Nha Trang, Hoi An, Hanoi and Sapa.
Alright, left Saigon and took the sleeper bus to Nha Trang. Got in touch with my friend Uyen who moved from Saigon to Nha Trang. She's a total sweet heart. Hung out with her and her friends Hien, Ly. Also met Lich. Justin and I spent 2 days on the beach hanging out with beautiful Vietnamese girls. Tough life.
Ly apparently likes American's and crushed on me. Wrote "Ly likes Burn" in the sand. I thought it was cute....International heart breaker.
Got a bit sun burnt. But, comes with the territory. Nha Trang is much nicer and cleaner beach than Vung Tau. In many aspects, I'm glad to be done with the Saigon chapter. Although, I wish I had gotten a jacket custom tailored. However, I did have a suit custom tailored. About the same price it costs to rent one in the states. Should be a crime to look this good.
Neway. After kicking it in Nha Trang on the beach I cruised to Hoi An. Didn't do much touring, mainly slept in from all the traveling. The bus ride there was insanity, winding roads up in the coastal mountains with a bunch of big trucks on a two lane road passing each other narrowly missing. Justin was hilarious, we were in the back 4 pack part of the sleeper bus and Justin grabs my finger and shows me a giant screw pointed into his side. He then tells me that Ho Chi Minh next to him keeps pushing him into the screw. I about lost it laughing.
In Hoi An, it was the anniversary of my Dad's death. After getting a bunch of rest, Justin and I went out for an amazing dinner with pork and noodles and then proceeded to a bar on the canal. Ordered a couple rounds of Jameson shots and began to walk home. On our walk home we stopped and talked to some Vietnamese dudes. Real friendly. They ended up giving us a ride back to our hotel on their motorbike. Sat on the balcony and shed a few tears with Justin about my Dad.
Next day took a car to Da Nang and flew from there to Hanoi. Ms. Lien picked us up from the airport and within 2 hours she had me hooked up with a free motorbike for the whole month I'm here. Pretty awesome! In return I had the breaks changed on the motorbike (for my own safety, cuz I like to drive fast and they were a little sluggish). Also had a few other issues with the motorbike (horn stopped working and got a flat tire). Took to Lien's mechanic and he fixed it all for free. What a nice guy! Aside from those few issues the motorbike runs like a champ. Better than mine in Saigon. But, I still miss MY motorbike. My made in Thailand Damsel.
Hanoi is a very beautiful city. I really like the personality of this city and all the lakes. Similar to Saigon, everyone comes out at night to walk around the lakes. Although, the food isn't as good and the people aren't as friendly. I'd also say there is a higher ratio of beautiful women in Saigon. Not that Hanoi doesn't have hotties. I can also tell the difference in accent. A lot more Z sounds instead of dễ thương sounds like yay too-ung here it sounds like zay too-ung. Or instead of Ôi troi ơi sounds like oi troy oi, instead they say oi zoy oi. There are a number of other differences I've picked up on with the accent.
Going to have LASIK done for half the price it is in the United States, if not more. Pretty excited to not have to wear glasses or contacts again. I went to the eye doctor here with Lien's friend Lan. Did all the pre screening and tests for LASIK eye surgery. Going to have that done on Monday. Lan is going to go with me to help translate again on Monday. In return I'm helping her with her resume. Lan and I have also hung out a couple of other times. Also randomly met this German girl, Christine, and invited her to come have dinner with Lan, Lan's friend, and I. Ran into her a few times...she's doing Human Rights work here after living in Columbia for the last 6 years. Gotta love the international experiences.
Yesterday, Lien, Justin, and Lien's coworker (can't remember her name - I know that's bad) all hopped on the nice sleeper train and came up to the Northwest part of Vietnam to a place called Sapa. Very beautiful valley with huge mountains. Rice terraces and ethnic hill tribe people. Staying at a 4 star hotel. Been hanging out playing pool waiting for our rooms to become available. We'll be here till Sunday when we take the train back to Hanoi.
On Wednesday I have another dental appointment (went last week too). They just opened up the tooth, fiddled around more, took a few x-rays, and injected it with more medicine. I really hope they can get the infection taking care of before I have to leave for China, because I don't want to pay for crowns back in the United States.
Although I still have ambivalence, it's looking more and more like I'll be moving to Colorado. Tom and Yasuko have offered to let me baby sit their house to January while they are away in Thailand and Japan, and they will pay me. But, I think I will just pay my respects to friends and family for one month and then jet to Colorado.
Ly apparently likes American's and crushed on me. Wrote "Ly likes Burn" in the sand. I thought it was cute....International heart breaker.
Got a bit sun burnt. But, comes with the territory. Nha Trang is much nicer and cleaner beach than Vung Tau. In many aspects, I'm glad to be done with the Saigon chapter. Although, I wish I had gotten a jacket custom tailored. However, I did have a suit custom tailored. About the same price it costs to rent one in the states. Should be a crime to look this good.
Neway. After kicking it in Nha Trang on the beach I cruised to Hoi An. Didn't do much touring, mainly slept in from all the traveling. The bus ride there was insanity, winding roads up in the coastal mountains with a bunch of big trucks on a two lane road passing each other narrowly missing. Justin was hilarious, we were in the back 4 pack part of the sleeper bus and Justin grabs my finger and shows me a giant screw pointed into his side. He then tells me that Ho Chi Minh next to him keeps pushing him into the screw. I about lost it laughing.
In Hoi An, it was the anniversary of my Dad's death. After getting a bunch of rest, Justin and I went out for an amazing dinner with pork and noodles and then proceeded to a bar on the canal. Ordered a couple rounds of Jameson shots and began to walk home. On our walk home we stopped and talked to some Vietnamese dudes. Real friendly. They ended up giving us a ride back to our hotel on their motorbike. Sat on the balcony and shed a few tears with Justin about my Dad.
Next day took a car to Da Nang and flew from there to Hanoi. Ms. Lien picked us up from the airport and within 2 hours she had me hooked up with a free motorbike for the whole month I'm here. Pretty awesome! In return I had the breaks changed on the motorbike (for my own safety, cuz I like to drive fast and they were a little sluggish). Also had a few other issues with the motorbike (horn stopped working and got a flat tire). Took to Lien's mechanic and he fixed it all for free. What a nice guy! Aside from those few issues the motorbike runs like a champ. Better than mine in Saigon. But, I still miss MY motorbike. My made in Thailand Damsel.
Hanoi is a very beautiful city. I really like the personality of this city and all the lakes. Similar to Saigon, everyone comes out at night to walk around the lakes. Although, the food isn't as good and the people aren't as friendly. I'd also say there is a higher ratio of beautiful women in Saigon. Not that Hanoi doesn't have hotties. I can also tell the difference in accent. A lot more Z sounds instead of dễ thương sounds like yay too-ung here it sounds like zay too-ung. Or instead of Ôi troi ơi sounds like oi troy oi, instead they say oi zoy oi. There are a number of other differences I've picked up on with the accent.
Going to have LASIK done for half the price it is in the United States, if not more. Pretty excited to not have to wear glasses or contacts again. I went to the eye doctor here with Lien's friend Lan. Did all the pre screening and tests for LASIK eye surgery. Going to have that done on Monday. Lan is going to go with me to help translate again on Monday. In return I'm helping her with her resume. Lan and I have also hung out a couple of other times. Also randomly met this German girl, Christine, and invited her to come have dinner with Lan, Lan's friend, and I. Ran into her a few times...she's doing Human Rights work here after living in Columbia for the last 6 years. Gotta love the international experiences.
Yesterday, Lien, Justin, and Lien's coworker (can't remember her name - I know that's bad) all hopped on the nice sleeper train and came up to the Northwest part of Vietnam to a place called Sapa. Very beautiful valley with huge mountains. Rice terraces and ethnic hill tribe people. Staying at a 4 star hotel. Been hanging out playing pool waiting for our rooms to become available. We'll be here till Sunday when we take the train back to Hanoi.
On Wednesday I have another dental appointment (went last week too). They just opened up the tooth, fiddled around more, took a few x-rays, and injected it with more medicine. I really hope they can get the infection taking care of before I have to leave for China, because I don't want to pay for crowns back in the United States.
Although I still have ambivalence, it's looking more and more like I'll be moving to Colorado. Tom and Yasuko have offered to let me baby sit their house to January while they are away in Thailand and Japan, and they will pay me. But, I think I will just pay my respects to friends and family for one month and then jet to Colorado.