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Vietnam!!!!!
  • Shalee Gherbaz
  • Shalee Gherbaz

Vietnam!!!!!

Michael and I are off to Vietnam for 3, weeks!!!! Ho Chi Minh City - Hoi An - Da Nang - Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City Lue lisää
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  • Shalee GherbazVietnam!!!!!Matkaaja

    Can Gio Mangrove Reserve: Bat City

    11. maaliskuuta 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 33 °C

    We went into the reserve and went on a small wooden boat to boat around all the mangroves and see the bat colony of the area. There are around 300 bats in the area, and it's a protected heritage site. Our guide explained a lot of it was replanted after the disaster of agent orange that was sprayed here and destroyed a huge amount of the eco system. Over the last 50 years the Forrest had grown back and restored itself as best it could, so thats why it's protected.

    We did get to see heaps of bats in the distance. My phone is trash at zoom photography, but an American guy on our tour had a good camera so I took a snap of his snap to prove we did in fact see the bats!    Lue lisää

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  • Shalee GherbazVietnam!!!!!Matkaaja

    Can Gio Mangrove Reserve: Monkey Feeding

    11. maaliskuuta 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C

    Next up at the reserve is the monkeys. This local colony is looked after by conservationists as their food supply is lacking on this area of the island. So the centre has the small tourist groups feed the monkeys bananas.

    We didn't directly feed the monkeys so as to not touch them, but we did get mighty close. There were some pregnant monkeys too!!!! Very fun!,    Lue lisää

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  • Shalee GherbazVietnam!!!!!Matkaaja

    Can Gio Mangrove Reserve: Croc fishing!

    11. maaliskuuta 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C

    The last piece of the animal puzzle today is the crocodile conservation reserve! They grow and conserve crocodiles here. The little ones are 7 months old, the medium are 1 year old, and then the rest are all adult crocs. They take you out on a boat and give you rods with fish on it to feed the crocs. It's part of their play for the day. One of my crocs decided he had had enough of being teased and splashed the lot of us with his tail, getting me soaked!!!! Cheeky croc!Lue lisää

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    Lunch and exploring Can Gio

    11. maaliskuuta 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C

    We had a delicious lunch of king prawns, shrimp and squid salad, marinated fish, honey soy chicken wings, rice, morning glory salad, omelet and rice crackers. I didn't take a pic of the full spread because it was a group setting and by the time all the food came out pieces of it were already eaten. But it was yum! The chicken nibbles were especially delish. 5 slaps.

    I also had a wander around the area. There's a big watch Tower I climbed up to see the view of the river and trees, and a canopy walk with a log bridge to climb across!

    After lunch, we've gotten back on the speedboat and headed back to HCM. I got to drink coconut water direct out of the coconut. Yummy! Overall I really enjoyed this tour and found it much less touristy than other tours in HCM.

    Michael liked the animals (especially the crocs) and napping on the boat, but the heat is getting to him a bit so he's been a bit flat and stroppy all day. A relaxing 2 cool indoor days will be just what he needs to finish off the trip in high spirits!    Lue lisää

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    Clubbing in Saigon at Zion?!?! 😱🫨😍

    11. maaliskuuta 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 37 °C

    Michael and I ventured out last night after dinner and on the suggestion of another tourist we met here we went to a rooftop bar that turned out to be a club! Anyone who knows Michael knows he is not the clubbing type at all, but we ended up just embracing it and having a really fun night out.

    It's not clubbing in Saigon if you don't get a welcome sign we've learnt hahahahaha. Plus we also got photographed right next to the Avengers tower (the 2nd tallest building in HCM that looks just like the Stark tower from the Avenger movies) and got a beautiful photo together. I also proved that I don't need to drink alcohol to have a boogie and have fun!

    Also how handsome is Michael. Very. Lucky me.    Lue lisää

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  • Shalee GherbazVietnam!!!!!Matkaaja

    All the noms

    11. maaliskuuta 2024, Vietnam ⋅ 🌙 30 °C

    We've wandered down 250m away from the hotel to have dinner and dessert locally. We've gone for some Korean fried chicken and fried chicken skin at a big Korean place (super tasty) and then to an amazing dessert place called Swensen (I think it's a chain) and we had the most yummy ice creams. I had Japanese shaved ice in the chocolate set and it was so light (yes, light) and delicious. Michael had the waffle sundae which he also said was super yum.

    Back off to the hotel to watch the last episode of Queen Charlotte (the Netflix spin off show for Bridgerton) and then off to zzzz for the night.    Lue lisää

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    Thrift Shopping

    12. maaliskuuta 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C

    I've left Michael to have some chill out time at the hotel and gone for a little thrift shopping adventure. Thrift shops are hidden in pockets of the city if you snoop through the alleyways and stairwells.

    I grabbed a salt coffee and croissant as I waited for the shops to open, then headed out to explore. I found a hidden mall full of amazing vintage and new stores, as well as a urban thrift shop that was hidden in an alley and had a gorgeous cafe underneath. I found a gift for my Nanna to give her at Easter (won't spoil it here as she reads this)!! I then landed in a top floor tea shop that had 2 resident cats and beautiful greenery to wind down over a salted apricot tea (delish). Have a few other areas to explore before I grab something for lunch then head back to the hotel.    Lue lisää

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  • Shalee GherbazVietnam!!!!!Matkaaja

    New York Pizza

    12. maaliskuuta 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 36 °C

    We needed to have a margarita in HCM, so figured today was as good as many! We went to a new York themed pizzeria 10 mins down the road, and ordered 3 mini pizzas (margarita, Hawaiian and 4 meats). Tasty! The margarita had good nonna sauce on it, with a light base and good cheese pull. It ranks in at number 2. Our margarita ratings are below, with a clear winner.

    1. Good Morning Vietnam in Hoi An (5 slaps and a spank (aka God Tier))
    2. New York Pizza in HCM (4 slaps)
    3. Chops in Hoi An (3 slaps)
    4. The pizzeria in Hanoi (2 slaps)

    Michael also had a very tasty cider.    Lue lisää

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  • Shalee GherbazVietnam!!!!!Matkaaja

    Maison Marou Chocolatier

    12. maaliskuuta 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 36 °C

    Just up the road from the Pizza Place is a really lovely chocolatier that I wanted to visit. It's basically the Koko Black or Vietnam, if Koko Black made their chocolate on site.

    I ordered a couple of individual choccies and an iced choc mint, and Michael got a choc sundae and choc caramel milkshake.

    Going into a food coma, everything is scrummy. Will need a nap at the hotel soon hahahaha!    Lue lisää

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  • Shalee GherbazVietnam!!!!!Matkaaja

    A relaxed evening near the hotel

    12. maaliskuuta 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

    Given we had such a heavy lunch/dessert, we decided to keep it light for dinner and headed to a local noodle soup place near our hotel. Michael had sliced pork noodle soup, and I had wonton noodle soup. Super tasty, light, full of flavour and at 45k a bowl you cannot go wrong.

    Afterwards we headed up to a local rooftop bar to have a drink, where we relaxed with a cocktail and mocktail overlooking some great city views. I didn't get images as it was quite dark in the bar, but the drinks were yummo and super reasonably priced.

    Now we are back at the hotel, and at our door was a foot spa kit. So I have filled it up and will soak my feet to feel refreshed and ready for a good night's sleep!    Lue lisää

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  • Shalee GherbazVietnam!!!!!Matkaaja

    Apartment Hopping pt 1: 14 ton that dam

    13. maaliskuuta 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 30 °C

    I've left Michael back at the hotel to go apartment hopping. I've done some research and think I've found some ripper apartments full of hidden treasures like cafes and clothes shops.

    This set is full of cafes, with lots of cats, cool settings, great cheap menus and even an art studio (in a seperate post), and the coolest hidden cafe I've ever seen (also in a seperate post).

    Here are some photos of the sketchy apartment block, and it's hidden contents. A must visit for the adventurous who want to get off the beaten track.    Lue lisää

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  • Shalee GherbazVietnam!!!!!Matkaaja

    Apartment Hopping: Mosaic Making

    13. maaliskuuta 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 31 °C

    I've spent the last hour drinking guava tea and making the ugliest mosaic coaster you have ever seen in the cutest DIY cafe.

    The cafe has a resident short nosed rag doll cat with the funniest expression. She is an absolute cutie and loves a rub!!! You can make all sorts of things here, from postcards to mosaic coasters, and scented candles. All whilst drinking tea and soaking up the dainty and cute atmosphere.

    I'm so relaxed and overjoyed to find these little hidden treasures.    Lue lisää

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  • Shalee GherbazVietnam!!!!!Matkaaja

    My best secret find yet!

    13. maaliskuuta 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 33 °C

    I have found the coolest cafe in HCM whilst waiting for my mosaic to have resin added. I'm in an extremely run down apartment building going apartment hopping (the apartments hide heaps of stuff) and I have hit the top floor. It looks like there's one cafe on the left, and a bookshelf at the end. However, when you get closer, you realise the shelf is a door, and come into the most gorgeous cafe I've seen since being here. It's old fashioned, full of plants and has an amazing river view and reasonable pricing. The cafe is called Memento cafe and cocktails.

    All it's missing is a cat hahahaha. I would be curious to see what it's like in the nighttime. There are so many gorgeous cafes and speakeasy bars here in this dodgy ass apartment.    Lue lisää

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    A humble lunch

    13. maaliskuuta 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 34 °C

    On to the next apartments, I've stumbled on a market that isn't on any maps or internet searches. I decided to try Com Xa Xiu Truyen Thong, which is basically pork rice with egg. At 39k, it's a steal. Every side dish is lovely, but the trick is to toss them all together. Very satiating!Lue lisää

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  • Shalee GherbazVietnam!!!!!Matkaaja

    Fassssshhhhhion!!!!

    13. maaliskuuta 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 35 °C

    I went to another apartment complex that I read about online that has hip young Vietnamese and Korean fashion brands. It's not somewhere tourists know about, but all the bougie cool youngsters shop here. Again, from the outside it looks like the dingiest place, but once you snoop in, it's awesome!

    They had so many stores with such cute fashion pieces for youngsters. All the kawaii Japanese cute girl style stuff. I loved it. Plus some really REALLY cool streetwear /hip hop wear. The pricing was also super reasonable.

    I ended up getting some accessories, souvenirs for peeps, 2 cute tops and the funniest broken English t shirt I've seen whilst I was here. I'll be wearing that one to work for sure! Super lucky I could actually find some clothes that fit because Asian sizing is tiny!!!!!    Lue lisää

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    Boooook St

    13. maaliskuuta 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 35 °C

    We got a Grab to book st to get some more souvenirs and see if Michael could find an Alice in Wonderland book.

    Luckily I have good eyes, as I found a copy! It's very cute, and in both Vietnamese and English. This is his 8th version of the book and he says I've now set a precedent hahahahaha.

    So many books and things to look at here, all reasonably priced too!    Lue lisää

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  • Shalee GherbazVietnam!!!!!Matkaaja

    Japanese Dessert time

    13. maaliskuuta 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 33 °C

    We have taken a cafe breather from shopping in Saigon Plaza at a Japanese Cafe. It's definately one of the fancier, more expensive places but it's our last day and we have cash to use up!

    We both got super refreshing drinks (mine is lime, rosemary and ginger freeze, and Michaels is pineapple freeze) a grape cream cake jar, and a chocolate souffle. Both desserts were refreshing, balanced and yum!!!!Lue lisää

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  • Shalee GherbazVietnam!!!!!Matkaaja

    The Last Supper

    13. maaliskuuta 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    The bags are mostly packed, the Netflix movies are downloaded, the kindle is ready to load, and we have headed out for our last supper.

    The first stop is at the place at the end of our street. It is always packed with Vietnamese people, all seeming to be eating the same thing. We get there, and squeeze onto the end of the communal table.

    There are 4 options on the menu: noodle type A, noodle type B, and whether you want your noodles dry or wet. The toppings are identical. I point to the girl next to me and order what she had. Its noodle type B and dry. Michael goes for noodle type A and wet.

    Turns out, this is the same soup as I had in Hoi An. Hu Tien. My number one. My baby girl. This version is delish. I pour my broth in and get to work. Baby girl is supposed to have beef heart in her, but I can't see anything close to this and assume they meant something else. The quail eggs are succulent. The broth, eye rolling. This one even has mince! It's wave after wave of bliss. And only 55k a bowl. Bargain! Michael loves his. His noodles are rice based. Delicate. Soft. Supple. A great final pick.

    Then, as we get to the hotel, Michael asks if we can get dessert. He went and got a hot stone massage today whilst I was gallivanting and in getting lost trying to find the hotel, stumbled on an "amazing looking dessert and drinks place". It's his first suggestion of the entire trip. Nice! Let's go!

    We walk around, him trying to retrace his steps. We near the place, and he proudly looks at me and says we are here. I look up....

    We are at Swensens. Again. Where I took him 2 nights ago as part of the planning I did months in advance.

    I can't stop laughing. That, my family and friends, is the definition of being a man on vacation.

    Swensens is delish though, so I happily take his suggestion and we order some yummy strawberry treats and drinks and have a wonderfully good evening.    Lue lisää

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  • Shalee GherbazVietnam!!!!!Matkaaja

    Melbourne Bound

    14. maaliskuuta 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 33 °C

    We have gotten to the airport and through customs with little issue. Our flight is relatively on time. For some reason they were super fussy on liquids for our flight, so we've had to come on with zero liquids, which is ridiculous to me and a cash grab. Alas, we ran around and skulled water and juice to try and hydrate and will just have to pay for drinks on flight. We were able to get some snacks and had a big breakfast at Burger King to try and carb load and fill up before the flight.

    I must say, this is the most expensive food we've had solely on the price for what we got. This airport is all in USD and they milk it for every penny. $32USD for our meal at Burger King. $6USD for a coffee. Kill me now. Worse than home. At least the food was actually decent for fast food standards. Best shitty burger I've had in a long time, and big.

    We have emergency exit seats again so loads of legroom. It looks like we have the aisle to ourselves so I'm gonna scooch over to the window when I get a chance.

    I can already hear a baby cracking the shits. Fun! We are sad to say goodbye to Vietnam but glad to be coming home to see the cats! We've missed our girls so much.

    Will do a final post once home with a reflection on our overall observations and thoughts.    Lue lisää

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  • Shalee GherbazVietnam!!!!!Matkaaja

    Safe and Sound back home with the cats

    15. maaliskuuta 2024, Australia ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    We have arrived relatively on time in Melbourne. The flight itself was breezy as because we ended up with the spare seat so I moved to the window seat and both of us had ample space. We survived on our lollies and Oreos without getting to hungry, so at least the burger king theory worked.

    I'm sad to be back to $45 airport transfers via uber. So long $5 Grab taxis 😭😭😭😭

    Triss has gone bananas with affection, giving us both massive meows and cuddles. She is such a darling. Ciri has hidden behind the mattress and will take the night to come out and be comfortable again, which I will then expect some cuddles and love.

    Huge shoutout to Michael for taking the bull by the horns this holiday. I threw him all sorts of activities, crazy schedules and culture shocks, and he handled everything really well for his first trip overseas. There were a few niggles to sort but that is like everyone on holiday- you don't know what you don't know!

    It feels amazing to be back on my bed with my pillow. Am going to have a big sleep tonight. We now have 3 days to recover and get prepared to move back into the routine of life. I'll be hitting the spa first thing!!!!!

     I have really enjoyed our trip, and I'm really pleased that months of planning and organising meant that the vast majority of the trip ran without delay or drama or anything to throw us off. It fills me with confidence that we didn't get scammed, robbed, didn't feel unsafe at any point, and were able to handle ourselves authentically and appropriately for the country and culture we were in.

    Also thanks to everyone who has read, liked, commented, and engaged with my blog this time around. It's been so fun to see my family and friends enjoy my travels! I always write for myself so it's nice that my banter and thoughts can be shared in this way and those close to me have a deeper insight. I look forward to getting back into the office and gymnastics again next week, and catching up with family for my grandpa's 100th birthday next weekend, and then Easter the week after!

    Much love to you all, goodbye Vietnam, and onwards and upwards to the next adventure!

    Shalee xx    Lue lisää

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