marcoasia 2004
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Vietnam (27 june - 10 july 2004)
living in asia
Last time I already wrote that I had something of a cold orso. Well, that has resulted in the fact that I haven't been able to do much things the last week. Just sleeping, relaxing, eating, watching tv and hanging around.
It started with a sore throught, getting a cold, getting red eyes and later a flue. After having had that for a day or three I decided to see a doctor in Na Trang and he gave me some medicine and did a check to make sure I haven't got any muskito illnesses. Fortunately it was just some infection of my throught and my eyes.
Today is the second day I've had my medication and am feeling a better than before. At least I had enough energy to walk around, do some shopping and staying out of bed all day. Still I will not make it too late today to make sure I will be back in my old shape soon.
Probably you've noticed that I like to travel trough after being somewhere for a day or four, so I did the same from Na Trang. After seen the doctor I took the nightbus to Ho Chi Min City (Saigon, also known as HCMC). Travelling all night in the busses here is not the best way to spent your night when being sick, but I just wanted to be in a big city in case my health would not improve. The flights where all booked, so better save a nights money for a hotel and travel through the night.
Not so many things to tell you all about my last few days.... We had a nice rainstorm here in HCMC, that was nice to see.., I've been hanging around in some more backpack restaurants here nearby my mini hotel and I must say... the staff in these restaurants do speak very well english, are very friendly and the food is ok but.... if you really want a taste of the east.. always go to the local restaurants... there it is hard to tell them what you want, but it is always an experience.. and a surprise on what you get or what you've been eating..
Only 9 days left... strange... I think that after being in asia for 4 or 5 weeks it didn't really felt like being here on holiday.. It felt more like living your life in Asia.....especially after being sick when you cannot act like a tourist, you can only do the same things when you would be sick at home...
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Water and beaches: Na Trang
I always love water and beaches. Eventhough I didn't feel to good the last days I just had to stay at the beach, so just hired a deckchair and stayed there lying, looking, eating, reading.
On the beach is also a watersportcentre and they have new equipment for rent. Also for surfing... This has been my passion for many years, but the last few years I haven't surfed anymore.
It seemed that the wind pickes up around 12.00 and is 3 to 5 Bft till 14.00 hours, if you are lucky.... Yesterday I was not lucky so even with my 6,9 Neil Pryde it was just playing around, but not for too long. Today was better and I could fly over the water again with this 6,9. Just like riding a bike... Only my arms feel different... Since they are only used to typing on a laptop lately ... But it was again a lot of fun.
Now I will go to a nice restaurant. A Vietnamese restaurant with french music and mainly the Vietnamese/French kitchen... Bon apetite..
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Not always for money
If you have the Vietnamese who have nothing to sell, they are really interested in you and that can result in some nice talks.
Today I was walking along the beach and under the trees in the grass sit all the Vietnamese people.The beach itself is very quiet here and some space is used for deckchairs where you only see "foreign" people.
Anyway, I like to look at the Vietnamese people to see what they are doing. Many look back with many interest and a smile. Many greet you too, so I really feel part of the people again. I also heared some people thinking I am Vietnamese.... Funny is that. Everywhere I go, where it is warm..., people think I have a background in that country. Spain, Greece, Italy, Thailand, Vietnam.....
Some 15 young man of around 17 to 25 where sitting, playing a guitar, singing and eating. It was around 11.30 in the morning. I was walking by,looking and smiling at them. One of the group started waving at me and invited me to sit down with them. When I actually did everybody was enthousiastic, they stopped playing and focussed all their attention on me. "where u from?", "what is your name?"... the usual questions out here.... They gave me beer and some snacks and tried their best to talk to me in English. When they heared I was from Holland, I got the same reaction as everywhere in Thailand and Vietnam.. "van Nistelroy" ... and "good football"... I had to salut with many guys and drink beer, so after a few I thought it was better to leave again and thanked them.
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Hello how are U?
Sometimes this drives me crazy here....
In Thailand I was used to it. The vendors on the beach and the motobike taxi's on the street, but here in Vietnam it is really annoying and sometimes too much.... You just cannot walk 20 meters without somebody asking you where to go or how you are... the purpose is all the same.. They want to show you around or sell you something.
Small talk just to be polight will result in a friend for life...(money) because then everytime they see you they will stop and talk with you again. Not because of interest but because of money....
The last 2 days I didn't feel too well. I had, and still have a sore trought and something like a cold... but it feels so trange saying that in this heat. Especially then I don't want to be bothered.
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Halong Bay
I just got back from a 3 day trip to Halong Bay and Catba Island. If you haven't been here, mabey you know the scenery here from pictures. Many pictures of Vietnam are with high rockformations coming out of the water, Halong Bay has hundreds of these small "islands" and Catba is a big one.
It does really feel like a tourist when travelling in these organised trips, but I had a nice group of people so we enjoyed ourselves. The heat was and still is just too much. On the boat or on the land, daytime or night you where just soaking wet from sweat. I always thought take heat easily, but sometimes it is even too much for me.
The first night we stayed at the boat and I ended up sleeping updeck. This is of course very nice everytime you wake up in the night and open your eyes, you see the stars, the islands, the floating houses on the water and the moon reflecting on the water. Somewhere in the middle of the night you can feel the humidity increasing and before you know it everything is covered with a thin layer of water. Than came some visitors.. some muskietoos in search of blood.... But not too many, so had a good but short night. Short because at the crack of day you hear the engines of the fisherboats passing by and the upcuming sun making it even more hotter than it was.
The second night we stayed in a hotel at Catba island, the airco was like a gift from heaven, but sometimes the powerfaillures even more frustrating...
During the 3 days I had great scenery, beautifull weather, good excersize and tonight I will stay in Hanoi. I cannot make it too late tonight, my taxi will pick me up for the airport at 4.00 hours in the morning..
Some guys of my group take the bus tonight to Ho Chi Min..., 40 hours by bus..... I am glad to have my ticket... Especcially with the airco's around here... some just give air and no co.
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