Vietnam

MONTH
January 2009

COUNTRIES
Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and Malaysia

SITES
Hue - Citadel, Hanoi – Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda, Presidential Palace, Temple of Literature (with the Hanoi Kids) and Halong Bay
Vientiane, Vang Vieng – tubing on Nam Song river, Tham Jang caves and Luang Prabang
Chang Rai – Hill tribes of Akha, Lahu and Karen, Chang Mai and Bangkok – Royal Grand Palace, CAT Building, State Tower, Lumphini Park, Baipai Cooking School, Atlanta Hotel, Brown Sugar Jazz Club.
Kuala Lumpur – Petronas Twin Towers, Batu Cave and Pulau Perhentian Kecil coral reef.

Wildlife: Black Eagle, Sea Hawks, Hunter Spiders, Jungle Cock, Giant Gecko, Monitor Lizard, Phosphates, Star Fish, Giant Clam and 100s of butterflies and tropical fish.

TOP MOMENTS
Being interview in the street by HTV (Hanoi TV news channel) on new years eve.

Taking on the very high rope swings and zip lines over the river whilst tubing in Laos.

Shooting a local hunters rifle that we met along a mountain trail whilst trekking.

Finding 1500 Baht on the floor – equivalent to 30 pounds – does not sound a great amount but in Thailand this would buy: 30 beers or 8.5 full body massages or 3 to 4 nights accommodation.

Northern Thailand Trekking in the mountain jungle and staying with hill tribes.

Staying on the Malaysian tropical island – deserted beaches, coral reefs and turquoise water – it was like the Lost island without the others and polar bears.

LOWEST MOMENTS

Deli Belly - It was only a matter of time in Asia. Laid up in bed for 2 days, trust me you don’t want the details. Chris lost 2kgs.

The moment the computer in the internet café wiped our entire cameras images (about 1000 / 5 weeks worth). The camera was showing – camera contains no images. Lucky later retrieved by a camera shop.

SCARIEST MOMENTS

Whilst hill trekking, encountering a massive spider sat in a web above the outside toilet. Also the many spiders around us in the caves. (Lil)

Across the top bridge between the Two Towers of the Petronas building. At 41 floors up at a height of 452 meters is not a good place for a person with vertigo. (Chris)

Climbing 3 km down a deep dark passage in a cave to reach a pool at the end. Alongside spiders as big as your hand, muddy pools, low rocks and stalagmites. (Lil)

Jumping off a very high diving board into a river whilst tubing in Laos (Lil)

Whilst snorkelling, trapped on the seaward side of a coral reef and not being able to find the channel back that we originally swam through.

UNSUAL FOOD
Pigs intestine (Chris) – a Thai delicacy usually eaten raw but cooked especially for us.

Jaew Bawng – Dried sweet / sticky Buffalo skin made with chillis.

Sticky bamboo rice – cooked and served inside a bamboo stick.

Fish head curry

Roti Canal – a nam bread served with curry sauce eaten cold for breakfast.

Coffee – super sweet and thick coffee served with condensed milk.

Mulberry shake – an usual flavour

Betel nut (Chris) – not technically food but a nut wrapped in a leaf with lime that is chewed in the corner of the mouth, used as a stimulant by elders in tribes and makes there mouths bright red.

Fruits – (new category)
Loganberry – a small lycee type fruit, very sweet.
Mini Banana – small sized more sweet than UK. Roasted on street BBQs.
Rabutan – Red spikey lycee type fruit, very sweet.

MOSTLY MISSING

Friends and family at Christmas and New Year

Chris’s Ferndale home cooking

MOSTLY HAD FILL OFF

Noodle soup

Loud bus karaoke music

QUOTES

‘Very good question Liannah’ – Homie, hill trekking guide

‘ Whilst we were in Laos we were invited to dinner at a mans house to eat some Quai. This means penis in Thai, not wanting to be rude by turning the invite down we questioned the menu of Quai. It was at this point, to our relief, we worked out Quai in Laos is actual the word for Buffalo pronounced Qway in Thai.’ – Homie, hill trekking guide

‘You are beautiful lady’ – Randon women, by the lake in Hanoi to Lil. (She has had this a few times in SE Asia.

‘Can we pay some money to get our 30 day visa’ – Liannah, inadvertently attempting to bribe the Thai boarder guard. He was having none of it.

‘Thy body is in jail
But thy spriit, never
For the great cause to prevail,
Let thy spirit rise for ever ‘
1942, Ho Chi Minh

‘Unity, unity, broad unity
Success, success, great success ‘
1951, Ho Chi Minh

SUPRISING FACTS (new category)

Vietnam is the worlds second largest coffee producer.

Laos is the most bombed country per capita (30% failed to detonate) and has the largest amount of unexploded land mines.

Malaysia produces massive amounts of crude and palm oil.

Thailand’s love and respect for the Monarchy especially the King is taken to the extreme. Its illegal to step on money or lick stamps / before movies and at bus and train stations the national anthem is played and you are expected to stand with your arms by your side / every home, restaurant, street and vehicle has a picture of the king and queen.

FISH CAUGHT
Zero – a very sad month for Chris – fishing only once and entire boat blanked.

MOSI BITES
A constant 2-3. A peak in the amount when we were attacked in the Malaysian jungle including 2 ant bites for Lil, one on the eye lid.

TAN
An even caramel brown. Time on the beach has eliminated farmer tan.

NEXT ON AGENDA

South Thailand Islands, Indonesia and Oz

See Vietnam photos on our flatmate Tom's site. Copy and paste link below:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tomgurney/sets/72157611704166587/