off to Hue, a long ride in the bus and according to our guide quite a difficult day. But I'll sleep on the bus. I am amazed at how people struggle to sleep, I can sleep anywhere and at anytime, I am truly blessed.

Thanks for all the messages from those of you that are either scared of me or really like me, hint, hint! San, dis tyd dat jy jouself ook so spoil - daar is nie tyd vir mans hier nie, besides hulle pas almal onder my arm! Barbs, great to hear from you so far away! John, if I had a bit more time and money I would have ventured down to see you in Sydney, maybe next time! Sadia, bly ek maak jou dag, ek sien jou na Ramadan! Yvonne, baie geluk, ek weet jy het die regte ding gedoen. Bron, I hope work is getting better - you better start saving, next year you are coming with to China, we will have to train Susan Lee well! Tjaart, pasop een van die dae staan ek buite jou deur in die sneeu en vra vir slaapplek. Roelof, jy was reg dit is fabulous! Di, see what we missed! Yes it is Sue's children's circus, her son and daughter have decided that it is too dangerous to go on the road so they bought the farm and now have a permanent circus. Andre, dis tyd dat jy ook 'n tassie pak en begin travel. Geraldine, the food is fabulous here but we had really strange looking and tasting stuff floating an very strange looking watery substance and gray pudding in Malaysia.

I hope I have made the rest of you feel so guilty that you also write!

Please send my love to everyone, I am still not home sick. Can someone wake Charles and ask him to write to his mother!

Lots of Love
Caroline
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cdewet/1/1221407520/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cdewet/1/1221407520/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cdewet/1/1221407520/tpod.html Sun, 28 Sep 2008 02:47:14 -0400 Vietnam - Finally getting there

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Hanoi, Vietnam

Spent the day going to the museums. Started with the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, which was closed, we suspect he has gone to Russia for a make-over (no disrespect meant). I wonder if we will do the same when Mandela dies. The Vietnamese people really love Ho Chi Minh like I think we love Nelson Mandela and I hope that we will be able to keep his memory alive as they do. I don't really go for keeping his remains on display, but if that's what it takes so be it.

We then went to look at the house where he lived, very humble man and lifestyle, I think that's why he reminds me of Mandela. We then went to the one pillar pagoda, where the Vietnamese come to pray for a baby, I sent a small prayer up for San and for a little Peter!

We then went to the Literature museum, the first university in Vietnam, saw a statue of Confucius. The Vietnamese are very superstitious and we had to touch the turtle for good luck and long life. There was a lady with her son and she went from turtle to turtle touching it, saying a prayer and then touching her son's head and he was bored stiff during this whole performance, reminds me of someone else in my life! I hope you are going to varsity while I'm away.

Wonderful lunch followed in a Vietnamese restaurant and then to the Ethnology museum, which I really found very boring. It was over-crowded, no air-conditioning and boring, maybe it would have been better if we had someone explain each exhibit. It is extremely hot and humid here our feet look like balloons they are so swollen.

We then went back to the hotel for dinner and sleep. The one disappointment so far is that all meals in the hotels are western menus. They other all like the break from the Vietnamese food but I really prefer the Vietnamese food.
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