We stayed in Hanoi an extra day partly because of plane connections and partly because we thought it would be nice to have a day "off tour." However the pollution is keeping us near the hotel except for meals which are a fraction of the hotel price on the outside.
The Cambodian and Vietnamese have their own monies but American dollars are accepted everywhere. We brought 150 one dollar bills as well as good bundles of fives and tens. It is amazing how many things can be purchased for one dollar.
If you want to visit Vietnam come soon. It is growing very fast and it is predicted that in 5 - 10 years there will be high rises and fast food, more pollution and traffic which is already bad.
The people are friendly and like Americans and are especially grateful to Bill Clinton for lifting the embargo against them in 1986, allowing the country to grow.
Visit a travel medicine clinic to be sure you are current in your immunizations and have some antibiotics for Montezuma's Revenge and others you might need. Bring asthma meds if you have them.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Day 14
Our water puppet show last night was very interesting. The puppeteers stood behind the scenery in waterproof boots up to their waists and manipulated the puppets via long sticks under the water. The puppets performed 11 scenarios of traditional life including fishing, horse racing and planting rice--all accompanied by a traditional Vietnamese orchestra.
Our French dinner was outstanding and beautifully presented AND very reasonably priced.
This morning was free and Chuck and I took a walk. The pollution here was giving some of us coughs and I was able to find some Ricola drops.
At noon the group headed for lunch. In the afternoon we took another cyclo ride. Unlike the last one this was not a pleasurable experience. We were in horrendous, noisy traffic (did I mention that the Vietnamese cannot drive without their horns?) The pollution was bad and because of the bad traffic we could not drive around the lake as planned. No notable scenery, we just circled the block.
Our final stop on the tour was a visit to the "Hanoi Hilton" prison where John McCain and other American flyers were held during the Vietnam War. No pictures today except the utility wires in the older part of town.
Our French dinner was outstanding and beautifully presented AND very reasonably priced.
This morning was free and Chuck and I took a walk. The pollution here was giving some of us coughs and I was able to find some Ricola drops.
At noon the group headed for lunch. In the afternoon we took another cyclo ride. Unlike the last one this was not a pleasurable experience. We were in horrendous, noisy traffic (did I mention that the Vietnamese cannot drive without their horns?) The pollution was bad and because of the bad traffic we could not drive around the lake as planned. No notable scenery, we just circled the block.
Our final stop on the tour was a visit to the "Hanoi Hilton" prison where John McCain and other American flyers were held during the Vietnam War. No pictures today except the utility wires in the older part of town.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Day 12
This morning we took a dragon boat ride through the famous Halong Bay which has a couple thousands islands. Unfortunately the weather was foggy and polluted from the coal industry in this province. Our trip highlight was a climb up to a very large cave on one of the islands. The cave was lighted by colored lights and looked like something out of Alice in Wonderland The cooler temperatures in the north made for a pleasant hike.
After the cave experience, we had one of the standard 9 course lunches. Nine is considered a lucky number in this predominantly Buddist country. We have had lots of different kinds of fish and the food is generally good and sometimes very good.
After the cave experience, we had one of the standard 9 course lunches. Nine is considered a lucky number in this predominantly Buddist country. We have had lots of different kinds of fish and the food is generally good and sometimes very good.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Day 11
This was a travel day. We took an early flight to Hanoi and then boarded a bus for a four hour drive to the Halong Bay area. We stopped at a pearl factory to learn about that industry and the values of different kinds of pearls (black salt water pearls are the most rare and therefore the most valuable.). More tomorrow.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Day 10 continued
This big "cooking" pot was for boiling enemies in oil.
The next event was a ride in a Dragon Boat on the Perfume River which was just a dirty river. The ride was mostly about shopping from the vendors inside.
Of course we also saw some pagodas and temples also.
After one of our usual 9 course lunches we ended the day at the public market.
Tomorrow we leave for the Hanoi Airport at 6:00.
The next event was a ride in a Dragon Boat on the Perfume River which was just a dirty river. The ride was mostly about shopping from the vendors inside.
Of course we also saw some pagodas and temples also.
After one of our usual 9 course lunches we ended the day at the public market.
Tomorrow we leave for the Hanoi Airport at 6:00.
Day 10
This day started out in an exciting way. The first photo shows us getting into our cyclos which are a single cabs powered by one peddler. Kind of looks like a big wheelchair.
Next photo: my driver is passing Chuck on the right.
Four happy campers survive the rush hour traffic.
We arrive at the Forbidden City which is similar to the Chinese version.
Note: the pictures never come out in the order I put them in but you can figure it out.
More Forbidden City. This is where the Emperors, wives, concubines and staff lived over the ages. One emperor had over 140 wives. Very few of the original buildings remain.
Next photo: my driver is passing Chuck on the right.
Four happy campers survive the rush hour traffic.
We arrive at the Forbidden City which is similar to the Chinese version.
Note: the pictures never come out in the order I put them in but you can figure it out.
More Forbidden City. This is where the Emperors, wives, concubines and staff lived over the ages. One emperor had over 140 wives. Very few of the original buildings remain.
Friday, January 6, 2012
Day 9
We left Hoi An which so far is our favorite place on the trip.
Our first stop was China Beach, the American R&R destination during the war.
Next we headed to Marble Mountains, a group of five small mountains made of.......you guessed it.....marble. There was a new elevator for those unable to climb the uneven, steep steps. We walked up to several Buddist shrines and statues built into one of the mountains. After our exertion for the day we visited a marble shop that crafted marble, jade and granite statues and furniture.
The Cham Museum was next and it featured carved sandstone statues rated to ancient Gods and Goddesses. This was rather boring to Chuck and me so we sat outside in the sun instead. We weren't alone.
Then we drove to Hue (pronounced "way") which was a former capital city. This drive of 100 miles took several hours due to the nature of the highway and the traffic. Here we will make our home for the next two nights.
Our first stop was China Beach, the American R&R destination during the war.
Next we headed to Marble Mountains, a group of five small mountains made of.......you guessed it.....marble. There was a new elevator for those unable to climb the uneven, steep steps. We walked up to several Buddist shrines and statues built into one of the mountains. After our exertion for the day we visited a marble shop that crafted marble, jade and granite statues and furniture.
The Cham Museum was next and it featured carved sandstone statues rated to ancient Gods and Goddesses. This was rather boring to Chuck and me so we sat outside in the sun instead. We weren't alone.
Then we drove to Hue (pronounced "way") which was a former capital city. This drive of 100 miles took several hours due to the nature of the highway and the traffic. Here we will make our home for the next two nights.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Day 8
After our flight to Danang we drove to the small town of Hoi An--population 16,000. The weather has cooled some allowing us a pleasant walk around this charming city which shares Chinese, Japanese, and French heritage.
Our friends Mary and Ike finally felt good enough to rejoin the tour after being sick for the last several days. Hooray! Several others folks have also suffered the tourist malady but we are all healthy now.
We toured with a guide in the morning and then had our first free afternoon of the tour. This town is known for its fine silk industry. Custom clothing can be made in a day but it takes 45 days for the silkworms to make their contributions.
Chuck had an old fashioned shave and a haircut, not two bits but $10 which is twice the price he used to pay when he was flying over here 40 years ago. What a bargain! I then had a foot massage and a hairdo for $15. Ahhh.
Our friends Mary and Ike finally felt good enough to rejoin the tour after being sick for the last several days. Hooray! Several others folks have also suffered the tourist malady but we are all healthy now.
We toured with a guide in the morning and then had our first free afternoon of the tour. This town is known for its fine silk industry. Custom clothing can be made in a day but it takes 45 days for the silkworms to make their contributions.
Chuck had an old fashioned shave and a haircut, not two bits but $10 which is twice the price he used to pay when he was flying over here 40 years ago. What a bargain! I then had a foot massage and a hairdo for $15. Ahhh.
Day 7
On Wednesday we drove to the Cu Chi Tunnels which the Communist Guerrillas used to ambush the US and South Vietnamese troops during the Vietnam Conflict. The original tunnel openings were only 12 by 18 inches. Chuck and I went down into a forty meter long tunnel that was not quite four feet high. It was dark and hot and required a lot of effort to walk stooped over for that relatively short distance.
We then returned to Saigon and saw the post office and Notre Dame Cathedral which were designed by Frederick Eiffel.
In the evening we flew to Danang in Central Vietnam.
We then returned to Saigon and saw the post office and Notre Dame Cathedral which were designed by Frederick Eiffel.
In the evening we flew to Danang in Central Vietnam.
Day 6
We arrived in Saigon on Monday evening and made it to our hotel, a very modern Movenpick where we had access to a scoop-your-own ice cream cooler three meals a day. Ice cream for breakfast became the thing to do. This was sanctioned by an 80 year old doctor who is in our group.
We started off bright and early for the Mekong Delta in the south and had another boat ride. We started out in a large boat and had to switch to small boats to go up the tributaries. The trip was pretty unremarkable. The temp
was about 90 and humid but cooler on the river. All of the houses in the delta are built on stilts because oh the frequent flooding. In town homes are built with two or three floors and when it floods furniture is moved upstairs.
Most all of our trips have stops for local entertainment and food, usually fruit and tea. Haven't seen any fried grasshoppers here yet. And of course there are always vendors giving us opportunities to stimulate their economy.
We stopped at another temple, this one Taoist.
The traffic never stops in Saigon. There are few traffic lights and street crossing is an art. Chuck likens it to a school of fish constantly moving around objects. It is interesting to see the women on their scooters with skirts and high heels.
We started off bright and early for the Mekong Delta in the south and had another boat ride. We started out in a large boat and had to switch to small boats to go up the tributaries. The trip was pretty unremarkable. The temp
was about 90 and humid but cooler on the river. All of the houses in the delta are built on stilts because oh the frequent flooding. In town homes are built with two or three floors and when it floods furniture is moved upstairs.
Most all of our trips have stops for local entertainment and food, usually fruit and tea. Haven't seen any fried grasshoppers here yet. And of course there are always vendors giving us opportunities to stimulate their economy.
We stopped at another temple, this one Taoist.
The traffic never stops in Saigon. There are few traffic lights and street crossing is an art. Chuck likens it to a school of fish constantly moving around objects. It is interesting to see the women on their scooters with skirts and high heels.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Days 5, 6, 7
I am back after several days of frustration. Google cancelled my email and blog because they thought I was the victim of international hacking. I had given up and was just keeping notes to blog when I got home, but this morning there it was again after a final text to Google.
We visited Tonle Sap, the largest bird sanctuary in the world and had a boat trip. Since the real estate market has not developed in this country, homes are still passed down through the generations and there are no prime lots for sale. Some of the homes are floating, and all the homes are serviced by vendors coming around by boat.
We fly to Saigon this evening.
We visited Tonle Sap, the largest bird sanctuary in the world and had a boat trip. Since the real estate market has not developed in this country, homes are still passed down through the generations and there are no prime lots for sale. Some of the homes are floating, and all the homes are serviced by vendors coming around by boat.
We fly to Saigon this evening.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Day 4
Since this is my first blog and I am doing it on my new iPhone, I am making a lot of errors that I cannot correct. Please be patient with me. I can edit text but don't know how to edit photos. I am learning as I go.
This morning we toured the main Angkor(city) Wat(Buddist Temple) complex. This complex dates to the 12th Century. Over the centuries the jungle grew over the complex and it wasn't uncovered until the 1860's. Angkor Thom which we saw yesterday dates to before Christ.
The pictures below reflect the approach to the central temple with a moat that measures five kilometers around, part of a bas relief showing the red color which the temple sported eons ago, and a "jungle temple" showing one of the buildings with living trees growing on the buildings.
Ike has a touch of Montezuma's revenge today so he and Mary weren't able to accompany the group.
This morning we toured the main Angkor(city) Wat(Buddist Temple) complex. This complex dates to the 12th Century. Over the centuries the jungle grew over the complex and it wasn't uncovered until the 1860's. Angkor Thom which we saw yesterday dates to before Christ.
The pictures below reflect the approach to the central temple with a moat that measures five kilometers around, part of a bas relief showing the red color which the temple sported eons ago, and a "jungle temple" showing one of the buildings with living trees growing on the buildings.
Ike has a touch of Montezuma's revenge today so he and Mary weren't able to accompany the group.
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