Out of the oven and into the freezer.

Having such a blast decided not to come home....

Just kidding.

Reason #1 to come home, we missed Isaac and were desperate to see him.

This is my last blog post for this trip.

After a few awesome days in Saigon, we slowed down the pace at Mui Ne, ocean front resort for the lazy (or the kite-surfing crazed of which we are not). For a few days after the hectic pace of travelling we relaxed with swimming, reading, sleeping, eating and oh-do-you-believe-it drinking beer with very little motivation to see the local sites. Just too plain knackered. Also, we were upgraded to the penthouse suit.......oooh la de daaa. Very nice surprise so extra motivation to be slobs.

BBQ Crocodile anyone? Anyone?

View from the penthouse.

In the pool. 

Amazing storm cloud.

Gained a new appreciation for NZ beaches, the ones in Vietnam being just a bit grubby, the water warm and cloudy, and the system of rent-a-recliner before you can sit down just a tad too pain-in-the-arsey.  Missing my peaceful walks on Omaha beach (reason #2 to come home).

Spent one final day in Saigon before leaving Vietnam. Topped up on last minute shopping, a last bowl of Pho Bo, a final wander around the crowded streets. I cried in the taxi on the way to the airport. And I nearly cried when we paid $18 AUS dollars for 3 flat whites at the airport.

Propoganda style posters

Street vendor

Unfortunately one day you have to return to your own reality, which today means winter in NZ. Cold, raining and dark here in my house today, very different to the hot and humid conditions in Vietnam. The other day I had just about enough of sweat dripping down my spine and into my butt crack. Today I am regretting that thought as I down hot soup in front of the heater.

Che Guevarra rocks the cone hat.

Would I go back to Vietnam. You betcha! It's taught me a lot about humility, about patience and gratitude. I felt privileged to be there, overwhelmed by the peaceful friendly attitude of the people, and happy to have found new friends in my travel companions.

Then again, Mexico sounds pretty cool...............

Snakes, guns and tears.

Last blog we had just arrived in Saigon, or Ho Chi Minh city, and were deciding what to do with a spare few days. There were a couple of options which involved long bus trips, but in the end we decided on staying in Saigon because we basically fell in love with it. Which surprised me, I wasn't expecting much, but found it to be pumping with activity, tons of great restaurants, cool people and awesome shopping. There is a strong French influence, and it is possible to eat Paris cafe style for lunch, then get BBQ kebabs and 60cent beers on a street corner at night with the locals. Our intrepid tour broke up, some went home and some onto Thailand, but Chris from Perth and Janelle from Calgary hung around with us for a few more days which was cool and we have made some awesome new friends.

A buck for a bullet to shoot an AK47

We had a day trip out to Cu Chi to see the famous tunnel system and learnt about the tricks of the Viet Kong, how they became "American killer heros". Interesting to see it from the Vietnamese side, and to think this all happened when I was just a wee kid. We had a few laughs at Cu Chi, but afterwards went to the War Remnants museum in Saigon and got a real taste of just how bloody awful this war was. Photo after photo of atrocities and crimes against the Vietnamese by Americans (cos that's the side they show us) and we all felt quite sickened and very sad.

Intrepid farewell dinner

The tour's final get together was at Lemongrass Restaurant, in the classy district of Dong Khoi. Awesome place but the food not as good as eating off the street vendors in the 'gutter'. Khanh took us to a bar called Saigon saloon, skinny waitresses in skimpy gingham outfits flirtying with the single men for extra tips. There was a metal band called Bad and Ugly playing, who did an memorable rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody.

Saigon's tallest - 38 floors high.

Wakey wakey, hands on snakey.

We did a day trip to the Mekong, on a whirlwind tourist trail of boat ride, coconut candy, snake wine (with a dead snake eating a scorpion inside the bottle), snakes, sanpan ride, lunch and tuk tuk rides. Holding the snake was the best ever thing, now I understand why Steve Irwin was always so excited.

Elephant Ear fish lunch.

Chris and Pearl in the Mekong

Saigon Post Office with painting of Uncle Ho

Back in Saigon we learn't of the death of Aunty Trish. A very sad day for us, but especially Luke who is really going to miss his little phone chats with her when she would interpret his dreams. RIP Trish, we hope that as you leave this world you will travel our way and be with us here for a little while in Vietnam. The buddhists believe that this life is not your real life, that only after you die do you become your eternal self based on how you behaved in this life. I find that comforting as Trish, who was always so thoughtful about others even when she was feeling so very unwell herself, will no doubt be blessed with peace.

 The day after Trish died, and after visiting the depressing museum, we needed some delight to bring us back to joy, and found it almost straight away with these gorgeous kids playing in a fountain in the park. Funny how life can bring you just what you need.

A

Ying and Yang

Finding a great balance of travel adventure and luxury here, where we can actually afford to act like privileged preppys, lie on the beach and order up cocktails.

Enjoyed Hoi An to some degree, although it is pretty especially the architecture, it is also very touristy and we felt just a tad sold out to the tourist dollar.

The famous but not so amazing China Beach

Ah huh, OK.

Shopping in Hoi An was a win some, loose some event. Luke got a really nice pair of work pants and a linen shirt tailored for him, and Pearl had a pair of high heeled boots made. But my Alex Heidermann designer sandals were a bit too much for the tailors to copy and they had to admit defeat. Guess it's not mean't to be. Practising good buddhism, I am being grateful to have a lovely pair of jandals on my feet, and patient to wait for the right pair of sandals to come along.

Resting up in the new sleeping sheet

You take my photo, you give me money.

Musical show in Hoi An

In Hoi An we cycled to the local beach for a welcome swim, escaping the 32 degree humidity for just a short time. Even under umbrellas it was possible to get sun burned. Then we cycled around some rural farmland, which was very cool, shouting out Sin Choi (hello) to the kids who were keen to check out the fat white folks biking past. At the end of the cycle ride, we went on a short boat trip to an island in the river for a delicious BBQ of pork, chicken, squid and prawns, washed down with local Kuda beer.

We had a 10 hour daytime train trip to Nha Trang beach, a good chance to catch up on some ZZZZZssss, and arrived late to our hotel, whereby Pearl promptly announced she was going to vomit so we rushed her up to our room. She was actually OK, just a bit seedy for a couple of days so we took it easy and rented recliners on the beach, swimming and ordering up cold drinks.

Next day, we visited the mudbaths. This is kind of like the Polynesian Pools with thick slimy mud you sit in, apparently good for the skin and getting rid of toxins. Kind of fun but only just tolerable in this heat.

Pearl down the Viet Kong tunnels, looks like she's really enjoying that.

Spent the afternoon drinking boutique beers around a hotel pool (not our hotel) and Pearl and I had manicures at a seedy massage parlour, where happy endings are on offer for those who want them. We just stuck to nail polish, thanks but no thanks.

Then another night train to Saigon, or Ho Chi Minh City as it's is also called depending on who you talk to. Just spent our first day here, it's a big old bustling city, like Hanoi on steroids but not quite so noisy. Crossing the street into oncoming traffic is an adventure all in itself. We arrived at 4am, so at 5am went to the park and joined in aerobics with the locals.

Just deciding now what to do next. Tomorrow we have a day trip to the Mekong Delta, then we are finished with Intrepid and on our own........

Train party, dragon boats and pagodas.

We have made it to Hoi Ann, about 1/2 way down the Vietnam coastline, close to the South China Sea, which is called the Eastern Sea by Vietnamese because who wants to give it to China huh? So small photo essay recording some of our many many activities. It's been quite a party so far, good company, excellent food and just a tad of Vodka.

Train Party, Hanoi to Hue.

9 Hours on a sleeper, but got no sleep what so ever. Khanh, our boss leader brought along Hanoi Vodka, ice and speakers for his iPod and we partied until the French in the cabin next door told us to shut just just a petit por. Yeh right!

A dragon boat ride up the perfume river, which does actually smell nice.

The amazing Thien Mu pagoda in Hue. Complete with holy fans.

Part of our group posing at the Thien Mu gardens.

 A quick stop at a resort for coffee on the way to Hoi Ann.

Cute school kids in Hue. We all want to steal a Vietnamese baby.

Now in Hoi Ann it is the shopping mecca of Vietnam, where you can get your tailor made shoes, dresses, reading glasses etc and we are off to spend some money..... Just had the most amazing lunch ever of king prawns cooked in a coconut chilli soup, served in the coconut shell. Delish-i-mo.

The Hangover Part III

All he needs now is the Mike Tyson tatoo on his face.

Is that a tooth in my baguette?

So Luke is on the bus today travelling back from Ha Long Bay eating a baguette, when he looks down and sees a tooth stuck in his bread and thinks Yuk, then Oh, I think it's mine..... His front tooth crown has broken off making him look like a pirate, or USA hockey player. I think that no one is going to mess with his daughter from now on, he looks very mean. We are hoping we might find a dentist who can do an emergency bit of cement work, but it's May day tomorrow so likely they are all on holiday. Oh well, the joys of travel eh?

We've been out to Ha Long Bay, very beautiful area of the South China Sea but definately way too polluted for swimming. We are so used to clear clean ocean in NZ, you forget how it can be elsewhere. Being a Vietnamese public holiday it was very busy, like Malaga on a bad day. But stunning scenery and good kayaking floating among 250 million year old limestone karsts poking out of the water. Lots of eagles crusing by. We had a boat to ourselves, our guide skipped all the queues and we were out on the water eating delicious seafood lunch within 20mins. Perfect.

Can't post photos yet but have finally figured out how to do this so might be able to later.

Anyway, now is Bia Hoi o'clock and we are about to head out with our group, which is a good bunch of Kiwis, Aussies and one Canadian. Nice people to travel with so we are pretty lucky.

Ma and Pa, thanks for the email.

Hanoi, day 3.

Finally access to a computer! Not that I miss it.

Well it's a bloody long way to Vietnam, 24 hours, 3 flights, 4 plane meals (Ugh) and 24hrs hours later we arrived in Hanoi's old quarter. 4 million people live in this city, the population of NZ. It's a big old bustling place, people packed in and most of them on mopeds. Today's temperature 31degrees and humid. We've spent 3 days in a very nice hotel getting our bearings, and getting over the jet lag. In between sleeps and cool showers have ventured into the frenetic pace of the old quarter, walking around the small streets dodging moped drivers, shopping and snacking on devine Vietnamese food. There is a constant sound of horns which we have gotten used to & many street hawkers (no I do not want a donut, hat, lighter, hammock!).

But Hanoi has a lot to teach us about humility, they are a very tolerant and polite people here. A smile is a very powerful thing and if you are polite back then many things can be achieved and new friendships made easily.

We have visited the Ethnology museum, some impressive temples, markets and lakes. Today we thought we were going to escape to a quiet park and found ourselves in the public zoo, on Sunday and a public holiday. Thousands of families were there and we were definately the ONLY tourists, so that when we sat down to eat icecream we became an exhibit ourselves.

Plenty of delicious food to be had, it's gluten free mecca for Pearl as the staple is rice and nearly everything local based on this so she's pretty happy to be eating spring rolls and dumplings for the first time. Bia Hoi has proven to be another staple, for us anyway, at 30c a glass we can't resist.

Today we've moved onto a much less luxurious 2 star hotel, and are about to meet up with our group, so I'm keeping thís short. Tomorrow we escape the city for Ha Long Bay.

This ancient PC ưon't let me upload photos, the USB port is blocked, so sorry no photos, you'll have to wait for that, but I am taking plenty. Actually I do miss my Mac. Bloody windows.

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