The rest of the world continued racing through the same old year, while Vietnam stepped off for a week and then, reluctantly stepped back on. Preparing for Tet, the Vietnamese New Year, in Hanoi, Viet
Archive for March, 2010
Seoul, South Korea>, Mar 31, 2010
When you pay a lot for a hotel, you hope you get what you paid for, and Walkerhill really delivers. Sheraton Walkerhill is pure luxury. The scenery, service, rooms, food, pretty much everything is amazing. Walkerhill Casino is right there as well, if you’re looking to spend some cash. The people who work in the casinos (hotel too) are drop-dead gorgeous as well, I guess to distract you from your game or something.
Halong Bay, Vietnam>, Mar 26, 2010
A great tour through Halong Bay with a group of 15 people. Despite the cold and a little bit of rain, it was a great day. Namely because of the nice people and the very relaxed atmosphere in this area. The pictures speak for themselves. Did some canoeing, the staff on the boat prepared a delicious lunch on the boat, took a short dip in the sea, visited the monkey iland and returned to Cat Ba Town. It was again a great day!
Cat Ba, Vietnam>, Mar 25, 2010
After three hours of negotiations we took the boat around noon to Cat Ba Island. After three hours we arrived on this Jurassic park looking island. Adfortunately it was very cold, cloudy and rain. Within five minutes we found a good place to stay. A hotel for 6 dollar per night (for three persons). A really good room with a great view on the bay / harbour. Adfortunately we forgot our camera’s in the evening, but the karoake with the locals was the highlight of the day.
Sapa, Vietnam>, Mar 31, 2010
Again a great day, touring through the mountains and ricefields of the Sapa area. This day with a lot of sun, that was a nice feeling after a week without sun. We drove to some small villages, meeting up with tribal people. They were really kind and curious, especially the children were really cute. Just see those cute and playful faces on the pictures!
Sapa, Vietnam>, Mar 30, 2010
The motor / scooter is the best way to explore the country. Thatswhy we hired again scooters, this time for two days to make some good tours through the Sapa area. It provided again some nice pictures. We had a little bit of sun, but because the Sapa area is 1500-2500 high we were sometimes literally in the (rainy) clouds.
Hanoi, Vietnam>, Mar 29, 2010
On the 29th we took the boat back to Hai Phong, with the bus again to Hanoi. There we arrived around noon and bought a train ticket for the night train, departuring around half past ten. This time we took the hard sleeper (thinner matrasses and six people in a cabin instead of four). Because we had some spare time and had seen enough in Hanoi we went to the movie, Alice in Wonderland in 3D. That, with a dinner at the mc donald, was a welcome relief after one month travelling through asia. After the movie we returned by motorbike taxi to the trainstation. Super stupid, but we got into the wrong train that just went shunting. An empty train.. When the train stopped again and we wanted to go to our real train that train just left. Then began a race against the clock. With a taxi through the crwoded and busy Hanoi to the next station. We shouldn’t have arrived there one minute later. We could just get on the train. It really was a miracle. After all a ‘nice adventure’. After nine hours in the train, and lucky enough a good sleep, we arrived in Lao Cai. With a lot of rain again. In Lao Cai we took the local bus to Sapa. Made some pictures by the Chinese border and drove to Sapa. There we found a really good hotel for 15 dollar for three persons. A room with a huge terrace with an awsome view over the village and valley. With our own fire place, warm shower and electric matrasses. A good place to stay for a few days.
Cat Ba Island, Vietnam>, Mar 27, 2010
Again a great day. Discovering the beautifull Cat Ba Island by scooter. Also because of the many clouds the views were awsome. Because it was low season it was really quite and mightily to drive for hours through the remote areas of this Jurassic Parc looking island. Just see the pictures!
Haiphong, Vietnam>, Mar 24, 2010
On the 24th Fenno and Sara joined me again and started the trip to Halong Bay, Cat Ba Island. Not with an organised tour, but just on our own. First the scooter, then the local bus. Late in the afternoon we arrived in Hai Phong where the boat leaves to Cat Ba Island, the mail island of Halong Bay. We had to stay the night there, but because of an event in Hai Phong all the hotels were fully booked. After more then 10 hotels we found the ‘mini hotel’. A very old-fashioned room, as you can see on the pictures it was almost as if time had stood still, but the room was spacious, with three beds and a hot shower.