Síle & Bruce’s Travel Blog

Well since we haven’t written in a while, I think it’s about time for a little catch up.

First of all, Welcome to the World Aidan Mallon!

We left Ho Chi Minh City after Bruce played football and had a reasonably O.K 12hr over night bus journey to Nha Trang. It’s a beautiful little seaside town, with a lovely beach and it was very cheap! our room was $7 a night, big fan, TV, fridge AND the toilet was inside! It was also only a 3/4 min walk to the beach where we hired out sun loungers for 30 000 Dong a day (about 30p!). We did watch a few fights between the locals who’d been drinking in the sun all day which is always fun, and evenings were spent making friends with travellers and locals alike at the “fresh beer” bars for 3000 dong.

One day while looking around a shop we found some dried fish with the label “Instant Leather Jacket Fish” I almost bought it for that but we wouldn’t eat it and it would really stink! 

We left Nha Trang after just 5 days and while waiting for the bus we were asking ourselves why we were leaving, we liked it so much; but by that stage we had bought our ticket to Hoi An and had checked out of the hotel, so on we went.

It turned out to be the best decision as Hoi An was amazing. Bruce is writing something on Hoi An now I’ll let him post that before I add anything else!

xx

We saw pigs on the beach yesterday - ha!

On our honda stepthrough tour of the captial Vientiene we decide to head out of the city to a budda park 30kms south east of the city. The roads are another story (could of done with a motocross bike). we had been told by an english lady that the beer lao factory was on the way to the budda park, quite an ideal situation im sure you can imagine, but also that they give you beer and a tour of the factory, and guess how much it cost. Not a penny. So we pull up at the factory, through a door, where we are greeted by a lady who ushers out into a garden where she promptly asks us to sit down. Im not going to argue with this lady as I think she might have a few treats in store, and sure enougth 2 minutes later she reappears with two bottles of beer lao, a questionaire and beer lao stickers. Brillant. We slurp down the beer and then are taken into the factory for a quick tour. Interesting fact: They actually brew and can Calesburg beer there. Anyway I asked her if i could take a few snaps for the collection but was denied, had to take it on the chin as she had layed on a good spread.

From the post below you can guess why Bruce like Laos eh?!

 I’ll just fill in the gaps!

We left Thailand on the 10th by taking a bus to Chiang Rai and a second to Chiang Khong where we crossed the boarder. Its funny, you exit Thailand, get on a little bost for 5 mins then go into Laos. The visa were 35 US$ each, it was so simple: just fill in a form, pay your money, get a stamp!

 We stayed for 2 night is the villiage/town called Houy Xai where we then got on a 2 day long boat to Luang Prabang. The boat journey was ineteresting to say the least. they loaded about 10 people onto the long boat with wooden benches - COMFORTABLE! we spent about 7 hrs each day on the boat. The first day was fine, weather was nice and the loo wasn’t as bad as what we expected! The second day was freezing! I had my jumper on and a towel covering my legs. In the end I ended up trying to sleep under the bench. Bruce couldn’t manage it, but it was funny to watch him try!

The Lonley Planet guide book raves about Luang Prabang, but to be honest we were dissapointed. It was too cold, too expensive and there was nothing to do! SO we left pretty sharpish.

We’ve headed south to a small town called Vang Vieng where the weather is hot and the prices are low. The bus journey was a little hairy, Just goiung through the mountains for 7 hours… at least there was a tarmac road most of the way(!) Its crazy, Vang Vieng is in the middle on nowhere. There is just one ‘major’ road that has some bars that just play Friend, Family Guy or The Simpsons on repeat all day long (Keeks, you’d LOVE it!)

 Unfortunatly the food isn’t as good as it was in Thailand, Bruce and I have both been sick in bed for the last 2 days. But we’re all good now and went Tubing down the river this morning (you hire big rubber rings and relax on the river for a few hours), but the sun burn isn’t much fun!

We think we’ll be heading to the Capital tomorrow and then onto Cambodia to get a bit of beach action!

 Love to all and keep in touch

xxx

Its very good, 5% with a crisp clean taste and get this it cost 40p a bottle. Back of the net. Its to easy to have a drink in this country. Sile made me buy a bottle of whiskey the first night we got to vang vieng, with two cokes it cost 3.20 or something, and its good gear. Laos has been a mixed bag. When we crossed the border into huay xai it was roasting, 35 plus. we spent 2 days there and then got the 2 day slow boat down to luang prabang, stopping over night in pak beng, tiny place run of generators, at 11.30 the place just shuts down, quite strang. Anyway, we were really looking forward to luang prabang as it is bigged up in the travel book. What a let down, it was freezing which was not ideal and the prices were sky high. It was a blaytant tourist trap, bit annoying. Anyway we have ended up in a place called vang vieng which is sweet as a nut. Alot cheaper and lots of bars, restaurants also things to explore like caves and lakes and more bars etc etc…

We went to see Thai boxing on Friday, what a night. The great thing about Thai boxings rules are, that there are no rules. The stadium was quality, wooden framed corrugated Iron roof. Ringside seats and a stall to get a few sherbets from. As the snake charmer style music sang out the first fighters appeared. Starting out all slow and sort of movin to the music, I was beginning to think we had been done, but then all of a sudden, smack and kick. The fight explored into a kicking and punching feast. Round three and things were getting abit hairy for the fighter in red, 30 seconds to go in the round and out of no where a full force elbow crack onto the jaw and done goes the blue fighter! Hes out cold for a full 6 minutes. The commentator grabs the mic and trys to assure everyone that the fighters alright. Carried out on a stretcher and left in the docs room, (a hut with a red cross painted on it). After 6 minutes hes up and about with a ciggy on the go. Quality

How is everyone doing back home.

We heard the weathers good! sorry had to do it, its been a blazing 35 degrees since we first landed 7 days ago. Alot has happened since then. We stayed in Bangkok for 6 days which was a little much to be fair, but some friends were about so it was lashings of Chang all round. The buckets are lethal. Tuktuks and the nana plaza would have to be the highlights not forgetting the nutty dude that took us cruising in his long boat. It was like the man from the golden gun. Bangkok became a little too busy so we headed down to see my uncle in Pattaya, or so we thought. After 12 hours of trying to get in touch with him we got the message, we should’ve spotted it from the fake email address and dodgey telephone number! Thanks robin, Hows the leg…

Next morning we made a speedy exit back to Bangkok (Punch pattaya into google) and instead of heading to the river kwai, we decided to make the long journey North to Chiang Mai where we are currently writing this blog. We took the night train from Bangkok which took about 14 hours. It was an good experince. Its alot more chilled in Chaing Mai, the foods still kick arse good.

We are having problems obtaining our Aussy visas, Shee has to get a chest X-ray (!) and I have to fax over all details for when I was done for Drink driving, 6 years ago! Mum have you got any documents for this? Fingers crossed we get them, if not who knows.

We both hope all is well at home, keep us upto date with all of the goss. Thanks for all the emails and comments, they’re really lovely to get! We’re having an amazing time!

xx

Afternoon all,

 Just a quick one. The beer is good the food is even better. Saw some chap about 250 today on a motorbike with a freezer lashed to the front of it selling ice cream. Legend

Just a quick one to let you all know we’ve arrived safe and sound!

 Enjoying the sunshine - SO hot, but the rooftop pool is helping. Just enjoyed some Pad Thai from a street stall, only 25 Baht, I think I could get used to this!

Pics will follow soon. Lots of Love to all!

Sile xxx

As Europe once famously said…

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