eighteenth...raining sun.....[195]

8.11.07.
7.30AM...ALARM...BREAKFAST FINISHES 8.30AM...NOT HAPPY ABOUT THAT.
8.25AM...TRUNDLE DOWN TO BREAKFAST...ALL SMILES...COLOURFUL ARRAY DIFFERENT COLD MEATS,JAMS,FRIED EGG OR EGG CAKE?,FRESH BAGUETTES,TEA/COFFEE...NOTHING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT...THEN AGAIN WE ARE IN A FANCY PANTS HOTEL...THE CANADIANS WE SPOKE TO YEASTERDAY WERE ONLY PAYING 5 DOLLARS EACH FOR ACCOMADATION...WE'RE PAYING 15!
9.30AM...BOOKED ANOTHER NIGHT...PAID LAUNDRY...BOOKED BUS FOR HOI AN...DEPART 8.00AM.
11.00AM...SITTING ON BALCONY...WONDERFUL,WONDERFUL WEATHER...DOWN ON THE STREET A DOG SITS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD...UNCONCERNED...A CHAP WITH HELMET PACES...THINK HE'S LOST HIS BIKE...3 MEN CROUCHED ON THE KERB...WESTERN LOOKING WOMAN GETS OUTA RICKSHAW AND PERUSES 'FASHION' SHOP OPPOSITE...WOMAN ON OPPOSITE BALCONY SMILES...A FEW MOTORBIKES GO UP AND DOWN...ITS SO PEACEFUL...COMPARED TO HANOI...ANYTHING IS!...I THINK WE'LL SIT HERE ALL DAY...JUST ENOUGH TO KEEP US ENGROSSED...MIGHT POP OT FOR ABOTTLE OF BRANDY...BOTTLE OF COKE.
11.30AM...NU PUT SUGAR SATCHETS IN WITH MANDARINS...ALL GONE STICKY...SORTING THINGS OUT...THINK I'LL GO FOR BRANDY SHORTLY!
12.10PM...GOT RUM/COKE/EAR BUDS/PARACETEMOL/SUN LOTION x 2...115000 DONG!
2.00PM...WENT FOR PIZZA...POOL TABLE...WON 8...LOST 1.
5.20PM...BACK AT HOTEL...SEMI PACKING...DEPART HOI AN 8.00AM.
7.00PM...DRINKING RUM...HAVING FUN!?


9.11.07.
6.30AM...ALARM.
6.45AM...SHOWER.
7.10AM...BRAEKFAST...2 FRIED EGGS...IF THEY HADN'T PUT THEM UNDER MY NOSE I WOULDN'T HAVE MISSED'EM...TEA WAS WEAK...BAGUETTE DIDN'T TASTE RIGHT...BUT I'M NOT ONE TO COMPLAIN!
7.55AM...BUS ARRIVE...DOESN'T LOOK YHE BEST.
8.25AM...STUCK IN CENTRE OF CITY...FUNERAL OR WEDDING PROCESSION HAPPENING[NOT MUCH DIFFERENCE IN REALITY]...TRAFFIC JAM AS LONG AS YOUR EYE CAN SEE...THIS BUS AS GOT A WELL SQUEAKY HORN...SUSPENSION SQUEAKS TOO...NEEDS A OVERHAUL...LIKE MYSELF.
10.00AM...STOPPED AT CAFE...HAD BOWL OF STEAMED RICE WITH SHRIMPS/MEAT/SPRING ONION...NOT SURE...HOPE I'M OK...CAN OF STILL ORANGE WENT DOWN WELL.
1.30PM...ARRIVED...BIT LATE...BOOKED IN TO NEAREST HOTEL...8 DOLLARS FOR BOTH...ITS RAINING.
2.10PM...RESTAURANT...WAITING FOR CHICKEN BURGER AND CHIPS.
2.25PM...WISH I HADN'T BOTHERED...CHICKEN CURRIED BURGER IT SHOULD HAVE READ.
3.00PM...MET 2 CHAPS WE HAD MET IN HANOI...SO HAD A CHAT AND A BEER.
4.00PM...MET COUPLE WE HAD BEEN IN HALONG BAY WITH...SO MORE CHAT...MORE BEER.
5.15PM...STILL RAINING...MADE OUR WAY BACK TO HOTEL.
6.00PM...FELL ASLEEP.
10.10PM...WOKE...WATCHED HALF HOUR OF STARWARS,EPISODE 2...RUBBISH ACTING...TURNED IT OFF...BACK TO SLEEP.


10.11.07.
7.30AM...WOKE...BBC NEWS 24...SOMEONE IN FINLAND AS GONE ONA SHOOTING SPREE.
8.00AM...COFEE/SHAVE/SHOWER.
9.00AM...LEAVING HOTEL...GOTTA FIND ANOTHER...BEDSIDE TABLE LAMP NOT WORKING...FEW CREEPY CRAWLIES...NOT IMPRESSED...8 DOLLARS FOR BOTH...WHAT SHOULD WE EXPECT!
9.40AM...FOUND HOTEL...20 DOLLARS FOR BOTH...SWIMMING POOL...NU IMPRESSED...CAN'T BOOK IN TILL 10.30AM...SO OFF FOR BREAKIE.
10.10AM...JEANS CAFE...NOTICE BOARD READS FULL WESTERN BREAKFAST...IN WE GO.
10.30AM...MUSHROOM OMELETTE...I'LL COME AGAIN...TOAST A BIT DOUGHIE...MUG OF TEA GOOD...HAVING ANOTHER.
10.35AM...STILL RAINING...STILL HOT...WELL STICKY.
10.45AM...WOMAN PUSHING FRUIT BARROW PASSING...KILO OF MANDARINS...QUID!
11.05AM...BOOKED IN TO HOTEL...NO CREEPY CRAWLIES WE HOPE.
11.30AM...NEW ROOM...FAR SUPERIOR TO LAST...NU GOT EVERTHING OUTA BAGS SEARCHING FOR HAIR CLIPS...ME SITTING CONSTANTLY STICKY IN CORNER...IS IT TO EARLY FOR A BEER?
11.50AM...BAG TIDYING TIME...NU FOUND CLIPS...ITS GOOD TO HAVE A CLEAR OUT...FIND THINGS YOU FORGOTTEN YOU HAD...SATCHETS OF SUGAR AND SUCH.
12.25PM...BAR ACROSS THE WAY GOT POOL TABLE...NU EAGER?!!!...OFF WE STROLL.
1.50PM...CAN'T LOSE A GAME IF I TRIED...VIETS ARE IMPRESSED...I THINK THEY MAKE ME LOOK GOOD...GETTING BORED.
2.20PM...JEANS CAFE...COD AND CHIPS...BIT SALTY.
3.30PM...BACK AT HOTEL...TRYING TO DOWNLOAD PICTURES FROM CAMERA...NOT HAPPENING.
5.05PM...NOT SURE IF THAT COD IS PLAYING TRICKS ON MY STOMACH.
7.30PM...WENT FOR SANDWICH AND COKE...LOTTA MEN IN SILLY HALF TROUSERS...IF YOU WANNA WEAR TROUSERS...WEAR THEM TO THE ANKLE OR WEAR SHORTS...BUT IF YOU WANNA LOOK SILLY...WEAR SILLY HALF TROUSERS.
9.30PM...BACK AT HOTEL...STICKY AND HOT...RAIN POURING DOWN.


11.11.07.
7.30AM...RAIN UNRELENTING...ABSOLUTELY POURING...THIS BLOG COULD GET BORING?
8.00AM...BREAKFAST...3 BOILED EGGS...BREAD/BUTTER/JAM...CUPPA TEA.
9.15AM...ATM...RAIN RAIN GO AWAY!
9.25AM...CHATTING WITH AUSSIE COUPLE.
10.05AM...SHOWER...BACK ACHING.
10.30AM...NU CAN'T GET CAMERA TO WORK...GETTING AGGITATED.
10.35AM...ELECTRICITY GONE OFF.
10.50AM...ELECTRICITY BACK ON.
12.05PM...LAUNDRY RETURNED...COULD THIS BE THE HIGHLOGHT OF THE DAY?
1.00PM...RAIN RECEDED SOMEWHAT...WALKED TO THE OLD QUARTER.
1.45PM...RAIN RETURNED.
2.00PM...CAFE...ORDERED TWO CHUNKY VEG SOUP...HAM AND CHEESE SANDWICH TO SHARE.
2.15PM...ONE VEG SOUP ARRIVES...NO SIGN OF MINE...WAITED...SPOKE WITH GIRL 'IN CHARGE'...WAITED.
2.25PM...NO SIGN OF BOWL OF SOUP...SPOKE WITH GIRL 'IN CHARGE'...TOLD HER THAT WHEN TWO PEOPLE SIT DOWN TOGETHER...THEY EXPECT TO EAT TOGETHER...SHE WAS ABOUT AS MUCH USE AS A SOAKING WET CARD BOARD BOX ON A DESERTED MOTORWAY.
2.30PM...GOT UP AND LEFT.
2.40PM...AT ANOTHER CAFE WAITING FOR MUSHROOM SOUP AND CHIPS.
3.00PM...WAITING.
3.15PM...MUSHROOM SOUP/CHIPS...WHOOPEE!
4.10PM...LONG SILK...SHOP/TAILORS...NU ORDERS 5 MADE TO MEASURE TROUSERS...75 DOLLARS...LOTTA MATERIAL I SUPPOSE.
5.00PM...TREATS CAFE...BUY ONE GET ONE FREE...FOUR BACARDI/COKES COMING UP...RAIN LASHING DOWN...RIVER BROKE ITS BANKS...100 YARDS FROM HOTEL...UP TO OUR KNEES...WONDERING IF THIS IS THE BEST PLACE TO BE...BETTER HAVE A FEW MORE BACARDS.
8.45PM...BACK AT HOTEL...WATCHING THE VILLA DESTROY BRUM...2~1!


12.11.07.
5.00AM...WOKE...HEAR THE RAIN...NON STOP TORRENTIAL...HOTEL FLOODED...WE'RE ON 3RD FLOOR...SO GOT LUCKY...PEOPLE ON 1ST FLOODED.
6.00PM...DEMANDED PASSPORTS[HAVE YOU EVER SEEN ME BEING DEMANDING?]...THEY DIDN'T WANNA GIVE...BUT MANY OTHER PEOPLE WANTED THIERS...PAID TWO NIGHTS BILL...NOT PAYING ANY MORE!
7.00AM...NO JOKE...7 FOOT OR MORE...THE WHOLE PLACE IS A LAKE...HANDING OUT POT NOODLES AND BISCUITS...THEY RECKON IT'LL BE A FEW DAYS BEFORE IT STOPS...NO WHERE TO GO.
9.00AM...STILL POURING,
10.00AM...SLOWING A BIT.
10.30AM...4 PEOPLE GET OUT VIA CANOE.
12.10PM...ANOTHER 4 PEOPLE GET OUT VIA CANOE...IT SAILS STRAIGHT INTO LOBBY...RECEPTION COMPLETELY UNDER WATER...WE'RE GONNA WAIT TILL TOMORROW TO MAKE OUR MOVE.
12.20PM...BEEF POT NOODLE...ASLURPING WE DO GO.
12.40PM...FELL ASLEEP.
3.00PM...WOKE...RAIN CEASED.
3.10PM...CUPPA COFFEE...ONLY ABOUT 15 PEOPLE LEFT IN HOTEL...MOST GONE TO DE NANG AIRPORT VIA BOAT AND TAXI.
4.00PM...TORRENTIAL RAIN RETURNED.
4.40PM...BOOKED AIR TICKETS TO FLY TOMORROW NIGHT.
5.35PM...NO ELECTRICITY...CANDLES HANDED OUT...MORE POT NOODLES...THINK I'VE BEEN BITTEN ON BOTH ANKLES.
7.30PM...WHERE WILL WE BE TOMORROW...CRAZY WEATHER...STILL POURING.


13.11.07.
8.00AM...NOT A VERY GOOD NIGHT...FOUND IT HARD TO SLEEP...HALF A BOTTLE OF WHISKEY WOULD'VE HELPED.
9.30AM...STILL RAINONG BUT WATER RECEDING...FOUND NU'S JACKET SHE HAD LEFT IN LOBBY AFTER THE AFTERNOON OF SEVERAL BACARDI'S...BIT WET!...IT'LL DRY...PLUS FOUND ENVELIPE WITH NU'S WRITINGS...OVER THE MOON...BIT DAMP...BUT THEY ARE SO SPECIAL...THINGS LOOKING UP!...ALSO GOT BAG OF KHIET...SPICY PIECES OF CORN...RATHER MORE-ISH.
11.00AM...STILL SPITTING...WATER RECEDING FAST...SHOULD BE HUNGRY...JUST FEEL STICKY...MY HAIR ONE MASS OF CURLS.
12.10PM...CHATTING AWAY...THE RAIN AS RETURNED.
2.00PM...COULD DO WITH A WHISKEY...CAN'T GET HOLD OF ANY.
2.50PM...VIETS HAPPILY PLAYING IN POND OF SEWAGE...GONNA TAKE BOAT PART OF THE WAY TO AIRPORT...THEN HOPEFULLY GET A TAXI...AIRPORT ABOUT 27K A WAY...BOAT COMES INTO FOYER...BOOKED FOR 4.30PM.
3.00PM...HAVING LAST CAN OF BEER.
4.00PM...AIR TICKETS FOR SAIGON...BOOKED ONE NIGHT IN HOTEL THERE.
6.00PM...NU'S TROUSERS ARRIVE...SHOULD'VE BEEN HERE ET 4.00PM.
6.10PM...BOAT TAXI ARRIVE...SHOULD'VE BEEN HERE AT 4.30PM.
7.50PM...VIA BOAT[GONDOLA] AND TAXI...FINALLY AT AIRPORT.
8.00PM...GOT AIR TICKETS I RESERVED...FLY AT 10.30PM.
8.20PM...ORDERED CHICKEN FRIED RICE AND BEER...KEEP'EM COMING!
9.15PM...CHECKED IN...WENT THRU TO FLIGHT LOUNGE.
10.35PM...HOORAY...UP AND AWAY...SAIGON HERE WE COME!


14.11.07.
12.10AM...LANDED...BIT OF A ROCKY FLIGHT...SLIGHT BIT OF TURBULANCE IN MY PANTS[TO MANY POT NOODLES!]...DECIDED WE WOULDN'T STAY IN SAIGON...INSTEAD WE WOULD FLY ON TO THE ISLAND OF PHU QUOC...SEEN A BOARD...NEXT FLIGHT AT 5.55AM...TICKET DESK NOT OPEN TILL 5.00AM...HOPE THEY'VE GOT TWO SPARE SEATS.
1.00AM...WELL HOT...FOUND A SIT...BIT OF A WAIT...BUT HOPEFULLY IT'LL BE WORTH IT...WE DIDN'T FANCY ANOTHER BIG CITY.
5.05AM...AT FLIGHT DESK...GOTTA GO ON STANDBY!
5.40AM...NO LUCK...ON STANDBY FOR NEXT FLIGHT AT 6.30AM.
6.05AM...LUCKS IN...WE'VE GOT TICKETS.
6.10AM...GO THRU NORMAL PROCEDURES...PASSPORT/BAGGAGE CHECK ETC.
6.20AM...ABOUT TO BOARD...BUT WE'RE STOPPED...SOMETHING WRONG WITH NU'S RUCKSACK.
6.25AM...THEY WANT TO KNOW WHATS IN NU'S RUCKSACK...IT TURNS OUT ITS INSECT REPELENT!
6.30AM...RUNNING FOR PLANE...SOMETHING NU AND I ARE NOT AKIN TOO!...MORE OF A PAIR OF TROTTERS!
6.45AM...ON PLANE...SEATED.
6.55AM...IN AIR...BIT LATE...BUT WHY BLAME US...THIS IS OUR 7TH FLIGHT...HAD NO PROBLEMS BEFORE.
8.00AM...PHU QUOC AIRPORT...BAG COLLECTION...HARDLY KEEP MY EYES OPEN.
8.20AM...CHAPPIE OFFERS ROOM IN HOTEL...10 DOLLARS FOR BOTH...WE ACCEPT.
8.50AM...HOTEL OK...NO INTERNET...NOT NEAR SHOPS.
9.30AM...HANDED ON LAINDRY...HAVING TO WEAR ONE OF NU'S TSHIRTS...AFTER FLOODS IN HOI AN...GOT NO CLEAN CLOTHES.
9.50AM...BREAKFAST...EGGS WITH BAGUETTE...WANTED TOAST!...COFFEE HORRIBLE.
10.20AM...SHOWER.
1040AM...SLEEP.
3.10PM...WOKE.
3.40PM...SWEET AND SOUR PORK...BEER...THE SUN IS BURNING INTO MY FACE...TO MUCH.
4.35PM...ON 3RD BEER...NEED TO SLOW DOWN...STILL WELL TIRED...THIS RESORT IS NOT REALLY MY CUPPA TEA...BUT NU LIKES IT...SWIMMING POOL...NEXT TO WHITE SANDY BEACH...FULL OF GERMANS!...I WANTED A SMALL SHACK ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ISLAND THAT HADN'T BEEN DEVELOPED YET...I NEED DESOLATION...PEOPLE ARE WONDERFUL...BUT ONLY ON MY TERMS!
5.30PM...WATCHED THE SUN GO DOWN.
6.30PM...WALKED ALONG BEACH TO A RESTEAURANT/BAR...HAD A BOTTLE OF LOCAL WINE...WONDERFUL WINE.
8.20PM...WALKED BACK TO HOTEL.
9.00PM...HEAD HIT PILLOW...OUT LIKE A LIGHT.


HAPPY.

BYE FOR NOWZ.