there and back to see how far it is

15 December 2010

Com

Pronounced 'gurm'. A simple rice with stuff dish. This example showcases greens, two types of pork, egg, squid and a cabbage soup on the side. 20.000 VND

After much deliberation we chose Kimmy's Tailor and spent the afternoon drawing pictures, choosing fabrics and looking up examples on the net to spec our new outfits. Mucho exciting.

This whole tailoring business is pretty tiring - we think we might have given our 'designers' Dan and Ian, (both girls) small breakdowns, as we were the pickiest customers they had ever met! If you're gonna do it, do it right, right?! And there's no gain without pain. I.e. on first fitting it turns out Grace's designer quit the same day. DOH. So what Grace had to look at in the mirror was an oversized man's jacket and 2 dresses made in the wrong fabric! Youch.

Alas, the entire place pulled their socks up and it was pretty rosey from there on - although Im sure they'll be happy when we're gone and not asking: "yes, I know, but can you just do this???"

Great t-shirt and suit combination.

Hoi An

09/12/10 Hoi An is a picturesque old town on a river with amazing old Japanese buildings with inner courtyards, like something out of Memoirs of a Geisha. The town is also famous for its tailors (over 300 available), needless to say we spent the first day scoping them out (research research = project! :)

Stuck for choice with tailors

Get designing!

Hue

07/12/10 Took the sleeper from Hanoi to Hue for our central Vietnam section (woken up by a mouse in our breakfast bag en route - didn't get that in India!). Hue is a bit of a museum town with the old Citadel and Emperor's Tombs along the Perfume River - the free beers took the edge off it ;)

1 hour of free beers at the Hue Backpackers. Oh go on then.

Minh Mang Tomb

Gourdon 20

My Alpkit Gourdon 20 has been amazing. Great for day trips with the Camera as it's completely waterproof. Also nice and lightweight to stow in the big pack when its not needed.

Get yours here!

Oh yeah, remember we mentioned 'small backpack = three on a bike"
Voila

Banana'nana

06/12/10

05 December 2010

Cliff Hanger

05/12/10 Took a tour from Cat Ba Island to get some action satisfaction. The boat sailed into Lan Ha Bay, where we kayaked, lunched, then climbed some gnarly karsts! Sick.

Felt really good to get to the top of that one (Grace had a fight with the one before)

There is a dot called John in there somewhere...

Cat Ba Island

04/12/10 Just another sunset...with a FIREBALL in it. Gee Whizz.

Palm Leaf Pack

Neat little take away pack. Rice was sick however.

Ngoc Vung

02/12/10 After an awesome boat trip through Bai Tu Long bay we reached Ngoc Vung Island. We didnt really know if we were going to find a place to stay or not, as we'd only read about it on a random blog. However, the boat dude pointed at the one motorbike, who took us down the one road to the one BIG deserted beach with a farm on it with a bit of floor space in their long house :) Ha! Oh the world of blogging. Again there was no English so we negotiated with Pictionary and Sharades!

Look what we found :)

Pleeeeaaase can we stay?

Eating with the family, and the soldiers who were also staying.

We're watching some bad Soap, think its probably Chinese with a deadpan Vietnamese girl reading the script over the top (she reads the male parts too). Everyone watches it, all restaurants and hotels we've been too... As good as Neighbours used to be.

Bai Tu Long Bay

01/12/10 (3 months in!!) We took off with only our small bags for a week of island adventures. It prooved an awesome idea as we stepped out of the hostel on to a motorbike taxi. Yes, 3 on a bike - cheapest way to travel and comedy value.

Bai Tu Long bay is north of the famous Ha Long bay (which is to the south) and is less visited by western folk. In fact we didn't get any English for the next few days :)

Love the small bags :)

Cai Rong (pronounced Cai Zom?!) harbour. Off season, it was pretty dead, but really beautiful.

Morning fish market, waiting to catch our boat to Ngoc Vung Island.

Wow! A bit like Tigh Beag - Summer Isles? Photo edit was hard after this journey...

Stopped off at Thanh Loi island to deliver supplies and letters. (We've also had people giving letters to bus drivers to deliver)

Made In Vietnam

We've been on the lookout for some gear for walking/camping in South America and came across these stores in Hanoi. Pretty sure it's the genuine product, maybe a second, probably off the back of a truck leaving the factory. Super cheap eitherway! We bought two pairs of waterproof trousers and two down jackets...pics soon!

Street Eat What's That Meat?

Fresh spring rolls you can roll yourself! Salad, rice paper and fried shrimp/meat parcel. Like a Taco stall! (See you in 4 months Taco :) 20.000 VND

Teeny tiny mother f**king sandwich. AMAZING! Why has no one thought of this two bite taste sensation before?! Shredded shrimpork?
4 for 10.000 VND

BBQ. Get a tub and choose your fill. Whether it be frog, small inocuous bird or BACON! Yesssssssssssssss.
10-30.000 VND per kebab

Wash down with Bia Ha Noi.
10.000 VND Bottle
5000 VND Draught (er that's 16p)

Apparently all the major towns in Vietnam have their own brew, watch this space for reviews...

Push Bikes in Hanoi

30/11/10 Duck under the walking balloons, dodge the flower shop on wheels, swurve round the old lady in the road and dont take any shit from the cars and motorbikes. Thats renting a push bike in Hanoi! What a fun way to do the museums - its not where you go, its how you get there :)

Ice Tea

Everyone's doing it...

The definition.

On the stools with Jason and Charlie.

Don't forget the sunflower seeds. We didn't quite master the no hands technique yet...

Hanoi, Vietnam. NAM!!!

28/11/10 Arrived in Hanoi after 15 hour bus journey with involuntary bus changes, sitting on boxes and surrounded by pumpkins. Adventure woop! We really like Hanoi, nice to meet a big, lively, happening city again! :)