Arrival on Koh Phangan

We lucked out and found a bungalow, after picking up a bottle of Jagermister. So now we had started getting ready for the exciting celebration of the new year.

Got a place next to cookies bungalow that our friend Andrew recommended to us, who said that he would share his place if we couldn't find anything last minute. Not knowing what to expect from this evening since neither of us have ever been to the famous Full Moon party.We hopped into a tuk-tuk for 100 Baht and we were off to Haad Rinn.

En route to Koh Phangan

We were picked up at 6:30pm (late again) - Got dropped off on the side of the street waited till about 7pm. Hopped on a bus which was NOT a sleeper bus. They showed us movies, this was new but they were bad movies that aren't even worth mentioning. This was the first time I had resorted to taking Valium to catch some shut eye. Since I knew I a full night of partying ahead of me upon our arrival.

At about 11pm, pit stop for dinner. 6:30am time to switch buses to get to the pier where we waited for an hour, funnily enough they showed us the movie 'The Beach' while we waited. It seemed fitting since it was filmed on Koh Phi Phi. 7:30am off to the docks, as we get off our second bus it was raining. Woot. The ferry seated about 150 people 10am we are off.

I still can't believe that it is new years eve, everyone seems to be in a great mood since we are all anticipating the large full moon new years party. Even I am feeling butterflies in my stomach. When are we going to celebrate a new years like this.

Bangkok Thailand Round 3

We arrived at 1:15am through the immigration and off to Koh San Road to get a place to stay sleep and get ready to make our move to Koh Panang for the New Years Full Moon Party.

At 4am we wandered to grab some burger king as anyone already knows I have a soft spot for their burgers. People were still up and about drinking, partying, selling stuff and wandering around aimlessly. Anyone who has come into Bangkok and partied for a little while even a night or two knows very well what I am talking about. Here on Koh San Road doesn’t seem to change it is like time stands still here I don’t know exactly what it means but every time I walk down these streets back to the corner were we went our separate ways I can’t help but stare up at the sky and smile.

It was a huge change from what we were getting use to since departing Vang Vieng in Laos since everything shuts down and ready to count sheep by about 1am.

I know it is strange to say that I am feeling more like I have returned home, since there are so many good memories associated with this crazy city (even though I am only talking about a 5 block radius). This is the place I have come to know as my familiar and is able to act a little more like my crazy self and let the feeling of ‘holiday’ really take over. 

Karrie and I have both done a little bit of homework about our plans in the south I think that we will be staying in Had Rin for a little while before we head back to Bangkok. From Bangkok we are going straight to the island of Koh Samet. It has been 3 years since we have been there and are oh so excited to relive a little of the past and enjoy the blissful sunsets once again. I have decided that this place is a little piece of heaven down on Earth and I have never been so excited to go somewhere that I have been before, again.

Tomorrow we make our way to the south islands to party and whatever else this insane trip throws our way.

We are ready. Bags are packed and soon we will be en route to what has been said one of the craziest ‘raves’ in SE Asia. 

Oh man Whooper Jr.

I will be M.I.A. during this time and will update all about my adventures down south when I return to Bangkok. 

Ha Long Bay, good-bye Vietnam

On our second day in Hanoi (the city between two rivers) we set off in the morning at 8am to get on a three  hour bus to stay a night on a boat tour.

Again, the bus was late and when we arrived at the docks we had to wait an extra hour for the other group of people to arrive. By this point in my trip I have realized that time isn’t relevant anymore. It just doesn’t matter how quickly anyone in Asia does anything. In a business people will wait when you don’t tell them anything. Ie. Their itinerary. There was a point in time when I had wanted more prevalent organizational skills from travel agencies that plan tours and from the tour guides themselves. During these moments while I am waiting for transportation to arrive, I have had the best conversations and met some of the nicest people that I demographically wouldn’t have if we didn’t have a common topic to whine briefly about. Even then it is more like passing chuckles about how disorganized everything is and we all comment, “when are we going to get there?” in the end we all know that they will come and  we will make it there and most likely have a great time. 

We got on the boat and met a very nice couple who are teaching in Korea.  I realized that I stopped mentioning people along the way since we have met so many wonderful people. I would like to mention them all but since you people out there (the readers) don’t know who they are I will just save it for passing conversations in real time. 

After eating a great seafood dinner and taking some scenic photographs we arrive in the caves at Ha Long Bay (the descending dragon). The caves are called the surprise caves since there were dragons that fought off the Chinese that were attacking the Vietnamese people living in the caves. I am not sure what the story was the tour guide wasn’t really clear and I was too busy looking at the ‘corner store’ boat lady.

The scenery out at Ha Long Bay was just the most malevolent panoramic view I have seen in a really long time. This is a place I would totally live on a house boat and not lack inspiration to thought provoking realizations, creativeness and most of all be in disbelief that life isn’t spent in beautiful backdrops more often. 

Dinner was another great seafood meal, at night they sang karaoke and Karrie and I watched some movies in our cabin. In the morning we ate toast not a baguette with eggs, coffee and fruit. I believe that we were suppose to go to Ca Ba islands but I believe that we were suppose to get up at 6am for that and missed our chance, or they changed the itinerary on us and we just didn’t pick up on it soon enough. 

We arrive back at the docks and are stuck waiting again for the bus that I always think ‘will never come’ but does  finally when you have already given up hope that you will never get to your destination .

Back to Hanoi, after one crappy shower and two (yes, I said two) bowls of Pho later we are off to the airport in Hanoi.

Our Boat!

I'm on a boat!

The finger.

In the lair.

The corner store boat lady.

It is a big change to be at an airport for once, since I haven’t been to one since Bangkok. It is exciting to get on an air plane when you aren’t going home. Thailand here we come!!!

Hanoi, the last of Vietnam

This is the last of our trip in Vietnam, after a long 13 hour bus from Hue we finally arrived.

During this trip I learned that Vietnamese people have no volume control on their voice. They literally yell right in your face. I had a lady steal my blanket when I went to the bathroom, I didn't even have time to say no. Mind you if I did tell her not to take it she wouldn't have understood me. To rectify this problem I took the blanket from the man sleeping next to me since he wasn't using his.

When we got off the bus it was cold, oh so cold. Why is it so cold??? Okay so I have looked up the weather in Hanoi it is only 15C I still think it is cold. Karrie has put on her winter jacket...and the room that we are staying in seems to be colder than it is outside. At least I get to wear my awesome full length jacket, the wind makes me look really bad ass. :)

We have booked a cruise for tomorrow 2 days and 1 night on a boat (food included) we will travel along Halong Bay and the Cat Ba islands. I figure it is going to be freezing on the water but maybe they will feed us some drinks to keep us warm. When we arrive back on the 28th in Hanoi we have to catch our airport bus at 8pm and BAM-(with enough extra fuel to fly away again or crash and burn) we will be in Bangkok, Thailand once again.

I was emptying out my purse I had a bunch of business cards for hotels. I have added them to my blog based on the fact that I would recommend it to a friend after staying there for a night or two. Hanoi guesthouse is where we are at right now, the room is alright $10US which seems to be the going rate except for in Saigon where it does cost more for accommodations. Here is the website for this guest house www.asiarooms.com 

Christmas was spent at a cafe eating food that was alright I guess, Karrie and I watched 'Overnight delivery' a Paul Rudd rom com while we caught up on internet stuff and wishing everyone a Merry Christmas.

I am going to eat me a whooper when I arrive on Koh San Rd.

Arrival in Hue

We woke up at 6am this morning to get on the bus at 7:30am, they didn't come to pick us up at the hotel so we had to get chauffeured to the travel agency that the bus company is in cahoots with. After waiting awhile 7:30am came and gone the travel agency told Karrie and I that we couldn't use the bathroom...WTF? I knew that they had one but later some people that were also waiting there went to use it and then I went it they me it was broken.

Finally, 9am the bus arrives to pick us up. It has become the norm for the buses to be late picking us up.

Upon our arrival I got to see some country scenes rice patties, construction, a tractor stuck in mud, a temple on the side of a mountain.

So we are now in our hotel that I am sure is run by a Japanese owner (since everything in the lobby is in Japanese) for Christmas Eve and we leave for Hanoi tomorrow night on Christmas day. Our hotel room has this old ghetto computer for us to use and a bath tub again but this time with a shower curtain that is too short so it doesn't serve its function.

The smallest cup of Vietnamese ice coffee you can find, but man is it worth a dollar.

Our Christmas Eve dinner.

Out to find some food...we stopped for Indian food and some wine. It was a nice dinner maybe we will watch some 80's movies tonight until Santa shows up. Wait is Vietnam one of his many stops?

Happy holidays from the Karrie and Jen in Vietnam!!!!

P.S. We stayed at a place that had a computer in the room, yes it was old. The room had a balcony and what not clean marble floors for $10US for one big bed. There are three of them check out the website for details www.binhduonghotel.com They will gladly set you up on a tour!

Shopping in Hoi An

Okay so here is the truth about Hoi An, we didn't do anything but get a bunch of custom made clothes and footwear. We stayed at a place called Sunflower hotel with a pool and the comfiest blankets we have had the chance to use since we started this trip. I instantly said yes to the hotel when I had saw the bath tub but sadly the hot water heater runs out of water before the bath tub even fills up half way.

On the street our hotel was located, it was filled with tailors (I mean like every other store) that could make pretty much anything we wanted and a little ways down the same street were people who made footwear! When we started shopping we couldn't stop, we had unleashed the beast...now my bag is over encumbered. Eek!

Karrie and I bought: a full length jacket, 2 pairs of boots, 2 pairs of sandles, 4 skirts, a pin stripe blazer, a shirt, 2 dresses and got our hair done. Talk about going all out, so since we were lost in the world of shopping, making clothes, getting alterations, making our own designs and day dreaming about our next piece we were going to get made....the time in Hoi An just disappeared. We didn't make it to the beach or the market and now we are making our move to Hue on Christmas Eve.

Custom made leather boots...

Karrie and her awesome business attire.

My new dress!

<3 JACKET<3

At least we look Bad Ass.

P.S. This place did have the bathtub that didn't fill up all the way but the rooms were clean, the pool was nice, wifi and super duper comfy blankets! Rooms were only $10US for two beds. Address: 397 Cua Dai Street Hoi An Ancient Town- Quang Nam Vietnam TEL: 84 510 3 939 838 Email: sunflowerhoian@gmail.com

I am homesick?

Somewhere on this vast place we call Earth there is a small city named Edmonton, 

it resides in North America in a queer multicultural place called Canada.

The locals there manage the four seasons and extreme elongated cold winters with festivals of all ethnicity  drinking on patios, at house parties and bars.

I haven't been there in what feels like eons ago,

I wonder sometimes if I will remember those acquainted faces.

Or better yet if they will remember mine.

I miss customer service, food standards, good directions and the ability to communicate with others in English.

I miss all the dance floors, the nearest Wee Book Inn, riding at top speed on my BMX and stopping to read a book at a park bench in the summer.

I miss calling up a friend at random from my phone book, buying tickets for a show and getting geared up in my clothes to head out for a night of spontaneous events.

I miss those strolls in the river valley, brisk meanders to work in the morning and day dreaming in the at Tim Horton's listening to my music really loud.

I miss bumping into friendly faces when I run my errands around town, reading the free local paper whilst waiting at the bus stop and knowing how to get to my next destination via public transport.

I so dearly miss my art supplies, my wardrobe, my bed....and a place semi permanent enough to set it all up.

I yearn to be reunited with my friends and family no matter where they are.

Tatsuya Ishida can share some humor I could not convey.

I miss you all, until I see you again, back to that corner where we went our separate ways.

Leaving Nha Trang

We our two days here were sure eventful, we are heading out to Hoi An tonight at 7pm and we will arrive in the morning tomorrow. I was just making this post so I could post some odd pictures of geometrical shaped trees and odd looking moulds of stone.

Beach in Nha Trang

Geometrical shaped trees?

Karrie next to a large green triangle.

Stone butt/ boobies....I'll let you decide.

 

Hotel: We stayed at a pretty alright place for $7US had wifi clean bathroom, a balcony and what not called Thanh Duy. Address: 30C Hoang Hoa Tham - Nha Trang Tel:058527878 It is about a 10 minute walk from the beach.

Cheers!

Karrie's Birthday in Nha Trang

So I started this particular morning at 9am, I heading out into the streets of Vietnam to grab a bag full of beverages (Coffee, orange juice, apple juice, Saigon beer, green tea and soya milk) and picked up Oreos, Ritz, bacon, eggs, baguette and french fries for breakfast..

breakfast in bed ,served hot!

Breakfast in Bed

Karrie played some Plants vs. Zombies (An awesome game btw: if you haven't started playing this game this is the time, do it. Do it now.)  then took a nap.

After her short slumber she read her Happy B-day messages on facebook, when she was all done we got all prettied up and out to the beach for a crappy dinner at a real fancy restaurant and some really good girly drinks and cheese cake. (The girly drinks and cheese cake was from a different joint)

Karrie's free drink from the Sailing Club and her birthday Cheese Cake!

So after our drinks with booze and ice cream we decide to drink the last of the Jagermister for some reason I didn't have a cup so I had to use my cereal bowl. That is right kids you heard it here first Jenny was drinking Jagermister out of a plastic bowl....next thing I know all the Jagermister was gone!!!

We headed out for more booze. Got a mickey of rum for $2, then picked up sushi....I had a craving. The stand next to us while waited for our sushi was nice enough to give us free cups for our rum...

Our take away sushi was finally ready and off to the room to drink our rum and watch 'The breakfast club' (something about 80's movies that can end a great night)

Since my new found cup was filled with rum. I had no where to put my soya sauce so into the bowl that I use my Jagermister (I did not wash it first, to drunk, sushi looked good, must eat now) ...so my soya sauce kind of tasted like Jager. Yum. <3

The sushi we had made up for the crappy expensive dinner we had earlier in the night...I am not even going to go into detail.

So we listened to awesome music while drinking:

Led Zep

John Lennon

Xavier Rudd

Ill Scarlett

Sublime

Eric Clapton

Rollin' Stones

Van Morrison

Jimmy Hendrix

Tom Petty

Weezer

Blood Hound Gang

Lonely Island

Some Thailand songs: Unknown Bands.

Bob Marley

And many more....

The necklace I got Karrie for her B-day!

Karrie I love you. 

She even got a bunch of presents through out the day, an art book, two pairs of earrings, a Tom and Jerry note book, drinking dice and  a beautiful necklace. <3

Leaving Mui Ne

So the bus was suppose to pick us up from our hotel at 1:30pm it was an hour late. I am not sure why but we have been having a hard time these past couple of days. Not sleeping for me which isn't unusual but Karrie getting sick and getting worst closer we get to her birthday. I have been having terrible luck since I left Saigon with food and haven't had a satisfying meal in 2 days. I knew I should have never steered away from Pho... :/ For some reason the people that were working at hour cabin like guest house were all grumpy and lacked the ability to speak English. The man at the front desk used a series of grunts ans gestures that I didn't understand. Also I still cannot figure out why there was a monkey in a cage.

Its so windy!

Boats!

Mui Ne beach.

Sand dunes in Vietnam, Mui Ne...Karrie thinks its just sand....I disagree, it is sand hills.

Sleeper bus.

Along the way to Nha Trang mostly still in the vicinity of Mui Ne I got a chance to take some pictures of the surrounding area.