Happy New Year to you all!! I hope you had a fantastic new years eve what ever you did!
Sorry for not writing here for a few days but the Internet out on the coast was so painfully slow and the power had a habit of dying!! After trying a couple of times to do the blog and loosing all the information i gave up!
Anyhow i know i have had emails from everyone telling me how cold it is around Europe and all i can say is i have not been able to wear jeans for 12 days! Sorry about that but it has been really good here and i have been really lucky with the weather as its been raining virtually everywhere except where i am.
The beach at Mui Nee was fantastic and i had a bungalow on the beach for 29 dollars a night which was really cool. I spent xmas with 2 German girls that i met in Hanoi, Dorothee and Hellei (i bet i have not spelt the names right!.. sorry girls!), the girls booked me in to their xmas dinner on xmas eve which was really nice 5 course meal with champers and wine. I did not know that the main celebratory day is xmas eve for them, every day is a school day! There was an old guy sat by himself so the girls invited him over, he was Danish and spoke good english, especially for a 79 year old! Funny we were the youngest people there and were the only ones to invite him over. The food was followed by a beach bar party which funnily enough ouver did not join us for! Girls i have to say that xmas eve was the best night in wax bar as the other nights did not get close!
Christmas day was spent on the beach and i had my first Kite boarding lesson which was good fun, just not as much as boxing day when i was let loose in the sea with the kite. When you get it right the kite just pulls you clean out the water and you skim along the surface, it was so much fun (i hope the girls pictures come out, they had great fun laughing at me as my face was red from the sun, i had a red top on and a red crash hat!! hmmm sexy!). I managed by the end of my 5 hours to stand up on the board and go for about 5 secs before i piled into the sea again but wow that was a fast 5 secs!
Must admit i have done nothing really for 4 days but chill out and catch the sun and surf (body boarding was good fun).
Left yesterday to come to Saigon and came with an amarican girl that i met in Sapa and we went out and partied last night we ended up dancing in the main park of Saigon to a live music concert which was really good fun! We started dancing ( i am rubbish by the way ) but we ended up with a crowd of about 40 people watching which was weird, but we did get a lot of them dancing as well!!
Got a couple of the guys from the beach coming to Saigon tonight so were all going out for dinner somewhere nice as we all go our separate ways tomorrow. I have a Mekong Delta trip for the day tomorrow and the to the Tunnels the next day. After that i then go to Cambodia for the next part of the trip, so all sort of going to plan at the moment!
Anyhow thats all the news for now, so i hope everyone had a great time last night and not suffering too much today and 2009 brings luck and happiness!
Mike
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Christmas Day!!!!
Morning All.....
Well its xmas morning and i have made it Mui Nea down on the Souheast coast of Vietnam. I am very lucky here today as the weather was not good yesterday (not major problem as i was traveling on a bus for 5 hours), Its blue skies 31 Deg and 10 am. Sat right next to the beach, it certainly is a strange way to spend xmas day, funnily enough it does not feel like it!!
I went diving in Nha Trang but ended up being very disappointed as i was looking forward to seeing so many things but the area has been over fished and with no controls on fishing its all going. The reef has been really badly damaged where the fishermen have used TNT in the past to catch the fish and destroyed large sections of it. The dive centers are trying to to get the government aware but its an up hill struggle and will be too late.
Nha Trang was a laugh I hired a motorbike and went north up the coast and found the smoothest road in Vietnam. Along though in the bays were brand new developments going in so it will not be long before its a package holiday resort on this coast area. I have made it here just in time before major tourism takes off, its a shame to see how much it changes places, but it does give people money and jobs. Past the development though were some great fishing villages who obviously do not see many westerners as i was a real novelty there, will try to get some pics on face book later. These 2 boys were trying to talk to me and they only new hello in english and thats about all i know in Vietnames, but drawing things you can really comunicate. Its still the maddest place in the world to ride a bike but with 82 million bikes you can understand why. Saigon is apparently worse than Hanoi so looking forward to that chaos!
I have met loads of pepole while trekking around and had a really nice meal last night with 2 German girls that i have met. Xmas eve for them is the biggest day and had booked into a resort for a few days as a treat! I have been used to spending about 50,000 to 100,000 dong for meals (2-4 pounds), but last night was $50 US with champagne, wine and a 5 course meal. Fantastic value in our world but massively expensive here but hey its xmas and its worth it. Going to spend the day with them today, hopefully sun lounger reserved with towel on it already! (well they are German..... ha ha).
The next few days will be fun as lots of people are working there way here so some good party nights in front of me (had a good one at a club on the beach last night and ended up skinny dipping with a load of people, and the water was still really warm (so not too embarrassing getting back out!!).
Going to go and have a go a kite surfing over the next few days so will let you know how that goes!
Have a great Christmas everyone and i hope you have a fantastic time over the festive season, must admit yesterday I was missing seeing everyone and not being around today. On the other hand i do have a beach in front of me with my name on it!
Enjoy all the festive telly as what is on over here is sooooo bad that even having on in the background is not good news, i dont think any Emmey awards are coming this way soon. Oh by the way apparently Top Gear xmas special is on and they filmed it in Vietnam!!
See you all soon and happy xmas!
Mike x
Well its xmas morning and i have made it Mui Nea down on the Souheast coast of Vietnam. I am very lucky here today as the weather was not good yesterday (not major problem as i was traveling on a bus for 5 hours), Its blue skies 31 Deg and 10 am. Sat right next to the beach, it certainly is a strange way to spend xmas day, funnily enough it does not feel like it!!
I went diving in Nha Trang but ended up being very disappointed as i was looking forward to seeing so many things but the area has been over fished and with no controls on fishing its all going. The reef has been really badly damaged where the fishermen have used TNT in the past to catch the fish and destroyed large sections of it. The dive centers are trying to to get the government aware but its an up hill struggle and will be too late.
Nha Trang was a laugh I hired a motorbike and went north up the coast and found the smoothest road in Vietnam. Along though in the bays were brand new developments going in so it will not be long before its a package holiday resort on this coast area. I have made it here just in time before major tourism takes off, its a shame to see how much it changes places, but it does give people money and jobs. Past the development though were some great fishing villages who obviously do not see many westerners as i was a real novelty there, will try to get some pics on face book later. These 2 boys were trying to talk to me and they only new hello in english and thats about all i know in Vietnames, but drawing things you can really comunicate. Its still the maddest place in the world to ride a bike but with 82 million bikes you can understand why. Saigon is apparently worse than Hanoi so looking forward to that chaos!
I have met loads of pepole while trekking around and had a really nice meal last night with 2 German girls that i have met. Xmas eve for them is the biggest day and had booked into a resort for a few days as a treat! I have been used to spending about 50,000 to 100,000 dong for meals (2-4 pounds), but last night was $50 US with champagne, wine and a 5 course meal. Fantastic value in our world but massively expensive here but hey its xmas and its worth it. Going to spend the day with them today, hopefully sun lounger reserved with towel on it already! (well they are German..... ha ha).
The next few days will be fun as lots of people are working there way here so some good party nights in front of me (had a good one at a club on the beach last night and ended up skinny dipping with a load of people, and the water was still really warm (so not too embarrassing getting back out!!).
Going to go and have a go a kite surfing over the next few days so will let you know how that goes!
Have a great Christmas everyone and i hope you have a fantastic time over the festive season, must admit yesterday I was missing seeing everyone and not being around today. On the other hand i do have a beach in front of me with my name on it!
Enjoy all the festive telly as what is on over here is sooooo bad that even having on in the background is not good news, i dont think any Emmey awards are coming this way soon. Oh by the way apparently Top Gear xmas special is on and they filmed it in Vietnam!!
See you all soon and happy xmas!
Mike x
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Well just got back from Sapa the place was amazing, i was out on a biking tour yesterday and done about 40km up and down the terraces valleys. I was the only one with the guide so we could stop when ever we wanted and not worry about anything. The place is stunning and the terraces for the rice are in there thousands and some are up to 100 years old. Where i went there were hardly any tourists in the valley so it was still really basic, will upload some pictures as soon as i can to facebook. The town though i feel is going to be ruined soon as so many new buildings are being made with big hotels, but thats progress i suppose, the downside.
Got a flight at 1400 to Nha Trang so got a few hours to kill in Hanoi now, so will go and have a look around its only 0620!
Catch up in a few days and hopefully would have done some diving by then!
I have a mobile number here so you can use that 008401665465073 for texts.
Bye for now.
Got a flight at 1400 to Nha Trang so got a few hours to kill in Hanoi now, so will go and have a look around its only 0620!
Catch up in a few days and hopefully would have done some diving by then!
I have a mobile number here so you can use that 008401665465073 for texts.
Bye for now.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Sapa
Well i have been to Halon bay and it was fantastic as there were very few tourists because of the credit crunch and Bangkok airport problems. It was really beautiful and the sunrise in the morning was well worth getting up at 6am for. Traveled back to Hanoi and my travel agent took me to a market street for food as i had to wait for 5 hours to get my train to Sapa. Before going she asked if i could ride a motorbike and the next thing i was riding through Hanoi in rush hour traffic what a laugh! food was great as well which was a major bonus and really cheap when you know where to go. Got the sleeper train to Sapa last night and managed to get some really good sleep so this morning when i got here, i was wide awake. I have been trekking today and been with the mountain people it really humbles you when you see these people with nothing. The weather has been really good so my luck is holding for the moment and will hopefully stay tomorrow for my mountain biking through the mountains. The paddy field terraces that are on the sides of the hills are something amazing and hopefully my pictures will do them some justice.
Will get the night train back to Hanoi tomorrow and then will get a flight to Nha Trang down on the coast to do some diving hopefully. Well thats all for now folks so hope all is good with you and catch up in a few days!!!!!!!!!
M
Will get the night train back to Hanoi tomorrow and then will get a flight to Nha Trang down on the coast to do some diving hopefully. Well thats all for now folks so hope all is good with you and catch up in a few days!!!!!!!!!
M
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
HANOI OI OI
Hi all
Well i have spent a couple of days now in Hanoi and its the maddest city i have ever been in, the traffic the noise, smells of food. I had a tin of bravery and sat on the street tonight eating dinner, i will know in a couple of hours if it was a good idea or not, food tasted good though!
Off to Halon Bay tomorrow for 2 days on a Chinese junk boat and then go to a place called sapa which is in the north in the mountains using a night train. It looks amazing in pictures and i have a day booked mountain biking there, which is going to be great. I have got to use the night train back again so not sure what condition i will be in for lack of sleep when i get back to Hanoi! Then i fly down to Nha Trang.
That's about the plan so far aiming to be at a place called Mui Ne for the beach and xmas day and then Ho Chi Ming City fir new year!
Tried to upload a couple of pics, but this programme will let me do it, sorry all i will put them on my face book page!
Till the next one.........
Well i have spent a couple of days now in Hanoi and its the maddest city i have ever been in, the traffic the noise, smells of food. I had a tin of bravery and sat on the street tonight eating dinner, i will know in a couple of hours if it was a good idea or not, food tasted good though!
Off to Halon Bay tomorrow for 2 days on a Chinese junk boat and then go to a place called sapa which is in the north in the mountains using a night train. It looks amazing in pictures and i have a day booked mountain biking there, which is going to be great. I have got to use the night train back again so not sure what condition i will be in for lack of sleep when i get back to Hanoi! Then i fly down to Nha Trang.
That's about the plan so far aiming to be at a place called Mui Ne for the beach and xmas day and then Ho Chi Ming City fir new year!
Tried to upload a couple of pics, but this programme will let me do it, sorry all i will put them on my face book page!
Till the next one.........
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Hong Kong Fooood!!!
Hi all
Well so much for being well behaved and not partying to hard, both nights i have made it back to my hotel at 6 in the morning. This is such a party town, been to Stanley today with the beaches to chill a little. Tonight its Kowloon to get a couple of things and do the tourist thing for pics.
Anyhow that's about it for now, off to Hanoi tomorrow so next blog will be from Vietnam!
M
Well so much for being well behaved and not partying to hard, both nights i have made it back to my hotel at 6 in the morning. This is such a party town, been to Stanley today with the beaches to chill a little. Tonight its Kowloon to get a couple of things and do the tourist thing for pics.
Anyhow that's about it for now, off to Hanoi tomorrow so next blog will be from Vietnam!
M
Friday, December 12, 2008
Hong Kong Fooey!!
Hello boys and girls!
Well i have made it on the first part and in HKG, it was about 20 degrees last night which means t-shirt the whole time wahaayy!
Staying in a really cool little funky hotel for about 70.00 a night which is bloody good on hong kong island it is probably going to be the best accommodation i am going to have in the next few weeks!. Was out in town last night and got in about 0530 this morning after meeting loads of x pats on xmas parties and met a guy during random conversation from fishponds (bristol people will understand) he was dressed as elvis!
Well going to be a tourist now and go for a wander around, but i do have a birthday party to go to tonight! Not bad going for 6 hours on the island.
Anyhow hope your all good and will catch up with you later!
To Harry, Archie and Tommy i hope you guys are being cool as you know you want santa to come, i am sure i saw him here last night getting some shopping, might of even been getting some gadgets for you! love uncs!
M x
Well i have made it on the first part and in HKG, it was about 20 degrees last night which means t-shirt the whole time wahaayy!
Staying in a really cool little funky hotel for about 70.00 a night which is bloody good on hong kong island it is probably going to be the best accommodation i am going to have in the next few weeks!. Was out in town last night and got in about 0530 this morning after meeting loads of x pats on xmas parties and met a guy during random conversation from fishponds (bristol people will understand) he was dressed as elvis!
Well going to be a tourist now and go for a wander around, but i do have a birthday party to go to tonight! Not bad going for 6 hours on the island.
Anyhow hope your all good and will catch up with you later!
To Harry, Archie and Tommy i hope you guys are being cool as you know you want santa to come, i am sure i saw him here last night getting some shopping, might of even been getting some gadgets for you! love uncs!
M x
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Well its Friday 5 th Dec and i am still having problems getting my Vietnam visa sorted with the embassy, at this rate i will not be going anywhere!! God i hate red tape.
1 week to go and i will be on the flight to Hong Kong!!
3 days in HKG and catching up with the sven while there, so no doubt i will be slightly worse for wear!
The following Monday will be flying to Hanoi 15th Dec and then returning to HKG from Hanoi on the 15th of Jan and thats all that is organise so far!
1 week to go and i will be on the flight to Hong Kong!!
3 days in HKG and catching up with the sven while there, so no doubt i will be slightly worse for wear!
The following Monday will be flying to Hanoi 15th Dec and then returning to HKG from Hanoi on the 15th of Jan and thats all that is organise so far!
Friday, November 28, 2008
Tester!
Well this is my first ever blog so better check that i have set this up right! I suppose i should wright something poignant at this point, so....... bollocks!!! it's the one word that makes me grin when i hear girls say it...... (i don't even know if i am allowed to swear here!).
Well I am setting this up so you merry people can find out where and what i am doing during the festive cheer season..... hopefuly on a beach on xmas day and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) for new year? Who knows, will make it up as i go.
Well I am setting this up so you merry people can find out where and what i am doing during the festive cheer season..... hopefuly on a beach on xmas day and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) for new year? Who knows, will make it up as i go.
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