vietnam and laos
Dec 27th, 2014, 02:44 PM
#41
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We are now in a pretty little white stucco house with blue trim and a tile roof in An Bang Beach. It's 6:30 in the morning and there are bird sounds and roosters and people sounds and ocean waves. The house has 4 bikes, one with a flat tire, and two motor scooters. I drove DW on the back of my scooter into Hoi An yesterday looking for a grocery. We were lost but now we're found. Driving a scooter here is like skiing black diamond runs in Vail (I'm just guessing. I've never been in Val or on a black diamond run). We had lunch on the beach and dinner off the beach at a restaurant where guys were playing cards. One of them said "hello, tinker bell" to my wife, in a friendly way, I think. They may have been drinking.
Hue today.
http://anbangbeachhouse.com
Hue today.
http://anbangbeachhouse.com
Dec 28th, 2014, 05:39 AM
#44
Hoi An is such a sweet little town. I'm so impressed you have taken to riding the scooters. Too scary for me in all that traffic. Although Hoi An is a lot calmer. Enjoy Hue -- lots to see. Our 2 favorite restaurants in Hoi AN were Morning Glory and Secret Garden which took a bit to find. My Son about 45 minutes from Hoi An is somewhat interesting.
Dec 28th, 2014, 04:18 PM
#45
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Thanks for the Hoi An suggestions.
It's raining. It rained yesterday. A local driver took us to Hue. We ate lunch at a very nice vegetarian restaurant nicely protected from the rain, Lien Hoa.
Then we went to the Citadel where our driver left us at a little shop with four ponchos and several flooded rice paddies to cross in order to reach the entrance. At one point the family wanted to turn back but, with my inspirational leadership, we pressed on and were able to reach the entrance, see the Citadel, and become completely soaking wet.
My family did not want to see the Buddha so we came home. Last night I watched 300 on tv, a movie about Sparta. That was not a good use of time.
It's still raining.
We might take a cooking class.
It's raining. It rained yesterday. A local driver took us to Hue. We ate lunch at a very nice vegetarian restaurant nicely protected from the rain, Lien Hoa.
Then we went to the Citadel where our driver left us at a little shop with four ponchos and several flooded rice paddies to cross in order to reach the entrance. At one point the family wanted to turn back but, with my inspirational leadership, we pressed on and were able to reach the entrance, see the Citadel, and become completely soaking wet.
My family did not want to see the Buddha so we came home. Last night I watched 300 on tv, a movie about Sparta. That was not a good use of time.
It's still raining.
We might take a cooking class.
Dec 29th, 2014, 12:31 AM
#48
36 hours before we leave on our trip to Busan South Korea. A 12 hour flight. What we do to visit our children!!
Love your report SantaMonica, unfortunately mine will not be nearly as fun or well written.
Love your report SantaMonica, unfortunately mine will not be nearly as fun or well written.
Dec 29th, 2014, 04:08 PM
#51
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Nel, I hope Busan is a fun adventure and visit. Yes, we have a great house for you in maine, should you decide to travel domestically. And rhk, you
may be right. Sequentially unselective.
But yesterday we treated a bunch of friends of ds1 to a great lunch in Hoi An at Morning Glory. And last night we had a nice dinner on An Bang Beach at Bamayan. Both Lonely Planet favorites.
The friends, 20 somethings, drove motorbikes from Hue to Hoi An in the rain. Hard rain. DW and I are proud of driving our motorbikes from the beach to Hoi An. It would be nice to be indestructible.
Today we're going to try and find a morning food market and cook at home tonight. I don't know what else we're doing, but we're having fun.
It's not raining.
may be right. Sequentially unselective.
But yesterday we treated a bunch of friends of ds1 to a great lunch in Hoi An at Morning Glory. And last night we had a nice dinner on An Bang Beach at Bamayan. Both Lonely Planet favorites.
The friends, 20 somethings, drove motorbikes from Hue to Hoi An in the rain. Hard rain. DW and I are proud of driving our motorbikes from the beach to Hoi An. It would be nice to be indestructible.
Today we're going to try and find a morning food market and cook at home tonight. I don't know what else we're doing, but we're having fun.
It's not raining.
Dec 29th, 2014, 06:16 PM
#53
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We're waiting for the sun to make a little stronger showing before we try the beach. The morning market was wonderful, like walking through pages of the National Geographic. We got carrots, onions, potatoes, shrimp and pork for dinner tonight. The Santamonica Cafe.
People here are very friendly and physical. A lady at the mini mart put her arm around me to explain where to buy eggs, a guy at the market in danang took me by the elbow across a busy street to a bakery for bread. People smile and say hello. It could be my outfit. Shorts over the light weight alibaba pants. Very stylish.
Ds1 does a mix of SAT preparation, reading enrichment and english tutoring for several private companies. He shares a townhouse with three other teaches doing the same mix of jobs.
And he's been a good guide.
People here are very friendly and physical. A lady at the mini mart put her arm around me to explain where to buy eggs, a guy at the market in danang took me by the elbow across a busy street to a bakery for bread. People smile and say hello. It could be my outfit. Shorts over the light weight alibaba pants. Very stylish.
Ds1 does a mix of SAT preparation, reading enrichment and english tutoring for several private companies. He shares a townhouse with three other teaches doing the same mix of jobs.
And he's been a good guide.
Dec 30th, 2014, 03:59 PM
#54
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SUN! BEACH! SWIM!
There's a narrow path that leads to the beach and restaurants with hammocks and tables and chairs in the sand. Sometimes the path floods or sands over. Your bike wobbles, locals wary of my western bike skills. Ds2 drove his motorbike into town with me in the evening for ATM and gas. Crowded roads, nervous, but did well. Motorbikes rent for $6/day. DW fixed great dinner. Watched Spider-Man Two on tv with family. Have crush on kirsten dunst. Very nice day.
There's a narrow path that leads to the beach and restaurants with hammocks and tables and chairs in the sand. Sometimes the path floods or sands over. Your bike wobbles, locals wary of my western bike skills. Ds2 drove his motorbike into town with me in the evening for ATM and gas. Crowded roads, nervous, but did well. Motorbikes rent for $6/day. DW fixed great dinner. Watched Spider-Man Two on tv with family. Have crush on kirsten dunst. Very nice day.
Dec 31st, 2014, 05:53 AM
#57
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Thanks progol. I'll try to get a link to pictures soon. Yes, here's the maine house. The price has gone up a bit...
http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p117475
http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p117475
Jan 1st, 2015, 06:44 AM
#58
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New years eve dinner in Hoi An, at Nhahang Xanh Quan, a big restaurant near old town filled with locals and a few tourists (us).
The teacher friends of ds1 have lived here a couple years and are friends of the family that run the restaurant. There was much table hopping, flirting and toasting among the younger people. The older people took a taxi home on the early side.
We've learned several drinking games from our children. One is g'day.
#1. G'day bruce.
#2. G'day bruce.
#1. Meet your neighbor bruce, bruce.
#2. G'day bruce.
#3. G'day bruce.
#2. Meet your neighbor bruce, bruce.
That's it. You continue like that in a circle. If you screw up, you become wayne. If you screw up again you become a dog and just woof. If you screw up again you just drink. If you have to introduce wayne to bruce, instead of saying meet your neighbor bruce, wayne, you say batman.
It's funny when you're drinking.
Some of you may want to try this game if you visit Hoi An, which was very pretty on new years eve, with glowing paper lanterns and candles everwhere.
Today, after another visit to the An Bang food market for eggs, bread and a nail clipper, DW and I drove our motor bikes to the next beach town south of An Bang where the snazzy resorts are, and then back to Hoi An for a great lunch at a hole in the wall, crowded place for noodles and just a little broth. I believe this a town specialty, as are little dumplings.
Then back to the beach (SUN n SWIM) in An Bang, then to the airport, flight back to Saigon, dinner, and the Hotel Romana, where we are at this very instant. About to go to sleep.
Our first day of 2015.
Sorry for the absurdly long post.
I don't want the trip to end. Tomorrow's our last day in Vietnam.
The teacher friends of ds1 have lived here a couple years and are friends of the family that run the restaurant. There was much table hopping, flirting and toasting among the younger people. The older people took a taxi home on the early side.
We've learned several drinking games from our children. One is g'day.
#1. G'day bruce.
#2. G'day bruce.
#1. Meet your neighbor bruce, bruce.
#2. G'day bruce.
#3. G'day bruce.
#2. Meet your neighbor bruce, bruce.
That's it. You continue like that in a circle. If you screw up, you become wayne. If you screw up again you become a dog and just woof. If you screw up again you just drink. If you have to introduce wayne to bruce, instead of saying meet your neighbor bruce, wayne, you say batman.
It's funny when you're drinking.
Some of you may want to try this game if you visit Hoi An, which was very pretty on new years eve, with glowing paper lanterns and candles everwhere.
Today, after another visit to the An Bang food market for eggs, bread and a nail clipper, DW and I drove our motor bikes to the next beach town south of An Bang where the snazzy resorts are, and then back to Hoi An for a great lunch at a hole in the wall, crowded place for noodles and just a little broth. I believe this a town specialty, as are little dumplings.
Then back to the beach (SUN n SWIM) in An Bang, then to the airport, flight back to Saigon, dinner, and the Hotel Romana, where we are at this very instant. About to go to sleep.
Our first day of 2015.
Sorry for the absurdly long post.
I don't want the trip to end. Tomorrow's our last day in Vietnam.
Jan 1st, 2015, 08:39 AM
#59
You mean to say that your DW is driving her own motor scooter? I am really impressed. Enjoy the rest of your trip!
Thanks for the link to the house rental. Great house in Maine, but a bit larger than we 2 need making it a bit too expensive.
Thanks for the link to the house rental. Great house in Maine, but a bit larger than we 2 need making it a bit too expensive.
Jan 1st, 2015, 05:14 PM
#60
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Actually, dw was on the back of my motorbike. Sorry.
Here's the convoluted way I got a link here to my pictures. Can somebody try it and see if it works? I went to my Google+ photo album I created from photos I took on the trip. Then, I choose Share via email. Sent to my own email. Copied link from email into my fodors post.
https://plus.google.com/photos/10326...28211026797489
Here's the convoluted way I got a link here to my pictures. Can somebody try it and see if it works? I went to my Google+ photo album I created from photos I took on the trip. Then, I choose Share via email. Sent to my own email. Copied link from email into my fodors post.
https://plus.google.com/photos/10326...28211026797489
