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Archive for November, 2008

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CatBa

Saturday, November 15th, 2008

Arrived to a wet Hanoi from the overnight train from Sapa.  Lots of water around and all the way to Haiphong very wet and the sea on the Haiphong side a sludge brown colour.  Yet arrived in CatBa to blue skies and and lovely weather and remarkably they have missed all the bad weather.  For the past week it has been blue skies and sunshine and perfect weather.  Even the sea crystal clear even if at low tide someone seems to have stolen the water – probably all in Hanoi !.

They even have just finally put in a ATM machine, just a shame all I have is rapidly depreciating pounds in my account which seem to be worth less against the dong as everyday goes by.  But given the building going on here – and generally in Vietnam –  there is no hint of a global slowdown and everyone seems very happy with business.  And I am sure the unbrella business has had a great year.

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Sapa. The end

Friday, November 7th, 2008

The good news is the ducks are happy, for anyone else I wouldn’t recommend Vietnam at the moment.  At least I am getting intensive training in for returning to a cold wet U.K shortly.  Stayed in BacHa for a further 2 nights as weather lousy.  Then decided to return to Sapa and see what the weather did, at least Sapa has a bit more life. Was hoping it would improve and could do a tour of the mountains in N.E Vietnam but finally given up hope and decided to head back to Hanoi and spend my final time on the beach in CatBa. 

Conditions from BacHa bad on the roads and the rivers very high and heavy rain.  But yesterday decided to grin and bear it and did a final hike into the hills.  At least here the paths are good and easy to stop and get refreshments on the way and let the rains pass over.  All told good fun even if wet and muddy.  Must remember to bring wellington boots the next time I come here.

Today woke up and saw something as rare as a comet, blue sky and sun. I probably should have taken a picture as looking outside now it is going to …. it down.  Later take the train to Hanoi and then onto CatBa. After a break there its a quick stop in Thailand and then home.

So this basically wraps it all up assuming no problems.  So after nearly 2 years away bar 2 short breaks in England will be back for a cold English winter, luckily no acclimatisation problems. And given I gather prudent Brown has done the dream of every Scotsman and followed a scortched earth policy of England I guess it will be my last travels for quite a while. Never thought I would be happier to have Vietnamese dong in my pockets than English pounds !, sums it up really.

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BacHa3

Sunday, November 2nd, 2008
Rain, rain, rain and lots of mud ..... welcome to Vietnam.  In fairness looking at the news on tv it is a lot better here than the likes of Hanoi etc.  At least we don't need boats to get along ... [Continue reading this entry]

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