Tháng Hai 2011 – Viettravel4u's Blog

I, Jochen, and Jochen mother had a great lunar new year. They fill upbefore the festival plans to mere two weeks. Jo and Mother to Vietnam a few days before Tet. We have a few days on the beachof Vung Tau. By Year 29, we return to HCMC preparing for our tripof Bao Loc City to welcome the Lunar New Year at my parentshouse. We visit the families of my sister, celebrate Vietnam’straditional parties, including the cultural tradition of the family. Jo andMargaret proved quite fun, although I know Margaret has tried verymuch to both of us. We know her health is not good after a traffic accident several years ago.

She has tirelessly tried to be all we can be assured. I am veryimpressed with what Margaret has demonstrated and supported us.I want to do something to respond to what Mom has given usvaluable time.

We have two days in my hometown, I am my mother, Margaret, Jochen, my sister and two children now attend a temple on the first day of Chinese New Year. We met the temple master and the need for a holiday last year. Wishes to everyone in the family a year peace and happiness and universal sentient beings, a small contribution to help raise funds to build temples and pagodas to rescue the unfortunate lives. Special delivery mail the night, I’m very sorry you did not pick up the sacred moments of the new year with Jochen and his mother as promised, because some problems can not call TAXI when we had to conduct the others with originally expected. Jochen sad I know but I can not do otherwise.

Afternoon 1th Lunar New Year. Bao Loc to the hotel I stay andprepare for a trip to Dalat with Jochen and Margaret. Visit ourrestaurants of a fast-food boss Vietnamese people of Chinese origin. We had a dinner is not really the perfect call but can also beviewed as a point of the journey. That said, I really do not know muchabout the city where my family lives. Time that I lived here only about6 months rounded up within 18 years. Where I was really attached toSaigon, where I think there are many opportunities for me.

11:00, we depart from the bus station in Bao Loc Phuong Trang toDa Lat. More than 2 hours we went to Da Lat. Stay at the Thang Loi Hotel two days as planned. This is truly a special time for us. Wewent to visit some places and then by taxi to the hotel drinking a fewglasses of red wine along with a few biscuits. We’ve visited Bao Dai, Linh Phuoc pagoda, waterfalls Tantana. But do not go much butI can not forget what I have experienced so fresh and happy. I feelwhat Jochen and Margaret appear on their face, though with very hard journey for Margaret.

That day, Jochen and Margaret had bought me a beautiful birthday cake for me. It was a special birthday cake for me. It is not the firstbirthday cake someone gave me but it also carries a specialmeaning that only I understood and felt. In other words better than Ican share with others what I have been in the early moments of thisspring

A simple birthday party, but a lot of sense, I am immersed in a verystrange feeling.
The next day, we were on our way back to HCMC. I have a verystrange feeling mixed with worry for my life instead of down withduring the journey.
Two days later, after a day of fun with the fun, we parted at theairport of Tan Son Nhat International. Flight back to Germany’sJochen and Margaret spent two marathons Bangkok City, Bangkokand Munich. A long journey back to the shareholders that great that we have been this trip. To confusion after the plane took off I go back to reality with a terrible accident and the pain of New

Day

Magaret-Haiha-Tramanh-Thuha front of my mother's house

DEREK’S EPIC JOURNEY – CHAPTER 10

In Train travel on January 17, 2011 at 1:50 am

DEREK’S EPIC JOURNEY

CHAPTER 10

Dec. 1 Wed. Up this morning around 7:00 for breakfast of fresh fruit and dumplings. I checked out of the hotel around 10:30 and went for a walk through the Old Quarter. Stopped for ice cream!

I came back to the hotel and took a taxi to the Musem of Ethology. It was quite interesting about the 54 ethnic groups that make up the population of Vietnam. It gave some details about each, e.g. area, means of living, traditions, etc. There were also scale models of houses plus some full-sized replicas outside. Once again I became a star as three very well-dressed girls wanted their pictures taken with me. Here I am wearing jeans and a t-shirt.

Another taxi back to the Old Quarter where I ate dinner at ‘Little Hanoi.’ Decided to walk around some more but fled to the safety of the hotel lobby to get rid of the vendors. I really don’t need books or postcards or maps. I filled in the time by using the computer in the lobby.

Around 9:50 my taxi came and a hotel employee came with me to the cabin on the train. We were on the train by 10:15 and, for the first time, there was no security check. I soon met my lower berth companion who speaks very good English. Originally from Vietnam, he is now living in Australia.

This train is composed of old carriages very much in need of freshening up. I think I’ll say that it’s rustic.

Dec. 2 Thurs. Woke up before six when it was just getting light. The countryside has changed to thick growth and hills. The air conditioner is on but it is a dull, cloudy day. Breakfast was a rice/chicken soup.

Lunch was curried chicken, rice, vegetable and vegetable soup. 25000 dong. By the way, 20000 dong equals one US dollar.

1:30 Danang. Other upper left us. It was sunshine at that stop but returned to a mixture of cloud and sun.

4:30 Getting cold. Air conditioner is on high. I went to the next car to visit John and Bev to say goodbye. They’re a very nice couple and I really enjoyed the time I spent with them.

Back to my cabin two more people have been added – a Vietnamese couple. Around 10:30 Trieu left at Na Trang and a lady took his berth. Wonder when/if they ever change the bedding.

Dec. 3 Fri. Arrived Saigon at 5:10 a.m. I took a taxi to my hotel but both people on night duty were asleep. Rather than wake them I sat and waited a few minutes before one of them woke up. I was early, so there was no room available. However, when I said I would pay for the full night, a room suddenly materialized which I could have for half a day and pay half price. I went there and showered and changed. Then I went to the hotel restaurant for breakfast and was talking to a Vietnamese businessman from Virginia. By 11:45 I moved to my regular room and then went for a walk around the area. At 2:00 I met my guide, Hoat, whom I had hired online. We went for an early dinner at a sidewalk cafe where I ate lotus flower pods. Not worth the effort getting into them. Good meal: Vegetable, rice and small fish somewhat like smelt. And beer! Then it was back to the hotel for the evening.

Dec. 4 Sat. Breakfast in the hotel and started my anti-malaria drugs in preparation for Cambodia. Another bright, sunny day.

Rode on the back of a motorbike all day. Visited the War Remnants Museum, a temple, and the Reunification Palace. There were a lot of pictures showing torture and the effects of agent orange. We’re being fed a totally different slant on what they call the American War.

For lunch we went to a traditional Vietnamese restaurant where we sat on cushions at very low tables. We had land crab soup, chicken, vegetable, rice and a couple of other veggie things, watermelon and beer.

While driving around we got caught in the rain a couple of times, so we both shared a poncho and kept going. It was quite an experience riding through the hundreds of motorbikes, bicycles and a few cars and trucks. It’s especially trying when suddenly there are bikes coming at you against the flow of traffic. Perhaps not as bad as when we’re doing the same thing! I think my tailbone is bruised if not broken!

Dinner was late and light since it was such a big lunch. This time just fish, rice and tomato soup and beer. Then it was back to the hotel to pack for any early start to Cambodia. It’s supposed to be a 12-hour bus ride. No more trains until I get to Thailand.