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Hi guys,
It's me again!! I'm currently in tailor central in Hoi An in Vietnam, the place where you can get a suit, jacket, dress, shoes or whatever made as long as it requires tailoring.... Every shop along the main street is pretty much a tailors and it's been difficult to not go crazy and get loads of stuff custom made, but I've restrained myself and limited myself to just a tailor made tweed jacket with leather elbow pads, so I can look like a substitute teacher when I get back. Mum there should be 3 parcels arriving home, although I'm worried that the first one hasn't even arrived yet after nearly 4 weeks.....
In my last post I was about to leave to go to Sapa, this involved getting an overnight sleeper train to Lao Cai and then getting a minibus to Sapa. I'm still travelling with Ross and Mike, and when we got our tickets we found 2 of us were in one cabin while the other was on their own in the next cabin, Ross was the one on his own in the end. We requested top bunks expecting it to be a bottom and top bunk, but were surprised to see there were 3 levels to the bunk, and sleeping at the top was hard, just trying to get up there was difficult enough. We were standing in the corridor outside talking when one of the Vietnamese guys called us in and told us to go to sleep, so we got into our beds, eventually, and then realised the ceiling was about a foot away from my face.... To compound this misery, the guy who had wanted to sleep began talking really loudly for the next hour or so, but in the end I was so tired I fell asleep....
When we arrived in Lao Cai we were surrounded by a load of people offering to take us to Sapa, but they were asking for too much, in some cases just 33p extra but the traveller in me came out and we refused. When one of the drivers gave us a high price he said it was because it was really busy and to look at the car park. All I could see were a load of empty buses and a load of drivers. We got told all sorts of stories from the drivers, like their bus was the last one or they would ask for a higher price than the guy standing next to them who we had already rejected! After being followed around by one crazy guy who in the end we kind of enjoyed winding up, we decided to cut our losses and go to Bak Ha instead. We had to walk to the other bus station across town to get our bus but were not the happiest bunch when we found that the bus went around the town 4 times, including the train station, before we actually set off for Bak Ha.
Bak Ha was really nice, it's a small place but the scenery around the outside of it is amazing. The hotel we stayed in was great, our mosquito nets were set up to look like a princesses bed in a Disney film, and secretly we all enjoyed having them! I learnt how to ride a motorbike, a manual one too, and after a dodgy start found it very easy, and enjoyed the freedom of going anywhere at anytime. We had acquired some more people on our journey, 2 girls from Denmark and a German girl so we had a decent motorbike gang. We only spent the one night in Bak Ha before returning back to Lao Cai, in what kind only be described as the most packed bus ever!! It was like tetris, there were peoples houses pretty much packed into the bus and when a lady got off I was shocked to see she had a baby that I hadn't noticed before.... I wasn't sure if she had given birth during the journey, the bus was that packed that it was possible!
We arrived in Hanoi really early the next day and had to wait for a dorm bed so me and Mike went around Hanoi to do a few things. I ended up buying a small guitar and have now realised it's not great for playing but a good souvenir as I get everyone to sign it now who I meet. That night we were in the bar and we were asked if we wanted to go to snake village, I was persuaded by Mike to go, so we did. When we arrived we got to hold a snake and then were given the chance to kill a snake and then eat it's heart while it was still beating.
I'm not a big fan of animal cruelty and was against it at first but then I thought it's gonna be killed anyway so I stepped up to do it. At first the knife wasn't slicing through, as you are meant to slit along the bottom of the snake as the guys hold it, but after moving round, the knife went through easily and I almost cut the snake in two, while also almost taking a Vietnamese guys eye out! I then had to rip the heart out and swallow it.... It tasted like chicken! We then all sat down and were treated to 2 drinks, one was snake blood with rice wine, and another was snake bile with rice wine, one red the other green. After drinking these we were served a selection of snake dishes, snake teriyaki, some other weird snake dish and snake ribs. The ribs were great but were lacking meat!
We all ended up drinking loads and the next morning wasn't pleasant! After recovering we walked around Hanoi to kill time before our bus to Hue, and to get a few things. Me and Mike both were carrying our guitars, the locals love anyone with a guitar so we made a lot of friends, and while by the lake a woman came up to us and asked us if we could play her a song, so we duly obliged. The only song we know is one that Mike made up called 'Ross Loves Cows', I was shocked at how much the women loved it and we felt like we were the Jonas Brothers! After they wanted a photo with us and then all of a sudden a load of other people came round to take photos of us.... I haven't let the fame get to my head yet!
We caught the overnight bus to Hue, which is 12 hours south of Hanoi, and we spent the whole day riding around on motorbikes, and getting lost a lot of times. I've learnt how to ride in the city now so I'm looking forward to going India again and trying to ride there. I particularly enjoyed the roundabouts, where it's a case of go, stop, go, stop until you get out, and how the bigger vehicle you have, the more you can control the road. By far the best part was weaving in and out the traffic on the big roads around rush hour, overtaking bikes and buses was so much fun, and it's great here as the speed limit isn't a big deal, but don't worry mum I am a safe driver, but I really want a bike when I get home!!! The next day we were playing guitar outside our hostel when a group of local people walked past and asked us to play Hotel California, so Mike played while I sang, and got the crowd to join in too, they loved it! We're kind of a big deal around here now....!!!
After a night in Hue, we caught the bus to Hoi An, which took about 5 hours. We had the great privilege of sitting next to a Vietnamese guy who decided it was a good idea to talk to his wife across the bus really loudly for ages, and then call everyone in his phonebook and talk even louder!! I was relieved to get off the bus as I was hoping for a nap but it never materialised.
The next day I went to get my tweed jacket made, and after getting the jacket sorted, the tailors seemed to have big problems positioning the elbow pads correctly, I didn't really understand their methods but in the end they got it pretty much right. Before arriving we were excited about Hoi An and had a huge list of stuff we wanted to get made, but most of my list was discarded when they said they only tailor clothes and can't make t-shirt designs. Ross had a cool suit made like the England team wore in the world cup, and some custom Adidas trainers made, and Mike got a casual blazer and a coat made, which were really nice.
We hired motorbikes everyday and drove to the beach everyday, and then found some roads that were empty but in good condition to ride up and down on, to get better at driving.
So far I have to say Vietnam is my favourite country I've been to, and Hanoi the best place. Everyone is so friendly and intrigued and ask a lot of questions. The receptionists at the hostels we have stayed at have been particularly cool, we've spent ages having a laugh and a joke with them and they did seem genuinely upset to see us go. I hope the rest of Vietnam is as good as it has been so far, and I'm off to Nha Trang tonight, which is like a beach place, but I think it's become too touristy so may not stay there too long.
Unfortunately there's no vigilante related stories this time, but I'll try and rectify that for next time! I hope you're still all enjoying reading this, and thanks for all the comments, it's nice to now that people are reading!
Before I go I just want to say happy 21st birthday to my younger cousin Raich, you're present should be in the post, but I'm not sure it will ever get there!
Take Care
Sanj
- comments
Mum What do you want a tweed jacket for???? why didn't you get a decent suit for work/weddings? Never mind, it's never going to arrive home, so I'm not worrying! You're going to get done for animal cruelty!! I feel sick just reading about what you did. That poor snake must have really suffered with you torturing it. Bad Karma you know, killing a snake. Glad you're having a great time.
Kevin I agree with Pooha - your evil and nasty for killing that snake. Not only has your binge drinking and meat - eating led to you doing crazy stuff but also led to you killing and drinking the blood of a snake. That's a typical bollywood line - 'meh tera koon pey jowga'. Since we referring to India have you been watching the CWG in Delhi? You missed a cracking match between India and Pakistan in hockey - better than any cricket/footie match. We won 7-4 and now India face England. England has had such a weather change. Its sunny but at the same time cold. Anyway I almost was going to join you in a trip around the world hoping to win the EML (£113 M) but some lucky so and so (yet to be claimed) won instead. Anyway keep enjoying yourself - that doesn't necessarily mean drinking and killing the blood of innocent things - I hope your going to come back civilised and not some Tarzan the ape man !!! GOODNITE VIETNAM
Kevin Sorry me again - I forget to add I got Raich's 21st birthday card at grans and then changed it from me. So thanks for saving me money - it was a Pleasure (Mountain).
Sanj I've always wanted a tweed jacket, it looks cool and was cheap, plus I already have a suit I hardly ever wear and I'm not gonna need a suit for over a year for work, and there are no weddings planned!! If you think what I did was bad with the snake you really shouldn't come to this part of the world!! I'm having the best time ever, learning to ride a motorbike is one of the high points!
Jenny Aww mate, it sounds like your having an awesome time...although as a vegetarian have to say I'm not loving the snake story I have to say!! Im glad to hear your having fun and living it up!! Take care :) xx
Raich you might as well have eaten the whole thing! hey at least its a change from nandos. becarefull on those bikes and you can teach me when you come back. good that your having a blast broseph x
Sat Hi Sanj Sorry I haven't been in touch been really busy, I'm am at work (really busy & stressed) reading your blog has made me laugh so much and chilled me out. Can't believe you ate a snake's heart rather you than me!!! Tweed jacket great stuff they're in fashion here I want one they're cool!!! Glad to hear you're having a great time, Vietnam sounds great I've always wanted to go!! I'll ctach up on your other blogs soon...by the way not that your bothered but it's snowing in the UK!!! xxx