Hue_Vietnam

13 hours from Hanoi to Hue on a sleeper bus designed for Vietnamese sized people. A little warmer here but a very damp climate at this time of year. One day was enough to see the main sights and we're of to Hoi An for New Year today.

Hard to take good pics in this climate. Its mid-20's but the humidity is near 100%. White skies with occasional afternoon sun.

Ha Long Bay_Vietnam

Hanoi, Vietnam

Had a great Xmas eve and a nice Xmas day and feel like we have been a bit harsh in our criticism of Hanoi. With batteries recharged and a few good nights of sleep behind us we are actually starting to enjoy it, just as we get ready to leave!

Drinking 25 pence a pint beer last night with everyone else in Hanoi when the police rolled in at 11pm and started closing everything down. Hanoi has a curfew policy officially but you can still eat after midnight with drinks pretty easily.

Got back to the hotel last night about 1am and they had locked the front doors and all the staff had passed out after the Xmas party we attended earlier in the evening. 


We had to get the neighbouring hotel to call the owners and we eventually roused someone from their drunken slumber and got to bed.

Note to self :  Catch up on sleep before you review a destination in your silly blog. sorry Hanoi !

Hanoi traffic!

One of few streets without traffic jams. Some nice colonial buildings.

Getting to understand the state of mind needed to negotiate the Hanoi streets! This afternoon I went out solo with my walkman on and it all started to make sense.

It may have been the 160 bpm Joey Beltram sountrack or it may have been the cheap beer but I suddenly didn't care about the swarming mopeds and other traffic and slipped effortlessly from A to B like a native. 

I think this state of mind may be against the Surgeon General's advice but it was fun while it lasted and reminded me of Sgt Kilgore in Apocalyse Now. The scene on Danang beach when he is standing fully upright on the beach while everyone else cowers amidst the barrage of VC bullets!

Our hotel had invited us to an Xmas party and have been so nice to us we must oblige before heading out for some dinner and drinks.

Did I mention that Vietnam has the cheapest beer in the world? .........hic....Merry Christmas everyone x

Vietnamese Santa delivering gifts via moped!

Another busy day dodging mad traffic! Moved into a nice comfortable hotel for Dec 23-26th but counting the days to escape Hanoi. I think we mave have set a record for the longest stay by any tourist with 6 days here! 

Saw lots of western tourists walking about looking a bit fed up. Busy Asian cities certainly seem like an acquired taste and we're thinking about not bothering with Saigon as we hear it makes Hanoi look quiet. 


Looking at the guidebooks a lot thinking of tweaking the itinerary a little here and there. It's good to have the freedom to fine tune.

Looking forward to a quiet Xmas enjoying the hotel, some nice food and avoiding the street traffic!

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Looks like we're in Hanoi for Xmas! Its a v busy and polluted city and more a matter or endurance than pleasure but there are plenty great places to eat and drink.

Not much here to inspire pictures so far!


We are off to Ha Long bay on boxing day for 3 days on a traditional Vietnamese Junk boat :  )


I doubt we will have internet access in the bay so Merry Xmas to all our friends and family reading this  xxxxx

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Strange to be in Hanoi as our heads are still ringing with the Tokyo experience! The contrast in places couldn't be greater.

Tokyo

Been all over Tokyo on the Metro and absolutely loved the place. Absoloutely must come back during Sakura season ( blossom in Spring ). 

Here are a few final pics of Asakua temple and it's famous golden "turd" statue and the Tokyo Eiffel tower which is taller than Paris.

Now leaving for Hanoi, Vietnam.

             

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Visited Yanaka yesterday to see the more traditional Tokyo. Beautiful quiet place with lots of Temples, craft shops and local artists. Met some amazing people in a small bar and ate some strange stuff that we couldn't identify and they couldn't explain :   )

Amazing how being in the right place at the right time can make such a great day out!

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 Kabukicho in full effect

Got in at midnight after a long day travelling with broken down buses and other mishaps.
Took the monorail into Shimbashi where we are staying, our room has a view of the Tokyo Eiffel Tower, it's quite surreal! 

Very cold here after the tropics, the locals all have down jackets and winter gear on, we just couldn't have packed any more, both the sacks are 20kg already.

The city is mind boggling! Navigation is challenging as few street signs are English but the subway system is brilliant when you get accustomed to the multilayered matrix. Been to Shinjuku today, the busiest station in the world, it has over 50 exits. 

The city is certainly expensive and we hear that it's more affordable than its ever been, it's in line with expensive London and a shock after Malaysia where we we're eating 2 course evening meals for £4 for the two of us! 

We have bought SUICA cards for the subway, just like the London Oyster and essential.

Really enjoying the city so far. Heading out tonight for some late night Sushi :  )

Kuala Lumpur again!

Back in KL again :  )
Off to Tokyo on tuesday so a few more days enjoying this great city and amazing food :  )

Angela has a night swim

Sakura

Looks like we have a new stop on our route :  ) 

Penang

Leaving Penang for KL again!

 

Made it to Penang on Monday, great to get some fresh air and beaches  :  )
Must have been on the beach a whole 5 seconds before i hired a jet ski
We are reading and relaxing and the hotel has a good gym to get the blood pumping after too much lying about.
We've booked 3 nights here then onto Langkawi which we hear has the best beaches on the West coast.