Monday, February 25, 2013
Continuing on from the other day....
There are busloads of tourists at the 'washroom' stop and I am very happy to be a tour of one. Back on the road and we make a stop at a local temple of sorts.It is a combination of Catholic, bud-ism and something else. It looks a lot like a French Catholic church without the pews. The roads remind me of India. People are selling everything on the side of the road. I would love to stop at one of the local 'coffee' spots and try out a hammock but somehow I don't think that will be allowed.
I don't normally drink pop on my travels--it usually tastes disgusting but the 2 coke lights I've had today have been great. And you all know I am a diet pepsi aholic. I think it is the heat that is making them taste good.
Had a very small taste of what a floating market is and then went to a 'factory' where they make coconut candy, rice paper (wrappers), rice alcohol and puffed rice candy. They show and tell and let you eat the candy then you can buy. There is free Jasmine tea and about 8 or 9 different candies to try. There are no sales pressure tactics but I did buy some of the coconut candy--it really is yummy. There was a tank with a live Elephant fish in it.which I would end up having for lunch--not the same fish. We leave the factory on another boat and transfer to a small boat rowed down a smaller canal by a very strong woman. It is a must that one wears the conical hat. It provides nice shade but I hate not being able to look up--my same pet peeve with ball caps. I feel bad for the poor ladies that do this for a living. We transfer back to the larger boat and cross the river for lunch. Elephant fish, soup, rice, prawns, pork and pineapple. The restaurant is just for tourists and I can see all the guides eating in the kitchen. It's an open air room. The breeze blowing in from the river makes all the wind-chimes tinkle and it is very nice and very relaxing.
The afternoon was great. Boat rides and site seeing combined with lots of fresh fruit. mango, jack fruit and more pineapple. I'm going to have a Vitamin C overload! And now as I sit writing this I am drinking pineapple juice, sitting on a dock watching life on the river go by. The sun is setting somewhere behind me and soon I will be in the dark.
I ordered a set menu tonight--it seemed the easiest thing to do--I'm not really in the decision making mood.
I bought a painting today. Surprise, surprise....NOT! It moved me and so I moved it into my collection. It is of all the houses along the river on stilts which is at least thus far my impression of Vietnam--at least one that I would like to keep in my head. They rolled it for me and put it into a pvc tube so it is already to take home. Guess I didn't need to take my own tube after all.
I have a tinge of pink on my arms--no doubt from spending so much time out on the water today. My hair is beyond help. I hopped into the shower last night to try and wash 12 time zones worth of dirt off me. My hair was a limp, shiny cap before the shower and this morning it is about 3 or 4 inches tall and very curly. I love humidity. :) And at the moment it is a curly wind blown mess that is barely being held back by my sunglasses.
A delightful bowl of tomato soup to start followed by 3 fresh prawns--head attached, with a dish of fresh lime and a mixture of salt and pepper. Then pork in an clay pot, a chicken curry, veggies, rice and bananas flambe. I don't see any flame but I do smell the booze and taste it. YUCK! Food is very good and good for me but bland.
There are kites flying up and down both sides of the river--coloured flecks in the sky.
________________________________
Tuesday
It's Tuesday and I' am at this wonderful restaurant about to have lunch. It is almost the same menu I had last night right down to the flamed bananas. I tried to convince my guide this morning that I don't drink--no comments please and he believes me but still makes me try the bananas--again. I don't have the heart to tell him I had this for supper. It doesn't matter if I had it before it's good and I'm sitting in a very simple room overlooking the river with a most amazing breeze blowing in the doorway. Outside I can hear the tut a tut tut of the small boats going by. I also see the back of a very large statue of Ho Chi Minh.I've ordered a large bottle of water and am hoping to force it down before the afternoon activities because I know I am a little dehydrated. Oh wow. This tomato soup is good. No doubt this will kick off a trend when I get home.
I was thinking this morning about how much I am enjoying being treated like a Princess. I have my own tour guide and he opens the doors for me, closes the car door once I'm seated and gets me safely off and on the boats. On the boats it has been my guide, the 'captain' and me. SPOILED!!! I have pangs of guild over it now and then but not enough to change it.
to be continued.....don't forget that those of us travelling like to get emails!!!!! And comments.....hint hint.
There are busloads of tourists at the 'washroom' stop and I am very happy to be a tour of one. Back on the road and we make a stop at a local temple of sorts.It is a combination of Catholic, bud-ism and something else. It looks a lot like a French Catholic church without the pews. The roads remind me of India. People are selling everything on the side of the road. I would love to stop at one of the local 'coffee' spots and try out a hammock but somehow I don't think that will be allowed.
I don't normally drink pop on my travels--it usually tastes disgusting but the 2 coke lights I've had today have been great. And you all know I am a diet pepsi aholic. I think it is the heat that is making them taste good.
Had a very small taste of what a floating market is and then went to a 'factory' where they make coconut candy, rice paper (wrappers), rice alcohol and puffed rice candy. They show and tell and let you eat the candy then you can buy. There is free Jasmine tea and about 8 or 9 different candies to try. There are no sales pressure tactics but I did buy some of the coconut candy--it really is yummy. There was a tank with a live Elephant fish in it.which I would end up having for lunch--not the same fish. We leave the factory on another boat and transfer to a small boat rowed down a smaller canal by a very strong woman. It is a must that one wears the conical hat. It provides nice shade but I hate not being able to look up--my same pet peeve with ball caps. I feel bad for the poor ladies that do this for a living. We transfer back to the larger boat and cross the river for lunch. Elephant fish, soup, rice, prawns, pork and pineapple. The restaurant is just for tourists and I can see all the guides eating in the kitchen. It's an open air room. The breeze blowing in from the river makes all the wind-chimes tinkle and it is very nice and very relaxing.
The afternoon was great. Boat rides and site seeing combined with lots of fresh fruit. mango, jack fruit and more pineapple. I'm going to have a Vitamin C overload! And now as I sit writing this I am drinking pineapple juice, sitting on a dock watching life on the river go by. The sun is setting somewhere behind me and soon I will be in the dark.
I ordered a set menu tonight--it seemed the easiest thing to do--I'm not really in the decision making mood.
I bought a painting today. Surprise, surprise....NOT! It moved me and so I moved it into my collection. It is of all the houses along the river on stilts which is at least thus far my impression of Vietnam--at least one that I would like to keep in my head. They rolled it for me and put it into a pvc tube so it is already to take home. Guess I didn't need to take my own tube after all.
I have a tinge of pink on my arms--no doubt from spending so much time out on the water today. My hair is beyond help. I hopped into the shower last night to try and wash 12 time zones worth of dirt off me. My hair was a limp, shiny cap before the shower and this morning it is about 3 or 4 inches tall and very curly. I love humidity. :) And at the moment it is a curly wind blown mess that is barely being held back by my sunglasses.
A delightful bowl of tomato soup to start followed by 3 fresh prawns--head attached, with a dish of fresh lime and a mixture of salt and pepper. Then pork in an clay pot, a chicken curry, veggies, rice and bananas flambe. I don't see any flame but I do smell the booze and taste it. YUCK! Food is very good and good for me but bland.
There are kites flying up and down both sides of the river--coloured flecks in the sky.
________________________________
Tuesday
It's Tuesday and I' am at this wonderful restaurant about to have lunch. It is almost the same menu I had last night right down to the flamed bananas. I tried to convince my guide this morning that I don't drink--no comments please and he believes me but still makes me try the bananas--again. I don't have the heart to tell him I had this for supper. It doesn't matter if I had it before it's good and I'm sitting in a very simple room overlooking the river with a most amazing breeze blowing in the doorway. Outside I can hear the tut a tut tut of the small boats going by. I also see the back of a very large statue of Ho Chi Minh.I've ordered a large bottle of water and am hoping to force it down before the afternoon activities because I know I am a little dehydrated. Oh wow. This tomato soup is good. No doubt this will kick off a trend when I get home.
I was thinking this morning about how much I am enjoying being treated like a Princess. I have my own tour guide and he opens the doors for me, closes the car door once I'm seated and gets me safely off and on the boats. On the boats it has been my guide, the 'captain' and me. SPOILED!!! I have pangs of guild over it now and then but not enough to change it.
to be continued.....don't forget that those of us travelling like to get emails!!!!! And comments.....hint hint.
I think the posting from the iphone is working but this is free...and with a proper key board so bonus. I was not meant to type using a phone touchscreen.
Having a terrific time. Just managed to exchange some Cdn money at the hotel so I am a dong spending machine! Supper tonight was 275,000 Vietnamese Dong. Yeah....I'm still not entirely sure what that means if I don't have my cheat sheet with me. Either way I'm sure I paid less than I would have in Canada for what I got.
It's 8pm here on Monday so I guess that makes it about 6am Monday in GP? I'm not sure actually but I think that is right. I've already finished my day and am on my way upstairs for a nice hot shower, some tv and a nice long sleep. Tomorrow morning we are off to watch the floating market and I am so looking forward to that.
Having a terrific time. Just managed to exchange some Cdn money at the hotel so I am a dong spending machine! Supper tonight was 275,000 Vietnamese Dong. Yeah....I'm still not entirely sure what that means if I don't have my cheat sheet with me. Either way I'm sure I paid less than I would have in Canada for what I got.
It's 8pm here on Monday so I guess that makes it about 6am Monday in GP? I'm not sure actually but I think that is right. I've already finished my day and am on my way upstairs for a nice hot shower, some tv and a nice long sleep. Tomorrow morning we are off to watch the floating market and I am so looking forward to that.
Vietnam. The plane touches down and my first thought is 'here we go again' it isnt a bad thought or even a good one it is just history repeating a new adventure.
I've been lucky so far and my guide is on time and I am Whisked away to my hotel where I must admit I had problems falling asleep. No doubt because I slept most of the trip over. For those of you new to my adventures I generally write in my little notebook my impressions, thoughts and feelings as I go and when I have time and internet access I type it into the blog.
On my way down to breakfast I meet a couple in the elevator from Cold Lake Alberta. What are the odds? They have been volunteering in Cambodia as dental assistants even thiugh back home he is a principal.
I dig into some lovely eggs, chow mein noodles and fried bananas for breakfast. Yummy. It was so good that after I went outside for a walk around I went back for more.
It is day one of the tour and we have just stopped at a 'tourist' rest stop. A tropical oasis on the side of the highway with American toilets and cold beverages. I assume they sell over priced souvenirs in the gift shop but I dont go in to investigate. It is hot but not overwhelming and so far the drive has been pleasantmy guide is pointing out lots of things along the way and while his English could use some work it is passable and I am learning enough.
I just bought a diet coke and bottle if water fir 40,000vnd which is about $2cdn. The money is hard to wrap my head around and I realize much later in the day that I tipped my boat driver fifty cents which doesnt seem like enough. But handing out 10000 and 20000 at a time is hard to swallow.
Much more to write but at least you know i have arrived and am safe.
I've been lucky so far and my guide is on time and I am Whisked away to my hotel where I must admit I had problems falling asleep. No doubt because I slept most of the trip over. For those of you new to my adventures I generally write in my little notebook my impressions, thoughts and feelings as I go and when I have time and internet access I type it into the blog.
On my way down to breakfast I meet a couple in the elevator from Cold Lake Alberta. What are the odds? They have been volunteering in Cambodia as dental assistants even thiugh back home he is a principal.
I dig into some lovely eggs, chow mein noodles and fried bananas for breakfast. Yummy. It was so good that after I went outside for a walk around I went back for more.
It is day one of the tour and we have just stopped at a 'tourist' rest stop. A tropical oasis on the side of the highway with American toilets and cold beverages. I assume they sell over priced souvenirs in the gift shop but I dont go in to investigate. It is hot but not overwhelming and so far the drive has been pleasantmy guide is pointing out lots of things along the way and while his English could use some work it is passable and I am learning enough.
I just bought a diet coke and bottle if water fir 40,000vnd which is about $2cdn. The money is hard to wrap my head around and I realize much later in the day that I tipped my boat driver fifty cents which doesnt seem like enough. But handing out 10000 and 20000 at a time is hard to swallow.
Much more to write but at least you know i have arrived and am safe.
Have arrived in Toyko on Sunday afternoon. It is to me still Saturday. With the exception of finding out that my flight out of Edmonton was an hour earlier than on my itinerary things have gone smoothly. In true Jennifer style I managed to sleep most of each of my flights waking up long enough to answer the age old question "beef? Or chicken?" Airline food for the masses continues to amaze me in its inedibility. But after sitting on a plane for almost ten hours even airplane food smells good.
My brief look at San Francisco makes me want to go back. I didnt really see the city itself but from the coast in looks amazing and I realized I had forgotten how beautiful the world can be below the Camadian border.
Toyko airport is run as efficiently as I expected and it took no time at all to fi d my way around and arrive at my gate with time to spare.
Next stop Ho Chi Minh City.
My brief look at San Francisco makes me want to go back. I didnt really see the city itself but from the coast in looks amazing and I realized I had forgotten how beautiful the world can be below the Camadian border.
Toyko airport is run as efficiently as I expected and it took no time at all to fi d my way around and arrive at my gate with time to spare.
Next stop Ho Chi Minh City.
Friday, February 22, 2013
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Welcome to my Habitat for Humanity Global Village trip to Vietnam 2013. I will be traveling in Vietnam from Feb 25 - March 16 and will be journaling my adventures on this blog. No promises on how often I will get to update or when there will be pictures posted but it will be an amazing journey so stay tuned.
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