We are in DaLat right now, on our way to Ho Chi Minh City tomorrow morning. Jessica has me really excited to see the war museum and it seems like theres going to be a lot to see there! We are going to stick with walking like we have been because its just TOO dangerous to rent a motorbike. Our friend Greg read in his travellers book that 30 people a day die from motorbike accidents in Ho Chi Minh City......scary!
Last night we went to meet our friends at a Cafe and when we came back at 10:30pm and the doors were all locked and the lights were turned off for the place we are staying!!! At first we didn't know what to do but then i knocked a few times and a woman let us in. Dalat is weird, everything is shut down and quiet by 10:00 or earlier!!
We found a really nice vegetarian restuarant we are going to go down to for the second night in a row. They have so many options and they also have VEGAN food!! The staff is really friendly and welcoming and the dishes are affordable.
Our hotels have been fairly decent prices, but they keep getting higher and higher the further south we go down, but we were expecting the opposite!
Hope we can make it back to Thailand!! (just kidding :P )
Friday, April 24, 2009
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Hoi An
Okay, sorry sorry sorry, the last post was really vague and lame.. hahaha
So we arrived in Hoi An today and reunited with our friends from Phuket (all except for our crazy Irish friend who is always drunk and in a different province now? oh how we love him). we went to the beach today- lovely!
we also rented out old fashioned bicycles and went all the way around the city- what a blast! the lights were gorgeous and there are 324092-4589304583 taylor shops- i think I'm goign to get a dress and a few shirts tomrorow!!! yay!!!
We love Hoi An, but we're running out of travel money YIKES .. it's cheap living for the most part though. we are staying in the fanciest hotel EVER for 10$ a night.... big pool, cherry wood everything, air con, tv etc etc... we tried to find an old guesthouse for cheaper but they're the same price??? anyways. we're having fun!!!!!!!!!
So we arrived in Hoi An today and reunited with our friends from Phuket (all except for our crazy Irish friend who is always drunk and in a different province now? oh how we love him). we went to the beach today- lovely!
we also rented out old fashioned bicycles and went all the way around the city- what a blast! the lights were gorgeous and there are 324092-4589304583 taylor shops- i think I'm goign to get a dress and a few shirts tomrorow!!! yay!!!
We love Hoi An, but we're running out of travel money YIKES .. it's cheap living for the most part though. we are staying in the fanciest hotel EVER for 10$ a night.... big pool, cherry wood everything, air con, tv etc etc... we tried to find an old guesthouse for cheaper but they're the same price??? anyways. we're having fun!!!!!!!!!
Friday, April 17, 2009
Hue
Hanoi- hilarious, busy, crazy, interesting!
Hue- relaxing, beautiful, cheaper, happier! =)
Tomorrow, we go to Hoi An.
Hue- relaxing, beautiful, cheaper, happier! =)
Tomorrow, we go to Hoi An.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Nam, day 1
Well... we had quite the adventure at the Bangkok airport! As many of you know, the red shirts and yellow shirts have been acting up again and Thailand has been declared as in a state of emergency.. UGH there were soldiers all through the airport etc etc. but it didn't affect us at all. in fact, you people from Canada were the ones who told us that there were issues hahahaa.
Anyways, we are safe and sound in Viet Nam today. we got here at 8:30am (it is now 8:30pm) and we are paying 4$ a night for our hostel- and it's actually kinda nice ! big bed, fan, tv, private bathroom , and no bugs! not bad! the lady gives us free meals too YUMMMM. Vietnamese food is gooood. although we didn't find many restaurants today!
We wandered all around Hanoi city for about 5 hours and had a great time .. the traffic is madness. the people are no where near as kind and funny as in Thailand, but it's so interesting to see the culture nonetheless. We are having such an amazing trip! Tomorrow we will leave for a gorgeous sightseeing trip, called the Halong Bay trip. we've already been told that we paid too much for our ticket- but what else is new? everyones' got a different price. it's frustrating but you really just have to let it go and decide what each thing is worth to you because if you compare it constantly to what others paid, you'll go crazy.
we also purchased an "open ended bus ticket" which gives us unlimited bus access (sleeping bus access- meaning we get full out beds and pillows for the 12 hour trips overnight- AWESOME) all the way across Vietnam. it costed 55$ (although my friend paid 70, and my other friend paid 37, and an old couple we met paid 300$ US YIKES) . It's worth every penny- we won't have any more travel expenses and it's valid for 3 months. excellent.
I've finished uploading the water festival pictures, and added a couple more videos. we will do our best to keep the Nam pictures alive and fresh too!! They are all on Facebook.
We do have a Vietnamese sim card now on which you can reach us. We will post the number in 3 days (after the Halong Bay trip) becuase right now I don't know it, and we won't be able to talk while we're away anyways. for now, you can send us emails! =)
Miss you all, but wow, what an amazing time we're having.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxox
Anyways, we are safe and sound in Viet Nam today. we got here at 8:30am (it is now 8:30pm) and we are paying 4$ a night for our hostel- and it's actually kinda nice ! big bed, fan, tv, private bathroom , and no bugs! not bad! the lady gives us free meals too YUMMMM. Vietnamese food is gooood. although we didn't find many restaurants today!
We wandered all around Hanoi city for about 5 hours and had a great time .. the traffic is madness. the people are no where near as kind and funny as in Thailand, but it's so interesting to see the culture nonetheless. We are having such an amazing trip! Tomorrow we will leave for a gorgeous sightseeing trip, called the Halong Bay trip. we've already been told that we paid too much for our ticket- but what else is new? everyones' got a different price. it's frustrating but you really just have to let it go and decide what each thing is worth to you because if you compare it constantly to what others paid, you'll go crazy.
we also purchased an "open ended bus ticket" which gives us unlimited bus access (sleeping bus access- meaning we get full out beds and pillows for the 12 hour trips overnight- AWESOME) all the way across Vietnam. it costed 55$ (although my friend paid 70, and my other friend paid 37, and an old couple we met paid 300$ US YIKES) . It's worth every penny- we won't have any more travel expenses and it's valid for 3 months. excellent.
I've finished uploading the water festival pictures, and added a couple more videos. we will do our best to keep the Nam pictures alive and fresh too!! They are all on Facebook.
We do have a Vietnamese sim card now on which you can reach us. We will post the number in 3 days (after the Halong Bay trip) becuase right now I don't know it, and we won't be able to talk while we're away anyways. for now, you can send us emails! =)
Miss you all, but wow, what an amazing time we're having.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxox
Saturday, April 11, 2009
elephant tribe camp
Chaing Mai is amazing!!!! we LOVE it! we will give so many more details when we have more time to give the computer. long story short: we spent the past two days hiking, white water rafting, camping, and elephant riding!!! AWESOME!! met really cool people, saw beautiful scenery!
gotta go get a Thai massage (for 4$) now though before it closes! we're sore from our trip. (gosh what are we going to do when we're in canada where you can't get authentic massages daily for 4$???)
we will give pictures and a more detailed update asap.
ps. slight change in itinerary, we are going to cut out BKK and add another day onto Vietnam.
xoxx
gotta go get a Thai massage (for 4$) now though before it closes! we're sore from our trip. (gosh what are we going to do when we're in canada where you can't get authentic massages daily for 4$???)
we will give pictures and a more detailed update asap.
ps. slight change in itinerary, we are going to cut out BKK and add another day onto Vietnam.
xoxx
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
leaving on a jet plane
in one hour we'll go catch a plane to bangkok. stop one on our itinerary. we are packed and happy and excited !!! but we have to leave our house door unlocked due to lack of working keys. (stupid slacking thailand...) luckily we have the most extreme type of nosy neighbors and insane barking attack dogs on our street, not to mention our house is empty of anything that could possibly be of any interest to anyone, so ... have no fear. (plus no one in this country... no continent.. reads our blog, don't worry).
we also have not paid rent for 3 months, for an unknown reason. our landlord usually comes to pick it up at the house but hasn't made any appearances? dunno! works for us though! hahaha
this country is weird.
check out the videos online , one of the motorbike drive with me and reffa! it's kinda fun?
the other is just me being a dork and saying hello/goodbye before our one month holiday!
i also attached a few pics of the weird creatures in/on our house, our hammock in our yard, our motorbike, annndddd the ghetto way that we hang out our laundry.
xoxx miss yaz.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
so excited!!
we're leaving for this trip so soon!!!!!
we got laser hair removal, the first time done already. it hurt really really really really badly.
missing home all the time, but so exciteda bout our travels!
congratulatinos mom and dad on all the big moves! and erin on the new subway job (so jealous by the way). Melissa, I want to hear more about wedding plans? I only hear things here and there through the grapevine?
I am also so very proud of all my friends back home who are coming up ont he end of their last year in their degrees- congratulations everyone, I am so so happy for you! You know I would be there giving you big huge hugs kisses and flowersi f I could be!!!
xoxoxoxoxox
we got laser hair removal, the first time done already. it hurt really really really really badly.
missing home all the time, but so exciteda bout our travels!
congratulatinos mom and dad on all the big moves! and erin on the new subway job (so jealous by the way). Melissa, I want to hear more about wedding plans? I only hear things here and there through the grapevine?
I am also so very proud of all my friends back home who are coming up ont he end of their last year in their degrees- congratulations everyone, I am so so happy for you! You know I would be there giving you big huge hugs kisses and flowersi f I could be!!!
xoxoxoxoxox
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Summer Vacation
Right now we are at a computer, looking up airline tickets to Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Hanoi(Vietnam)
We've found some cheap tickets ($15-$30 CAD) so we are just trying to figure out the best schedule.
We were going to bus, but the last busses we felt really carsick , and it would take about 22 hours to bus to Chiang Mai, so we would miss out on some of the Songkran Festival.
Songkran Festival is the reason we are going to Chiang Mai. Its a week long waterfight that goes over their New Years Day. The purpose of throwing water is to act as a "cleanse" from anything negative you've done, and most peoples new years resolutions here are to be a good person and to do good things and the water cleans away the bad so you can start fresh. :)
Everybody in Thailand has told us that Songkran Festival/New Years is the most fun in Chiang Mai and Khao San Road in Bangkok and we are going to get to see it in both places!!! (We have to stop in Bangkok on our way to Vietnam)
Jessica thought I should post our itinerary so that everyone can see the places we PLAN to see. (We don't know how much we will get to see, but we hope all of it!)
April 9th - Plane from SuratThani to Bangkok
- Plane from Bangkok to Chiang Mai
April 10th,11th,12th,- Travel around Chiang Mai, maybe do some jungle trekking and signtseeing. Chiang Mai is one of the most beautiful places in Thailand. Its in the North, so theres not a lot of beaches. Its mostly Elephants and Jungles, a lot of beautiful flowers and big open fields. Everyone has told us its going to be cold... and when we asked how cold, they said around 20 degrees and in the night it can go down to 10.
My friend also told me that Chiang Mai has Panda Bears and if we are lucky, we might see one!
April 13th - Day 1 of Songkran Festival. Go out and run around in the sun and throw icy water at people.
April 14th - Leave Chiang Mai and go back down to Bangkok to catch our flight to Hanoi, Vietnam. Since our flight isn't until the next day, go down to Khao San Road in Bangkok and compare the amount of fun between both Festivals.
April 15th - Catch a flight from Bangkok to Hanoi
- Try to find our friends Greg, Lorraine and Daryl who are meeting us there.
- Take a 2 day boat ride through Halong Bay. (http://aphs.worldnomads.com/jenko7/4999/P1020116___Ha_Long_Bay.jpg)
April 17th - Hue (pronounced "way" )
April 19th - Leave Hue and make our way down to Hoi An with our friends.Hopefully making a pit stop in Siagon to see the Cuchi Tunnels.
April 22nd - Nha Trang (Supposed to have a beautiful Boat trip)
April 24th - Leave Nha Trang for the over-so-popular Ho Chi Min City. So the History buff's can get their fix :) Look at some cool historical stuff, take lots of pictures.
April 27th - Make our way to the next country. Cambodia. Arrive in the capitol city, Pnohm Penh in the afternoon. Stay there for a couple days go check out the Killing fields and Tuol Sleng.
April 29th - Siem Reap. Take a boat and go over to Koh Ker island and look at the beaches there. Compare their beauty to Thailands.
April 30th - Go back to Siem Reap for a few days before heading back home. See the Flooded Forest, Floating Village and lots and lots of pretty temples.
Not sure how to get back to thailand from Siem Reap.... but last night Scott told us that we can take a plane to Koh Samui for very cheap and then take the Ferry from Koh Samui back home to Suratthani in an hour and a half. Then we can avoid the bangkok airport.
We are thinking maybe coming back the first week of May. If Jessica and I have enough money leftover, we want to stay in Cambodia a few days longer and check out some more of Cambo since we've really wanted to go there for a long time. There is a place called "Sihanoukville" that someone told us about. It has free accomodation on the beach as long as you buy the food from the family's restaurant while you stay there.
Also we hear "Krabie" has really friendly dolphins.
Very excited :)
Oh and sometime along the trip we want to float down the Mekhong River.
We've found some cheap tickets ($15-$30 CAD) so we are just trying to figure out the best schedule.
We were going to bus, but the last busses we felt really carsick , and it would take about 22 hours to bus to Chiang Mai, so we would miss out on some of the Songkran Festival.
Songkran Festival is the reason we are going to Chiang Mai. Its a week long waterfight that goes over their New Years Day. The purpose of throwing water is to act as a "cleanse" from anything negative you've done, and most peoples new years resolutions here are to be a good person and to do good things and the water cleans away the bad so you can start fresh. :)
Everybody in Thailand has told us that Songkran Festival/New Years is the most fun in Chiang Mai and Khao San Road in Bangkok and we are going to get to see it in both places!!! (We have to stop in Bangkok on our way to Vietnam)
Jessica thought I should post our itinerary so that everyone can see the places we PLAN to see. (We don't know how much we will get to see, but we hope all of it!)
April 9th - Plane from SuratThani to Bangkok
- Plane from Bangkok to Chiang Mai
April 10th,11th,12th,- Travel around Chiang Mai, maybe do some jungle trekking and signtseeing. Chiang Mai is one of the most beautiful places in Thailand. Its in the North, so theres not a lot of beaches. Its mostly Elephants and Jungles, a lot of beautiful flowers and big open fields. Everyone has told us its going to be cold... and when we asked how cold, they said around 20 degrees and in the night it can go down to 10.
My friend also told me that Chiang Mai has Panda Bears and if we are lucky, we might see one!
April 13th - Day 1 of Songkran Festival. Go out and run around in the sun and throw icy water at people.
April 14th - Leave Chiang Mai and go back down to Bangkok to catch our flight to Hanoi, Vietnam. Since our flight isn't until the next day, go down to Khao San Road in Bangkok and compare the amount of fun between both Festivals.
April 15th - Catch a flight from Bangkok to Hanoi
- Try to find our friends Greg, Lorraine and Daryl who are meeting us there.
- Take a 2 day boat ride through Halong Bay. (http://aphs.worldnomads.com/jenko7/4999/P1020116___Ha_Long_Bay.jpg)
April 17th - Hue (pronounced "way" )
April 19th - Leave Hue and make our way down to Hoi An with our friends.Hopefully making a pit stop in Siagon to see the Cuchi Tunnels.
April 22nd - Nha Trang (Supposed to have a beautiful Boat trip)
April 24th - Leave Nha Trang for the over-so-popular Ho Chi Min City. So the History buff's can get their fix :) Look at some cool historical stuff, take lots of pictures.
April 27th - Make our way to the next country. Cambodia. Arrive in the capitol city, Pnohm Penh in the afternoon. Stay there for a couple days go check out the Killing fields and Tuol Sleng.
April 29th - Siem Reap. Take a boat and go over to Koh Ker island and look at the beaches there. Compare their beauty to Thailands.
April 30th - Go back to Siem Reap for a few days before heading back home. See the Flooded Forest, Floating Village and lots and lots of pretty temples.
Not sure how to get back to thailand from Siem Reap.... but last night Scott told us that we can take a plane to Koh Samui for very cheap and then take the Ferry from Koh Samui back home to Suratthani in an hour and a half. Then we can avoid the bangkok airport.
We are thinking maybe coming back the first week of May. If Jessica and I have enough money leftover, we want to stay in Cambodia a few days longer and check out some more of Cambo since we've really wanted to go there for a long time. There is a place called "Sihanoukville" that someone told us about. It has free accomodation on the beach as long as you buy the food from the family's restaurant while you stay there.
Also we hear "Krabie" has really friendly dolphins.
Very excited :)
Oh and sometime along the trip we want to float down the Mekhong River.
Rot
So lately i've been thinking "we should really get our motorbike checked" because when we are idle it rev's by itself and the lights fade if you aren't driving it fast enough, etc..
Also The girl that had it before us, our friend told us, hadn't serviced or taken very good care of it.
So this morning I woke up and I went down to buy a coconut and I waited for the mechanic to take a look at the oil. He let it drain into a bowl and it came out in almost drops.... it didn't even cover the bottom of the bowl, He looked at me in horror and basically said that it would've have made it until tomorrow!!
I'm glad we decided to get it checked, jessica would've never heard the end of that one!! :P
Also The girl that had it before us, our friend told us, hadn't serviced or taken very good care of it.
So this morning I woke up and I went down to buy a coconut and I waited for the mechanic to take a look at the oil. He let it drain into a bowl and it came out in almost drops.... it didn't even cover the bottom of the bowl, He looked at me in horror and basically said that it would've have made it until tomorrow!!
I'm glad we decided to get it checked, jessica would've never heard the end of that one!! :P
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