Rockin' the Delta

That was the name of pirated 60's rock compilation CD I saw for sale in Saigon. The cover featured a couple of Hueys ready to unload troops onto the beach. Man, enterprise knows no shame eh? Anyways, just writing to let you all know I got new pics up. And for those that think some of my entries have been a bit morbid, it should end after I leave Phnom Penh. But for now, enjoy the Killing Fields! Also, check out the Mekong Delta folder too. Snakes! Me!

safe and sound

Just writing to let you know I'm far from the ocean and far from the tsunami/earthquake that hit South Asia. I spent three days in the Mekong Delta. It's kind of eery, I can't seem to look at rows of those beautiful palm trees without picturing a curtain of napalm going off behind them. Thanks, Oliver Stone. Probably doesn't help that I've been listening to the Doors for most of the trip through there.

Anyways, it's my second day in Phnom Penh today, visited the Killing Fields, pix will be up soon. If I don't sound too enthused, it might be from the gang of beggar children that latch onto you at every site you come across. Will be staying here for another day, then heading to the Cambodian coast, spending New Year's there, and then checking into Angkor Wat. Hope all of you have a Happy New Year.

still in Saigon...

Hahaha, yeah, my whole trip has been about getting the chance to write those words. Haven't gotten myself wasted in the hotel room only to punch the mirror and bleed on the sheets yet. If you've seen Apocalypse Now, you know the reference.

The last few days of this trip has kind of been like "Fear Factor Lite: Vietnam". First, there were the three suspension bridges. As most of you know, I can't swim worth shit, and those things were basically balancing acts. You had to keep your foot in the middle, directly above the middle cable. Only three of us could fit on at a time, and some of those planks were looking mighty worn. Then we went to the Cu Chi tunnels and partly crawled, mostly squatted our way through 120 meters of tunnel. Did I mention there were bats in the tunnel? Fortunately, it was too dark to see them. You were lucky as long as long as their wings didn't flutter in your face. Now today, I rented a bike and made my way around Saigon (I know it's Ho Chi Minh City, but everyone still calls it Saigon here). That was fun. It's kind of like driving stoned. You're so paranoid that it you're instantly sober and paying attention like your life depended on it. Cuz it does. Will be heading out again after I take a shower. If you don't hear from me again...Just kidding, I'll be sticking around this neck of the woods, relatively safe.

All in all, Saigon is a pretty cool place. I was put off before from warnings of previous backpackers, but this place is like a macrocosm of Asia coming to terms with capitalism. Hanoi was old, rickety and very homogenous. Saigon has a pulse like New York or HK. Of course, I haven't had any encounters with thieves of beggar children with sticky fingers either, so this rave might all change by the time I leave. Merry Xmas and Vive La Révolution!

more new pics

I'm in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) now, been here a day. Went to the Viet Cong tunnels they redid for tourists in Cu Chi, a couple hours out of town today. Man those tunnels are small. No wonder they won the war. Got to shoot 10 rounds out of an AK-47 too! WOO HOO!

check the new pics and updated Hoi An folder

new pics

In the mountain town of Dalat. Actually it's kind of like the Niagara Falls of Vietnam. Gonna have some interesting pics of this place up in a week or two, but for now you'll have to settle for the new ones of Hue and Hoi An. Also added some to the end of my Hanoi folder.

almost forgot...

I'm sure you all got the email, but just so you can link it from here:

photos.yahoo.com/yippee_ka_yay

cough cough

Been chilling out in the town of Hoi An in central Vietnam. Smallest town I've been in and I think they have more traffic lights than I ever saw in Hanoi (4). Things are good in general, apart from what I think is a small case of the cold (coughing, phlegm, you get the idea). Rented a scooter and drove a few kms out of town to the beach. That beach must have stretched for miles. I'd post a pic, but I know how boring beach pics can be. Anyways, leaving tonight for a 20 hour bus trip to the mountain town of Dalat. I'll let you know how my sanity holds up. I'm considering going to the pharmacy and miming 'sleeping pills'. There. That should amuse you all for a bit.

man this country is full of dust

Hue is a lot nicer than Hanoi, but the dust and pollution can be just as bad. I rented a bike today and took a short trip a few kms out of town to a covered bridge out past the rice paddies. Lonely Planet's directions weren't too trusty and I got myself wandering around the countryside for a bit. Still, I knew the general way back and it was pleasant enough, but getting there wasn't too relaxing. I think I choked back enough dust and smoke to give up smoking for a few weeks. Will be leaving town tomorrow for Hoi An, a much smaller (75,000) town.

Well it looks like I underestimated Yahoo Photos. Apparently there is no limit on the number of pix you can put up. Unfortunately, there is a limit on the bandwidth of the internet cafes here in Vietnam, so be patient folks, they'll be up in a matter of hours. Speaking of internet cafes, there must be one for every five five families here. I just arrived at the town of Hue on the central coast today. Pretty small town, but walking ten minutes down this block, I spotted about a dozen places where you can check email. If you could see the relative poverty of Vietnam in general, you'd be pretty amazed.

A couple of things I've been noticing here: There is a heck of a lot of Korean investment in this country. I'm seeing Korean soaps on the TV, Nong Shim snacks in the corner stores, Daewoo, Hyundais and Kias on the streets, Samusung mobile shops everywhere, soju in some stores, and the theatre I went to last night was also playing a Korean movie that came out a few months ago. Reunification brotherhood or just expanding markets in underdeveloped countries?

Also, not only are there a heck of a lot of European tourists here (half of the people on the boat in Halong Bay were French) I'm seeing a lot of families. People, Vietnam is not a family destination! Maybe my age is making me more socially conservative, but geez people, don't be taking your kids out for a wander on the poor dirty smog choked streets of Hanoi at night! I'm sure it's cheaper than Disneyland, but are they really having a good time? Hell, try Singapore or Malaysia instead! Okay, enough of Mr. Old n Cranky. Pictures coming soon.

ready to leave this place

The 24 hours in Halong Bay was great. Good chance to restore my sanity back. Leaving for Hue, a town on the central coast on an 11pm train tonight. It'll be good to get away from the honking scooters and the constant offers for rides on 'motos' for a while. Now, I've got to figure out a way to kill the next 10 hours, and with no room to go back to either. Maybe I can find a theatre around here somewhere.

hanoi day three

Loud smoky streets teeming with life, scents both foul and pretty damn nice. Stared at by people who instantly recognise me as a foreigner (guess I don't look Vietnamese!) and getting constantly hassled to buy things. Am I in India again? Nope, just someplace pretty close in a lot of ways. After a second day of getting adjusted to life here, and being anxiously exhausted by it - culture shock, I guess - I'm starting to get accustomed to things. Went to visit Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum yesterday, but it was closed; I think his corpse was getting embalmed in Russia, no I'm not joking. I'm going to Halong Bay tomorrow, it'll be a welcome break from the backpacker's ghetto that's the Old Quarter of Hanoi. If you've been to Kao San Road in Bangkok, you know what I mean.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, a previous tenant of my room left a package of suspicious herb wrapped in newspaper in the bedside drawer. Could've helped yesterday, but judging from the lack of any scent, it's probably pretty old stuff. More later folks!

PS. Nope, no news of image hosting yet.

i guess i'm in new territory now

In Vietnam now. But first a couple words about HK. Sure as hell a lot of food there. I did some good hiking and trekkin about town the first few days, but after some blisters hindered any further exercise, I found myself eating way too much. Well, I've um, 'taken care' of the blisters and I'm in a totally new place now. Hanoi is pretty intimidating at first. The whole place is like a giant Mod convention. Never seen so many scooters on the street before, it's like a constant parade. At least they're not as intimidating as cars when you're crossing the road though. Just walk and dodge.

I also unknowingly became the victim of one of the hotel touts. The 'minibus' that picked up some of us at the airport (I get the feeling quotation marks are going to be pretty common in my posts here) took a Vietnamese gentlemen to his hotel (Sofitel), but after giving the address to the driver, we were taken not to the place I booked a room, but to what I have to assume was a hotel of the driver's 'friend' (whaddid I tell ya about the quotes). After protesting, I was told that my hotel was part the hotel guy's sister's place. What a coincidence, eh? Yeah right. Well, I was taken on a scooter ride to what I thought would be the address I gave, but of course, it was yet another hotel, maybe the guy's 'sister', who knows. In the end, I took the room, it was the same price, was on the top (5th) floor and relatively far from the scooter convention but still central. Had a beer and a smoke (Marlboro Lights USD$ 0.80 or 13,000 dong, in case you're keeping track).

damn

I just figured out that I won't be able to upload pictures to this site. Oh well, guess you can't expect everything for free eh. Well, I'm off to Hanoi tomorrow. Hong Kong's been a blast. I wouldn't mind working here actually. Took a nice day trip to Shek O, a seaside village on the south part of Hong Kong Island. Really nice and tranquil. I could picture myself working here and going off for daytrips there.

By the way. What the heck is it with the baked rice? And the cream of corn 'sauce'? Besides that the food has been amazing.

in HK

Well, after a couple years of considering it, here's my first blog. Had to start a backpacking trip to get around to doing it. Will post pics and more posts as soon as I get other immediate things organized ovah here. HK - good food, but not much more that I couldn't get at home. Great pics so far though!