So like I say, lengthy gap between posts so I will only report on the more interesting and exciting aspects of the last year aka the holidays, and gloss over the less interesting and slightly mundane (work) parts.
So.....
1. VIETNAM
My bedroom in Ha Long Bay |
I flew from Kunming's new international airport, which
although huge didn’t have a direct flight to Hanoi, I had to fly 2 hours in the
opposite direction to Guangzhou and then
2 hours back to Hanoi, not too much of a problem as it still was faster than
the train but a pain none the less. I left Kunming when it was starting to get
chilly, and landed into humid hell. Although not too hot the humidity was
killer, I was taking 3 showers a day and the 30 meter walk to the nearest food
vendor brought about a nasty sweaty sticky feel that really never went away. Needless
to say I was not prepared for this and went off immediately to buy some cooler
clothes.
Would just like to point out the book was a present for Karina. |
Hanoi is still one of my favourite places and I really cant
say why, there is just a relaxed friendly feel to the place that is really nice
after the stressed out parts of Chinese living. Of course living there is most
likely a different matter but for a week for holidays its great! I basically
did the same holiday that Tom, Karina and I had done in January just a little
warmer, and I was on my own so I could do or not do anything I wanted. I spent
days just wandering about the old quarter or sitting by the lake (with various
ice creams) and people watching. I also found a book shop in the basement of a
bar and was there for a few hours at least.
Of course I went back to Ha Long Bay, I was a little disappointed
to discover that the hostel didn’t run the Jolly Rodger party boat tour anymore
but instead offered the Castaway Island experience. Intrigued I signed up and
passed three days two nights on our own private beach on a private island deep
in the heart of Ha Long Bay. We slept in bamboo huts on the beach with no beds
just a mattress and a mosquito net. But honestly what else do you need, the
water was 15 meter away and the bar about 30 meters from my bed, and that was all
there was. The island offered rock climbing, canoeing, wake boarding (which I am
not good at) and a long sandy beach. All three days were bliss and at the end
of our time there, no-one wanted to leave. Ha Long Bay is still bar none the
most beautiful place I have ever been lucky enough to visit, the place that
takes that crown has its work cut out for it. The only guillotine in Asia |
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