Week 2: Nha Trang - Saigon

Nha Tang greeted us with a warm smile and blue sky :) We are down south enough now to say goodbye to the rain and its now HOT...

We ran into a shady looking couple at our hotel which happened to be Benny and Katrina Rope (the rendevous was actually pre-arranged) and spent the next 2 days together. We took a boat to an island/fishing village off the coast of Nha Trang Bay where we swam, snorkelled and lazed on a rocky beach, very hard to take! After a hectic day we all thought that a cheap $8 massage would be just the trick to top it off. It was definately an eyeopening experience with the 4 of us jammed into a sauna together, then lined up like sardines in one big room with 4 tiny (but cheeky) Vietnamese girls using their hands, elbows and knees in "traditional fashion". A relaxing massage became rather unnerving with the offer to the boys of a happy ending or "boom boom" as they liked to call it. The offer was bluntly declined and we were out of there!

We arrived in Saigon on Friday via overnight train and went straight to the Cu Chi Tunnels where we went down into the tunnels made by the viet cong during the war, it was fascinating! We took a walking tour of the war remnants museum which was very disturbing and gave a gaphic depiction of life during and after the war.

Today we arranged a last minute day trip to the Mekong Delta which was unfortunately dissapointing. It was a public tour with lots of travel time and a shifty tour guide. We were left with the feeling that it had more to offer than what we were shown.

We met our new tour guide tonight who will take us through Cambodia to Bangkok. Looking forward to a 6 hour bus trip across the border to Phenom Penh tomorrow with an early start.

Week 1 in Vietnam- Hanoi to Hoi An

What a week it's been. We have been unable until now to access our blog to update because the friendly folk at gmail shut us down due to 'suspicious activity'! But all's good now (thanks Andre!)

Hanoi was hectic. There were more motorbikes than you can imagine and absolutely no road rules. It was truly an adventure just to cross the street. The trick is to look one way only and keep a steady pace. The traffic will dodge you as long as you make your intentions clear!
Our 3 days in Hanoi included a cyclo trip around the 'old quarter', an introduction to street eating and an education in being hustled.

We then took a 3hr bus trip to beautiful halong bay and with a seafood lunch and boat cruise around the limestone pillars. We also visited some caves, did a mountain trek on Cat Ba Island and took a hydrofoil to the busy sea port of Haiphong.

After a 13 hr overnight train trip we arrived in Hue where it was raining and didn't stop for the next three days. We took a motorbike tour of the countryside which was the highlight of the trip so far. We are currenty in Hoi An where the shopping and food are amazing. Tiana had a dress tailored for $22.

We're off to Nha Trang on Tuesday where hopefully the weather will be more permitting for some snorkel action. We'll keep you posted!

We're Not In Kansas Anymore Timbo!

And so it begins....

Hi Everyone who is reading this. We are here in Vietnam safe and sound and are getting used to the VERY different sights and sounds(and smells). We've had a good look around Hanoi and got a kind education from a streetwise fruit seller on the finer points of being fleeced! But we're still smiling!
Today we are in Halong Bay and have enjoyed some lovely food and even more spectacular scenery. We head back to Hanoi tomorrow before beginning our journey south on an overnight train to Hue. 13 hours will be very interesting.
Sorry it's brief, but we will update further shortly hopefully with some photos.

T n T