WOW

WOW!!! This place is beyond description. Its amazing how a city that is so loud and crowded can be so relaxing and peaceful. Crossing the street is one of the crazier things I have done. Regardless of how many motorbikes/bicycles/buses/cars are coming in your direction, you just walk very slowly, and you get across. It gets kind of fun after a while.

Every street, alley, and corner has someone trying to sell something. Usually they take a polite no, some are more persistent and then require firmer respones.

Halong Bay was fun, although cold. I still went swimming (the water was quite warm). It was fun jumping off the boat. For $50 we had two nights accomodation (one on the boat and one in a hotel) all our meals and transportation and a guide. It was crazy. At one point we were told to follow arrows to find monkeys on monkey Island. The next thing I knew we were on this difficult rocky hike up and down a hill in flip flops. But being me, I was up for the challenge and it was fun. You would never be able to do all this crazy stuff in North America with out signing a million waivers. Of course we didn't find any monkeys on the hike. They came out on the beach later (I think they let them out of their cage). This place is fantastic.

I am flying to Siem Riep Cambodia on Sunday. That is where the Ankor Wat temples are. It is supposed to be quite hot (40C on Sunday). I have decided to splurge and booked a 33 dollar hotel with a pool. I will stay there 3 nights and then slowly work my way back to Vietnam and through the country back to Hanoi.

If Tricias internet is working tonight i will load pictures from Halong bay. Lately it hasn't been working. OH well this place is only 33cents per hour. And thanks for all the comments when Tricia blogs for me. Cheers.