Nate and I arrived on the island yesterday at 4pm after taking a 2.5 hour bus through the flat agricultural lands north east of Hanoi...then we took a boat to the island, then another bus to the main town. We were amazed at this tropical island with its jagged mountain terrain and $10 a night rooms. It is a resort village with small hotels lining the main blvd that overlooks the bay. There is a huge, modern resort being built and already I can easily imagine spending a winter here.
This morning we are heading out in a private junk (Chinese style sailing boat with 2 bedrooms, a bathroom, a nice sun deck, and 2 big red sails...complete with kayaks, and snorkel and fishing gear....for 3 days and 2 nights to explore the islands of this world famous UNESCO site...an archipelago of thousands of islands with hidden lagoons, secluded beaches, floating fishing villages, and many grottos and caves. We will upload pictures and stories when we return on Saturday night.
Meanwhile, as I await my morning coffee, I will note some of the things I think my Stephane (patiently waiting for me back home) would like about Viet Nam:
Viet Nam seems far more organized than India. The roads are very good, and traffic moves along very well - and on the right hand side of the road! There is a "language" of honking - different than in India - though quite evident. Here, when passing (on the left) our bus would honk 5-10 times - just to let the guy know he was passing. even though he was passing in a passing lane, and everybody was staying withing the white lines. Lanes are lanes here - and except for the scooters, the trucks and cars all stay in their lane, driving quite slow and safe like. Quite boring really...no blind corners, no breathtaking "chicken" on steep mountain roads.
Oh yeah, and on the bus (which was full of families heading to the island on vacation) we watched on the TV what could only be described as soft porn. Scantily clad, and sometimes naked western woman gyrating to soft music, while caressing themselves, etc etc...on the bus ...with children...the whole 2 hour trip. (I read my book).
People here don't stare at you. In fact, they pretty much ignore you...at the street stall full of cheap pearls, at the restaurant when you want to order...no celebrity status or deference here.
There is no garbage all over the ground here. The streets are clean, and little ladies with sticks on their shoulders with 2 huge baskets on each end, go around picking the recyclables out of the garbage bins...yes, there are garbage bins here...a concept that has not yet taken hold in India.
People here are friendly and smile a lot and wearing short shorts and halter tops is not considered obscene - I mean, they play porn on the bus for Pete's sake, how could it be! So I can swim in the beautiful water in a bathing suit instead of wrapped in 7 meters of Chiffon!
There are no stray dogs here. In India, the scrawny pathetic starving mutts are everywhere - with large milk filled tits, or testicles hanging strangely down from their bodies. The few dogs we have seen were tied up, plump and well fed and cared for.
The food here is delicious (even some crunchy vegetables). Dog met is prominently featured on every menu.
Speaking of menus...Nate and I are also enjoying a new game...scanning the menus for funny English like...qualiflower, spinash, spring rools, diet aqua, and my personal favorite...homely cooking!
Later gaters.
No comments:
Post a Comment