6 posts tagged “holiday”

Leftover Vietnam Musings...pt 2

Mar 16, 2009
2 comments

Not many thoughts in the end haha! But here's the final part of it. The rest of the stuff I thought about and wrote during my trip can't be shared with you guys sorry!

Stoned

Halong Bay & Cat Ba Island

2 comments

I admit Halong Bay was a beautiful spot and I can see how magnificent the location is. For the life of me though, I can't see how some of those rock formations got their names. I tried. I really did. But some of those names left me scratching my head! I could only nod in agreement when my guide pointed out the rocks to us, take a quick snap and then squint and stare very hard to make the connection! Maybe I just don't have a very good imagination. What were those Vietnamese fishermen smoki

Surreal

Halong Bay & Cat Ba Island

I've experienced many moments that make me go "WTF?!" but this ranks quite high up there on the surreal table. There I was, floating peacefully on a boat down Halong Bay. The sun was getting ready to set and we've just finished an afternoon of marvelling at the gorgeous rock formations and caves that the Bay boasted. As we came to the end of our tour, activities on the boat had pretty much wound down. Our guide was busy below deck as we neared Cat Ba Island, and we were all rather tired.

I was freezing, but enjoying the moment, as the evening breeze said hello and the rocks stared down at us instead. My fellow tourmates were either busy snapping photos, napping or chatting about their coming stay on the boat. Suddenly I heard the sounds of a harmonica. The song was faintly recognisable but I think it was Frank Sinatra's 'My Way'. I stopped to stare at the Korean guy who was playing, wondering if I was imagining the whole thing. I turned my gaze back to the cool blue water of the bay, and I chuckled.

Peace

Halong Bay & Cat Ba Island

After the assault on my privacy and senses that is Hanoi, it was nice to find solitude on Cat Ba 2 beach. As I write this, the place is practically deserted, save for the handful of staff and some bored-ass tourists mucking around. The only sounds in the background are the crashing of the waves and the spluttering of a motorboat heading out to sea. I did my 2009 lifeplan during my 2.5hours on that beach. It was definitely worth the 2km trek from my hotel.

Leftover Vietnam Musings...pt 1.

Mar 15, 2009
Post a comment

During my trip to Hanoi in January, I jotted down a few thoughts in my Moleskin. I've finally gotten around to post them on my blog. Randomness really. Better late than never! Part 1 of 2.

Stay Cool

Faces of Hanoi

Chilling in Hanoi takes on a different meaning during the winter months (as I found out). With temperatures hovering around 18 Deg. Celsius in the day and dipping to a low of 13 Deg. Celsius at night, I've hardly taken off my jacket here. I even sleep with my socks on because it's freezing!

How anyone can stroll about in a pair of bermudas and a thin t-shirt is beyond me. In fact, I asked this British dude I met on my Halong Bay tour how he was the surviving the weather as such. He admitted, he wished he'd brought his jacket at least. I bet a lot of tourists realised their folly upon arrival, though to be fair, if you'd compared Hanoi to Ho Chin Minh, it's never so chilly in HCM.

Thank goodness for roadside stalls selling hot green tea to warm up your engines. They cost pittance and offer welcome relief. Plus they're great pit-stops after a long walk, so you can tank up on tea or coffee and a cigarette or two (or three) before getting lost again.

Fashion Forward

Hoan Kiem Lake

The Vietnamese folks never fail to impress me with their fashion consciousness. The younger folks are all about looking flashy with the latest brand names but it's the older generation who earn my admiration for their stylishness. They all looked so prim and proper whether in their colourful, traditional outfits or their European-influenced wear - full tweed suit, with matching vest and flat cap anyone? Like most of Hanoi and its buildings, the elder Hanoians ooze old school cool.

holiday

Feb 26, 2009
Post a comment

"Let's go away for a while, you and I

To a strange and distant land

where they speak no word of truth

But we don't understand anyway."

- Holiday, Weezer, Blue Album

I think I've been bitten by the travel bug. I so wish to pack up and go. Anywhere right now. My mind's swimming with choices. Lots of great travel offers on Jetstar, Tiger and Air Asia. I'm thinking of visiting my friends in Jakarta. Or visiting Bangkok. Or going back to Hanoi and checking out Hue, or chill in KL? I only have 8days of leave left to clear by September. So it'll probably be one of the short-term jaunts. I definitely hope to hit Laos in the next 2 years. Will need at least a week for that.

I'm planning my Lombok trip for maybe early next year or end of this year. A coupla months ago, I booked a 3N 3room villa stay at IMAJ Private Villas for SGD$90 which is under USD$140? really cheap. It'd be great if I can bring some friends along for a nice group getaway. I'm sponsoring the accomodation! they still have some promo vouchers I believe so go and check it out. I have the next 5 years to use mine actually. My friend and his wife owns the place.

But the reality is, work's kicking in to pedal to the metal mode and we're ramping things up as we aim for private beta next week. And also, the publishing industry is in the shits. As are all other industries. Still, I can't wait to travel again!

Weezer - Holiday

Hanging in Hanoi pt. 1

Jan 14, 2009
2 comments

If I wrote what exactly I did every day of my week-long trip to Vietnam, you might get bored. So I thought while waiting to upload my 1,000 (thereabouts) pictures on Flickr, I'll share some of the thoughts that popped into my head during my getaway. They're pretty random but I think that probably captures the spirit of the trip as well. I'll jot them down over the next few posts as I collect and try to make sense of the the dribs and drabs I scribbled in my moleskin.

Tale of 2 Cities

Hanoi is not Saigon and Vietnam is not Thailand. Don't mix them up. The Thais, in my opinion, remain the warmest folks I've met and offer the best variety and quality in terms of food and well, maybe shopping, in our region.

Vietnam is an economy on the rise and its people are quick to warm up to capitalism. The people are slightly more brusque in their everyday dealings, though you can't read that as rude, merely more direct. Bargaining doesn't really exist but they can be nice, just not Thai-nice. Still, so long as you treat others with respect, it's okay but they're quick to try and pull off a quick one. You can get quoted 5 difference prices for the same thing while walking down the same street. Honest.

And although I was in Saigon for only about 3 days before, I feel that the people there are more laidback than the Hanoi-ans. Maybe not so aggressive for a sale and the traffic wasn't so crazy. And of course, weather-wise, Hanoi has the four seasons while Saigon is hot or rainy (apparently). That sounds like Singapore no? I enjoyed my stay in Hanoi despite the exterior "coldness" of the place. I was beginning to fit in well! Esp since people either thought I was Thai or local. I had a ball sitting by the road of my hotel eying the tourists walking up and down. I think I'll miss that the most.

Horn-Oi

They should seriously consider re-naming Hanoi, Horn-Oi. The crazy traffic means incessant honking throughout the entire day and pretty much everywhere. Those who stay near the busier intersections probably need mufflers. The best part is nobody really gets angry at being honked at; it's become part and parcel of their everyday commute and for pedestrians, it's definitely useful to know you're in harm's way. Although anytime you're putting yourself on those roads means you're definitely in harm's way! I'm glad I've been to Vietnam before though, I was crossing the roads like a pro!

Oi will be your adopted name as people address you, trying to get your attention in some way. 1-hour cyclo ride around the city, massage boom-boom, taxi offer to wherever it is you look like you're headed...Just smile politely and decline. And don't look lost, even if you are lost (like I was when I got off the bus from the airport). That definitely attracts the vultures. Just walk like you know where you are going (like I did but I didn't really know where I was going, I walked 15mins down the wrong direction). But I don't understand why some tourists need to be so rude going about declining these folks and every other peddler they meet. Smile, say no and walk on.

merry christmas everybody.

Dec 25, 2008
Post a comment

stay safe, stay warm (if that's applicable) and peace and love always

peace

kaz

Headed to Cambodia and Vietnam

Jan 28, 2007
6 comments

In approximately 34hrs time, I'll be boarding my flight to Siam Reap, home of Angkor. This is a journey I have been looking forward to for the last 3 years and unlike my past travels, where usually I'd plan an itinerary to go location A on Day 1 and location B on Day 2, Full Moon Party on Day 3, parties on Days 4-7, anything that I experience outside of visiting Angkor Wat would be a bonus cos that is really the only reason for the trip.

I can't pinpoint a reason why I want to see it so much (nothing to do with Angelina Jolie and Tomb Raider I assure you, though she did make some compelling arguments). The mystery, the beauty...very strong attraction for me and JetStar was having a bloody good promotion last year! In fact they're having another one now though I'm not sure if it's still on going...

I will try and update this when I'm overseas and when the opportunity allows but I definitely look forward to sharing my photos with you when I return. I've only just booked my return flight from Phnom Penh on 8th Feb so hope everything goes smoothly.I'll be spending a couple of days in Ho Chin Minh in between so I look forward to visiting that part of the world as well.

Right now, I'm fretting about clearing my outstanding work, preparing my handover list and figuring out what else to cram in my backpack.

Take care kids.