Hoi An - where all your money will vanish
Trip Start
Jul 29, 2003
1
22
31
Trip End
Dec 01, 2003
Hoi An,
Vietnam
Wednesday, October 15, 2003
Ventured down to Nha Trang police station (for about the 7th time) on Monday to pick up my police report. Got there at 11am only to be shouted at and waved away as the policeman was about to watch day time TV and take a nap. Ok...
Went back in the afternoon and begged the taxi driver to come in with me as they're fascist corrupt bastards and speak no English and he told me that they said they hadn't found my camera yet and were still investigating. Told taxi driver to tell them I didn't expect them to find my camera - it would obviously have been sold by now - and that I just wanted the report for my insurance. They said I had reported it too late (too late being the next morning...translation: they couldn't be arsed to write a report - too busy watching Vietnamese Richard and Judy) and pretty much told me to piss off. Lovely.
Spent rest of the afternoon hoping a plague would strike down all Vietnamese police, then got on the bus from hell for a 13 hour overnight journey to Hoi An. Bus driver decided there was no need for airconditioning (he'd much rather see us all melt into puddles of sweat on the rock hard uncomfortable seats) and insisted on beeping his horn every 5 seconds which was too loud to be drowned out by my music. Luckily I'd knocked back a few drinks beforehand so I managed to sleep (or pass out) for a couple of hours but Janine didn't and she didn't look too pleased to be greeted by the cheery bus company people when we reached Hoi an at 7am.
They dropped us off at the poshest hotel in the world and we were going to move on until we found out the rooms were only $10.
A temple (one of many)
Just to gloat, I think people should look at the pictures and get jealous... www.anphutouristhoian.com/khachsan.htmUmm well over the last 2 days I seem to have parted with about $200. Did not get it stolen this time but instead made the mistake of visiting some of the many tailors which Hoi An is famous for. Not a good idea for a shopaholic. Especially one who's (meant to be) on a budget. Given that my budget was $20 a day I think I've somewhat stretched that now!
However I did get loads of stuff for my money...
(this list will be really boring to most men reading this other than Jay!)
3 piece cashmere suit (trousers, jacket, skirt) - $50
3 silk tops - $27
2 skirts - $14
2 pairs trousers - $24
1 coat - $25 (the nicest coat in the world by the way)
1 pair shoes - $15
3 dresses - $40
My mind keeps wandering over what other stuff I "need" made but me and Janine have promised to try and control each other's spending now although its not worked so far and Janine now has $21 to live off over the next 12 days. Hmm...
Maybe I'll be skinny by the time I get home after all through not having enough money to eat.
Still getting hassled 24/7 and getting pretty pissed off by it now. Have decided to just be rude and ignore people. Random women keep coming up to us saying "you remember me?" uh, no, should I? then try and drag you into their clothes shop. At least now we can say we have no more money cos we spent it so there's no point us even looking!
Also there are kids here who say they collect coins and ask you for coins from wherever you're from but don't believe I have no English coins with me!
Got roped into going for a massage yesterday which was good, but the damn woman came looking for us again today! And she wouldn't stop kissing us which was quite worrying.
Everywhere I turn I get called beautiful so I think aww thats nice, and thank them, and then straight away its followed by "come look my shop!". Oh well.
Off to relax in our posh hotel now which is sooo nice although the hotel receptionist thinks I look like a doll and has a thing about my cheeks and asks to pinch them everytime she sees me which also worries me slightly. Jay - the cheeks on my face ok?
xxx
