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We made it!
That was a really long day. Both of our flights went pretty good, although the first one was a little painful. 13 hours on a plane is a bit much, and we couldnt get out of our seats for most of it because the man next to us was sleeping. Once we got off the plane it was time to find our hostel. Walking out of the gate a man asked us if we needed a cab, and we went with him after converting some money. As soon as we got in the car we thought it seemed a little weird... given we had no idea what the 2 drivers were saying. We had already agreed on a price, but when the time to pay came he changed it and tried to scam us for so much more. In the end we lost an extra 7 dollars, but we wont do that again.
After checking in we went to find some food, but the streets were desserted. wanding around we found 1 little cart where a woman was frying corn. It was delicious, but loaded with spoonfuls of MSG. that combined with wasabi peas and a bottle of ruim from the duty free put us into a virtual coma, and we wound up sleeping until after 12 the next day.
When we left the hostel in the morning it really felt like a new world. There were people everywhere, mostly on scooters. We saw street vendors for food and othere things and everyone tried to sell us something. We wound up grabbing some beers and stopping for a quick bite on the street, although i have no idea what we ate, and it was delicious. the entire day was spent walking around and trying what we could, including juiced sugar cane. Delicious! For dinner we sat down at a little restaraunt on the street and while we were looking around and trying to figure out how to order food, since apparently menus are nonexistant here, our table was filled with lots of dishes. They must have known we had no clue so they just brought us their best items. For $11 we tried everything they had, and drank some 50cent beers. Leaving there we stumbled into a night market for some last minute things we will need.
In the morning we leave for a trip to Ha Long Bay, where we will spend 3 days on a boat and sleep in a cabana on a small island for 2 nights. It leaves very early, so now is time for some sleep.
- comments
R&G Next time you make a deal with a cabbie, get him to write it down first and then if he scams you threaten to get the police involved. Glad that it worked out though, you can't get one block in Vancouver for $7.00 LOL.
Darren Mak With how pale you look in your picture Dean... This won't be the first time someone tries to scam you in Asia! ;-)
R&G you guys are due for a solar eclipse next saturday, see here: http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEgoogle/SEgoogle2001/SE2012May20Agoogle.html
R&G OK I'm having withdrawals, wheres the next entry?!?!
K Love your pictures, you really are brave! Looks like you are enjoying it all. Keep safe. Love you. Mom