TravelStream™ news feed for member lissas13 on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/lissas13 en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Thu, 04 Dec 2008 01:58:06 -0500 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lissas13/1/1228373400/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lissas13/1/1228373400/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lissas13/1/1228373400/tpod.html Thu, 04 Dec 2008 01:58:06 -0500 Going wandering.....again !

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Hoi An, Vietnam

Hoi An, the tailoring capitol of Vietnam, it's sooooooooooo tempting and cheap!!

Most amusing sight today, was watching a tourist ( I assume a Brit) on a bicycle and sticking to the highway code. Not an easy feat in Vietnam but the signal to turn right cracked me up watching the chaos all around him. 10 out of 10 for effort mate. Closely followed by the most overladen moto I have ever seen full of bananas.

Played Lara Croft in the temples of My Son very early in the morning to avoid the crowds, discovered the most fabulous french patisserie, had to have 2 tarte au fraise ......back to get my clothes remeasured then ;-)

Most frustrating experience in Hoi An.....filling out post office paperwork to send stuff back the the UK, I forget I am in a communist country although vietnam radio blaring out at 7 am every morning on loud speakers does tend to remind you.

All in all am much happier as I head further south, maybe I'm getting used to the coutry or the pace is a bit slower, plus the weather has improved, which helps.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lissas13/1/1228010580/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lissas13/1/1228010580/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lissas13/1/1228010580/tpod.html Thu, 04 Dec 2008 01:50:02 -0500 Going wandering.....again !

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Hue, Vietnam

A rough couple of days since I last wrote. Delayed in Hanoi after returning from sapa as succumbed to very dodgy tummy and was laid up sick for a bit. Gathered the strength to hop on the night bus from Hanoi to Hue last night, turned out to be an eventful journey........ not suprisingly, not much sleep and just as I nodded off, the bus was pulled over by the police, from what we could ascertain, they were searching the luggage holds for 'something illegal', looked like the drivers were running a seperate business on the side if you get my drift. An interesting experience, Hey ho !

History Lesson..........the vietnamese have been hammered by everyone, most recently the french and americans. A very sobering day spent in the DMZ north of Hue climbing through VC tunnels etc and learning about the war. Everyone should do it whilst in Vietnam, it's not all holiday and fun and the vietnamese still suffer the aftermath of the war. Hue is a lovely city but all but destroyed by conflict, so sad.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lissas13/1/1227849720/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lissas13/1/1227849720/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lissas13/1/1227849720/tpod.html Fri, 28 Nov 2008 00:26:47 -0500 Going wandering.....again !

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Sapa, Vietnam

Night trains.......a whole new world. So what do you do when you pitch up in a four berth cabin to find 2 vietnamese guys are bunking in with you, they don't speak english, we don't speak vietnamese, 11 hours is a long time to feel awkward. In true friendly vietnamese stylee, they fished out a alptop and played tom & Jerry cartoons for us to make us laugh !! Then the lion king. Sleeping on the train was a bit impossible, arrived in Sapa knackerd, had a shower then did an 8Km trek. Needless to say was in bed by 7pm !

Spent the next day trekking 18k through lovely mountain villages and stopping to eat with the local villagers who were so freindly. A fantastic experience, albeit the knees are now a bit creaky. Back in Hanoi before heading south towards the wet weather apparently, must fish the mac out.
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Halong Bay, Vietnam

Headed away from the stinky city to Halong bay and had a fantastic few days relaxing on the junk. Met a great group of people, les espanols, aussies, french etc, real fun bunch. Rediscovered my Kiwi kyacking skills albeit in very different scenery, but visually stunning. Sleeping on the boat was fun, we cycled through cat ba island and trekked through caves then spent hours lazing on the beach in the sunshine....bliss !
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lissas13/1/1227094800/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lissas13/1/1227094800/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lissas13/1/1227094800/tpod.html Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:30:29 -0500 Going wandering.....again !

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Hanoi, Vietnam

Arrived Hanoi, cows on motorway ! Crazy moped drivers, culture shock central !

OK lesson learned don't arrive stinky city late at night and disorientated, was a bit freaked out by Hanoi but am getting used to it. Crossing the road is a feat in itself due to the traffic, scooter mad ! But everyone is freindly and food is cheap as chips. Had yummy 3 course meal last night for 2 pounds including drink. A large bottle of tiger beer is 50p ! Easy to spend hours wandering round the streets soaking up the atmosphere, however it's a bit full on to spend too long here so am heading up north tomorrow with stephanie my new french travelling companion to explore.
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Macau, China

Hilarious trip to Macau from HK, the ferry made me sick, urgh, immigration was a farce and then I met Noah and Nadine who were as confused as I was arriving at the ferry terminal. Together we spent a fantastic day wandering round aimlessley ! Thanks to both of you for the hilarity ! I never knew americans had a sense of humour ;-)

A bizarre mixture of colonial portugese, vegas and china. Casinos you would not believe, yummy portugese food and bizarre road signs in chinese and portugese rather than english, the ole spanish came in handy I can tell you. But a great place to visit and worth a trip from HK once you've exhausted everything there.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lissas13/1/1226922060/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lissas13/1/1226922060/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/lissas13/1/1226922060/tpod.html Wed, 19 Nov 2008 06:39:00 -0500 Going wandering.....again !

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Hong Kong, China

Back in crazy Hong Kong again, more time to wander further afield from the hectic city this time round and it's not puring with rain either. Watched the light display which was pretty cool. George & mildred from Essex (yes really) felt sorry for me on my own and kept feeding me coffee for the jetlag. Headed to lantau island via cable car and visited the po lin monestry and giant budda on Sunday along with a million HK chinese who all do that on their day off so was chaos ! Very nice chinese lady showed me what to do with the incense etc have no idea what it meant but buddism, so all good ! Got lost getting the bus back as per usual !

Escaped to the beach yesterday.... yes beach in Hong Kong ! And a bit of shopping in the market, will have to revamp the backpack again. Will upload pictures when I can be bothered to fish the cable out of the bottom of my backpack !
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London, England, United Kingdom

If God had really intended men to fly, he'd make it easier to get to the airport. ~George Winters
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