Friday, November 24, 2006
Misc shots
Just some shots from all over Vietnam from my little digital.
Pictures of my friends Barb and Jon...Barb the ever diligent Project Manager printed up address labels for her postcards before she came on vacation! Man...I was filled with envy! Me listening to Jon's ipod with a smile plastered to my face...music, glorious music.
She was going to sell me 2 for $1
We were in Ninh Bihn, Vietnam and we had rented motorbikes for the day. We pulled up at a little restaurant out in the countryside to have some lunch and when we were getting off the bikes the woman in the restaurant pointed at Lee and Debbie and asked me "mama and papa". I said YES, with a huge smile on my face and have been calling Deb 'mommy' ever since.
We sat down to eat and these 3 little kids who were quite filthy but cute came over to our table to stare at us. I started taking their pictures and then showing them the images (which they just love...it provides endless amusement for them). Their mom saw that I was talking with them and that they were laughing and she came over and very seriously told me that for $1 I could have the 2 oldest kids. At first I thought she was joking, but it became quite clear that there was no jokes here...she wanted me to take her kids. How sad is that? Just look at how sweet they are.
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Bush is in the house
My friends Barb and Jon arrived yesterday and they landed at the airport here in Hanoi at the same time as Prezzy Bush did. Apparently he landed with several cargo planes that unloaded about 40 or so cars. Some with all the satellite apparatus on the roof. They were all pimped out escalades. Some reason I have a hard time picturing him in one of those.
He brought all his own food for his entire stay here...madness the money that gets spent in the US.
We went exploring on bicycle today which had its mad moments. Traffic here is crazy as it is all over Vietnam. While we were dodging scooters I think Barb and Jon were lounging back in a van with AC getting driven from site to site. Can you tell there is a difference in our travel budgets? Ha! Now they are getting massages and the best I can hope for is a hot shower.
Heading to Halong Bay with them tomorrow for a night out on a boat and some kayaking.
He brought all his own food for his entire stay here...madness the money that gets spent in the US.
We went exploring on bicycle today which had its mad moments. Traffic here is crazy as it is all over Vietnam. While we were dodging scooters I think Barb and Jon were lounging back in a van with AC getting driven from site to site. Can you tell there is a difference in our travel budgets? Ha! Now they are getting massages and the best I can hope for is a hot shower.
Heading to Halong Bay with them tomorrow for a night out on a boat and some kayaking.
Thursday, November 16, 2006
a motorcycle trip from hell.
Well the day started with the best of intentions. We were going to get up early (which we did) and rent motorcycles (which we did) and go to Cuc Phuong National Park for a hike (which we did). So what is the problem you might ask?
Well, we were told it was 65km to the park. We decided to take a map that the hotel provided and instead of taking the very busy highway where you see your life flash before your eyes every 5 seconds, we were going to take the back roads (mistake number 1). It all started out ok. We got on a back road that was relatively smooth...no pot holes bigger than the bike. The map sucked and the lack of road signs led us to some difficulty. About an hour into the journey you could safely say that we were lost. But onwards we went...we felt like we were travelling in the right direction. 45 minutes later we arrive at a highway with a sign that read Ninh Binh 13km. What? This is the city that we left 1 hour and 45minutes ago and suddenly we are 13km away from it.
A few choice words escaped our mouths but we decided to forge on, ask for directions and continue to the park (mistake #2). Another 45 minutes later we are at the park gates. We go visit the monkeys for a while and then decide it is time to hike. Little did we know it was another 30 minute drive into the park to the start of the path.
Finally we get there, by now it is 2:30ish. What happened to the day. All we had for lunch was a baguette we stole from breakfast and a slab of cheese.
We do the hike. It is quite beautiful...and 2 hours later we are back at the bikes. The light is fading fast so we get on our bikes and drive out of the park. Well on our hike in the forest it was quite humid, so we all got quite sweaty. Well the sun is gone, the forest is cool and we are travelling 50km/hour and freezing our asses off (mistake #3).
We get out of the park (completely dark by now) and start driving. Well the bugs are out in full force. You can see them swarming in the headlights. We are getting smacked in the face, bugs in the eyes. It is ridiculous. Several times I have to pull over because a bug has gone in each eye at the same time and I am blind.
Now the bugs aside...you would think that driving in the dark wouldn't be that bad. And really it shouldn't be. But you are forgetting the fact that the roads are pockmarked with potholes that need to be avoided. So straining my eyes which are now filled with bugs we cruise onwards.
Over an hour later we hit the highway. Madness. Trucks honking, motorbikes passing, speed bumps so large that it scrapes the bottom of the bike and nearly throws Debbie over my shoulders...because why would you do anything like let people know there were speed bumps ahead. Oh no..no sign, they are not painted another colour. You are whizzing along at 60km/hr and suddenly they are right in front of you. Slam on the brakes and hold on for dear life.
Finally at about 7pm, frozen and hungry we arrive at the guest house. All happy to be off that bike. It is a full 24 hours later and my ass is still numb!
Funny...even after all that I still find myself laughing and saying it was a good day.
Well, we were told it was 65km to the park. We decided to take a map that the hotel provided and instead of taking the very busy highway where you see your life flash before your eyes every 5 seconds, we were going to take the back roads (mistake number 1). It all started out ok. We got on a back road that was relatively smooth...no pot holes bigger than the bike. The map sucked and the lack of road signs led us to some difficulty. About an hour into the journey you could safely say that we were lost. But onwards we went...we felt like we were travelling in the right direction. 45 minutes later we arrive at a highway with a sign that read Ninh Binh 13km. What? This is the city that we left 1 hour and 45minutes ago and suddenly we are 13km away from it.
A few choice words escaped our mouths but we decided to forge on, ask for directions and continue to the park (mistake #2). Another 45 minutes later we are at the park gates. We go visit the monkeys for a while and then decide it is time to hike. Little did we know it was another 30 minute drive into the park to the start of the path.
Finally we get there, by now it is 2:30ish. What happened to the day. All we had for lunch was a baguette we stole from breakfast and a slab of cheese.
We do the hike. It is quite beautiful...and 2 hours later we are back at the bikes. The light is fading fast so we get on our bikes and drive out of the park. Well on our hike in the forest it was quite humid, so we all got quite sweaty. Well the sun is gone, the forest is cool and we are travelling 50km/hour and freezing our asses off (mistake #3).
We get out of the park (completely dark by now) and start driving. Well the bugs are out in full force. You can see them swarming in the headlights. We are getting smacked in the face, bugs in the eyes. It is ridiculous. Several times I have to pull over because a bug has gone in each eye at the same time and I am blind.
Now the bugs aside...you would think that driving in the dark wouldn't be that bad. And really it shouldn't be. But you are forgetting the fact that the roads are pockmarked with potholes that need to be avoided. So straining my eyes which are now filled with bugs we cruise onwards.
Over an hour later we hit the highway. Madness. Trucks honking, motorbikes passing, speed bumps so large that it scrapes the bottom of the bike and nearly throws Debbie over my shoulders...because why would you do anything like let people know there were speed bumps ahead. Oh no..no sign, they are not painted another colour. You are whizzing along at 60km/hr and suddenly they are right in front of you. Slam on the brakes and hold on for dear life.
Finally at about 7pm, frozen and hungry we arrive at the guest house. All happy to be off that bike. It is a full 24 hours later and my ass is still numb!
Funny...even after all that I still find myself laughing and saying it was a good day.
Monday, November 13, 2006
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