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South East Asia

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  • Matt and Amy's AdventureSouth East AsiaTraveler

    Thuong Thinh, Phu Quoc, Day 1

    October 30, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    The sleeper bus journey isn't too bad as we are both absolutely shattered as we climb on. Despite being 8 hours without a toilet, we manage to make it to Ha Tiem port without any accidents.
    We arrive at 5am and have a 3 hour wait until our ferry comes, which is annoying, but we spend the time reading and eating pho, so it isn't too long before we are sat on the bizarre ferry. It looks more like a plane inside, with comfy seats and a tele showing a love show that one local in particular finds very amusing. After about ninety minutes we arrive on Phi Quoc and clamber into the back of a minibus, for the short journey to our hotel.
    We arrive tired, weary, ready for the comfort of a private room, so you can imagine our delight when our room is ready early. We get in around 10am, after being on the move since 5am the previous day, and crash out for four hours sleep.
    After that we don't feel up to doing much so we take a small walk to explore before getting much needed haircuts.
    As night draws in we sit at Rory's bar on the beach, watching the beautiful sunset and sipping a few cold beers. It's a lovely end to a hectic few days. We then have some food and a few more beers before going to bed, ready for a long and much needed sleep!    Read more

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    Mekong Delta Tour, Day 2

    October 29, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    Waking up at half five is never good. Waking up at half five knowing you are sleeping on a bus tonight is even worse. We drag ourselves down for a free breakfast though which always helps, before leaving on the bus at 6.40 heading for the floating market. It is really cool to see, with many boats sailing up and attaching themselves to us, offering everything from coconuts to beer. We don't hang around long though, as we are whisked off to a coconut factory.
    It's cool to see the way they make sweets out of the coconut, but not great for someone who doesn't like the taste. The whisky isn't bad though.
    Next up is a rice paper/noodle factory, which is better then it sounds. We get to have a go making It, and the rice noodle pizza they make is genuinely really tasty. After that we go to a small island with many fruit trees growing. An hour on the island is too long and me and Amy spend most of the time seeing who can hold their breath for the longest, but we are soon back on the bus.
    Back to the hotel we go for dinner, before getting back on the bus. It's a four hour journey back to HCMC and we were told we won't be back until 8pm, so we're a bit annoyed when we leave at midday (especially as our sleeper bus doesn't leave until 10).
    We arrive just after 4 and burn a bit of time trying to get my phone fixed and eating food, but it's still a long wait. As the time comes though, our minibus to the station is late, so late we don't get there until ten minutes after the departure time. This is down to the roads being busy, and the driver casually letting locals on with their shopping and deliveries. Luckily the bus is still there, and we board it exhausted, hoping that we are so tired we won't mind the curvy and bumpy roads on the eight hour trip to Ha Tiem.    Read more

  • Matt and Amy's AdventureSouth East AsiaTraveler

    Mekong Delta Tour, Day 1

    October 28, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    It's tour time, and we drag ourselves out of bed pretty early to make our way for the bus, in what is going to be the start of a long few days. The bus is crowded, mostly locals as it's a weekend, and it doesn't make the two hour ride any easier when the Swiss guy in front of me decides to lean his chair back so he can have a sleep. As long as he is comfy it doesn't matter about anyone else obviously.
    The bus stops halfway at a small factory which makes small artwork from egg shells. It is a factory made to provide victims of agent orange with work, and the product of their work is really great. We get to watch them crushing up the egg shell and delicately applying it to their pictures, before seeing the process of colouring and drawing. The shopping area showcases the talent they have, with hundreds of pieces they have made.
    After that we make our way to a pretty impressive pagoda, with three giant Buddha statues. The fifteen minutes allowed to us is a bit short but it's a good stop.
    After that we headed on a boat on the river, to unicorn island. We were given some tea (honey, orange, water and bee pollen??) Which was very sweet and got a taste of some honey which was even sweeter. I also got a chance to hold a snake which was enjoyable until it started to wrap round me.
    After that we ate some locally grown fruit and listened to some local singing (and a bizarre rendition of 'if you're happy and you know it') before taking a small boat ride down a very cramped river. It was a nice ride, but would have been nicer without the nagging for tips.
    After the small boat ride we took a ride on a horse drawn carriage back to the big boat. It was a fast ride, but the state of the obviously overworked and starved horses took a bit of the fun away from it.
    Next up was dinner on a different island, before we had an hour to explore. An hour seemed a long time, until we saw the crocodile enclosure. We spent most of the time watching them being fed, and I even did a little bit myself. It was then time to get back on the boat and head back to the bus.
    We managed to sit on the back away from the annoying Swiss bloke, but then more people got on, making the 4 hour journey to our hotel (would have been shorter but a crash on the road ahead delayed us) rather tedious.
    We arrive at a surprisingly nice hotel though and turn down the offer of a trip to town, instead opting for a pizza hut and the premier league on tele. A good end to a good day.    Read more

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    Ha Vy Hotel, HCMC, Day 5

    October 27, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    Our final day in Ho Chi Minh starts slowly. Staying in a room with no windows is seriously hard when you plan to get up before midday. Thankfully today we don't have much left to do, so we take it slow. We could do with a day to sort stuff out, so it's kinda good.
    We firstly get our next trips to Mekong delta and phu quoc island booked and have some dinner (the pho was awful!) After that we head to the independence palace, or the museum of chairs as Amy calls it. She hates it, I find it kind of interesting, but not as good as I thought. After that we walk back and Amy goes for a massage, while I have an hour in a power cut sat in the dark.
    We then go out for a nice meal at a pretty swanky rooftop bar as it's a year since we got together, before sharing a few pretty terrible cocktails. After going back and making sure were ready for am 8am bus tomorrow, we go to sleep, already dreading that early alarm!    Read more

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    Ha Vy Hotel, HCMC, Day 4

    October 26, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    A lazy morning as we have a while to wait until we go on our half day tour to the Cu Chi tunnels. We are promised a small tour with a maximum of 8 people, but aren't surprised when 19 turn up.
    Trung, our guide, tries to talk the bus through the history of the war in very broken English and the things you can make out are very interesting. Despite two unbelievable rude Australians, who were clearly too cool for the tour they had chosen to go on, everyone listened and paid attention to Trungs first hand account of the horrible time.
    We first stop in a factory where victims of agent orange work. Here they use egg she'll to create wonderful works of art. They are really good, but unfortunately too fragile to carry around in our bags.
    After that we head to the tunnels. Our first stop is a small hiding hole, just big enough for one person to squeeze into, which acted as a hiding/surprising hole. The Vietnamese basically rigged this whole forest with holes, tunnels and booby traps to catch the Americans.
    The booby traps mentioned were brutal. Holes in the floor filled with spikes that would soon mess up anyone unfortunate enough to step on one. Add that the mines that we're planted around the place (it took fifteen years to get rid of them all!) And it was a pretty dangerous place all round. There was a tank on display that got blown up by a mine, which makes you wonder what it did to a human.
    There was a shooting range that was extremely loud and extremely expensive, and then we headed to the tunnels. They are long and very small, only eaving enough room to crouch down. At times it gets pretty spooky, especially when I'm laid on my back shuffling down, and it's a relief when I feel the fresh air again as we leave.
    After all that and with very sore legs from the crouching, we head back on the ninety minute drive to the hotel. We go out for an unbelievably good curry and go to sleep. We are ready for bed!    Read more

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    Ha Vy Hotel, HCMC, Day 3

    October 25, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    We both wake up with hangovers (as expected) bur drag ourselves our of bed ready to do something.
    We start the day in search of a post office to send the shoes back to England. After following dodgy directions for an hour we get to our destination, only to find out it's closed. We end up back at the market and decided to now aim for the famous central post office.
    After eating it takes around half an hour to reach the next stop. The post office looks great, as if you've moved back in time. We manage to get the parcel sent, after someone tells off a local for pushing on front of us, which feels good. He view of the Notre Dame cathedral is also pretty good from directly outside. To send a parcel from here is definitely an experience in itself.
    After that we headed to the botanical gardens and zoo. The first animals we saw were the giraffes, which we got to feed. It was great fun to give them small bits of carrot and made the admission fee immediately worth it. After that though it goes downhill. The animals are mostly held in small cages without the right habitat they need (otters without water etc) so it all seems a bit sad. Some cages are good, but all in all it gets a bit depressing at times.
    So we leave the zoo and enter the history museum that stands looking very pretty at the zoo gates. We don't have long as it's nearly closing Time, but we soon work our way around. It's better then expected, with some great Cham sculptures on show and some great information about the history of Vietnam. There is also a mummified body on display which is pretty freaky.
    So after all that walking we are ready for an easy uber home. We get picked up, but after twenty minutes of riding are taken a completely different hotel (albeit with a very similar name). We sit in the back of the car offering to pay and get a new taxi but the driver doesn't understand a word. After fifteen minutes of sitting we set off again, this time in the right direction. We make it back after an hour, and the driver says it was ubers fault and not ours, so doesn't charge us anymore money. It was in the end a good experience, as witnessing the roundabouts at rush hour is something I won't forget in a while. How there isn't more accidents on these roads is beyond me.
    So a long day all in all, but a good one, and now it's time for a quiet night. Who said hangovers spoilt your day, ey?    Read more

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    Ha Vy Hotel, HCMC, Day 2

    October 24, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    Time to explore ho chi minh city. We take the walk to the market after we get up and ready. It's a lot easier to find now we have already been once, and we are soon involved in the hustle and bustle that is so common in these places. We buy the trainers for Amy's cousins and some stuff for ourselves at crazy cheap prices, before leaving and getting a McDonalds (it tastes so good).
    After this we head to the war remnants museum. We've heard it's grim viewing, but it's a lot worse then we expected. The pictures hold no punches, showcasing everything from the torture equipment used to the dismembered bodies of some of the victims of this gruesome war. To think it was only around 50 years ago is truly shocking. It's a place I was very much looking forward to visiting, and a place I was very much ready to leave after walking around. The display of American guns and vehicles used in the war outside was the only thing I felt right taking photos off. An eye opening experience indeed.
    On the night we decided to sample the cities nightlife. And boy did we sample it, stumbling home in the early hours of the morning with dizzy heads and empty wallets. A day of many contrasting emotions.    Read more

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    Ha Vy Hotel, HCMC, Day 1

    October 23, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    So it's time to move on to the big city. We're both excited to get involved in something more lovely, so when the bus comes at 1, we don't mind leaving. It's a sleeper which is actually comfortable and not rammed full which is a nice change.
    After around 4 hours we arrive in Ho Chi Minh and it's not as crazy as we expected. Either that or we are just used to it now. After checking into the hotel we head out for some food and a bit of an explore. Amy wants to go to a market and we arrive at Ben Thanh just as its shutting up. Tomorrow morning it is. After that we end up eating at a small portable kitchen on the roadside. It's good stuff, and the woman is friendly. After that we head back to the room, ready to relax tonight before jumping into the action of this city tomorrow.    Read more

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    Mui Ne Backpacker Village, Mui Ne, Day 2

    October 22, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    Today we decide to see a bit of Mui Ne. After a slow morning dipping in the pool we head off on a tour taking plenty of stops. First of all is the fairy stream. We expected a nice walk along the stream but instead we were told we walk into it. It was a long walk, with the water so brown you couldn't see where you were stepping. Definitely not what we expected. After about twenty minutes of walking we didn't really reach anything notable, so turned around and headed back to the jeep.
    After that, we took a brief stop overlooking the fishing village, which was actually a lot better then expected. The amount of boats, big and small, occupying the bay was great to see.
    From there we headed to the sand dunes. The white dunes were Great, stretching really far and forming great patterns and hills. It was definitely worth the small fee paid for the tour. The red dunes on the other hand, were a bit of a disappointment.
    We arrived back as the sun was setting and, after a small rest, we headed out to watch arsenal vs Everton, ending up in a small bar drinking rice wine with the locals as arsenal scored five! Eventful day!    Read more

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    Mui Ne Backpacker Village, Mui Be, Day 1

    October 21, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    So we get up and sadly move on. It's an eleven o clock checkout, and we are soon sat by another pool. It's not quite mui ne hills, but it'll definitely do. We have another relaxing day, sitting by the pool and doing a lot of nothing. After that we have a few beers on the night and then go back to the room. Another relaxing day, tomorrow we get back on it as we head to the sand dunes.Read more

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    Mui Ne Hills Bliss, Mui Ne, Day 2

    October 20, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 36 °C

    As we wake in this lovely room, it is very hard to draw ourselves away from bed. We reluctantly do though, but don't move far, and only head to one of the three swimming pools in this place. it's hard not to love. The music is good, the food is good, and it's got an all round chilled out vibe. It's a great place, and we're pretty gutted when we find out they are fully booked the next two nights. It means we have to head somewhere else, and that place will be the backpacker village.
    After a relaxing afternoon, we head for a walk on the night, but it soon starts to rain so we hide out in a bar, before going back to the hotel and taking advantage of the offer on Mexican food. It's a quiet day, but one much needed after all the walking in Da Lat    Read more

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    Mui Ne Hills Bliss, Mui Ne, Day 1

    October 19, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    We get up slowly again. I'm feeling pretty fresh after the beers last night so we make it to breakfast before chilling out and packing until check out time. We head to the bakery near our hostel which is gorgeous and cheap (50p a baguette!) And wait for our bus. We pass the time by playing table football and playing with the cute puppy.
    It comes half an hour late and then waits a few minutes near our hostel for another half an hour before we finally set off. It's a typically crazy but beautiful journey. Some of the views of the hills on the distance as we drive down the mountain side are stunning, in my opinion better then the hai van pass.
    After that we get the hotel expecting a cheap budget room but instead are upgraded for free to an awesome 3 star room. It's great. So great we go out briefly for a meal before going back to the room and chilling out. We could get used to this!    Read more

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    Tay Backpacker Hostel, Da Lat, Day 4

    October 18, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ 🌙 27 °C

    We have another lazy morning despite having a more relaxed night last night, before heading out to Luc Phuong (probably spelt wrong) temple. Also known as the temple of glass, which is far easier to spell.
    It is a ridiculous place, in a good way. After jumping off the local bus we head down a small alleyway and are confronted with several huge buildings all very brightly decorated with huge sculptures and figures. It is by far the best temple we have seen so far, and it is hard to do it justice with words and pictures. It is truly beautiful and we spend nearly two hours just walking around.
    First there's a huge temple with a big Buddha statue at the end. We walk around this and look at the intricate patterns on all the walls as you walk up. Then we head into a seven story pagoda which leads onto another temple which is equally as breathtaking as the first.
    Then we head to hell. Something that I think is put in to warn people where they will go if they commit sins, it's an eerie walk through a hallway with cages filled with spooky figures on each side and loud music and screams filling our ears. It's an odd place and we soon get out.
    Overall though, it is a great place and a joy to walk around (apart from hell). I could drone on about it for hours.
    So back on the local bus and back to the hostel. No family dinner tonight so we head out to eat, before Amy head to the market with some friends and I head our for some beers with a couple of guys from the hostel. Our final day in the cool weather, and it was a bloody good one!    Read more

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    Tay Backpacker Hostel, Da Lat, Day 3

    October 17, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    So as predicted we both wake up with pretty sore heads today after last night. We manage to make breakfast (Amy wasn't going to until she found out it was fried eggs) but retire back to the room for another few hours after eating.
    When we feel more human we head for the cable cars. It's another long walk and after yesterday we are both pretty knackered (due to the walking and boozing) so it's nice when we finally get into the small cab. It doesn't last long which is nice as it's pretty scary, but the views are great, looking out other Da Lat and over the mountains and forests that surround it. We hear it's cool on the other side, but when we get there we realise we have made a slight mistake.
    On our walk yesterday we completely walked past the cable car station, which is at the temple we couldn't get in. So we make the journey on the cable car and end up exactly where we were yesterday.
    Luckily we weren't correctly dressed to get into the Buddhist temple complex then so we go in now. It's a cool place, with lots of monks wandering about and a nice lake.
    After visiting the temple we head back on the cable car, it doesn't seem as scary now we've already made one journey, and get a taxi to Huan Xuong lake, where we take an annoyingly squeaky ride on a pedalo, before heading back to the hostel. We then chill out for the rest of the night before having another huge family dinner and heading back to the room to watch a film. No booze!    Read more

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    Tay Backpacker Hostel, Da Lat, Day 2

    October 16, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ 🌙 25 °C

    The early night yesterday means we are feeling fresh today. We get up and enjoy the free breakfast (banana pancakes) and head out to the crazy house. It is a weird, Disney-esque set of buildings that you climb around and over. The views from the top are great, and the place itself is fun to walk round.
    After that we head to a lake suggested to us. It's about a two mile walk, but it doesn't seem too nice as the views are great and the weather is cool.
    We try to get into a pagoda but have forgotten our long clothes to cover our knees so don't go in. It is very annoying when you see tourists in small clothes in these places. It is complete disrespect in my opinion, and I would feel awful at being in there dressed like that. (Rant over)
    So we go to the lake, which is lovely. After a bit of time walking around we eat some food and plan to get a cab back. Unfortunately there are none so a long walk home it is. It takes about an hour, but by the time we get home we are ready for a rest.
    As night draws in we have another lovely family dinner, followed by more drinking games, followed by a trip to a couple of bars. One of the bars is the maze bar, another weird building similar to the crazy house. As you walk in you try and gomet to the top by climbing through different holes and up different staircases. The walls are adorned with weird paintings and sculptures. It's a strange place, especially after a few beers. It's a good night though, and lasts into Tuesday morning. It will not feel as fun the morning after.    Read more

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    Tay Backpacker Hostel, Da lat, Day 1

    October 15, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ 🌙 12 °C

    So it's time to leave Nha Trang, and I would say we are definitely ready to go. It's been nice, but five days is enough. We get onto a bus, which is a lot better then previous ones we have been on, and set off inland.
    The ride is really great, driving up mountain roads. As we look out of the window we soon realise we are in the clouds, and it's a really eerie but great view. The bus takes about four hours and does the usual blind corner overtakes, but it's not the worse.
    Then we get to Da Lat. And it's cold. Like, I expected it to be slightly cooler, but as we arrive at the hostel we both put hoodies on. It is such a relief to finally be out of the heat and somewhere comfortable.
    It's late afternoon when we get here so we settle onto the hostel and sit down for dinner that is cooked for us. Seven of us in total enjoy the hot pot that is cooked for us. After that it is beer pong competition time, which Amy wins with Leo, an Israeli. She wins a pretty cool vest, and lots of bragging rights as she beat my team in the final.
    Travelling takes it out of us though, so we are in bed pretty early, ready to explore Da Lat tomorrow.    Read more

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    Nha Trang Inn, Nha Trang, Day 3

    October 14, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    An early wake up today as we head out snorkelling. We get picked up and taking to the docks, where we wait half an hour before setting off on a long journey to the snorkelling spot.
    After a few minutes of being under water everyone notices something strange. We are all getting stung. At first we can't see why, but as we get closer to the coral we notice hundreds of jellyfish swarming around. We swim through them for a bit as they are only small and we feel they may not be too bad, but the overall number of them is too much to take in the end and we all soon get back on the boat and nurse our wounds.
    We move to a different spot, and again get in, this time wary of anything resembling a jellyfish. This spot is a lot better thank God, and we actually get some time swimming around the coral and the fish without being stung. It's a great coral, and some of the fish are beautiful, coming in all sizes and colours. After around 45 minutes we are back on the boat, and are served a feast of food. It's a lovely meal, and one much needed after the morning swimming.
    It tires us out and we spend the rest of the day relaxing (apart from eating a lovely fish and chips) and get ready for another day on a bus tomorrow.    Read more

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    Nha Trang Inn, Nha Trang, Day 2

    October 13, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Today we get up pretty early and head off to the Long Son Pagoda. It is a half an hour walk and we soon arrive and enjoy a very good (and very cheap) bowl of vegetable pho. After that we take the small walk up the steps to see the giant statue of Buddha that the smaller temples below are based around. It was absolutely massive! Unfortunately some of the other sights were closed off, so we walked back slowly, making sure Amy got to see the guinea pigs in a pet shop that she noticed on the way.
    After that we chilled out for the afternoon sleeping and doing some well needed cleaning up after going so long sharing a bathroom.
    We then went out to get some pizza and had a drink in a cool rock bar, before we went back for a quiet night, before snorkelling tomorrow.    Read more

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    Nha Trang Inn, Nha Trang, Day 1

    October 12, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ 🌬 30 °C

    As morning rolls by we are both desperate to leave the dorm and get the privacy of a private room. We find one for the same price we are spending here and so move there when our free breakfast goes down. It's so much better to be in a large room on our own, where you can talk without feeling bad about waking someone up and the bathroom isn't covered in small hairs.
    After we have spent a bit of time in the room we head out to the Cham towers. There are three temples all built around 400 years ago (I think) and it is really interesting to see the architecture and design of them. After that we walk back aiming for a cathedral.
    On the way we walk past what looks like a pretty bad accident. Someone is laying in the street surrounding by a crowd of people who are watching very closely (wierdos). It doesn't look Good, but we don't stick around for long.
    After that we go to the cathedral and walk around the outside. It is again a very nice piece of architecture, but nothing on some you can see in England.
    A quiet night was in store after that, and it is so nice to not have to share a bedroom with four other people. We will sleep well tonight!    Read more

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    Ihome Hostel, Nha Trang, Day 2

    October 11, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    Ouch. We both wake up feeling the effects of the night before. Our heads hurt, and Amy spends most of the morning throwing up into the toilet. It doesn't help that when we did try to sleep we were kept up by someone knocking on the door trying to get in. A rough morning, and we don't even get to fully take advantage of the free all you can eat breakfast on offer. After one plate we're done.
    It doesn't take us long to decide that we're not in a fit state to do much exercise today's so a day on the beach it is. We chill out for a few hours before getting food and heading back. It's about 3 o clock when we lay on a sunbed, and then before we know it the sun is setting and we've been asleep a couple of hours. Luckily no-one took any of our stuff, and we finally feel more alive.
    Not alive enough to have another night on the booze though, so we go our for a nice meal and have a quiet night.
    We soon learn nothing makes you feel older then listening to a crowded bar of drunk people while you're in bed watching bake off, but after last night it feels good. Soon enough we fall asleep, and hopefully we will make it throughout the night this time.    Read more

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    Ihome Hostel, Nha Trang, Day 1

    October 10, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    So it is finally time to leave the lovely Life's a Beach. Thankfully the stomach bug that we both have is gone so it's a safe, although typically cramped and crazy journey to Nha Trang. It's a town we've not heard great things about, and we have decided to follow some advice from a fellow traveller and stay in the hostel.
    The room is very small. We are sharing with two lads from Birmingham, a dreadlocked German who wants Amy's bed, and an American who weirdly turns up for about ten minutes a day. The hostel is nice though once you leave the room and we have some food and prepare for the happy hour.
    It's free beer for an hour, and we smash them down, fully taking advantage. After that it all gets blurry. Buckets of unknown spirits, more beer, shots, and before we know it we are wandering around Nha Trang with a big crowd of fellow revellers. We've not seen much of the actual town yet, but we will hopefully feel well enough to do that tomorrow.    Read more

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    Life's a Beach, Quy Nhon, Days 2 to 5

    October 9, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    So the last four days have been spent doing not much at all. Apart from one day when we ventured into the surprisingly lovely town to reload our stock of toiletries and money, which involved a few local bus journeys which are always interesting, we have been laying on the beach or in a hammock getting some much needed rest.
    The hostel was great, everything we could have asked for. Hours were spent in the bar drinking the cheap beer and playing the very competitive barman at connect 4 and pool.
    On the third day I felt very achey and was worried that dengue fever had set in after getting a few mosquito bites, but it turned out to be nothing but a stomach bug.
    One of the best things about this place were the waves that crashed onto the secluded private beach. It was great fun to swim in the water and try not to be sent flying by them. Amy tried to climb into a rubber ring just as one broke and soon was sent onto her back.
    There has been no wifi at all and no distractions, and the shared bathrooms weren't bad either! All in all a great place to stay and relax for a few days. Now, with our batteries recharged, we are ready to head to Nha Trang.    Read more

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    Life's a Beach, Quy Nhon, Day 1

    October 5, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    It seems a long time since we've had a day of travelling, with the relatively short distances between Hue, Dan Ang and Hoi An not really counting. So It's strange to finally get another long ride in. We had forgotten how these journeys can be, but we soon learn.
    We pack quickly, something we are definitely getting better at, and get picked up at 11am. The mini van we are shoved into is smaller then expected with no air con, but we seem to be the only passengers with plenty of leg room, so It's quite annoying when we are taken off and told to wait for another. Eventually the minibus comes, and we are shoved onto the back row inbetween two locals. Our bags are wedged beneath our feet and the air con doesn't seem to be making much effect on the heat. It's not a good start.
    The journey should last around four to five hours, but our driver moves like he wants to get there in a third of that. The way he dodges in and out of traffic as lorries and buses come in our direction is nothing short of terrifying. We spend half the journey peeking through our fingers at the madness of the roads and the other half eating coconut bread (yum). Fortunately for us, we soon get to a point where most people get off, and we finally get some leg room and breathing space. The rest of the journey goes quickly, and after fighting off the crazy taxi drivers and trying to order cokes to a woman who didn't have a clue what we were talking about (god bless google) we arrive at the hostel.
    Wow
    Everything we have been through today is immediately worth it. It's like a picture from a travel brochure. The room is basic, but it's the surroundings that make it so special. A private beach is a few steps away, and we can hear the waves lapping against the white sand as we sit in the bar taking advantage of the cheap beer. It is the most beautiful place we have been so far, and completely unexpected for a place we viewed only as a stopover between here and Nha Trang. The bar is pretty full, and the music is good. There's no wifi to distract anyone, just everyone having a good time and enjoying the place we are in. We are both in good spirits as the barman beats us multiple times at connect 4. What a place. The closest to paradise we have come yet, and a place so tranquil and relaxed, it would be amiss to move on after the originally planned 2 nights.    Read more

  • Matt and Amy's AdventureSouth East AsiaTraveler

    Longman Homestay, Hoi An, Day 6

    October 4, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    We decide to check out An Bang beach. It seems to be the main beach to go in Hoi An and after our short visit a couple of days ago, we (mostly Amy) are keen to go back.
    We jump in a taxi, deciding the ride wasn't quite enjoyable enough to warrant another go, and are soon laid on our towels in the boiling heat. It's different to Da Nang, It's a lot busier and the sea seems a lot closer (probably due to most of it not being closed off). After around 3 hours I've had enough, but we stay for another hour until we see the black clouds in the distance. We get another cab back and are soon admiring our burnt bits in the mirror.
    It's our final night in Hoi An, and we decide to go back to the veggie place we ate a few nights ago. We order fried wonton which tastes great, but the banana leaf salad and turmeric noodles aren't to Amy's taste. We end up in the bakery near our Homestay, eating fried eggs on toast. You can take the girl out of England etc.....
    After catching up on bake off, we get to sleep, ready for a trip to Quy Nhon tomorrow.    Read more

  • Matt and Amy's AdventureSouth East AsiaTraveler

    Longan Homestay, Hoi An, Day 5

    October 3, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Finally we are going to learn how to cook some of the dishes we are eating out here. It's raining again and there's a nervous few minutes stood outside wondering if the taxi was coming. eventually we find Trang, who gets us in the back of a taxi and takes us to the market. It's hectic, crazy, smelly, and really good fun. Trang works her way from stall to stall telling us everything she is buying and showing us how it's done out here. The meat section is pretty grim, with pig legs and snouts in full show, but eventually the rain stops and we head onto a boat for the journey to the cooking centre.
    It's a quick ride and before we know it we're into another taxi for round five minutes before getting into some rowing boats for the final leg of the journey. We drift down the river and watch the ducks that seem to be putting on a show for us. Finally, we reach the cooking school which is already set up for us to go.
    First off, we get the Pho ready for the two hours of boiling the broth needs. After that we get down to the nitty gritty. First up fresh rolls, which seem pretty easy, and come out looking good. Our confidence is high as we head into the crispy pancakes. Again, they come out well, despite my hob being pretty weak. We both manage to flip them twice with no disaster and they taste amazing!
    The two starters were the easy bit we soon learn, as we are showed the beef salad (fish for Amy). The first bit is pretty easy, assembling salad into a pattern, but after that it's all frying and fire. Unfortunately (maybe) my fire doesn't rise out of the pan as I jump the gun and the oil isn't hot enough. Again though, the final product looks and tastes delicious. Finally we get to eat the Pho which as all Pho does out here, tastes delicious. We're then sent home in a minivan with a lot more knowledge on cooking Vietnamese dishes then we had when we were stood in the rain waiting for Trang this morning.
    After chilling out for a few hours, we head into th old town for the lantern festival. Apparently, once a month (on the full moon) most of the lights in the town are turned off and only some lanterns remain. It's strange at first, and very beautiful, but the novelty soon wears off. I think it is more for the Vietnamese who find it a very religious time. After a few beers we're ready to get some food and go back.
    We stop in a restaurant, mostly because a huge traffic jam (first we've seen) is blocking most of the road and path. There must be a hundred mopeds battling for room to turn round. I guess something to do with the festival has bought them all here, but most go home disappointed. The restaurant we eat in is family run and one of not many open (again, we guess due to the festival) but the food is good and we go home happy, ready for a beach day tomorrow.    Read more

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