July 13, 2004
The Mekong Delta
Having successfully avoided the dog markets, I found myself confronted with even worse sights at My Tho. I walked through the meat market with an Australian teacher called Sandii (who took photos to gross out her students) and saw live...Read this update
Posted by Rowena at 09:53 AM
July 11, 2004
Ho Chi Minh City
The skies above Saigon were illuminated by lightning storms - bolts and flashes - sometimes with rain, sometimes without. The city was packed with the ubiquitous 'motos' and there were shops and markets everywhere. With capitalism running rampant, I'm not...Read this update
Posted by Rowena at 09:44 AM
July 10, 2004
Da Lat
Arriving in Da Lat, I wished I'd spent longer on the beach in Nha Trang instead as it was cold and raining up in the mountains. I found a very basic but friendly hostel and ventured out into the famed...Read this update
Posted by Rowena at 09:30 AM
July 09, 2004
Nha Trang
I sat at the front of the overnight bus to Nha Trang, next to a stout lady with her luggage piled around her. Why she couldn't stow it like the rest of us, I don't know, but I was assigned...Read this update
Posted by Rowena at 02:34 PM
July 07, 2004
Hoi An
The luggage compartment of the Hue - Hoi An bus was full, so my rucksack ended up on the floor by the door. It was not a happy arrangement as the driver switched off the air-conditioning going up hills to...Read this update
Posted by Rowena at 02:29 PM
July 06, 2004
The DMZ
I was expecting the DMZ (De-Militarised Zone) to be a wasteland still, but it was full of paddy fields, banana trees and villages. Eucalyptus and pine trees were imported to re-forest the hillsides sprayed with Agent Orange, and the farmers...Read this update
Posted by Rowena at 02:20 PM
July 05, 2004
Hue
I was late for the bus so it was mostly full when I boarded and I ended up with a seat over a back wheel. I was hoping to stretch out onto the space next to me to make up...Read this update
Posted by Rowena at 02:12 PM
July 03, 2004
Halong Bay
Halong Bay, 200km east of Hanoi, is surrounded by tree-covered karsts and filled with green sea water. I stayed on a boat for two days as it motored around the islands, stopping at a spectacular cave and dropping anchor to...Read this update
Posted by Rowena at 08:30 AM
June 30, 2004
Hanoi
Hanoi is a beautiful city of lakes and tree-lined streets. The buildings are narrow but tall and long because they used to be taxed according to the amount of street front they occupied. A lot of the architecture is a...Read this update
Posted by Rowena at 03:36 PM