AdventureCPA

Closing up the Trip. It's now been about 2 months since returning from Asia to Colorado.  I realize I didn't really conclude the trip so I will try now. After 7 relaxing days in Hoi An, Vietnam we flew to Ho chi Min City (formerly Saigon).  Today it is a bustling city with worse traffic than I have previously described.  Full of micro Entrepremeurs, tour buses, backpackers, McDonalds etc.  Interesting visit to the former Presidential Palace and the War Rememberance museum. The War Rememberance Museum includes a captured US helicopter, small piper like US plane and a couple US tanks.  Although there is occasional talk of American Imperialists it is not dominated by that attitude.  More an attitude of "we won...lets not brag too much except to thank the present government."   Included was a section of the effect of the war on children, journalists who died during the war and non US press accounts of demonstrations against the "American" war.  ...

Internet Cafes which are basically a storefront with 2 to 40 computers connected to the internet that seems to be a dying industry with one exception.   Usually they charge a small amount to use an old PC with probably unlicensed Windows software based on time of usage.   Full size keyboard!!! But with Internet connected smart phones this use is pretty much limited to travelers like me without a local cell phone (Memo to self...buy used cheap GSM phone) and boys between the ages of 8 and 18. It is now 10AM local time on a Monday and in this Internet Cafe (No coffee is served) there are about 10 boys playing various interactive games.  I guess they are competing against each other as there is constant chatter about something. ( I suspect killing each other's dragon or some such thing.) Haven't seen Excel opened once. By the way, if you want to find one just look for a sidewalk filled with Motos.

I know I've commented on traffic in SE Asia before, but here is a little more explaination. Here are the rules of the road in Viet Nam as I understand them: 1) The dashed white line in the middle of the road is a waste of paint.  Nobody cares about it. 2) The bigger the vehicle, the more it has the right of way. 3) If on a bicycle or moto (motorscooter) you should ride to the right side of your lane except:            A.  You want to ride elsewhere            B.   You are about to make a left turn in which case you move to the opposite side of the street (that would be the left oncoming lane and ride along the curb facing traffic until your turn.            C.  On making the left turn stay in the left lane facing oncoming traffic until you want to return to the right lane.           D.  If you want to make a right turn ignore the traffic l...

Arrived in Somewhere, about 4:30AM but found hostel about 100 meters from where the bus stopped.  For $3 extra got a room immediately and for the night.   Took boat trip thru a big cave (very nicely lit).  Elected to take taxi next morning to Dong Hoi to get Viet Rail to DaNang.  Crossed DMZ (very hilly, scenic along Sea with views much like Big Sur in California.  Train airconditioned, Rail TV.   Nice seats.   It takes 24 hours from Ho Chi Minh city (Saigon) to Hanoi (Han oi here).  Called the Reunification express.   I suspect US bombed a number of the river crossing during the war....and maybe some were bombed South of border by VC.  Lots of river crossings.  In this part of Asia very green even though still not the Rainy season. From DaNang which is now a city of 1,000,000 with a Pizza Hut and KFC went to Hoi An which seems to be a middle class suburb.  Nice "Homestay" which is really small hotel attached to a household. ...

Day bus to Cat Ba.  Well, not quite.  Night Bus to Ha Long then small bus to a different bus station...then different bus to ferry port...then small ferry (but big enough for a couple motorcycles) thru harbor to Cat Ba island...;then bus to Cat Ba town. Cat Ba is a tourist island with National Park.  First day we met another couple and jointly chartered a boat to visit the Karst which are in a nearby bay.  Here's a pic. Stayed in hotel right on main street for about $12.  Nice place. Later visited hospital used during American war built in a cave.   And another cave.  And climbed to high point in the park to see other high points in the park. Also rented a motorbike and explored island including new road under construction.  It appears they are building a bridge to the island.  If so it should explode as a vacation destination site.  Even now lots of building going on. Trip off island was bus.ferry.bus.outgoing bus to ...

Diem Bien Pho is industrial city in North Viet Nam.  Spent only one night here but two days...arriving in afternoon and departing the next day at 5PM on another Night bus to SaPa. Diem Bien Pho had the city center very close to our hotel.  Again, appeared to be brand new but almost empty.  Market with everything from live eels to chickens.  For dinner we simply pointed to a dish a local girl was eating, cold noodles in a salad dressing environment.  Very good but we were then told it is not on menu so can't order it again. The Bus to SaPa was a little different.  Although a sleeper bus  instead of a narrow, short bed for two with a center isle it had two isles and single semi flat seats that were three across.  Not real comfortable.  But the bus got in to SaPa at 2:30 AM.  Taxi to hotel worked out ok but hotel doesn't have 24 hour desk so we walked around town.....sat on steps of hotel until a neighboring one opened at 6AM.   Ev...

Next Day bus in a sleeper took across the border to Northern Viet Nam.  We already had our Viet Nam Visa (not available at the border) so an easy border crossing. Immediate reaction is that as we go North toward China hills turn to mountains.  Several 10 km or more passes to cross.  Viet Nam is busy building infrastructure (roads, buildings etc) much like Laos. Also, people seem a little more friendly.  Fewer Westerners here...let along Americans.  We tend to say we are from Canada when asked.  Many noodle shops, markets that could be in Lima, Peru. Young population who are forward looking.   I am making this post at the public library using computers domated by the Bill & Melinda Gates foundation.  Less English spoken here but all seem to know "Hello." and smile. Noodle breakfast dish equivalent of $1 US per person.  Pith helmet hat for a little less than $3 US.  22000 of Viet Currency equals $1 so ATM offers 2,000,000 withd...