Our first experience of a bus for a while was not a promising experience and did not make me eager to leave the Vietnamese train lines and head into Cambodia. We waited 45 minutes for our booked bus, only for a minivan to turn up and take us 200 yards down the road before chucking … Continue reading Phnom Penh – a dark past
Tag: Asia
Phu Quoc – the four S’s
I clung to the back of the moped as the tiny Vietnamese lady threw it over ruts in the road. She was about half my size and I thought if I held on to her she might topple off. Theo was back at the tourist office about a mile ot two back and I was, … Continue reading Phu Quoc – the four S’s
Saigon – Into the Dark
Saigon is what you'd get if you took the commercial and tourist-friendly vast metropolis that is Bangkok and crossed it with the Vietnamese motorbike chaos of Hanoi, and then the two exploded. It's like any big city I suppose, chain brands and busy backstreets. Like a lot of Asian cities it's got that shiny modern front but it's … Continue reading Saigon – Into the Dark
Hoi An – Floating Lanterns and Occupied Beaches
Our train ran right along by the coast. When the trees parted you could see the cliff dropping straight down beside the tracks. The sea crashed against the rocks at the bottom then stretched out for miles. Da Nang was a large, busy city with lots of trendy clothes shops and restaurants. Naturally it was … Continue reading Hoi An – Floating Lanterns and Occupied Beaches
Hue – Royals, Riches and…Rengiss?
Our first contact with Hue wasn't a great success. Tired and sweaty from the train we stumbled out on to the busy streets. I got us lost, we got hassled by touts, Theo almost threw up and there wasn't an empty taxi in sight. Things picked up later after we had recovered and in the … Continue reading Hue – Royals, Riches and…Rengiss?
Ha Long Bay – A New World Wonder
"You must see Ha Long Bay!" the Vietnamese woman screamed at us. She worked in the hotel next to ours, arranging Ha Long Bay tours, and resembled a small cyclone (see previous post). "Now there is storm but in two days should be fine but just in case don't book anything! You must, must see … Continue reading Ha Long Bay – A New World Wonder
Hanoi – Motorbikes, Mayhem and Moist Marionettes
Our first glimpse of Hanoi was as our plane circled over a flat and rural landscape. I thought we must have been in the wrong place when I looked out at the insular clusters of habitation spread out across the farmland. It took a while to get the visas sorted out, the guys in the … Continue reading Hanoi – Motorbikes, Mayhem and Moist Marionettes
Luang Prabang Part 2 – Birthday Boun Boun
Pai! July 20th. A big day. Our first excursion outside the beautiful city of Luang Prabang and time for Mr Riley to pull out the big guns. Why? Because it was my 23rd birthday. And boy was it the best birthday ever! We were picked up by the All Laos Elephant Camp at 9am and … Continue reading Luang Prabang Part 2 – Birthday Boun Boun
Luang Prabang Part 1 – Oh La La
The journey to Luang Prabang was supposed to take four hours, it actually took two and a half. Now every journey we'd done to date on our trip had taken longer than we had expected it to. We were surprised and grateful to finally have a shorter one. However, we spent the whole journey clinging … Continue reading Luang Prabang Part 1 – Oh La La
Nong Khiaw – When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Wasted
It was strange going back to somewhere we'd been before, used as we had become to perpetually moving forwards. After the beauty of Muang Ngoi the majesty of Nong Khiaw's resident mountains seemed a little diminished but it was still a breathtaking sight. A vast mountain rises up straight from the river and the town struggles for … Continue reading Nong Khiaw – When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Wasted
Emma Pocklington 