Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
After a month in S.E. Asia dodging many a tuk tuk, car, scooter and feeling like you're in an episode of wacky races, we had not yet witnessed one accident...until now. A scooter and a bike collided as we sat waiting for yet another coach. Most suprising thing though that after giving the scooter driver a clip around the ear and a stern word or two, the elderly lady who had moments earlier been catapulted from her bike, began crawling into the centre of the road during busy early morning traffic to scoop up her spilt rice, now I thought me and Sarah liked our food but come on!!
After a long sleepless 24hours we finally arrived in Hanoi but didn't exactly get off to the best of starts or receive what one may consider a warm welcome. It seems all taxi drivers in Vietnam want to rip you off and ours was no exception. Biggest piece of advice I could give is never get into a taxi without agreeing the price first!! Despite the taxis being metered the drivers demand at least double the fare and if like us your luggage is locked in the boot of the car, you will have no choice but to pay...!!
Drama over we headed to Hanoi Backpackers situated in the old quarter of the city. The hostel was remmenistant of the Spicys but with only a short time in Hanoi we were keen to explore the city (after the most welcomed bacon and egg sarnie ever of course!!) Hours later and a walking tour of city completed, much of which looked the same, we returned to the hostel for a well deserved early night ahead of our early morning start and day trip to Halong Bay.
Our hectic itinerary is clearly taking its toll as both myself and Sarah both forget our cameras which is such a shame as Halong Bay is absolutely beautiful, a definate highlight so far. The day began with a cruise around the vast bay, lunch on board the boat followed by an aftertnoon of exploring and kayacking, which we were suprisingly very good at, Go Team Sarah & Jen!! I did however manage to leave my flip flops inside the kayack and in a state of panic send one of guides to search the 20 or so identical looking kayacks lined up alongside the boat!!wooops. The trip ends with a guided tour of some of the largest and oldest caves and caverns hidden amongst the rocky cliffside before crusing back around the Bay at sunset. The scenery really is picturesque.
As our whistlestop tour of Vietnam comes to an end, we recive a phonecall from Sarah's Dad and Sister who have just arrived in Thailand which can mean only one thing...Bangkok Round 2!!
- comments