A I travel up north the country of Cambodia it gets more and more remote. Two long bus journeys and half a kilo of sweat later I have reached Kratie and close to the Ratanakiri Province. This province is known mainly for it's non excistence of roads for transport and it remote jungle mountains and tribes! Stories even tell of the obscelence of electricity in parts of the province so it is rural life at it's best! And yes this where I am going and spending my new year!
So what could possibly make me go there you ask yourselves now....well how about untouched jungle and wildlife, mountains to trekk, waterfalls to swim under or just lay in a hammock and see the sun go down! Sound pretty good so far!
But for now and until tomorrow I am in Kratie, a small river set town with a chaotic market with smells and sounds of the orient. This town is yet to be flooded by tourists, it still offers some authentic life in Cambodia. Ever tried eating from a 3rd world food stall on the street, well I have and it is a must if being in Asia. Sure in countries as Cambodia and Laos it gets a bit more dodgy as hygenic standards are absolutely obsolent. For instance dishwashing occurs in a small bowl with water and if lucky som dishwashing liquid. Cooking is on one stow and in one pan all the time, every time....again lucky if it's washed. Now chopping meat and veggies is done on a wooden log in the sun, outdoor with the flies, you can forget about european standards, this is worse then Kitchen Nightmares =) But it doesn't take long until you set a side these boundaries and start to divulge in to the world of food stalls as it is cheap dinner, about 1$ will buy you dinner!
I tooka motobike (125cc) and drove around the district today. Went to see a mountaintop temple and some nice coastal sights. Of course my curious mind made me took myself on the paths of the main road and I quickly found myself lost and on the country side aka jungle...roads dissapeared and so did the people. Well after some driving around I was back on the road and on the way back to the town!
Oh btw I owe all the people to tell about Christmas. I met some lovely people in Siem Reap, mainly two girls from Aussie land. We clicked instantly and after I came out I was more or less adopted by these gorgeous girls. I had a blast with their company, with tours to the silk farm and markets and the best massage I've had in years involving a girl who twisted my whoole body in the most Yogic positions to crack my bones! But it was our nights out that took the price, having Margarita evenings, Mango daiquiri evenings and Tequila sunrise evenings! Goosh was that fun!! Again it is sad to depart from each other as always on this trip as they were going to Laos ahead of me and then home =( Well I was 10000km from home but ended up having one of the best Christmasses ever.......funny isn't it!
torsdag 30 december 2010
tisdag 28 december 2010
It must be a trick of the light
Howdy, been awhile since my last post. Have been down in wild west Sihounikville for the past week. Enjoying the good company of Anders and other friends which I met here. Last time I updated was quite awhile ago so I have lots to tell...
Or maybe not. Sihounkville has been wonderful, other than the first night when we had a barfight. But that was all well and good. As thankfully when they took the fight outside the bar the police were right there to break it up. One of the fighters decided to attack one of the police so they decided to give some warning shots in the air. So the answer is no, their was no gunfight in the bar we were in and no, no one got hurt. Very safe when cops are everywhere to make sure everyone is safe (while their taking the bribes).
Other than that it is very peaceful here. Anders showed me to Otrus beach which is completly empty. We had the whole beach for ourselves to just relax and enjoy. And to make things even better the water is just crystal clear so it's just to enjoy. Pure bliss.
It has also been quite fun to hang out with Anders and learn a lot of Sihounikville. We met two swedes who were also living down here and we got along like two peas in a pod. They were working at a charity school helping to repaint it pro-bono. It was quite nice to go up there to check it out and to play with all the children.
That is the one thing which I love about cambodia. The children here are the greatest. When I was playing with them or taking photos. All of them were just smiling and having a great time. I haven't seen any kid who looked miserable. Yes, they are quite poor and some are working (which I think is horrible) but they still have these genuine smiles on their face and they haven't forgotten to be just kids. It is easy just to forget everything horrible that has happened when you are with these kids.
Alright, that's enough for now. Have a lot more to tell and once I remember to take my usb with me to the cafe I will upload tons of photos (hopefully).
Next time: Fear and loathing in Cambodia or how I stopped worrying and loved the country
Or maybe not. Sihounkville has been wonderful, other than the first night when we had a barfight. But that was all well and good. As thankfully when they took the fight outside the bar the police were right there to break it up. One of the fighters decided to attack one of the police so they decided to give some warning shots in the air. So the answer is no, their was no gunfight in the bar we were in and no, no one got hurt. Very safe when cops are everywhere to make sure everyone is safe (while their taking the bribes).
Other than that it is very peaceful here. Anders showed me to Otrus beach which is completly empty. We had the whole beach for ourselves to just relax and enjoy. And to make things even better the water is just crystal clear so it's just to enjoy. Pure bliss.
It has also been quite fun to hang out with Anders and learn a lot of Sihounikville. We met two swedes who were also living down here and we got along like two peas in a pod. They were working at a charity school helping to repaint it pro-bono. It was quite nice to go up there to check it out and to play with all the children.
That is the one thing which I love about cambodia. The children here are the greatest. When I was playing with them or taking photos. All of them were just smiling and having a great time. I haven't seen any kid who looked miserable. Yes, they are quite poor and some are working (which I think is horrible) but they still have these genuine smiles on their face and they haven't forgotten to be just kids. It is easy just to forget everything horrible that has happened when you are with these kids.
Alright, that's enough for now. Have a lot more to tell and once I remember to take my usb with me to the cafe I will upload tons of photos (hopefully).
Next time: Fear and loathing in Cambodia or how I stopped worrying and loved the country
söndag 26 december 2010
Indiana James and raiders of the public transport
So my dear folks I hope you all have had a merry old jolly Xmas with lots of ridiculously, meaningless presents! Christmas on my behalf was done Indiana Jones style trekking through ancient temples covered in green jungle! Who needs presents when you can have sunstroke and monkeys chasing you!!!
Ok I got so lost in time and place mountainbiking the temples I did the white boy, beginners mistake and forgot A. my cap at the hotel and B. had to prove myself right by taking the Grand circuit. See it was 20km of jungle biking excl the 10km to and from the temples also and having 35degrees Celsius didn't exactly help!
somewhere along the Ta prohm temples I lost my thighs and ass from the bumpy road and mistook slight headache for just headache when I was having a sunstroke!
Ah well, recovery came quickly through my new made acquaintances from Australia along with the Happy hour Margaritas and Pizza!!! You really can't say no to 3$ margaritas or fresh mango daiquiris especially as it is buy 1 get 1 free =) And forget 4cl alcohol rules, you really get 2 drinks in one glass!
we found a local gay bar of the pub street with live dragshow which was quite entertaining to say the least...you really have to look hard for worse lip sync then theirs! Hitting the dance floor as no one else did we got to be center of attention and probably the only ones really having fun!!
It's a bit funny how much cultures can differ from home. For instance Christmas is celebrated somewhat here but on the 25th. Presents aren't exactly center here as back home, had a good laugh along with a guy who explained how he bought tooth paste for his friend as present (1$) and then explaining how we (white western people) slash our cards and buy playstations and tv's......he did not understand at all why. come to think of it neither can....it's the thought that counts still yes...? Well I treated myself to some presents eeing no one else would this year, went to the night market and got some cool Hillfiger pike's, fake designer watch and some other cheap nick nacks for like 15$ all together! Gotta love that shopping! Another nice culture difference is the mentality of the people here....yes they will lure you in to their restaurant to eat as you walk by, but it's not to trick you but the show you they are proud of they're food and want you to taste it. And they are ever so eager to talk to you, every other time you may have an hour long discussion with either the staff or some from a nearby table and it always feels genuine. They will help you with travel tips or sights in the vicinity or whatever. It's just refreshing coming from sealed Sweden =)
I'm posting a fabulous map of my adventures, I did the artwork isn't is stunning!!!!!!!!
Ok I got so lost in time and place mountainbiking the temples I did the white boy, beginners mistake and forgot A. my cap at the hotel and B. had to prove myself right by taking the Grand circuit. See it was 20km of jungle biking excl the 10km to and from the temples also and having 35degrees Celsius didn't exactly help!
somewhere along the Ta prohm temples I lost my thighs and ass from the bumpy road and mistook slight headache for just headache when I was having a sunstroke!
Ah well, recovery came quickly through my new made acquaintances from Australia along with the Happy hour Margaritas and Pizza!!! You really can't say no to 3$ margaritas or fresh mango daiquiris especially as it is buy 1 get 1 free =) And forget 4cl alcohol rules, you really get 2 drinks in one glass!
we found a local gay bar of the pub street with live dragshow which was quite entertaining to say the least...you really have to look hard for worse lip sync then theirs! Hitting the dance floor as no one else did we got to be center of attention and probably the only ones really having fun!!
It's a bit funny how much cultures can differ from home. For instance Christmas is celebrated somewhat here but on the 25th. Presents aren't exactly center here as back home, had a good laugh along with a guy who explained how he bought tooth paste for his friend as present (1$) and then explaining how we (white western people) slash our cards and buy playstations and tv's......he did not understand at all why. come to think of it neither can....it's the thought that counts still yes...? Well I treated myself to some presents eeing no one else would this year, went to the night market and got some cool Hillfiger pike's, fake designer watch and some other cheap nick nacks for like 15$ all together! Gotta love that shopping! Another nice culture difference is the mentality of the people here....yes they will lure you in to their restaurant to eat as you walk by, but it's not to trick you but the show you they are proud of they're food and want you to taste it. And they are ever so eager to talk to you, every other time you may have an hour long discussion with either the staff or some from a nearby table and it always feels genuine. They will help you with travel tips or sights in the vicinity or whatever. It's just refreshing coming from sealed Sweden =)
I'm posting a fabulous map of my adventures, I did the artwork isn't is stunning!!!!!!!!
 |
| Indiana James adventures!! |
torsdag 23 december 2010
People come, people go!
Along this somewhat epic journey one truly encounters some lovely and generous people, who show really the best sides of humanity you wouldn't necessarily expect at home.
Some may stretch it as far even as opening a small gateway to their heart and revealing burdens or experiences in life, for the bliss of someone listening for the next 15min and just listening! Sort of Ï share my thought's with you and in return you share your if you wish".
There is something very honest and pure over exchanging life experiences with someone you barely know and end up spending the day or two with. I see it as sort of a quickie therapy session where the heart can rest afterwards.
I've been able to share moment's with some people that will last a lifetime! It so happens quite often that people on travel as well as myself are keen to listening to and meeting with other people and sporadic dinners and drinks will inevitably occur!
There is one person in particular I owe a whole blog to, but will mention here at least, as she really made an impact on me with that something in her personality with the days we spent together.
Nicola was her name and from New Zealand she is! We met in buzzling Hanoi and had a blast just spending time on travel, sipping coffee and trading life stories....as well as general BS!
Departing was quite sad of course, but imagine the joy 2 weeks later crashing into each other on the busy streets of Saigon! Like running into an old friend from years ago. Needless to say we spent the next days together and had a blast again!
More recently I got to knew Maria. Maria is a 50 year old Austrian lady, who never till she revealed it looked or felt a day older than 30! There was a nice click, like the one you'd expect on the lock on the door and we ended up spending 3 days together and even traveling to a remote island together and just laying in hammock and eating fresh sea food and chatting like two fat slags at the pie bakery!
Sadly these short stories remain just that, short stories and always but too soon come to an end as travel destinations differ. Quite sad when you consider you won't meet these characters again ever, leaving a sweet memory of them on you yet a melancholic state as well. In common they have that they all will be remembered!
Some may stretch it as far even as opening a small gateway to their heart and revealing burdens or experiences in life, for the bliss of someone listening for the next 15min and just listening! Sort of Ï share my thought's with you and in return you share your if you wish".
There is something very honest and pure over exchanging life experiences with someone you barely know and end up spending the day or two with. I see it as sort of a quickie therapy session where the heart can rest afterwards.
I've been able to share moment's with some people that will last a lifetime! It so happens quite often that people on travel as well as myself are keen to listening to and meeting with other people and sporadic dinners and drinks will inevitably occur!
There is one person in particular I owe a whole blog to, but will mention here at least, as she really made an impact on me with that something in her personality with the days we spent together.
Nicola was her name and from New Zealand she is! We met in buzzling Hanoi and had a blast just spending time on travel, sipping coffee and trading life stories....as well as general BS!
Departing was quite sad of course, but imagine the joy 2 weeks later crashing into each other on the busy streets of Saigon! Like running into an old friend from years ago. Needless to say we spent the next days together and had a blast again!
More recently I got to knew Maria. Maria is a 50 year old Austrian lady, who never till she revealed it looked or felt a day older than 30! There was a nice click, like the one you'd expect on the lock on the door and we ended up spending 3 days together and even traveling to a remote island together and just laying in hammock and eating fresh sea food and chatting like two fat slags at the pie bakery!
Sadly these short stories remain just that, short stories and always but too soon come to an end as travel destinations differ. Quite sad when you consider you won't meet these characters again ever, leaving a sweet memory of them on you yet a melancholic state as well. In common they have that they all will be remembered!
Blissful I dreamed, blissful I got!
I arrived in Kampot on a somewhat cloudy Friday morning. The local bus dropped me of at the riverside road overlooking the river and some of the sweetest little eateries and shops in this town.
The first thing that struck my mind was sheer calmness of the streets, away was the buzz and insanity of the streets of Sihanoukville and Pnom Penh. My heart instanly knew there was something about this place that would cling on to one's heart and get stuck there like a loved one.
And I fell in love! I did....with the town that is. It inevitably is the calm that surrounds this town from the people to the traffic which is but dissolved leaving the streets a beautiful sense of calm and dessertion. The people offer you the honest of smiles where ever you go and can't help but strike up a friendly conversation loaded with intrigued questions and to exchange experiences and culture.
The man hiring me a bike couldn't help but smile when I returned on my bike asking for the lock to the bike that seemed missing, "there is no need for a lock" he said and smiled. Things here don't dissapear he said! And so right he was. Here you walk down the street and driver will strike up an honest conversation with you and not even mention of hiring the tuk tuk.
Now did I mention the town is covered in mountains and a beautiful river?
I am sure this is where the people rub off on that friendly , laid back attitude as the surroundings are flowing with karma just pouring down the mountains covered in green lush jungle, they make for an awesome sight!
Couldn't resist trekking up on one of them. Having arrived approx 1700m high up the Bokor mountain to the Bokor Hill station, I was rewarded with some breathtaking sights covering hundreds of miles and some rich yet cruel history.
Now the Bokow Hill station served as a French (bastards) colonial resort built in the 1920's by the Khmer slaves for the rich and powerful, later on overtaken by the Khmer rouge to serve as a stronghold and execusion site for some 400 000 innocent victims. Well you know the story if you bothered to read my earlier blogs =)
Today deserted and a ghost town, bearing the remnants of the cruel history through it's shattered windows.
I ended up staying 4 nights in this lovely town, where I found the sweetest of rooms at the blissful guesthouse (proper name) and the coziest of restaurants in Wunderbar, set by the riverside and covered in great big sofas and armchairs to sink in. I came back here every night for dinner and a drink as well as to chat with German- Swiss owner and the Khmer waiters. I apparently made the waiters day as I left a 2$ tip for the friendly service and the honest smile, explaining the next day that the average income is some 30$ a month so this meant a lot of money to him. Hah, so I tipped him another 2$ the same night again...doesn't seem right for me to be able to spend 5$ on a meal, when that same amount is a weeks wage to some! Oh and did I mention that from the next day I was his favorite customer....hmmm I just might return to Kampot one day. Can't help tp feel at home here so to say!
The first thing that struck my mind was sheer calmness of the streets, away was the buzz and insanity of the streets of Sihanoukville and Pnom Penh. My heart instanly knew there was something about this place that would cling on to one's heart and get stuck there like a loved one.
And I fell in love! I did....with the town that is. It inevitably is the calm that surrounds this town from the people to the traffic which is but dissolved leaving the streets a beautiful sense of calm and dessertion. The people offer you the honest of smiles where ever you go and can't help but strike up a friendly conversation loaded with intrigued questions and to exchange experiences and culture.
The man hiring me a bike couldn't help but smile when I returned on my bike asking for the lock to the bike that seemed missing, "there is no need for a lock" he said and smiled. Things here don't dissapear he said! And so right he was. Here you walk down the street and driver will strike up an honest conversation with you and not even mention of hiring the tuk tuk.
Now did I mention the town is covered in mountains and a beautiful river?
I am sure this is where the people rub off on that friendly , laid back attitude as the surroundings are flowing with karma just pouring down the mountains covered in green lush jungle, they make for an awesome sight!
Couldn't resist trekking up on one of them. Having arrived approx 1700m high up the Bokor mountain to the Bokor Hill station, I was rewarded with some breathtaking sights covering hundreds of miles and some rich yet cruel history.
Now the Bokow Hill station served as a French (bastards) colonial resort built in the 1920's by the Khmer slaves for the rich and powerful, later on overtaken by the Khmer rouge to serve as a stronghold and execusion site for some 400 000 innocent victims. Well you know the story if you bothered to read my earlier blogs =)
Today deserted and a ghost town, bearing the remnants of the cruel history through it's shattered windows.
I ended up staying 4 nights in this lovely town, where I found the sweetest of rooms at the blissful guesthouse (proper name) and the coziest of restaurants in Wunderbar, set by the riverside and covered in great big sofas and armchairs to sink in. I came back here every night for dinner and a drink as well as to chat with German- Swiss owner and the Khmer waiters. I apparently made the waiters day as I left a 2$ tip for the friendly service and the honest smile, explaining the next day that the average income is some 30$ a month so this meant a lot of money to him. Hah, so I tipped him another 2$ the same night again...doesn't seem right for me to be able to spend 5$ on a meal, when that same amount is a weeks wage to some! Oh and did I mention that from the next day I was his favorite customer....hmmm I just might return to Kampot one day. Can't help tp feel at home here so to say!
söndag 19 december 2010
From crazy to chill.
We managed to survive our first week in Cambodia, which can seem as an effort as you start to read down this blog. Been toxicated by the smells of Pnom Penh for two days we escaped quickly to the beach side city of Sihanoukville. A city bustling from tourism and tourism and more tourism. This was the first time I think we started to have some bad karma on our voyage, see we arrived late in the evening and it was raining....not the swedish gentle kind, but the asian monsoon in your face kind of rain =)
Didn't have much choice but take a Tuk Tuk (taxi motorbike) and point to one of the hotels in the Lonely Planet book. Getting there we managed to get the last room and that was just 5 sec before a couple behind us arrived looking for the same thing! So we checked in to "Monkey republic", yeah the name should have said it all haha...bungalows built on an inner garden, they seemed innocent and cute enough.
Sihanoukvilles power company (ever so corrupt) decided to cut the power every day in the city, saying it was a for a few hours but lasting the whole day (and night) anyway. So all the shops and hotels had to run on their own generators, which they did.....ah but not ours =) Well yes they did actually but just for the bar, leaving the rooms without electricity in pitch black during the night and without the cooling fan that is ever so needed, imagine trying to sleep in 50 degrees sauna...well you can't =)
Oh and as for the bar, it was apparently the place to be and the music, louder than ever went on for half the night and the thin planks of the room let in all the noice...not even the vodka and cheap Angkor beer could avoid that!
We met some kind (but strange) swedish guys at a local swedish bar (yeah they have that) on the beach and spent the day sitting there and talking, talking, talking.....they mostly talked about their 20 something girlfriends (age difference 40 years) and the local hooker bars that they loved. Can't say it was the most giving coversation I've had.......
We met with Nick's friend Anders (nice guy) and went to some bars in the night. Went to a place called Utopia which is supposedly one of the coolest bars in the city. We didn't even get around to order our first beers as two stoned out of their head guys started a fight, throwing chairs that med and Anders had to dodge from hitting our heads.....3 seconds later they pulled out a gun (or two) and started shooting each other!!!! People started to panic and run away, we took cover behind a wall, some people locked themselves in the toilets, just avoiding the bullets and hearing the gun fire in the background. After 10 min or so we ran out from there still hearing the gun fire a few feet from us! Next the local police came and what happened next remains a mystery!
Apparently Cambodia has the highest gun rate of all countries in the world and this is pretty usual happening, for me it was just retarded!!
So I guess you figured out by now what I think of Sihanoukville, just tourists everywhere and it is all about drugs, booze and hookers! All the 60 year old, fat farts walk with their 20 something hooker girlfriends.
I got out of town the next morning, Nick wanted to stay with Anders as they are friends and didn't meet for long. Me and myself took of to quiet riverside town of Kampot.
Didn't have much choice but take a Tuk Tuk (taxi motorbike) and point to one of the hotels in the Lonely Planet book. Getting there we managed to get the last room and that was just 5 sec before a couple behind us arrived looking for the same thing! So we checked in to "Monkey republic", yeah the name should have said it all haha...bungalows built on an inner garden, they seemed innocent and cute enough.
Sihanoukvilles power company (ever so corrupt) decided to cut the power every day in the city, saying it was a for a few hours but lasting the whole day (and night) anyway. So all the shops and hotels had to run on their own generators, which they did.....ah but not ours =) Well yes they did actually but just for the bar, leaving the rooms without electricity in pitch black during the night and without the cooling fan that is ever so needed, imagine trying to sleep in 50 degrees sauna...well you can't =)
Oh and as for the bar, it was apparently the place to be and the music, louder than ever went on for half the night and the thin planks of the room let in all the noice...not even the vodka and cheap Angkor beer could avoid that!
We met some kind (but strange) swedish guys at a local swedish bar (yeah they have that) on the beach and spent the day sitting there and talking, talking, talking.....they mostly talked about their 20 something girlfriends (age difference 40 years) and the local hooker bars that they loved. Can't say it was the most giving coversation I've had.......
We met with Nick's friend Anders (nice guy) and went to some bars in the night. Went to a place called Utopia which is supposedly one of the coolest bars in the city. We didn't even get around to order our first beers as two stoned out of their head guys started a fight, throwing chairs that med and Anders had to dodge from hitting our heads.....3 seconds later they pulled out a gun (or two) and started shooting each other!!!! People started to panic and run away, we took cover behind a wall, some people locked themselves in the toilets, just avoiding the bullets and hearing the gun fire in the background. After 10 min or so we ran out from there still hearing the gun fire a few feet from us! Next the local police came and what happened next remains a mystery!
Apparently Cambodia has the highest gun rate of all countries in the world and this is pretty usual happening, for me it was just retarded!!
So I guess you figured out by now what I think of Sihanoukville, just tourists everywhere and it is all about drugs, booze and hookers! All the 60 year old, fat farts walk with their 20 something hooker girlfriends.
I got out of town the next morning, Nick wanted to stay with Anders as they are friends and didn't meet for long. Me and myself took of to quiet riverside town of Kampot.
onsdag 15 december 2010
Wild West
Well, new country. new culture and new language. Great! well As always entering a new country is always quite nervwrecking for me. you have no idea what your getting yourself into and everything is new and scary. We got off the bus and felt like we were somewhere strange. I don't know how to explain the feeling but useally when I'm on the bus. No matter how horrible the bus ride is. I don't want it to stop. you see all these new places and all these people staring at you and you have no clue what you got yourself into. Luckily this feeling subsides very quickly and everything becomes fine once again.
Cambodia is a cool place. More dirtier than Vietnam but it has it's charm. It feels like you have entered the wild west and laws are abided but they dont have to be. They aren't as exploited as the other countries so it's always cool to talk to them. We were in Phnom Penh and man was it crazy. It has a mix between amazing and repulsive at the same time. you would walk to a park with wildlife (monkeys and other diverse creatures) where everyone is hanging about and then just down the road you would walk by a lady bar road with several clubs with dark tinted windows.
Now we have just arrived to sihounakville. Where I will try to meet up with a friend of mine and try to learn more of what their is to do. I do hope for the best...
Cambodia is a cool place. More dirtier than Vietnam but it has it's charm. It feels like you have entered the wild west and laws are abided but they dont have to be. They aren't as exploited as the other countries so it's always cool to talk to them. We were in Phnom Penh and man was it crazy. It has a mix between amazing and repulsive at the same time. you would walk to a park with wildlife (monkeys and other diverse creatures) where everyone is hanging about and then just down the road you would walk by a lady bar road with several clubs with dark tinted windows.
Now we have just arrived to sihounakville. Where I will try to meet up with a friend of mine and try to learn more of what their is to do. I do hope for the best...
tisdag 14 december 2010
Oh my, Oh my this is different!
I was going to do a blog about Vietnamese government and lifestyle but it's going to be next. Instead I need to write this about our current country we have landed in, Cambodia and Pnom Penh.
My oh my do I see a contrast to what we have seen so far! This city and the country is nothing to where we have been yet. I feel like I have landed in the middle of India, in a dirty, smelly and chaotic city as Bombay, seeing all the films and documentaries and reading books about India, this is the best comparison to make.
The is litter on the streets in tons! I'm not talking of pieces of paper only. You wouldn't believe the smells sometimes coming various things such as rotten meat on the street or trash bags thrown everywhere!
It always totally surprises you when walking down the street, enjoying the day and the wall of smell suddenly hits you haha =)
It does have it's charm though and there is something about this tuk tuk filled city, it could be the river promenade full of life or the kindness of it's people! See this blog is really dedicated to the people of this land and this city, I knew the history here is one of a kind but nothing could really prepare me for what it really is, told from the one's who experienced it only 20 years ago. I recommend you to wiki on this and learn of the saddest piece of mankinds history, The Khmer Rouge.
See somehow this party got the hold of power back in 1975 and within days started mass colonialisation of the entire country back to stone age! They're vision was to get rid of all that reminded of imperialism and to recall total communism on a level not seen before. The short version was that they managed to kill ca 3 million of their own people within 4 years and desert all major cities (yes the cities stood empty) and move people to the country side to work as peasants by force. All educated people were exterminated along with children, women even babies. And it is the way they did it that makes even old arsehole Hitler look like a nice old grandpa sitting in a rocking chair. They would just throw them on trucks, blindfolded and cuffed. The truck would stop at the "killing fields" and they would be killed instantly without question and killed in the most inhumane ways only, clubbed, axed or beaten to death with tools for farming. They did this to 3 million people of their own, who never did anything, even the babies had the same going.
It is sad history for this country, who is fighting hard to come back to democrazy. It has come far and it is a country of warm people who definetely know what to value in life! I am eagerly awaiting to see the rest of what this country has to offer! Tomorrow it is bus to Sihanoukville with sandy beaches and untouched islands for a few days!
My oh my do I see a contrast to what we have seen so far! This city and the country is nothing to where we have been yet. I feel like I have landed in the middle of India, in a dirty, smelly and chaotic city as Bombay, seeing all the films and documentaries and reading books about India, this is the best comparison to make.
The is litter on the streets in tons! I'm not talking of pieces of paper only. You wouldn't believe the smells sometimes coming various things such as rotten meat on the street or trash bags thrown everywhere!
It always totally surprises you when walking down the street, enjoying the day and the wall of smell suddenly hits you haha =)
It does have it's charm though and there is something about this tuk tuk filled city, it could be the river promenade full of life or the kindness of it's people! See this blog is really dedicated to the people of this land and this city, I knew the history here is one of a kind but nothing could really prepare me for what it really is, told from the one's who experienced it only 20 years ago. I recommend you to wiki on this and learn of the saddest piece of mankinds history, The Khmer Rouge.
See somehow this party got the hold of power back in 1975 and within days started mass colonialisation of the entire country back to stone age! They're vision was to get rid of all that reminded of imperialism and to recall total communism on a level not seen before. The short version was that they managed to kill ca 3 million of their own people within 4 years and desert all major cities (yes the cities stood empty) and move people to the country side to work as peasants by force. All educated people were exterminated along with children, women even babies. And it is the way they did it that makes even old arsehole Hitler look like a nice old grandpa sitting in a rocking chair. They would just throw them on trucks, blindfolded and cuffed. The truck would stop at the "killing fields" and they would be killed instantly without question and killed in the most inhumane ways only, clubbed, axed or beaten to death with tools for farming. They did this to 3 million people of their own, who never did anything, even the babies had the same going.
It is sad history for this country, who is fighting hard to come back to democrazy. It has come far and it is a country of warm people who definetely know what to value in life! I am eagerly awaiting to see the rest of what this country has to offer! Tomorrow it is bus to Sihanoukville with sandy beaches and untouched islands for a few days!
lördag 11 december 2010
One more country down....10 to go!!
Last night in Vietnam and spent in Saigon! It's been an awesome 4 weeks of travel in this beautiful and contrast rich country! Thought I'd give you viewers a conclusion on what I have seen and learned here.
We started our magic travel in Hanoi, well actually we still crossed the borde over to Lao Cai but this being a little, dirty town there is really not more to say on it's behalf. We just jumped on a night train down to Hanoi after being hassled by the local moto mafia and somewhat difficult and tired of her job ticket seller! Trains in Vietnam come in different forms, we grabbed a hard sleeper which means a cabin with 6 beds, 3 bunks on each side, window and table! Pretty cool if you don't mind the locals travelling with you and they usually see it the same way! Sleeping bag is good unless you wanna catch some bed bugs and get all scratchy and reddish =)
Hanoi is a nice, tranquil city that doesn't give the buzz of metropolis at all! It used to be fishing village just a century or so back, so it has certainly risen up a few notches! There are some nice lakes with surrounding parks and some nice old, colonial french architecture there! The old town is mostly invaded by local chip shops selling all kinds of crap, but there are some lovely cafes there to sit and rest on! A great place to stay was The Drift Hostel! Run by an australian girl, it was clean, modern and a great place to meet people at! We did have some Vodka buckets on those porches haha!
We got our 30 day bus tickets and started working down the (long) country! We got to Hue as our first stop, however this being yet another city, we felt that it didn't offer us what we needed in terms of relaxing and laying back! After being thrown back and forth in directions and a crazy ticket woman trying to lure us to her office, practically stealing our tickets, we finally got on the bus to Hoi An!
If you ever go to Vietnam, Hoi An is a must on your stop! A beautiful sea and river side town, built of old french colonial architecture, it offers some of the best food in Vietnam and tailoring for dirt cheap prices! We had each a shirt made (17$), Nick's was perfect fit but mine was just a bit badly measured and in the end left a bit big on the shoulders! Oh well, no fortune lost there and later on I got to hear some stories of really bad tailoring and down right scamming the tourists! In the end it is a bit the same everywhere, most people are just lovely but they do mostly see you as a walking wallet! Worst example is the street sellers, they'll do anything to sell you a pair of glasses for instance even though you have 2 pairs laying on the table already! It get's somewhat comic when one guy goes and 2 sec later another one comes and then on and on it goes 24/7!
We skipped Nha Trang pretty much, stayed one night as the town was just a bad copy of Phuket Thailand, dirty and full of russians! You know it's too much when the waitresses start speaking russian!!! So in the words of my good mate Nick, we got the hell out of Dodge and landed 16h later in paradise of Mui Ne!
We ended up staying a week (I left alone to Saigon before Nick) just really getting back energy, exercising and having some sweet night parties with locals and tourist at Joe's! Joe's is awesome, offering 24/7 open, free home cinema room with hundreds of films, lovely staff, live music and great vibe! Shit I think we went there pretty much every night! If not more than for at least kicking back and watching a film while eating huge baguettes and some Ice coffees!!!
Not much to see around though in terms of culture, this is a place for just lying on the palm tree beach. We saw the sand dunes, a bit like Sahara but yet nothing like it in terms of size, just a funny thing seeing the huge sand dunes in the middle of the green woods! Great to hire a motorbike for 7$ and jetting around....I think we did as far as 100km/h on them......mmm wackos!!!
Well I left Nick (sorry mate) a couple of days earlier for Saigon, I needed again the buzz of metropole and I had my plans for a tattoo! What can one say about Saigon, like smaller version of Bangkok...ad I love it! Neon signs virtually everywhere, skyscrapers next to old french inspired colonial buildings (talk about contrast), green luscious parks offering shadow from the 35 degree heat and a huge market selling tons of nick nacks!!!
The party seen there is huge! District 1 is main backpacker area and party area with bars and restaurants lined up! Had some crazy nights here before Nick turned up! It was easy to meet new people in the hotel and share experiences and you'd always end up going for a beer or a walk around town with some of them! You'd just sit down for a beer somewhere and suddenly start an all night conversation with the neighboring table and as time progressed there would land more and more people at the table until we all went to the next place! Dangerous though madames and monsieurs as buckets go for 2$ and contain 70% alcohol and not measured by the cl as back home!!
Got my cool (huge) dragon tattoo at Saigon Ink which seems to be the best place in town! Clean and thank god good at what they do it was an awesome experience for life!! As for now tattooing isn't so big in Vietnam as the locals (mostly elderly) consider it still dodgy and criminal to make one, so you could get half body tattoo for 200$ like petite moi!!!! If you can stand the exquisite pain that is!!
So folks, Vietnam has lots to offer whether you are budget backpacker or cozy romantic couple (think I'm gonna through up haha). Great food, awesome coffee (I'm addict), sandy beaches or mountains covered in jungle, budget shopping and island hopping! It is a same it is a country still rather closed, I'd open a hostel instantly if it would be possible as a western! Well maybe some time!!
Now it is of to Cambodia for serious culture andwonders of the world as well as some untouched islands in the south!! See ya!
We started our magic travel in Hanoi, well actually we still crossed the borde over to Lao Cai but this being a little, dirty town there is really not more to say on it's behalf. We just jumped on a night train down to Hanoi after being hassled by the local moto mafia and somewhat difficult and tired of her job ticket seller! Trains in Vietnam come in different forms, we grabbed a hard sleeper which means a cabin with 6 beds, 3 bunks on each side, window and table! Pretty cool if you don't mind the locals travelling with you and they usually see it the same way! Sleeping bag is good unless you wanna catch some bed bugs and get all scratchy and reddish =)
Hanoi is a nice, tranquil city that doesn't give the buzz of metropolis at all! It used to be fishing village just a century or so back, so it has certainly risen up a few notches! There are some nice lakes with surrounding parks and some nice old, colonial french architecture there! The old town is mostly invaded by local chip shops selling all kinds of crap, but there are some lovely cafes there to sit and rest on! A great place to stay was The Drift Hostel! Run by an australian girl, it was clean, modern and a great place to meet people at! We did have some Vodka buckets on those porches haha!
We got our 30 day bus tickets and started working down the (long) country! We got to Hue as our first stop, however this being yet another city, we felt that it didn't offer us what we needed in terms of relaxing and laying back! After being thrown back and forth in directions and a crazy ticket woman trying to lure us to her office, practically stealing our tickets, we finally got on the bus to Hoi An!
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| Hoi An |
If you ever go to Vietnam, Hoi An is a must on your stop! A beautiful sea and river side town, built of old french colonial architecture, it offers some of the best food in Vietnam and tailoring for dirt cheap prices! We had each a shirt made (17$), Nick's was perfect fit but mine was just a bit badly measured and in the end left a bit big on the shoulders! Oh well, no fortune lost there and later on I got to hear some stories of really bad tailoring and down right scamming the tourists! In the end it is a bit the same everywhere, most people are just lovely but they do mostly see you as a walking wallet! Worst example is the street sellers, they'll do anything to sell you a pair of glasses for instance even though you have 2 pairs laying on the table already! It get's somewhat comic when one guy goes and 2 sec later another one comes and then on and on it goes 24/7!
We skipped Nha Trang pretty much, stayed one night as the town was just a bad copy of Phuket Thailand, dirty and full of russians! You know it's too much when the waitresses start speaking russian!!! So in the words of my good mate Nick, we got the hell out of Dodge and landed 16h later in paradise of Mui Ne!
We ended up staying a week (I left alone to Saigon before Nick) just really getting back energy, exercising and having some sweet night parties with locals and tourist at Joe's! Joe's is awesome, offering 24/7 open, free home cinema room with hundreds of films, lovely staff, live music and great vibe! Shit I think we went there pretty much every night! If not more than for at least kicking back and watching a film while eating huge baguettes and some Ice coffees!!!
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| Mui Ne |
Not much to see around though in terms of culture, this is a place for just lying on the palm tree beach. We saw the sand dunes, a bit like Sahara but yet nothing like it in terms of size, just a funny thing seeing the huge sand dunes in the middle of the green woods! Great to hire a motorbike for 7$ and jetting around....I think we did as far as 100km/h on them......mmm wackos!!!
Well I left Nick (sorry mate) a couple of days earlier for Saigon, I needed again the buzz of metropole and I had my plans for a tattoo! What can one say about Saigon, like smaller version of Bangkok...ad I love it! Neon signs virtually everywhere, skyscrapers next to old french inspired colonial buildings (talk about contrast), green luscious parks offering shadow from the 35 degree heat and a huge market selling tons of nick nacks!!!
 |
| Saigon |
The party seen there is huge! District 1 is main backpacker area and party area with bars and restaurants lined up! Had some crazy nights here before Nick turned up! It was easy to meet new people in the hotel and share experiences and you'd always end up going for a beer or a walk around town with some of them! You'd just sit down for a beer somewhere and suddenly start an all night conversation with the neighboring table and as time progressed there would land more and more people at the table until we all went to the next place! Dangerous though madames and monsieurs as buckets go for 2$ and contain 70% alcohol and not measured by the cl as back home!!
Got my cool (huge) dragon tattoo at Saigon Ink which seems to be the best place in town! Clean and thank god good at what they do it was an awesome experience for life!! As for now tattooing isn't so big in Vietnam as the locals (mostly elderly) consider it still dodgy and criminal to make one, so you could get half body tattoo for 200$ like petite moi!!!! If you can stand the exquisite pain that is!!
So folks, Vietnam has lots to offer whether you are budget backpacker or cozy romantic couple (think I'm gonna through up haha). Great food, awesome coffee (I'm addict), sandy beaches or mountains covered in jungle, budget shopping and island hopping! It is a same it is a country still rather closed, I'd open a hostel instantly if it would be possible as a western! Well maybe some time!!
Now it is of to Cambodia for serious culture andwonders of the world as well as some untouched islands in the south!! See ya!
Saigon this, Bitch!
Well, here we are the last leg of our trip here in Vietnam. Very soon we will be heading into Cambodia, meeting some friends and enjoying the cambodian way.
I will miss Vietnam. From it's big beaches, friendly people, the little french bakeries dotting the land and all the people just lazing about living their lives.
Saigon is quite an awesome place. It is not that big but wonderful atmosphere and tons of crazy dashed into it. I haven't spent that much time here. James has had the pleasure to enjoy Saigon to the fullest. While I was lazing about in Mui ne and learning to Kitesurf. I have managed to see some of it. to the crazy markets, the army museum and all the two dollar buckets I could find. Today we will celebrate (and mourn) our journey by getting a little pissed face (not to much) and hanging out with the locals. This also means I have to try and learn my next language (cambodian) anew. And pronounce everything like an idiot. Oh well...
Not much more to write about. Other than I just recieved my final present from my colleagues. Another memory and tear jerk for me, to make sure I don't forget them. Rest assured I will not. And as much fun I have here. I will always have a special place for Sweden and I will return just so I can meet (and party) with you guys again!
I will miss Vietnam. From it's big beaches, friendly people, the little french bakeries dotting the land and all the people just lazing about living their lives.
Saigon is quite an awesome place. It is not that big but wonderful atmosphere and tons of crazy dashed into it. I haven't spent that much time here. James has had the pleasure to enjoy Saigon to the fullest. While I was lazing about in Mui ne and learning to Kitesurf. I have managed to see some of it. to the crazy markets, the army museum and all the two dollar buckets I could find. Today we will celebrate (and mourn) our journey by getting a little pissed face (not to much) and hanging out with the locals. This also means I have to try and learn my next language (cambodian) anew. And pronounce everything like an idiot. Oh well...
Not much more to write about. Other than I just recieved my final present from my colleagues. Another memory and tear jerk for me, to make sure I don't forget them. Rest assured I will not. And as much fun I have here. I will always have a special place for Sweden and I will return just so I can meet (and party) with you guys again!
torsdag 9 december 2010
Picture time no 2!!!!
And here come's an update on pictures from the past weeks in Vietnam!!!!! Enjoy !!
(Dont forget to read my getting tattoo blog before)
(Dont forget to read my getting tattoo blog before)
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| Mine and Nick's baby for the night, bottle of local rhum! |
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| Just another ordinary cashwithdrawal from the local ATM =) |
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| Yep we had some nights in Mui Ne!! |
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| Breakfest each morning, loads of fresh fruit! |
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| High command center in the 60's in Reunification palace |
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| Saigon |
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| Nothre dame - in Saigon |
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| Saigon |
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| Huge market place with loads of copies |
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| ICA, eat your heart out! |
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| Remnants of the war in Ho Chi Minh City |
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| Local car park! Or it could be the war museum =) |
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| Reunification palace, where the war ended and the US got kicked out of the country |
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| Some nice views |
Saigon Ink baby!!!!!
Right getting on this 5 month trip wasn't crazy enough, I had to go get a tattoo done in Saigon,Vietnam!!
It's been a long (almost prehistoric) dream of mine, that if I ever do this crazy trip (which also has been a long dream), I certainly will get my first tattoo done as a memory of it!!!
Now it being my first tattoo I had no idea what I was getting myself into....acting like blond bimbo Inga from Sweden my vision was to get a big black dragon lingering up my body, starting from my (yes I know, perfect) arse, over my lower back and turning over the side of my body and torso! Yeah I think anyone with some tattoo experience out there can see where I was heading with that idea =) To the exquisite world of mass pain!!!
So I looked up the best artist(s) in town, called Saigon Ink, sort of like famous american TV show Miami Ink, these guys were the shit!! They'd been doing it for years and had 2 shops and tv performances to back it up with!! Plus they did a really clean job....remember clean is half the tattoo!!!
So they drew up a nice dragon with my guidance, attached it to my body, where as I went "No I want it bigger, it's the only one I'm gonna get!!!" So they made it bigger hehehe
A girl tattooer said I was either totally dumb or masterly brave to do a huge tattoo going over the ribs and side...."He he heh", I thought, I survived 4 months lying in bed with arthritis, how bad could it be??!!
Truth now afterwards folks, do not make a huge tattoo in those places. THE PAIN WAS GARGANTUOUS, MASSIVE AND OUT OF THIS WORLD!!!! It was fine when they started filling in the contours with 1 needle, I mean it still hurt over the ribs.
However there is nothing I can give to caompare the pain when they start to fill in the tattoo, see they use a pen with 9 needles at once!!!!! Oh did I forget to mention it took 6 hours to complete!!! Longer than a triple by- pass hahahah. After 4 h of lying in one position with a small break in between, having to squeeze together every inch of my body and muscles from the pain of the needle, I was ready to give in! Just lying on the seat, sweating from the torture, aching in every muscle I couldn't concentrate on anything except the trembling of the needle and the 3 sec pause between the filling when he dipped the needle(s) in ink again!! At one point it got so bad (it really did) a second guy had to keep me down with force cause the pain made my whole body shake!!! To make it worse, at that point I felt he was working on the tail piece and soon would finish, little did I suspect when I suddenly felt the needle back on the rib parts...see apparently I have thick skin and he couldn't penetrate enough just once, so he had to go back again....OUCH!!!!
Aftermath:
There's a saying that after you get your first tattoo, you'll be wanting more! The guy who came up with that must been as thick as shit or eating "happy pizza" aka pizza with magic mushrooms (yes they have it here). The tattoo turned out really beautiful, even the tattoo guys were amazed and started taking pics, but remembering the pain I think im just gonna stay with my one big tattoo!!!
It's been a long (almost prehistoric) dream of mine, that if I ever do this crazy trip (which also has been a long dream), I certainly will get my first tattoo done as a memory of it!!!
Now it being my first tattoo I had no idea what I was getting myself into....acting like blond bimbo Inga from Sweden my vision was to get a big black dragon lingering up my body, starting from my (yes I know, perfect) arse, over my lower back and turning over the side of my body and torso! Yeah I think anyone with some tattoo experience out there can see where I was heading with that idea =) To the exquisite world of mass pain!!!
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| Filling in the contours in the beginning- Ok pain still! |
So I looked up the best artist(s) in town, called Saigon Ink, sort of like famous american TV show Miami Ink, these guys were the shit!! They'd been doing it for years and had 2 shops and tv performances to back it up with!! Plus they did a really clean job....remember clean is half the tattoo!!!
So they drew up a nice dragon with my guidance, attached it to my body, where as I went "No I want it bigger, it's the only one I'm gonna get!!!" So they made it bigger hehehe
A girl tattooer said I was either totally dumb or masterly brave to do a huge tattoo going over the ribs and side...."He he heh", I thought, I survived 4 months lying in bed with arthritis, how bad could it be??!!
Truth now afterwards folks, do not make a huge tattoo in those places. THE PAIN WAS GARGANTUOUS, MASSIVE AND OUT OF THIS WORLD!!!! It was fine when they started filling in the contours with 1 needle, I mean it still hurt over the ribs.
However there is nothing I can give to caompare the pain when they start to fill in the tattoo, see they use a pen with 9 needles at once!!!!! Oh did I forget to mention it took 6 hours to complete!!! Longer than a triple by- pass hahahah. After 4 h of lying in one position with a small break in between, having to squeeze together every inch of my body and muscles from the pain of the needle, I was ready to give in! Just lying on the seat, sweating from the torture, aching in every muscle I couldn't concentrate on anything except the trembling of the needle and the 3 sec pause between the filling when he dipped the needle(s) in ink again!! At one point it got so bad (it really did) a second guy had to keep me down with force cause the pain made my whole body shake!!! To make it worse, at that point I felt he was working on the tail piece and soon would finish, little did I suspect when I suddenly felt the needle back on the rib parts...see apparently I have thick skin and he couldn't penetrate enough just once, so he had to go back again....OUCH!!!!
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| My little baby!! (and I'm not talking of the easy go girl in the picture hehe! |
Aftermath:
There's a saying that after you get your first tattoo, you'll be wanting more! The guy who came up with that must been as thick as shit or eating "happy pizza" aka pizza with magic mushrooms (yes they have it here). The tattoo turned out really beautiful, even the tattoo guys were amazed and started taking pics, but remembering the pain I think im just gonna stay with my one big tattoo!!!
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| So it turned out fab!!! Me sooo happy!!! |
tisdag 7 december 2010
A little late Anniversary
Yo everyone, I know it's 4 days late but in truth me and James, have now been on the road for a month! So all you haters out there who thought we would only last for a month have lost your bets. Now its just you two monthers left. I can admit, it hasn't been the easiest time. We do quibble now and then. Sometimes he gets on my nerves and sometimes me on his. But we are preservering, we are steadfast and we bitch and moan all the time.
söndag 5 december 2010
"I wanna be a billionaire sooo f*****g bad"
Ok heres the thing, if want to know how it feels to be a millionaire go to Vietnam and visit the local ATM!
See you take out amounts in millions, well eh as longs as your not part of the locals hehe (rich bitch tourists) and it gets even funnier when the amount is pushed out in smaller bills, like when petite moi took out 4 million and got 80, 50 000 Dong notes....it feels like a thick book being pushed out of the ATM and no longer can I close my wallet (ok white man problem obviously)! It's even funnier when you consider all these notes are worth just a sad 1500kr......
Ok now to Mui Ne!
Yes in sunburn paradise we have lazed us for the past week, getting severely burned (naturally), severely drunk (obviously) and severely relaxed (finally) =)
Laying on the 5km beach in the heat, swimming and hitting the waves, eating fresh squid in all sorts and drinking looooovely Bia Saigon for 3kr!!!!
Scooting on motorbikes 90-100km/h (way too fast) and climbing on red sand dunes! Yeah they have these sand dunes here, they come in red and white/yellow, basically like having a small piece of Sahara brought to you in Vietnam (although I have been to Sahara and nothing can beat Big Mama Sahara!).
Found our local, favourite hide out to crash on a daily basis, Joe's, an awesome laid back french colonial building with a touch of Cuba in the floor tiles and green garden surrounding it! Joe's is a laid back bar/restaurant with some great ambience coming from live music every night, friendly staff, great food and the best.....a free home cinema room....oh and I forgot to mention all this is open 24/7 every day!!! Pretty awesome to sip on some ice coffee, have a huge piggy pork sub and just lay and watch a film (they have 1000 to choose from), till the sun goes up =)
If you people ever go to Vietnam, don't miss out on Mui Ne! It is perfect for a few days to cool down (or burn in the sun) and settle mind and soul to Nirvana level =)
Right so this sunburn boy is off to Metropolis Saigon tomorrow (miss the buzz), unfortunately dumping my ever so lovely compadre Monsieur Nick (just a few days), who is still doing some surf!
Getting a tattoo there, checked out 2 places.......I wanna feel the exquisite pain of the needle ahahahaahah
See you take out amounts in millions, well eh as longs as your not part of the locals hehe (rich bitch tourists) and it gets even funnier when the amount is pushed out in smaller bills, like when petite moi took out 4 million and got 80, 50 000 Dong notes....it feels like a thick book being pushed out of the ATM and no longer can I close my wallet (ok white man problem obviously)! It's even funnier when you consider all these notes are worth just a sad 1500kr......
Ok now to Mui Ne!
Yes in sunburn paradise we have lazed us for the past week, getting severely burned (naturally), severely drunk (obviously) and severely relaxed (finally) =)
Laying on the 5km beach in the heat, swimming and hitting the waves, eating fresh squid in all sorts and drinking looooovely Bia Saigon for 3kr!!!!
Scooting on motorbikes 90-100km/h (way too fast) and climbing on red sand dunes! Yeah they have these sand dunes here, they come in red and white/yellow, basically like having a small piece of Sahara brought to you in Vietnam (although I have been to Sahara and nothing can beat Big Mama Sahara!).
Found our local, favourite hide out to crash on a daily basis, Joe's, an awesome laid back french colonial building with a touch of Cuba in the floor tiles and green garden surrounding it! Joe's is a laid back bar/restaurant with some great ambience coming from live music every night, friendly staff, great food and the best.....a free home cinema room....oh and I forgot to mention all this is open 24/7 every day!!! Pretty awesome to sip on some ice coffee, have a huge piggy pork sub and just lay and watch a film (they have 1000 to choose from), till the sun goes up =)
If you people ever go to Vietnam, don't miss out on Mui Ne! It is perfect for a few days to cool down (or burn in the sun) and settle mind and soul to Nirvana level =)
Right so this sunburn boy is off to Metropolis Saigon tomorrow (miss the buzz), unfortunately dumping my ever so lovely compadre Monsieur Nick (just a few days), who is still doing some surf!
Getting a tattoo there, checked out 2 places.......I wanna feel the exquisite pain of the needle ahahahaahah
I'm too sexy for this blog
One thing on our journey we have come across. Is apparently we are some fine handsome bitches. It seems weird to hear it time and time again every time we strike up a conversation with someone. Heck, we don't even have to start a conversation we just need to smile and they start giggling. Now I have been forewarned that in Thailand everyone says that just so they can get to our money. So at first I was a little suspicious, but every time we talk to them and they say it to us. They have no intention of dating or wanting us to take them out. They just say it to us giggle and then are friendly with us.
Apparently what they find attractive about me is my big clear eyes with long eyelashes (what?), good facial structure and that I'm jovial. With James I haven't asked but we guess it's his blondish hair, rugged good looks and that he is a friend of mine (ha!)
Of course I use it to my advantage, by striking up a conversation with them and then trying to learn as much as possible about them, the city, their culture and some of their language. Of course most people here believe thats not the only thing I'm after. And I agree sometimes I don't always have the purest thoughts in my head. But I do know that the people I do meet, aren't that type of girls. The one here in Mui Ne which I have been hanging around with. Has driven me to the sand dunes, drank some coffee with me and than we went and visited her family at her house. No dirty things happening, just happenings.
Now of course you would think that we are not the only hot ones around. I mean around me their are tons of other backpackers, and to our standards they are much better looking. but when they are in the bars with us and we see them hanging. We don't see anyone giggling over them. It could be my over sized ego thats just trying to protect me by blocking it out. And I'm not with those guys 24/7 so they might get it all the time when I'm not around. But I just don't see it. Maybe it's because most of them are australian and no one likes them (sorry paul hogan).
Well that was a long rant about how handsome I am. And now I'm going to my room to gaze upon my reflection and contemplate on how beautiful I am.
Apparently what they find attractive about me is my big clear eyes with long eyelashes (what?), good facial structure and that I'm jovial. With James I haven't asked but we guess it's his blondish hair, rugged good looks and that he is a friend of mine (ha!)
Of course I use it to my advantage, by striking up a conversation with them and then trying to learn as much as possible about them, the city, their culture and some of their language. Of course most people here believe thats not the only thing I'm after. And I agree sometimes I don't always have the purest thoughts in my head. But I do know that the people I do meet, aren't that type of girls. The one here in Mui Ne which I have been hanging around with. Has driven me to the sand dunes, drank some coffee with me and than we went and visited her family at her house. No dirty things happening, just happenings.
Now of course you would think that we are not the only hot ones around. I mean around me their are tons of other backpackers, and to our standards they are much better looking. but when they are in the bars with us and we see them hanging. We don't see anyone giggling over them. It could be my over sized ego thats just trying to protect me by blocking it out. And I'm not with those guys 24/7 so they might get it all the time when I'm not around. But I just don't see it. Maybe it's because most of them are australian and no one likes them (sorry paul hogan).
Well that was a long rant about how handsome I am. And now I'm going to my room to gaze upon my reflection and contemplate on how beautiful I am.
lördag 4 december 2010
Do you ride the kite or does it ride you?
OH FUCK! what did I get into. so today I tried Kitesurfing and it is scary as fuck. Well technically I haven't been in the ocean yet but today I've expierenced the power of the kite. It started off early this morning where I met my trainer (Ralph) and an englishman named Adam. Since we were both starting at the same time and the beginning doesn't require one on one. we were partnered up. Ralph gave us the basics and let us try a small kite to test things out. after 5 minutes of flying and 1 1/2 hour boring safety lessons (which by the way are very important) the wind died down.
We resumed in the afternoon and Ralph thought that we were ready for the big kite. We only had it at half-length and man was it powerful. Adam and me were scared of flying that thing on the beach as again we only had a 5 minute hands on course with the other kite and this on dragged us litterly 6 meters(half strenght) if we pulled it a little to hard. We managed not to kill anyone luckily but unfortunatly the wind died. Bummer. Will see how it works out tomorrow.
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| Weee! |
torsdag 2 december 2010
Blackhole sun won't you come wash away the pain!
First of all, Ow, whiteguys (one persian who is very pale) and the sun do not match. Both me and James have both been badly burnt. Today was filled with sun and when you haven't seen in awhile you want to dive right into it. The pain is excruciating, and we weren't prepared. Luckily for us here in asia there is a cheap magical remedy that works for everything. Tigerbalm, the best thing invented by men, until you get it in the eye (why must i stick horrible things to my eyes!). But still awesome all the same.
Mui Ne is very cool, their is a bar here where it is open 24/7. So we know where to go after everything is closed. I've also booked a course for kitesurfing and tomorrow will be the day of reckoning. Hopefully I'm fit enough for it. James was more intrested in wind surfing so he will do that instead.
Thats it for now. I unfortunatly can't post pics yet as our computer has connection problems (suprise). but soon you will have a plethora of pictures to look at.
Mui Ne is very cool, their is a bar here where it is open 24/7. So we know where to go after everything is closed. I've also booked a course for kitesurfing and tomorrow will be the day of reckoning. Hopefully I'm fit enough for it. James was more intrested in wind surfing so he will do that instead.
Thats it for now. I unfortunatly can't post pics yet as our computer has connection problems (suprise). but soon you will have a plethora of pictures to look at.
onsdag 1 december 2010
The difference between us and them is we've got a boat
Mui Ne, A long beachstrip with a billion resorts on them. Luckily for us we went the right direction and ended up in the cheapest (but very clean) hotel there. It was raining when we arrived but we could tell this was going to be our place to stay. We have headed for a dip and the water is nice and warm. excellent. we have also gone and explored the surf shops to see if we might be able to kitesurf. Fun times will be had this week and it feels good that we have now decided on a place to settle down for a bit.
Vietnam words of the day:
xin chao = Hello
Nui am dom = I'm a good man
Nui am cumtao = I'm a bad man
Vietnam words of the day:
xin chao = Hello
Nui am dom = I'm a good man
Nui am cumtao = I'm a bad man
tisdag 30 november 2010
Wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round........
Ok, getting from Hanoi all the way down to Saigon and getting to see the whole coastline for 50$ sounds like a bargain anytime....it's only when you sit, or lie down if you wish, on the bus that you realise what you actually bought for the 50 bucks!
These are mostly overnight sleeper buses, taking some 15h between destinations, the beds or more reclining seats are made for asian man. Ahh now the problems start to arise slowly...Even for petite moi (171cm) it is cramped, I'd need to chop off my feet to lay full length. Now consider....umm..oh I don't know...say for instance my partner in crime Nick who is more 180cm trying to squeeze down on those seats! Doesn't sound bad enough yet for a 15h ride.....oh that's cause I forgot to mention the bumpy ride that is free of charge on the bus ride!!
See Vietnam don't do western roads ala smooth pavement, instead you get country side roads full of cars and bikes the driver constantly needs to avoid and the occasional dissapearing road in front of you (Fuck ouch!!), that's when you hit your head in the ceiling 2 am in the morning having tried to sleep for the past 3 h!! The bus drivers got a schedule so he doesn't mind much slowing in either, hell no take that bump in the road like a man!!!!
But wait....there's more! See you have bottom and bunk bed.....top can be fun, swaying up high looking through the window....that is if you have the time while trying desperately not to slide of the bed and land on the poor unsuspecting tourist beneath you!
Ok could be worse? Hey when in Vietnam...yes it could!!! See it is pretty smart to store up on liquid (means water and not what your thinking) before stepping on the bus, as well as remembering to drink it so you don't get dehydrated! Only problem is 3 am in the morning with 8h to go on the trip when you need to go to the WC....and it's broken!!!!! SOS, mayday....ehh help!! Ahh now you start panicking! Forget kamikaze hookers this is real pain!!!
Yes dear readers, when going on bus ride through thrid world country, consider these thoughts carefully!
On the good side I can mention that the buses are clean and the people they carry of mostly cheery and talky!!
These are mostly overnight sleeper buses, taking some 15h between destinations, the beds or more reclining seats are made for asian man. Ahh now the problems start to arise slowly...Even for petite moi (171cm) it is cramped, I'd need to chop off my feet to lay full length. Now consider....umm..oh I don't know...say for instance my partner in crime Nick who is more 180cm trying to squeeze down on those seats! Doesn't sound bad enough yet for a 15h ride.....oh that's cause I forgot to mention the bumpy ride that is free of charge on the bus ride!!
See Vietnam don't do western roads ala smooth pavement, instead you get country side roads full of cars and bikes the driver constantly needs to avoid and the occasional dissapearing road in front of you (Fuck ouch!!), that's when you hit your head in the ceiling 2 am in the morning having tried to sleep for the past 3 h!! The bus drivers got a schedule so he doesn't mind much slowing in either, hell no take that bump in the road like a man!!!!
But wait....there's more! See you have bottom and bunk bed.....top can be fun, swaying up high looking through the window....that is if you have the time while trying desperately not to slide of the bed and land on the poor unsuspecting tourist beneath you!
Ok could be worse? Hey when in Vietnam...yes it could!!! See it is pretty smart to store up on liquid (means water and not what your thinking) before stepping on the bus, as well as remembering to drink it so you don't get dehydrated! Only problem is 3 am in the morning with 8h to go on the trip when you need to go to the WC....and it's broken!!!!! SOS, mayday....ehh help!! Ahh now you start panicking! Forget kamikaze hookers this is real pain!!!
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| One of our beloved buses! |
Yes dear readers, when going on bus ride through thrid world country, consider these thoughts carefully!
On the good side I can mention that the buses are clean and the people they carry of mostly cheery and talky!!
Petrov and Crockett
Nha Trang, apparently a charter resort. It was confirmed to us when we arrived from the bus and entered the city. All the big hotels designed in the 80s everything was in three languages (vietnamese, English and russian) and a big beach. It felt like we entered a russian version of Miami Vice. We found a nice hotel (8 bucks a pop) and went exploring this new era... Not that much to see really. The waves were so huge they were scary, the city screamed "charter" everywhere we went. We found one place with a friendly waittress, and had alligator. I also needed my drug (massage) but all we found were the ones which we have been warned about (not good). So no dice. We decided also that nothing much was to see here so we booked to mui ne the next day. We are going to learn ourselves Kitesurfing! Awesome. Lets see what happens.
Pappa has found himself a new drug!
Ok, so imagine this: a small quaint fishing village, a river dividing the town and small boats here and there. Small streets with little vendors selling their merchandise by day, by night a place with life, music and romance just gushing. Fresh seafood and fruit shakes with only fresh products abound the restaurants and all for the low price of 15kr. Then when your done you take your little scooter and a 15 minute drive to the clear sandy beach for a nice little evening stroll. Then if your not tired then you can take a soothing body massage for 60kr.
That's Ha noi in a nutshell. A perfect getaway for a romantic couple who just want to enjoy the scenery and life. Everyone is friendly and not one frown can be found. It's amazing this place. To bad I'm a backpacker and must travel because I think I found my town. Oh well, I will go on and try my hand at the next place. Nha Trang, Apparently also a beach area with diving and pleasantries. Lets hope for the best!
That's Ha noi in a nutshell. A perfect getaway for a romantic couple who just want to enjoy the scenery and life. Everyone is friendly and not one frown can be found. It's amazing this place. To bad I'm a backpacker and must travel because I think I found my town. Oh well, I will go on and try my hand at the next place. Nha Trang, Apparently also a beach area with diving and pleasantries. Lets hope for the best!
torsdag 25 november 2010
Kamikaze hookers!!!!!!
Ok we ain't got a clue what the hell to expect once we get to beach paradise Nha Thrang but apparently you gotta watch out night time for beach cruising Kamikaze Hookers....??!! If they see you, I guess they put they're heat scensors on and make a quick dive on you and then you go SPLAT hehe! Yes people one of the big problems you need to look out for as a tourist if you go to Vietnam is the Kamikazes Hookers
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| KAMIKAAAAZZEEEEEEEE! SPLAT! |
måndag 22 november 2010
Picture time!!!!
| Picture time äntligen mina små vänner!! Hårt pressade och efterlängtade bilder kommer äntligen nu från första veckorna i Kina och den första veckan i Vietnam! |
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| Forbidden city in the morning |
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| Awesome architecture |
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| Quick Nick in Forbidden City |
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| Uncle Mao's glory |
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| Nick's Zoolander pose |
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| Donkey intestins and tongue at local donkey restaurant |
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| Chinese hot pot!!! The hot in pot comes the day after =) |
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| Amazing courtyards at the Lama temple |
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| Our funny roommate David entertained us everyday, here with a panda hat |
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| Everything is big in China, Tinamen square, roughly 30 footbaall fields in size |
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| Xi'an and the terracotta, approx 7000 pieces |
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| Scenery from train in China was at times amazing, mountain village |
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| People's park, Chengdu |
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| The cutest, fattest, laziest animal ever!!! |
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| HomoNickSapiens, extremely endangeroud species. DO NOT FEED! |
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| Tired to the bone at Lao Cai border China-Vietnam |
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| Dude's on the ship taking us to Ha long bay |
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| James Bond island from "The man with the golden gun" in sunset at Ha long bay |
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| Ha Long bay...fucking awesome as the dude in the pic |
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| Ha Long Bay, I rest my case.... |
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| View of Cat Ba island after trekkin up the mountains |
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| Cat Ba is so untouched and beautiful |
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| A little village we found on our motorbikes in the middle of nowhere! |
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| Like I mentioned, it takes your breath away at times. |
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| Ok se No.5....They eat dogs and cats...so they could have evolved to infants hehe |
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