I heart Vietnam

I love Vietnam. Sure, the people are not the friendliest, warm, open people I expected. Sure, it smells retched in areas like something died, came back to life, died 100 more times, rotted and then had sour milk poured on it. Sure, I feel like I am walking into deaths door every time I cross the street. Sure, I got chased down the street today by an angry woman on a motor cycle after we just had a screaming match. But aside from all that I heart Vietnam.

After Mui Ne, Heidi and I went to Nha Trang while Leonie went all the way to Hoi An. We didnt really have any expectations of Nha Trang. We stopped more or less becuase we didnt want to be on a bus for 17 hours and go all the way to Hoi An. THANK god we stopped. I loved Nha Trang. We stayed at most likely the loudest hostel in the entire world, got zero sleep, but had a blast. I heart Vietnam.

Our Hostel like many of them in Asia had a travel agency attached to it. They sold a one day boat trip for $8 so we figured, heck why not. $8, including lunch, snorkeling, fruit, beaches, boats, views, and good people... sounds like a steal. A steal it was! It was gorgeous, great fun, huge lunch, awesome people, lots of swimming, live entertainment, (the crew turned into a band after lunch and we all danced on board) snorkeling, and best of all the chance to go Para sailing. I suppose my surf lesson gave me courage to try new adventures, so I sucked it up and for the low low price of $12 I went Para Sailing. The parachute had lots of holes in it, my life jacket didnt secure, the jet ski that comes to get you after you land in the water billowed black smoke, and it was a fairly dodgy operation, but totally 100% worth it. It was absolutely gorgeous being up high and seeing the mountains and ocean from a birds eye view. I heart Vietnam.

After a full day of sun and boat, and the lack of sleep from the noisy hostel the previous night, you would think we would be tired enough to sleep like babies on the overnight bus to Hoi An. Wrong! The sleeper bus was so bumpy, so crowded, SO SO cold. (I've discovered that the buses here seem to have two air con temperatures... Freezing, and broken. It is either hotter than Lucifer's casa, or colder than the coldest day on top of Mount Everest... no exaggeration). We slept abou,t oh... I dont know maybe one hour total from the 12 hour bus journey. Any one who has ever said traveling is relaxing is the biggest liar on the face of the earth.

Once we arrived in Hoi An, Leonie had arranged a hotel for us. We got to the hotel checked in, and the best part of the story is that a friend from LA was also in Hoi An at the same time. So, Laurenne stayed with us at the hotel. It was really nice to have a taste of home. Hoi An is known for the custom made clothing. So Heidi and I set out first thing to get some clothes made. We didnt do much searching around and we ended up going into a shop where some girls were coming out and they said they were happy with the result of their clothes. Good enough for me, let's go there. Well long story short... Look around first. Find the shops with the clothes on display you want, do NOT expect them to make something from a vision in your head. This custom clothing experience ended with Heidi being happy with her 5 items, and me being happy with 2/5 of mine, and REALLY unhappy with one. I was so unhappy with it, that I refused to pay, got in a screaming match with the woman in the shop, her picking up a huge ceramic vase and trying to throw it at me. I ran down the street, she chased us down on her motorbike, and instead of being killed in Vietnam by an angry 4 ft 8 inch tailor, I paid her the $200 dong (about $12) but I wasn't happy about it.

However, on the upside on Hoi An, it is absolutely stunning, Awesome market with women in bamboo hats selling lots of produce. Old ladies and children walking around with Chickens in their hands. Men, women and children harassing you to buy something for a good price. Very cheap. Knock-off Lacoste polo shirts and any other knock-off you can imagine. We got hijacked by a woman telling us to go to her salon for a $1 pedicure. A $1 pedicure??? How can you say no to that! So Laurenne, Heidi and I spent some time and got pampered. I heart Vietnam.

That night we went to dinner on the street at a street stall. Delicious meal. Met four french guys sitting next to us, and arranged to meet them out later in the night. After an AMAZING dessert at a cafe called Cargo (we went to this cafe 3 times in 24 hours). We went to a bar called Before and Now ( I think that was the name). There was a free shuttle leaving the bar at 11 pm to bring people to a beach party about 5 km away. We met some Canadians the night before who went to this party so Laurenne and I figured why not. It didn't matter I had to wake up at 6:30 for a flight to Ha Noi. After all, as she put it, "how cool will it be in 10 years when we say, HEY, remember that time in Ha Noi we said fuck it, lets go to a beach party with 4 Frenchies and a bunch of other backpackers?". So we went, danced the night away, and got back to the hotel at 4:30 am. Just in time for 2 hours of sleep before waking up to head to the airport. I heart Vietnam.

We got to Ha Noi at about noon. The flight was only an hour, and smooth. VERY much worth the $40 and the knowledge I wont be on a bus tonight for 15 hours.

Tomorrow we head off to Halong Bay for a 2 night 3 days trip. I can't wait. I am sure I will heart Halong Bay.