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I woke up a little earlier than planned, so didn't need the alarm. This usually happens when I set the alarm, not sure why. Anyway, a nice shower and hair wash and I felt ready to face the world, well, breakfast anyway.
I went out to the lift to see a very scruffy man already in there. No choice really but to join him!
Breakfast was in a tiny little room off reception. The whole hotel has a lilac theme going on and,whilst a little rough around the edges, everything was fresh and clean, the bedroom was immaculate, as was the bathroom. The little breakfast area was all window seats with pretty cushions and lots of plants. Breakfast was eggs, any which way, ham, mushrooms, toast and jam. Coffee was instant but was fine. Mr Scruffy from the lift declined breakfast at 200 Thai Bahts, which I made to be around £5. Mine was included in the price of £43.
I returned upstairs to pack and then was taken off to the airport. I was able to check in straightaway, maybe because it was Club World.. The plane was actually delayed by about 45 minutes due to fog at Heathrow but that just meant a little longer in the Cathay Pacific Lounge which was fine by me.
Now I'm aboard and enjoying my first glass of champers and all is well. I am so looking forward to seeing my wonderful family. This trip seems to have been ongoing for much longer than two weeks, maybe because I have done so much and everything was a new experience.
My overall lasting impressions of Vietnam?
It is an extremely beautiful country, rich in tradition, full of hard working people who never stop working until the day they die. They are exploited and oppressed by the country's ruling party and are too afraid to speak out against them. As a nation, they are some of the friendliest people anyone could wish to meet. The old lady at the funeral, the old man where Lynette fell in the dyke, the children, the shopkeepers, everyone we met.
The traffic in the cities is crazy, mopeds everywhere, maybe ten abreast with the odd lunatic going the opposite way to everyone else. Everyone is tooting their horn, it is bedlam!! Many of them are grossly overloaded but with your average Toyota saloon priced at US$75000, they have to adapt their transport for their needs.
Nam challenged us to hazard a guess as to how many people could fit on a moped?? He had a photo to prove it. Most of us said five or six. Wrong!! His photo showed two adults, five children and then, suspended on a pole across the back of the moped was a baby in a plastic bucket!!!
Cambodia, also beautiful and friendly, tinged with sadness. Not so developed as Vietnam but getting there. Again, repressed by their governing party and exploited. Their diet somewhat odd, who could find crickets, spiders and silk worms a good substitute for peanuts and crisps? I know, they don't have the money to spend on such luxuries but I still grimace at the thought of them making Red Ant Paste from real chopped red ants for eating with their beef!
There is still much to discover in SE Asia, so I will be back, God /Buddha/Vishnu willing.
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