Hanoi --> Halong Bay --> Sappa (Vietnam)
Back March 4th!
Tuesday, 21 February 2012
Thursday, 16 February 2012
Ho Chi Minh City and Mui Ne, Vietnam
My favourite part about traveling south-east Asia so far is that each place I have been to has been so incredibly different from the others. Bintan island was a great place to get to know my fellow exchange groups on beautiful beaches with locals, Tioman was secluded and adventurous, Hong Kong was a city surrounded by islands, and Vietnam, well, you're about to find out just how amazing it was.
Abby, Sophie, Herrta and I set off to Vietnam Thursday afternoon. It was a short 2 hour flight but nonetheless we had a great time. I fell asleep during take off and I think that's a tell tale sign I'm getting used to this whole traveling thing, a month ago I would've never fallen asleep for take off. I didn't wake up until I got nudged from Abby sitting beside me. At first I ignored it wanting to sleep as much as I could but when she nudged me again I decided to see what she wanted. I turned to my left and I see Abby holding a beer with a big huge smile. It turns out, the 8 Singaporean gentleman behind us had woken her up from her nap to give her a beer, and I guess it was my turn. After reluctantly accepting a beer, we all cheersed and engaged in conversation. Although creepy at times, it was really funny to talk to the men and they even gave us tips on where to go.
We landed in Ho Chi Minh City, also known as Saigon, at around 6 and had to fill out our paperwork for our visa's. I got a 3 month multiple entry visa for $100. I opted out of the 1 month single entry visa for $60 because I had a feeling I was going to be back. When we got outside the airport our first mission was to find ourselves a cab. They use Vietnamese dong as their currency, which set us up for a confusing weekend. 17,700 Vietnamese dong is the equivalent to $1USD, and although I made strides in making a conversion chart, my math skills were limited on little sleep the entire weekend. We managed to find a cab (a reliable one) as Vietnam is infamous for it's shady cab prices and drivers, and got dropped off in District 1, a backpacker's dream. We got out of the cab and were greeted by tons of backpackers walking the main street, a ton of restauraunts, travel agencies and shops too.
We met a lady on the street asking if we needed a place to stay and she offered us a deal we couldn't refuse. For $7USD each a night we ended up staying at her hostel for all 3 nights. The room was large, came with 3 double beds, hot water, and a working toilet. We settled into our room, unpacked just a little and then changed clothes to head out for the night, but not without a dance party first.
Herrta, Sophie, Abby
After a couple of beers (and okay, maybe a Margarita) the girls and I decided to pamper ourselves with 4 dollar mani/pedi's. The ladies at the store were great, although the language barrier was large, and we met a really sweet mother and daughter from Seattle. We became instant friends and I even tried to make the mom let the 11 year old daughter come out with us for the night. In hindsight, I think it was a great idea she didn't.
Me on the strip!
Our best friend security guards
I found it really weird at first that there were so many security guards at the restaurants and bars but I soon realized that they had an important purpose: to keep the street sellers away. While I was sitting in the bar people would come up to me and sell sunglasses, books, bracelets, food, you name it. I don't know if I look like an easy target but everyone seemed to flock to me to buy things. I ended up buying a bracelet, fake Raybans, and even a book Catch 22. It seemed like such great deals at first but I did have to go back to the hostel at one point to put everything away. We roamed the streets after Crazy Buffalo and ended up finding cheaper beer. One of the side streets had convenience stores with tables and chairs outside and had the large Saigon beers for 10,000 dong. THAT IS 60 CENTS CANADIAN. We met some great Australians, a Spanish person or two, and ended up enjoying the rest of our night. It was a late night and an early morning, but definitely worth it!!
I love Vietnam!
You know you're budget traveling when ....
Enjoying lunch. Note: The kitesurfing in the back ... the place to do it in vietnam
The Jeep!
The little boy I bought from for $1.
Aladdin, is that you?
I rode down the dunes three times and each time was better than the last. It takes some serious effort to set up a track on the dunes, it wasn't as natural as I thought. The little boys used wet sand from underneath the top layers to make a path to go down. Although it wasn't as smooth as I had hoped, anyone over ten pounds would get stuck quite easily, it was something I'll never forget. The hardest part? Walking back up the dunes. At one point, I got my little friend to help me up haha.
Abby and I excited for the mission!
White sand dunes, Mui Ne, Vietnam
Sophie and Herrta trying to run me over .... thanks girls
Delirious? yes. Thank goodness I brought my bed sheet with me, made the ride warm and comfy.
A trap the Vietnamese used for the American dogs
Vietnamese tunnel hole. So small!
War tank
Before actually entering an actual Cu chi tunnel we got to do the most badass thing ever, shoot an AK47. The AK47 was the main Vietnamese weapon, so for about $10 I got to shoot of 5 bullets. I was nervous at first, but the shooting was easy. My aim was awful but I felt like a different person.
Repping my MIT faculty shirt while shooting guns. Perpetuating the stereotype that we're badass.
MY FACE... oh goodness.
After the shooting we went through an actual Cu Chi tunnel. It was actually quite scary. The tunnels are only about a metre in height and less than a metre wide, not to mention dark. I was filthy after crawling underground for about 50 metres but in awe that soldiers lived in there for hours or days at a time. We headed back to our hostel after the Cu Chi tunnels for another night on the town in HCM!
After the market we all showered and prepared ourselves for a night of 60 cent beers. We met so many cool people on the Saturday night: an Ottawa couple that were 28 but already married for 8 years, 2 Saigon basketball players from NYC, Chileans, and we even managed to find some of our friends from NTU. Saturday night consisted of great memories, but I was sad to leave the next morning.
Guilty of buying more raybans. $1 each how could I say no.
HCM and Mui Ne were absolute amazing places to travel to in southern Vietnam. The weekend consisted of great friends and unforgettable memories. In fact, I loved Vietnam so much that I plan to go back to Northern Vietnam in about a week and a half for the latter part of recess week. If my dad comes to visit me overseas I think I will take him back to see the Cu Chi tunnels, and I'd also like to go back to HCM to see the war remnants museum I never ended up seeing. 1.5 months down, 3.5 more to go!!!!!
#ultimatetourist
Wednesday, 8 February 2012
Monday, 6 February 2012
Hong Kong - 1 Sweater, 3 days
It's Tuesday afternoon here and I just got back from the clinic. I somehow managed to pick up a rash in Hong Kong that is pretty itchy so after waiting for about an hour I managed to walk away with some pills and cream. The doctor said the rash on my forearms, hands, and face is due to the cold weather in Hong Kong which I find hilarious. Going from 30 plus degrees everyday to 14 degrees can apparently take a toll on you! Unfortunately, I wasn't fully prepared for the HK climate change, bringing only one sweater but I'll get to that later.
4 other NTU girls and I took a taxi to the airport at 4 am Friday morning. Our flight took off at 6:30 and we arrived in HK at 10:20. We flew Jetstar and the flight was great, minus being at the back of the plane with little leg room, but at least we all got to sit together. When we arrived in Hong Kong we got stamped, and left the airport to find a taxi that could fit us 5 girls. Luckily, HK only uses 5 person taxi's which worked out well. It took us about 20 minutes to leave the island that the airport is on and arrive at our hostel on Kowloon island. Fun fact: Hong Kong is comprised of just over 260 islands. This was a surprise to me, I didn't expect so much water and mountains to be apparent. We got out of our taxi and made our way through a little shopping centre to get to the elevator that would take us up to our hostel. Shelby, from Western, pre-booked 2 rooms at the Canadian hostel so it was easy to settle in. We checked in and then headed out for some much needed food. First food in HK? SUSHI. The girls and I had the largest sushi pieces we have ever had, some green tea and some other treats and then we decided to go back to the hostel and prepare for the day. After putting on a little mascara and brushing a comb through our hair the reactions from the locals was astounding. Walking through the shopping centre consisted of unneeded cat calls and compliments - I found it funny what a little mascara could do. Although it was an uncomfortable walk to and from the elevator each time we went back to our rooms, I did feel safe at night because so many people were always present.
Stayed at Canadian Hostel ... for $30CAD each/night
Our first adventure of day 1 was to find the Peak Tram. This is the trolly that takes you up to Victoria Peak where you can see the beautiful city of HK. There are both shops and places to eat, one could really spend a full day up there. For less than $10CAD we took the tram up the mountain and arrived at the beautiful peak. I was blown away at just how pretty the city looked. It was not only city but had so much water and mountains around it, I fell in love.
Bottom of the Peak Tram
Waiting to get up to the peak ... A trolly takes you up
On our way up - so steep
The city of HK!
Love on the peak!
Hello Hong Kong! With my friend Shelby
Miss you mom and dad!
Night time skyline .. worth the 1.5 hour wait!
We ended up staying in the viewing patio area for quite some time in order to see the HK skyline at night. What we didn't expect was just how cold it would get. The weather was tolerable during the day with just a sweater, but as soon as night time grew close the temperature got really cold. We were cuddling together to get body heat, and I knew from that moment on I would regret only bringing my one sweater. Sarah joked that I looked like a cartoon character all weekend with the same distinct sweater - I can't think of anything more true haha.
Michelle, Sarah, Tanya, Myself, Shelby .. the 5 of us on the trip
Vietnamese Pho Bo Soup
After sightseeing at the view point we went to a Vietnamese restaurant nearby. I'd never had this type of food before and I definitely liked it. I have Pho Bo which is noodles, and raw steak in hot broth. The steak cooks in the broth because it's so hot, definitely a must have. Following dinner we waited a painful hour out in the cold in order to catch the tram down. Then, we headed for our next stop: Temple street. Let me just tell you, the markets in HK were amazing. Markets included so many things including but not limited to:Jewelry, handbags, ornaments, ties, electronics, clothes, food, and even the tackiest lingerie known to man. I would show you pictures but there were strict no photo signs all through the markets. After a couple hours of shopping on Friday night the girls and I walked away with bags of things. My favourite purchases were some bracelets and some Marc Jacobs bags. I think Marc Jacobs was the theme of the trip. We were debating whether to go out to see HK nightlife but we were all too tired from a day or traveling, shopping and sightseeing. We wanted to wake up early for Day 2 - Cheung Chau and Mongkok markets.
We arrived at the ferry terminal at around 11 am Saturday. We took the MTR (HK's subways) which are so efficient and useful. Toronto really has something to learn from all these efficient and modern subways I've been taking. A lady we met on Friday told us to venture to Cheung Chau island, a well known fishing market. It took the ferry about 40 minutes to get there and it was well worth it.
Day 2 - Ferry to Cheung Chau
Ferry terminal on HK island
On Cheung Chau we walked around and enjoyed some amazing food. The food included freshly made dim sum and grilled vegetables and meat. For so cheap we ate so much and it was definitely a favourite of meals so far in Asia. We spent about two hours on Cheung Chau also doing a little shopping. I loved the amazing view of all the boats and the mountains.
Arrived at Cheung Chau
Grilled veggies ... 3 skewers for $1.30 CAD
Freshly made dim sum
Saturday night we enjoyed the Mongkok market. We also went to a jade market where I bought some sculptures of Buddha and back to Temple street for a fortune teller where Tanya and Shelby got their fortune told. The fortune teller only spoke Mandarain so these Hong Kong ladies were kind enough to translate the fortunes to us. On the walk back to our hostel I found Pitt Street and enjoyed the laugh!
Found my street!
Hong Kong ladies that helped us translate the fortune teller
Shopping = success
Sadly, for every trip there has to be a last day and Sunday was the day for this trip. I was really sad to go because I fell in love with HK but I plan to come back again sometime, whether it be on this trip or later in life. Day 3 started off with a walk of Kowloon's waterfront. It was very pretty and also fun to walk around because they still had some lunar new year decorations up. We walked along the waterfront, passed an olympic torch from Beijing and walked through the avenue of stars. The top name on my list? JACKIE CHAN. We ended up finding his star and taking some really funny pictures. Bruce Lee's star was also there. Unfortunately, my camera died Sunday morning so these pictures are from the girls cameras. Reminder when traveling: always bring your camera charger and charge it at night.
Day 3 - Heritage centre near Kowloon harbourfront
Jackie Chan's star!
With Jackie Chan haha Doing my best Bruce Lee
After checking out of our hostel we made our way to Lantau island to see the big buddha and to walk wisdom path. We took a 40 minute bus ride up (the cable car was not running) up to the village where you could get to all these places. We climbed all the way up the never ending stairs to see buddha and it was amazing. Although it seemed small when I saw him on top of the mountain on the drive up, in person Buddha was huge!
Spotted: Big Buddha after the 40 minute bus ride up!
At the top of Lantau island Headed up to see Big Buddha
Made it to the top of big buddha
We didn't have too much time on top of buddha because we also wanted to go to wisdom path. By the time we walked to wisdom path and walked back past buddha we saw the gates to the stairs closed. Thank goodness we did buddha earlier, it closed at 5:30, something we didn't think of. SO thankful it didn't effect us because being at the top of buddha was the highlight of my trip. A 15 minute walk from buddha took us to wisdom path. A bunch of monuments on top of a mountain. The view was unlike anything I had ever seen before. I felt like I was in a dream, or on a Survivor reward.
Wisdom path
We took a bus from Lantau island to the airport and arrived in Singapore at 1:30am. Hong Kong is such an amazing fusion of city and forest, it was such a pleasant surprise. Off to Vietnam on Thursday. Is my life real? XOXOX
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