Aug – Sep 2011

Asia 2011

A 22-day adventure by Dani and Dave on the hoof Read more

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Trip start
August 25, 2011
Dani and Dave on the hoof Asia 2011
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- Day 1
- Thursday, August 25, 2011 at 3:00 PM
- ☀️ 17 °C
- Altitude: 5 m
- Australia Adelaide Airport -34.936098, 138.53487234°56’10” S 138°32’6” E
Adelaide Airport
August 25, 2011 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C
2011 took us to parts of Asia with my Son Chris and his Girlfriend Leng.
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Dani and Dave on the hoof Asia 2011
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- Day 1
- Thursday, August 25, 2011 at 9:00 PM
- ⛅ 26 °C
- Altitude: 43 m
- Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Bird Park 3.139003, 101.6868553°8’20” N 101°41’13” E
Kuala Lumpur Airport
August 25, 2011 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C
An overnight in KL, where we had tea with Lengs' Mother and Brother. All in the Airport, unfortunately :)
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Dani and Dave on the hoof Asia 2011
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- Day 2
- Friday, August 26, 2011 at 10:00 AM
- ⛅ 27 °C
- Altitude: 58 m
- Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Sentral Railway Station 3.133733, 101.6868633°8’1” N 101°41’13” E
Kuala Lumpur Airport
August 26, 2011 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C
Departing KL, and off to Vietnam.
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Dani and Dave on the hoof Asia 2011
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- Day 2
- Friday, August 26, 2011 at 12:00 PM
- ⛅ 31 °C
- Altitude: 25 m
- Vietnam Temple of Literature 21.027764, 105.8341621°1’40” N 105°50’3” E
Hanoi
August 26, 2011 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C
Arriving in Hanoi.. first impression was that it was rather warmer than Adelaide!
We were collected at the Airport by a guide and transport.
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Dani and Dave on the hoof Asia 2011
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- Day 3
- Saturday, August 27, 2011 at 9:00 AM
- ☀️ 29 °C
- Altitude: 25 m
- Vietnam Temple of Literature 21.027764, 105.8341621°1’40” N 105°50’3” E
Hanoi
August 27, 2011 in Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
Our first day of sightseeing in Hanoi took us to the tomb of Ho Chi MInh, a whole bunch of beautiful Pagodas, a Water Puppetry show, and had us on the obligatory Pedicab trip (don't bother!). We also spent time in the excellent Museum of Ethnology. Quite a day! And a really good first impression of Vietnam.Read more
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Dani and Dave on the hoof Asia 2011
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- Day 4
- Sunday, August 28, 2011 at 9:00 AM
- 🌙 24 °C
- Altitude: 224 m
- Vietnam Mai Châu 20.6598, 105.09176820°39’35” N 105°5’30” E
Mai Chau,Vietnam
August 28, 2011 in Vietnam ⋅ 🌙 24 °C
We took a fascinating drive up to a classical Vietnamese village called Mai Chau, where we had lunch with locals. Driving through many villages and small towns was a most interesting insight into Vietnamese daily life.
Returning to Hanoi late in the afternoon we did some shopping and a bit more sight-seeing.Read more
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Dani and Dave on the hoof Asia 2011
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- Day 5
- Monday, August 29, 2011 at 6:00 AM
- 🌙 23 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- Vietnam Phường Hà Tu 20.910051, 107.18390220°54’36” N 107°11’2” E
Halong Bay
August 29, 2011 in Vietnam ⋅ 🌙 23 °C
After a day of travelling east and stopping in several villages we arrived in Halong Bay in the afternoon.
We boarded a beautiful traditional (looking) junk, which was to serve as home that night and the following day as we explored the absolutely amazing Halong Bay!
The food on board the Junk was simply amazing, probably the best of the whole trip.Read more
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Dani and Dave on the hoof Asia 2011
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- Day 6
- Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 9:00 PM
- 🌙 30 °C
- Altitude: 25 m
- Vietnam Temple of Literature 21.027764, 105.8341621°1’40” N 105°50’3” E
Hanoi
August 30, 2011 in Vietnam ⋅ 🌙 30 °C
A drive back to Hanoi, Some shopping, eating and a bit of a rest, and we were ready for an overnight train trip to Sapa Hills!
Luckily we booked first class - can't begin to imagine what it was like in cattle class! We got to sleep on wooden beds with about a 5mm mattress, whilst the poor staff tried to get some sleep on the corridor floors!
The train trip took most of the night, and all we got to see were a few road crossings as we flashed past them.
We later heard that the train that ran on the following night was derailed!Read more
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Dani and Dave on the hoof Asia 2011
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- Day 7
- Wednesday, August 31, 2011 at 5:30 AM
- ⛅ 28 °C
- Altitude: 89 m
- Vietnam Làng Song Ca 22.338087, 104.14870622°20’17” N 104°8’55” E
Lao Cai
August 31, 2011 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
Arriving in Lao Cai in the early morning, we disembarked and hopped into a van for the drive into the Sapa Hills.
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Dani and Dave on the hoof Asia 2011
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- Day 7
- Wednesday, August 31, 2011 at 12:00 PM
- ☀️ 26 °C
- Altitude: 634 m
- Vietnam Ngòi Bô 22.249717, 103.96080922°14’59” N 103°57’39” E
Sapa
August 31, 2011 in Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
After a rather scary drive up into the mountains we arrived at Sapa, had a look around a local market, had lunch with a local family and booked into our hotel.
The markets were particularly interesting, as up to quite recently before we arrived they were used as a place to procure a wife! Single girls paraded around a square in an attempt to capture the eye of a suitor. An interesting quirk though was that it was quite acceptable to kidnap a girl from the square, and if the kidnapping family could hold onto her for one month the girl was obliged to marry into the family!Read more
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Dani and Dave on the hoof Asia 2011
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- Day 8
- Thursday, September 1, 2011 at 9:00 AM
- ☀️ 20 °C
- Altitude: 634 m
- Vietnam Ngòi Bô 22.249717, 103.96080922°14’59” N 103°57’39” E
Sapa Hills
September 1, 2011 in Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
I wasn't feeling the best, so had a sleep in whilst everyone else took a nice :) hike up Sapa Hill. (It would probably have killed me!)
When they got back we all went to visit Cat Cat Village - unfortunately another Looooooooooong walk! I did survive. Just!
Sapa is just incredibly beautiful and serene, and the people were just lovely. The local moochers were spectacularly persistent and friendly, I thought we'd managed to adopt a couple to bring home! Nowhere is safe!
Sapa is a must-see on a Vietnam trip.Read more
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Dani and Dave on the hoof Asia 2011
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- Day 8
- Thursday, September 1, 2011 at 5:00 PM
- ⛅ 16 °C
- Altitude: 89 m
- Vietnam Làng Song Ca 22.338087, 104.14870622°20’17” N 104°8’55” E
Lao Cai
September 1, 2011 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
During the drive back to Lao Cai (much more interesting in daylight!) we heard some great stories, including that dogs are highly prised possessions, and murder had been committed many times over the theft of a dog. Motor cycles? not so much. Snake was evidently a staple of the local diet, and they were very populous in the fields. Glad we didn't hear that while we were walking around the hills!
Back in Lau Cai we had a tea in a local restaurant before hopping back on the train for another over-nighter back to Hanoi.Read more
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Dani and Dave on the hoof Asia 2011
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- Day 9
- Friday, September 2, 2011 at 6:00 AM
- ☀️ 24 °C
- Altitude: 25 m
- Vietnam Temple of Literature 21.027764, 105.8341621°1’40” N 105°50’3” E
Hanoi
September 2, 2011 in Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
Breakfast in Hanoi, then back in the van for a trip to Doung Lam Village.
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Dani and Dave on the hoof Asia 2011
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- Day 9
- Friday, September 2, 2011 at 2:00 PM
- ☀️ 27 °C
- Altitude: 7 m
- Vietnam Đoan Xá 20.856665, 106.6994920°51’24” N 106°41’58” E
Ngo Quyen
September 2, 2011 in Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
On the way to Doung Lam we stopped at the Ngo Quyen Temple, which was pretty spectular.
How many temples can one country have though? :)
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Dani and Dave on the hoof Asia 2011
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- Day 9
- Friday, September 2, 2011 at 3:00 PM
- ☀️ 29 °C
- Altitude: 14 m
- Vietnam Đoài Giáp 21.15332, 105.47124921°9’12” N 105°28’16” E
Doung Lam Village
September 2, 2011 in Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
Sold as a Typical Vietnamese Traditional Village, there was still a fair whiff of tourist trap, but it was very pretty and interesting.
We watched as some locals posed for the wedding photos -before the wedding, as is traditional evidently, and watched local craftsmen, obligatory temples etc.Read more
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Dani and Dave on the hoof Asia 2011
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- Day 9
- Friday, September 2, 2011 at 9:00 PM
- 🌙 26 °C
- Altitude: 25 m
- Vietnam Temple of Literature 21.027764, 105.8341621°1’40” N 105°50’3” E
Hanoi
September 2, 2011 in Vietnam ⋅ 🌙 26 °C
Back to Hanoi for the last time.
We had a final dinner at a local French restaurant,bid our guide farewell, and boarded a plane for Angkor Wat, Cambodia!
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Dani and Dave on the hoof Asia 2011
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- Day 9
- Friday, September 2, 2011 at 11:00 PM
- ⛅ 27 °C
- Altitude: 7 m
- Cambodia Siem Reap 13.367097, 103.84481313°22’2” N 103°50’41” E
Siem Reap
September 2, 2011 in Cambodia ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C
We arrived in Siem Reap late in the evening, and were met at the airport by another guide.

Accommodation was first class (and then some) - Siem Reap is filling up with 5 star hotels!
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Dani and Dave on the hoof Asia 2011
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- Day 10
- Saturday, September 3, 2011 at 8:00 AM
- ⛅ 27 °C
- Altitude: 20 m
- Cambodia Phumĭ Trâpeăng Séh Khang Lĕch 13.412035, 103.86456213°24’43” N 103°51’52” E
Angkor Wat
September 3, 2011 in Cambodia ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C
We spent the whole day seeing Angkor Wat, and it is simply unbelievable.
From the ruins where parts of Tomb Raider was filmed, to the lost city of Angkor Wat itself, it is enthralling, breathtaking and simply amazing.
There be monkeys here! :)
We rounded the day off with a Khmer Dance Show and Smorgasbord tea, and spent another night in the amazing hotel.Read more
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- Day 11
- Sunday, September 4, 2011 at 9:00 AM
- ⛅ 25 °C
- Altitude: 252 m
- Cambodia Khêt Tônlé Sab 12.927639, 104.05367412°55’40” N 104°3’13” E
Tonle Sap Lake
September 4, 2011 in Cambodia ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
After another delightful Hotel breakfast, we were taken to the floating village on Tonle Sap Lake.
Once again a fascinating, unique experience it was just amazing to see how the locals lived their whole lives on this beautiful lake. Boat-hopping kids selling touristy stuff was one highlight!
We then had an hour or so in the local markets, and back to the airport.
Interestingly enough, although we walked straight into Cambodia without even seeing a customs agent, the scrutiny on the way OUT was completely over the top.
Says something about communism, I guess..Read more
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Dani and Dave on the hoof Asia 2011
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- Day 11
- Sunday, September 4, 2011 at 8:00 PM
- ⛅ 27 °C
- Altitude: 6 m
- Vietnam Tan Son Nhat International Airport 10.818463, 106.65882510°49’6” N 106°39’32” E
Ho Chi Minh Airport
September 4, 2011 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C
Arriving late in the afternoon at Ho Chi Minh Airport (in what used to be called Saigon) we booked into our hotel (The Hoang Hai Long) , and went out exploring a little.
We rounded the day out with a meal at a local restaurant. First impressions were that the South had suffered somewhat from americanisation, and the food reflected that also.Read more
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Dani and Dave on the hoof Asia 2011
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- Day 12
- Monday, September 5, 2011 at 8:00 AM
- ⛅ 29 °C
- Altitude: 6 m
- Vietnam Tan Son Nhat International Airport 10.818463, 106.65882510°49’6” N 106°39’32” E
Cu Chi Tunnels
September 5, 2011 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C
We spent the morning at the Cu Chi Tunnels, which have preserved as a tribute to the War (and a tourist trap!). One of the really interesting features was that there is a firing range on the site, where you can buy rounds for AK47's and M15's - and fire away! At about a dollar a shot, it was really good fun. Even more interesting though was that whilst you walk through the forests looking for the impossible to spot tunnel entrances, there is sporadic gunfire echoing through the trees. Truly a surreal experience.Read more
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Dani and Dave on the hoof Asia 2011
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- Day 12
- Monday, September 5, 2011 at 2:00 PM
- ⛅ 32 °C
- Altitude: 5 m
- Vietnam kenh Hy Vong 10.823099, 106.62966410°49’23” N 106°37’47” E
Ho Chi Minh City
September 5, 2011 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C
We spent the afternoon exploring the city, and shopping at the Binh Tay Markets.
The Central Post Office (which used to be a Railway Station) and the Notre Dame Cathedral are well worth a look too.
The day was rounded out with a nice meal at a french restaurant.Read more
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Dani and Dave on the hoof Asia 2011
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- Day 13
- Tuesday, September 6, 2011 at 7:00 AM
- ⛅ 32 °C
- Altitude: 6 m
- Vietnam Sông Xoài Hột 10.376528, 106.34388910°22’36” N 106°20’38” E
My Tho
September 6, 2011 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C
Today took us on a drive to My Tho, on the Mekong Delta, where we hopped on a boat and set off to explore some the life along the Mekong.
We saw local cottage industries including honey and candy makers, were entertained by a lovely family of ladies at lunch, got to play with a massive python (snake!) and had an interesting lunch.
More shopping in the afternoon, and our last night in Vietnam was spent in a flash restaurant.Read more
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Dani and Dave on the hoof Asia 2011
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- Day 14
- Wednesday, September 7, 2011
- ⛅ 27 °C
- Altitude: 6 m
- Vietnam Tan Son Nhat International Airport 10.81846, 106.6588210°49’6” N 106°39’32” E
Ho Chi Minh Airport
September 7, 2011 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C
Departing Vietnam with a lot of sadness we are headed for Kuala Lumpur.
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Dani and Dave on the hoof Asia 2011
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- Day 15
- Thursday, September 8, 2011
- ⛅ 29 °C
- Altitude: 5 m
- Malaysia Kampung Bandar Kaba 2.189594, 102.2500872°11’23” N 102°15’0” E
Mallaca
September 8, 2011 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C
After a night in Kualar Lumpur we drove to Mallaca, an old pirate town where we spent the day exploring!
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