Week 22 (Vietnam)

11/16

Too tired for star trek. Slept like a log and woke up at 8.30. Did the media and
now going for beakfast. Think it rains again (can't tell from here (my room that
is)).
Went to the old, non touristic part of town. Good move, since: best ommelet ever
and a hugh mug of vietnamese coffee (30K vn), found some shaving cream (about
time, believe me), shelterd for 2 x rain (and met this lovely Oz couple) in a nice
cafe, long stroll. Sun shines now again, so... beach time. Yeah! Laterz.
Spend a long aftenoon in the waves and on the beach. Loved it. Did a 4K run after
that. Man! Showered, and now FB check, food and a Saigon green (guess what that
is).
Had the cheapest food (on the market, a nice noodle soup) and the cheapest beer
ever (2L for 25.000 dong (= 1 Euro)). Could not drink it all, so gave away half to
some american backpackers. Tried to watch a star trek episode, but fell asleep.


11/17

Woke up at 7, packed and hopped on the bus to Mui Ne. 6 hour drive. Arrived here
round 14.00. Unpacked, got a lovely little bungalow(ish) room. 2 hours of beach,
attempt to run, but.. i had no dry socks, so... think it's gonna be a saigon green
instead. Laterz...

Took me 2 hours walk to see all of the "new" Mui Ne. Place has changed
dramatically. Even more touristic then it already was. Could not find Joe's Bar
(where i played music 5 years ago). It seemed they had gone bankrupt. So sad,
since it was such a cosy place. There was a (new to me) Joe's Cafe though. Also
with live music. Nice place, but modern and touristic.
The walk ended up with a saigon green in a small friendly bar, next door, where im
going to have breakfast now (= 11/18)


11/18

Woke up at 8, did the media, getting breakfast now.
Did breakfast and a very nice coffee in the little fishers restaurants along the
seashore. Did my laundry, and went off for a long afternoon at the beach. I got
quit a nice tan now, i tell you.
Had a great diner at the Lam Tong family restaurant (where i met Paul and Hayley 5 years
ago). Place is still the same. Good seafood, and so close to the shore, that
sometimes you get wet, due to the breaking waves. Sipped a last saigon green next
door and tried to see a star trek episode, but it was so boring that i fell
asleep.


11/19

Woke up at 7.30, packed (a dog had stolen 1 slipper, but we found it back) and at
8 we were on the bus to Saigon (Ho Chi Min city). Arrived here at 14.00h. Nice
hotel, where i could immediately book a ticket for the 26th to BKK. Yes, that
means i stay here, leave the group and will not join them to Cambodia. (They will
visit Phnom Phen and Anchor Wat, which i did 5 years ago, so i prefer to explore
Saigon a bit more extensively). Well, here we are. Im about to do a good stroll,
laterz.

Strolls were fantastic. A feast of recognition. Glad i stay here for a week.
Already got options for other rooms as well. Strolled, ran (in the same park as 5
years ago; and man, talking about sweat.. leaking!) and ate late. Sipped a few
greens, chatted long, slept at 12 or so.


11/20

Woke up at 8... breakfasted.. found the war museum... strolled. Going to eat a
burger now. Laterz.

Sported the whole afternoon.... need to work on my condition. Also arranged
another hotel and some documents for leaving Vietnam and Thailand. Quit a bit of
work i must say. I had to disappoint the lady of the sister hotel, since that was
too far away. Felt a bit sorry for her, coz she was a very nice person.

When all was done I did a run in the park again. Now, FB check and food. Laterz.

Nights in Saigon, well always memorable... u stroll from one bar to another and so
i did. Ending up with Dennis in the bar accross the street. And when i end the
evening, drinking with Dennis... l'histoire se repet... Ouch... my head.


11/21

Rose at 8, to say goodbye to the rest of the group. I stay here for 5 more days,
as the rest will do Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. I did that 5 years ago extensively,
so, better explore Saigon a bit more. A few days on my own appeals to me as well.

So, at 11.00 i moved into a new hostel (same place where i was 5 years ago),
installed myself.
At 13.00 i strolled towards the harbor, went to the <name?>building (huge Mall
actually, very, very western). Ate a baquette, explored the local market and went
back. Slept for an hour or so.

The night... well, met some Ozzies, and they started drinking... and me... Anyway,
it was late when i came back (i think.. oopsy daisy).


11/22


Woke up at 8.30, did the media, had one of these fantastic Vietnamese coffees,
breakfasted and sported all afternoon. Need to, to get my system clean.
Now a run in the park.

Showered, shaved. Then i went out again, and drank some, again, it was late, again. But had a nice time again. So why bother?

Week 21 (Lao & Vietnam)

11/9

Woke up at 6.15, breakfasted and visited the Kong Lo caves together with Dennis. (Jean chickened out (which was actually a sensible thing to do, since it was a hard walk every now and then (and she's still recovering from a broken shoulder, so...))). The Kong Lo caves make you feel like being on another planet.

It was a combined boat trip and short parts to walk. Dennis and I shared a beer at 9 in the morning (record) (thinking that the trip had ended, but it turned out we were only half way...). Anyway, back at 10.30 or so and then a long truck drive ahead of us.
The ride to Savanakhet was a long one, but we arrived sound and safe. At the edge of town however, which is a bit of a let down, since i would have loved to have diner again at the floating restaurant on the Mekong river, just like i had 5 years ago. In stead, bought a few snacks, found a place where they showed premier league football, and had a cold beer Lao. Still a fine evening. Slept good (as always actually).


11/10

Woke up at 7.15. Packed in 10 minutes (i travel light, especially since we will be using public transport for the next 2 weeks (truck is not allowed to enter Vietnam and Cambodia)). Bought myself 4 great sandwiches and at 8.00 the truck brought us to the bus station (100 meters down the road, so walking would have been faster, but... some decisions, well ... have discussed that before).

The bus to Hue (on the Vietnamese coast) left at 9.00. I was sitting next to a very nice Vietnamese lady (with her little son), that spoiled me with fruits and sweets. Border crossing only took an hour (despite the chaos (partly caused by ourselves (some of us panic easily))), so we arrived in Hue at 6.45 or so. A taxi to the hostel (great hostel, clean and very cosy, but... lots of (young) tourists, so it's noisy. Never mind.
I thought i had never been in Hue, but.... one big trip down memory lane. I was here in 2010... nice to see it again though. Sipped a beer and slept at 11.00.



11/11

Woke up (in my 6 persons dorm room) at 7.30. Did a bit of laundry (i carey only my small day pack with me, so... have to do laundry every 2 or 3 days), breakfasted and did a long blog update. Need to publish week 20 too. Do that this afternoon.
Now for a stroll. Laterz...

The stroll was one big trip through memory lane... ;-) . Loved it though.

Updated my blog. Another long stroll to the citadel. Met Marianne there. Had a noodle soup, and stroleed back. Did a nap. Showered, 3rd stroll. Came back in the hostel and joined  the "Hanging Monkeys" for the pub quiz, that was won by us. Obviously. We celebrtaed. Heavily. As if we did not have to go to Hoi An the next day.. Hihi.

We ended up in a "night club" (ordinary disco). I was even biked to there by Melissa.

Came home around ... 2 (-ish ... I think ...). Slept well, although ... "comatized" is a better way to express that kind of sleep.


11/12

Got up at 7.15, Breakfasted, packed (not hungover (is that a good or a bad sign?)), and went to the sleeperbus (you get a kind of bed in stead of a normal chair) that took us to Hoi An.
Arrived here round 12.30. Checked the media and went for a long stroll to the beach. 100 meters before i got there it started to poor. Like really heavily. (We have had a  lot of rain over the past 2 weeks, while the mousson season stops normally end of August... climate change? Lots of locals think so.)
Found shelter in a nice little restaurant. Chatted with two very nice australian (Perth) tourists, had a fish soup (fresh!), and continued after the rain. Back at the hotel (very nice one; share with Carlos) at 6.30. Facebooked, ate, beered and updated blog. Laterz.


11/13

Woke up at 8.00, Spend way too much time on the internet (good wifi connection). Breakfasted terrificly near the old part of town. Did a good stroll...

Slept again (despite a 9 hour sleep last night), another stroll (coffees at restaurants near the river, waiting for the pooring rain, that didn't come, despite the pitch dark clouds), showered, ate, played pool with Carlos who won with luck: 2-1.
Downloaded some Alexei Sayle. Going to watch that now. Good night.

Watched till 2 AM ....


11/14

Woke up at 8.00, still a bit sleepy, but unable to sleep.
Going to get some breakfast i think. Laterz...

Same breakfast as yesterday, Strolled, coffeed, rented a bicycle, long stroll along the beach,another coffee at the market in the ancient part of town, picked up laundry, early diner, shopping, coz... we went on the nightbus to Nha Trang.
The nightbus was quit an experience. Busdrivers shouting at us to change places, even hitting people. Well, you can guess that it did not feel good. And then.. far too many people on one bus, so people slept in the aisles, to go short: big annoyment. Had a small meal at midnight and when we came back our blankets had been stolen. More annoyment and angry reactions to the three busdrivers.
Arrived here at last at 7 in the morning.


11/15

At the Blue Star Hotel. Nice place. Share room with Carlos again. He had a tough time with the driver, since he refused to change places. He stayed calm, which earned my respect. And so...
Carlos and I did a stroll along the beach and had one of these delicious vietnamese coffees. back in the hotel now, where the wifi refuses to come on. Laterz... beach time now!!! Coz, the rain has stopped and the sun has come through (dutchism?).

Took us more than 4 months to get to a beach, but ... man .. was that good. Huge waves, nice beach beds, sun, sudoku book... a lazy tourist was born. But ... rain came at 16.00 (or it looked like it), so... did a 5KM run (yes that's warm i can tell you). Showered, did the media, long strolls for food. Tired to the bone now. Start trek, but first see what my FB friends have done today. Laterz.

Week 20 (Lao)

11/2

Woke up at 7.15, went to the bakery for a coffee and a croissant (big yummy), on the truck now to Nuang Khiou (?). Laterz.

A long and bumpy drive again for change. Like in the good old days (3 weeks ago). Anyway, arrived here at 6 PM, crappy hotel, but who cares, checked the social media and the news, strolled and had a great noodle soup. Tomorrow a boat trip tp LPG (Luang something something). Now star trek.
Luang Prabang it's called.


11/3

Woke up at 7.30. Put my stuff on the truck, breakfasted (with weird coffee), and went to the office for the start of the boat trip. First part to the dam. Nice trip, but we had some rain, like... POORING! We had to close the "curtains". ..which did make the trip special.

On a tuk tuk to pass the dam (yes, that's a 10 minutes drive), 2nd boat. Sitting a little less comfortable in the back of the boat, but still loved it. Great scenery.

Visited the Buddha statues in the Tham Ting cave at Pak Ou. Strange place. Impressive though.

Arrived here in Luang Prabang at 17.00. Tuk tuk to the Hostel. I love it here (cosy backpackers place), but not good enough for the tourists among us, so they upgraded to a fancy hotel. Well, up to them. Everybody makes his own choice (and pays for it).

Spend the evening updating, checking mail, FB, sipping beers, played a little guitar (They have an (bit crappy) classical guitar here). Went to bed to see a star trek episode. Slept well, but woke up a bit itchy... bedbugs? Hmmm.


11/4

Woke up at 8. A bit itchy as said. Updating blog now. Laterz.

Make long strolls to the markets and along the river. Great places. Fresh orange juice, tuna sandwiches and so on. The good wifi allowed me to update my blog in the afternoon. In the evening another stroll, a massage (which was not good, though it did loosen my shoulders up), another visit to the night market and a last beer here in the hostel. Slept good (took another bed, so no itchyness).


11/5

Woke up at 7. Checked mail. Went to the waterfalls with James and Mellisa. Good fun, long drive though, but we got it cheap. Really cheap.

Swam some serious lanes and sipped a big Lao beer over sunset at the Mekong river.
Updated blog (week 19 is on line), went for another stroll and had a great fried noodles at my favorite (after two days i have a favorite, yes) restaurant.
Went back to the hostel to share the last hours of the day with some very nice German travelers, making music. Went to bed at midnight.


11/6

Woke up at 7, packed, bought breakfast at the market. On the truck now (after 4 days), on the road to Vang Vieng (my 2nd visit there). Laterz...
The road was long, muddy and rainy. Arrived here at 6.15. Recognize the place from 4 years ago. Got a room of my own! Getting some food now.

Found a nice place for food and Ajax-Barcelona. Enjoyed! Moments the traveler in me is happy. Full filled life. Went back at 11, slept like a log for almost 10 hours. Oh yeah!


11/7

We were supposed to clean the truck, but ... it was raining again. Heavily. So no truck cleaning. Oohh, so sad. (Hihi.)
In stead drank coffee (nescafe that is), breakfasted, long strolls (down memory lane actually; been here 4 years ago remember), drank softdrinks at a french guys bar, Internetted in a cafe (wifi is lousy here), napped (after 10 hours sleep? Errr... yes). Went for a beer, showered and about to get some food. Feel like a nice chicken noodle soup. Or shall I do a steak? Ok, we'll see. Laterz.

Oh yeah, there an ants nest in my .. laptop! Believe it or not. Every 5 minutes a little ant crawls out of the keyboard (and i brutally kill it; total genocide inside my laptop).

Well it turned out to be noodle soup after all (a good one, i must say), 999 (sooryu7.. result of es ant killing) over some family guy episodes (every bar here plays episodes of famous american tv series (mostly "friends", which i hate ... so far fetched!) and a beer.
Shopping for the long day on the truck tomorrwaaaaawww.;p (those ants make a complete mess) ow. Last beer with the british, short visit to the bar accros the street (far too nice, so better leave early) and now... finally ... yes ... a star trek episode.
Laterz... and good night (with loud bar music in the background).


11/8

Slept like a log, woke up at 6.15, little breakfast, packed and on the truck to the Kong Lo caves. Long drive ahead of us and since it has been raining so hard, a muddy road as well. Laterz...
Long drive, but arrived fairly in time (well done Adam) near the caves. A nice and cosy hotel and a dito restaurant made the evening and night a good one. They even did my laundry overnight (and lost a T-shirt of mine). Slept well.

Week 19 (Burma and Thailand)

10/26

Woke up at 7, breakfast at the hotel, packed, waiting for Moyo (Burmese tourguide) to return with the applicable documents to leave the province. Laterz.

Not too long a drive. Arrived in a great hotel (Golden Sunrise Hotel) in Kinpun.
We're supposed to see a big rock here, but... for 10 US$. I think not. Just did a stroll through the small village. Had (again) the most fantastic food, just at a small market (for 50 cents; will eat there again tonight for sure).
It's humid and hot though, so... relax! Laterz.

17.00 bought some cheap supermarket stuff (no money left for expensive hotel food (well, expensive.. compared to Holland...)), showered, tried the wifi (nope), sipping a Singha (Thai beer) on the veranda of our hotel room now.

19.00 Went back to the market for one of those great meals. Strolled through the village, even found a little carnival. When i entered the carnival place i was suddenly surrounded by 6 young girls and they were all asking for "paka", whatever that means...
On the veranda again now with a second Singha. Laterz...

Listened to music until midnight, slept like a log.


10/27

Rose at 7, hotel breakfast, updating blog, but first shower. Laterz. Short drive to the hotel. Brand new hotel. And very comfortable. Even good wifi, so... updating now. Outside it's a comfortable 48 degrees, so... airco rulez!

Did two strolls through the village here (Hpa An). Used my last Kyat's ending up in sipping a beer next door (don't have enough money left for the (relatively) expensive hotel beers). Updated blog, replied to all emails, watched premier legue football. All in my airco-ed room. Went to sleep at 10.30 or so and slept really well.

Burma really stole my heart (is that a dutchism?). I love this country. Incredibly friendly people, food tastes like beyond comprehension (can't compare with any other food, but really tasty). Some strange habbits: people paint their faces white (as a kind of sunblock) and you are always helped. Always. Like it's the natural thing to do. And isn't it? Something to learn from them i guess.

10/28

Rose at 6, best breakfast ever (hotel is expensive, but fantastic), on the road to the Thai border now. Laterz....

Did some stops on thew way (checking tyres, lunch). Shaz and I also saw the very rare Thai green buffalo...

Arrived at the border around 3 PM. Took an hour to cross and drove into Thailand around 5. Feels a bit like coming home, since this is my 6th or 7th time i arrive here. Hotel (in Tak) is fantastic again. Shared a room with Greg and had a nice evening, with good wifi over a Chang beer (thanks Greg). Slept good as was to be expected.


10/29

Rose at 7, good breakfast and on our way to Chiang Mai now. 300 KM, but (hopefully) good roads. Laterz...

It were good roads. We arrived in Chiang Mai at 2 PM. Great hotel. I recognized so much of the city (been here 4 years ago). Did a long stroll in the afternoon, starting with a great coffee, ending up at the night bazar. Wanted to go for another long stroll in the evening and i did, but... it started to poor and poor and poor, like unbelievable. So, found shelter on a big foodmarket in the old part of town, where i ate too (in stead of a big whopper at Burger King). Then wandered around, got lost, found this place where they were Thai kick boxing. Unbelievable painfull sport. Made the classic mistake to hang around, do a few drinks, shared some with Som, ending up having to pay too much. Did a few more games of pool, and finally went to bed late (i think). Expensive, but memorable night. Wish i had pics. Thanks for a fun time Som.


10/30

Woke up, hung over... like... too much!, at 8. Breakfast, update blog, ... Going for a coffee now. At 11 the man with the hammer came. Still feeling lousy. No beer for me today. Although Will will leave us tomorrow, so.. I'm invited in the Red Lion (English Pub). We'll see.

Still hung over, so ... 9 PM: to bed. Yeah.


10/31

Slept good, breakfasted good, on the way to Lao now. There's only 14 of us left. The rest is doing smal trips on their own (temporarily). Will and Canadian Alli left us. Will see them again, either in London, Canada or Meppel.

The drive to the border seemed ok, Nice lunch stop, and passport control was going smooth ... we thought. Then... Brenda and Adam were taken apart for interrogation. Pasports taken from them, threatened to be fined up to 200.000 million kips (more than Lao's GBP i think), and so... long wait, scary moments, but.. finally we came through (no fines, but... we still have to have insurance).
The hotel was crappy, coz the hotel we booked in advance was not ready. That is: still beng constructed! Can you believe that? So, found this dump here in Houyx Xay. Well i don't mind that so much (i've been in worse accomodations), but the tourists among us... eeeewww, a cockroach. We did some dinner in a restaurant (where the frogs and eels (alive in a fishtank) could be prepared for you) and a Lao beer, which did not taste as good as i remember from my last visit here. Good wifi in our crappy hotel though, so.. did some updating.


11/1

Woke up at 8 or so. Chatted with Lynn, Cornetto as breakfast, packed and on the road again. First try to get some insurance, then a 4 hours drive to ...Luang Namta. Laterz...

Arrived in Luang Namta around 1.30 pm. Nice place, good food, cheap, nice hotel. Love it here. Too bad we're leaving tomorrow already, coz there's lots of things to do here. Just had a tuna sandwich for 1,5 euro. It was half a meter long and the bread was still warm.... drewl!

Laterz.

Checked mail, (good wifi).

Took along stroll through the village at the end of the afternoon, ending up at the nightmarket, where i had a beer and ate half a duck. Chatted with two american backpackers and went for a shower.
Went for a second visit to the nightmarket (yes i like the place; does it show?), chatted with Marian, Adam and two very nice Slovenian travelers. Felt sorry we had to say goodbye. Facebooked in the hotel till midnight.